Marc Gasol is Following in His Brother’s Footsteps Joining the Lakers
After winning the 2020 NBA Finals, the LA Lakers went into the offseason looking to bolster their roster in hopes of winning another title. The Lakers have been busing during free agency and have made some key additions to their team. Recently, the Lakers added a talented veteran who won an NBA title in Marc Gasol.
This will be the second time that the Lakers will have a Gasol on their team. Marc’s older brother, Pau, won two titles with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.
Marc Gasol left the Raptors to join the Lakers
Before Marc Gasol signed a two-year deal with the Lakers, he spent time playing for the Toronto Raptors. Gasol joined the Raptors in February of 2019 when the Memphis Grizzlies traded him for C. J. Miles, Jonas Valančiūnas, Delon Wright, and a 2024 second-round draft pick. Before joining the Raptors, Gasol spent his entire career with the Grizzlies, where he established himself as one of the league’s top defenders.
Gasol was a major boost to the Raptors’ team. The former Defensive Player of the Year added size and length on the defensive end, and he was a skilled big man who could pass and shoot on the offensive end. During the 2018-19 season, the Raptors were one of the top teams in the league.
The Raptors advanced to the 2019 NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Gasol started in every game throughout the playoffs, and his presence on the court helped the Raptors win their first title as they defeated the Golden State Warriors. Through 24 games in the playoffs, Gasol averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and three assists. Gasol returned to the Raptors for the 2019-20 season and averaged 7.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists during the regular season.
Marc Gasol becoming the newest addition to the Lakers
It’s obvious that the Lakers want to compete for many more titles, and bringing in players like Gasol will certainly help their case. According to an article from nba.com, Gasol is signing a two-year deal at the $2.7 million veteran exception. As a part of the deal, the Lakers will send JaVale McGee and a second-round pick to the Cavaliers for Alfonzo McKinnie and Jordan Bell.
Even though Gasol’s production was down during the 2019-20 season, he will still be a valuable asset to the Lakers, especially if they use him off the bench. Gasol is an unselfish player who wants to put his team in the best position to win games. Playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis will be a big plus for Gasol, and the Lakers will be another top contender to win the NBA title.
Marc Gasol will play for the Lakers just like his brother Pau did
One thing people may not know is that Marc Gasol was originally drafted by the Lakers in the second round of the 2007 NBA draft. But he never played for the Lakers, and they traded him to the Grizzlies for his brother, Pau. Now Marc will play for the team that originally drafted him. He will be following in his brother’s footsteps now that he’s a member of the Lakers.
Pau played for the Lakers from 2008 to 2014 and was one of the team’s top players playing alongside Kobe Bryant. Pau and Bryant played well together on the court and helped the Lakers win back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. During his time with the Lakers, Pau made three All-Star teams and was a three-time All-NBA selection. Now it’s Marc’s turn to wear the purple and gold and compete for an NBA title.
