Marc Gasol, Andrea Bargnani

The Memphis Grizzlies were in town and beat on the Knicks winning 103-82.  Prior to the game, reporters were able to speak to Marc Gasol who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer and is highly coveted by the Knicks.  A few weeks ago a report surfaced that Gasol ruled out the Knicks as a possible destination but he confirmed the report is not true.

Shay Marie

via ESPN New York:

“I haven’t ruled anything out because I haven’t thought about anything so it would be [premature],” Gasol told a small group of reporters after the Grizzlies’ morning practice at Madison Square Garden. “The reports and stuff like that, I don’t know where they come from because in my mind I haven’t thought about it. I have no [idea] how they can go there. I don’t know. … We’re in the final stretch of the regular season and we want to get in a good feeling for the playoffs so, trust me, I’m not worrying or thinking about those things yet.” …

If he re-signs with the Grizzlies, Gasol can ink a max contract that starts at around $18 million in the first season with 7.5 percent raises in each season thereafter. If he signed with the Knicks or any other club, his max contract would be for four years starting at around $18 million in the first season with annual raises of 4.5 percent. …

“I know what [the Knicks] are trying to accomplish as a team, but like I said we’re trying to accomplish the same thing in Memphis and we’re trying to get to have a chance to go for a ring,” Gasol said. “I see this [Knicks] team being in the same spot we were six or seven years ago when we were winning 20 games and we were trying to create something for the future.”

Like other free agents during the season, Gasol gives the typical “I haven’t thought about it yet” answer.  The Memphis Grizzlies are the No. 2 seed in the difficult Western Conference right now so yes his focus is on them trying to win right now, but their performance might affect his decision.