Grizzlies: Marc Gasol won’t ask for a trade

Ronald Tillery
The Commercial Appeal
Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol, left, of Spain, and forward Dillon Brooks, right, battle for the ball against Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal, center, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

All eyes are on Grizzlies center Marc Gasol. He’s a two-time maximum salary player with three All-Star appearances so the basketball world is watching to see how the soon-to-be 33-year-old will get the Grizzlies out of the depths of despair.

Memphis (8-20) has lost five games in a row and 16 of the past 17 outings.

Gasol, who routinely answers for the debacles, spoke with The Commercial Appeal in depth about the state of the Grizzlies following a Wednesday night road loss to the Washington Wizards.

Q: Could you have imagined being in this predicament at this stage of your career?

A: No. But it’s the situation you’re in and you deal with it as best as you can. In the good times and the tough times, you have to be consistent with who you are and what you stand for. It’s not ideal. It’s not what you want. But it’s my responsibility to deal with it. I’m not going to quit. I’m not going to hide. I’m going to stand in front of the team and take as many hits as I must in order to get us right.

Q: There’s a lot of chatter about trades – whether you ask for one or the Grizzlies trade you. What are your thoughts about trade scenarios?

A: It doesn’t help me today. It doesn’t help me with my responsibility to the team. If I’m thinking about my situation, then I’m not focused on finding ways to be more effective and more efficient on the floor. I want to improve my communication with the guys and show that I’m there for them. That’s all I can worry about. The talk outside – even when it’s good – I don’t worry about. My reality and my day-to-day is never about the outside chatter. It won’t affect my job.

Q: Would you ever ask for a trade?

A: No. I said to a colleague of yours last week. It’s up to them. I don’t have a no-trade clause. But if they want to do something to help this team and that doesn’t include me then I’m for the team. Whatever that means. My commitment hasn’t changed.   

Q: Are you on board with rebuilding?

A: I’m on board with doing my job every day until that’s not my job anymore. Nobody has told me we’re rebuilding. Nobody has said that to me. We’re trying to get better. Obviously, It’s not the easiest or most comfortable situation for us. We’re not where we want to be as a team. That’s the result of a lot of things that’s happened. But those things can’t be changed. All you can do is change what you today. All of the other stuff… I can’t control what you think. I can’t control what you say. I can’t control your vision. I can only do what I need to do.

Q: How different is this situation compared to when you entered the league when expectations where lower?

A: It’s always easier to build up. My approach and my commitment hasn’t changed one bit. It was the same when I came in because of how I was taught to play basketball. I’m having to take shots that I normally wouldn’t like to take and it’s not what I would consider great shots. But it’s what the team needs.  

More:Washington Wizards 93, Grizzlies 87: 5 things we learned

Q: What do you say to people who expect you to dominate by NBA standards?

A: There’s a lot of ways to dominate a game. I understand that a lot of you guys probably think dominating is scoring 30 points. But you can create 15 open shots for guys and draw attention. I have to be patient and be aggressive. You have to find that balance.     

Q: If you came into the league today, would you try to be a different kind of big man?

A: You always try to adapt to what the team needs. You try to fill the gaps. The game has changed a lot over the past 10 years. A lot of guys who were really effective 10 years ago would find the game a lot harder for them and the other way around. One thing that hasn’t changed is the importance of defense.   

Q: Is this the heaviest weight you’ve felt given the coaching change and Mike Conley being out?

A: I don’t see it as weight. I see it as responsibility. I don’t see it as anything negative. I see it as to carry us in every way. Carry them through practice, carry them through shootaround, and showing them by example. We ask guys to do certain things and I’ve got to be out front.

More:How the Grizzlies' rebuilding game plan backfired

Q: How do you balance imposing the basketball you like to play and the identity of the team?

A: We haven’t executed to the level you’d like to. It’s takes a little bit sometimes. But it’s a learning process for everybody.

Q: Has your brother, Pau, advised you in this situation?  

A: Every situation is different. Everybody is different. At the time, (Pau asking for a trade) was the right thing to do for him when things were bad. We’re different players. We came up with the same rules in the household but we view certain things differently. I’m 10 years in, and he respects and values my opinion. He just wants me to be happy. He knows why I re-signed with the Grizzlies and why I’m here. There’s advice that you can give at some point but I haven’t asked for that.