Ronald Tillery's Griz Insider: Should Griz have anxiety about Gasol's EuroBasket appearance

Source: The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.self storageAug. 30--It's a big dilemma.Grizzlies center Marc Gasol has a max contract in Memphis and a commitment to Spain that is considered priceless. So when the 7-footer plays for the Spanish national team in the EuroBasket, starting Wednesday, should the Griz and their fans have consternation?Of course.He's played a lot of the past two years with significant injuries, the most recent being an abdominal tear in March. Gasol returned rather quickly from the injury.He didn't require surgery but rest was the prescription and he played with pain.During the 2012 Summer Olympics, Gasol nursed a shoulder injury that required his left upper arm to be encased in a high-tech black ice wrap at times.There is nothing the Griz can do to stop Gasol from playing for his national team.Gasol wants to and he has every right. Marc Gasol, along with his older brother Pau, has an obligation to Spain that is far greater than American players feel toward USA Basketball.The Gasols have broad shoulders that carry a heavy load for Spain given their place among the world's best players, much like Tony Parker (France) and Dirk Nowitzki (Germany). America can fish in a larger lake of greatness.But the Griz have a right to worry about Marc Gasol, too.Pau Gasol chose to sit out this summer to recover from medical procedures on both knees. Granted, Pau is older than Marc. So there's the solace: There will come a time when Marc, too, will decide he needs to take the summer off.Meanwhile, the Griz will spend the next month with bated breath.Training camp starts Oct. 1 and the Griz open the regular season on Oct. 30 at division rival and standard bearer San Antonio.That'll be big.FROM THE BASELINEOne rumor ?- unsubstantiated so far -- floating around the NBA is that the Griz offered forward Zach Randolph to the New Orleans Pelicans for guard Eric Gordon. The Pelicans rejected the deal, which likely would have included other player迷你倉. Randolph will earn $17.8 million this season with a player option for $16.5 million next season. Gordon will make $14.3 million this season, $14.9 in 2014-15 and he has a player option worth $15.5 for 2015-16.COURTSIDEFormer Griz assistant Henry Bibby will join Maurice Cheeks' staff in Detroit, according to a league source. Bibby is working with Cheeks for the second time in the past seven years. In 2006, Bibby was hired by the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach on Cheeks' staff and remained there until the end of the 2007-08 season when his contract was not renewed.Former Griz coach Lionel Hollins hired Bibby as an assistant coach in 2009. Bibby initially played a role in establishing the Grizzlies' defensive principles.ABOVE THE RIMBy trading Tony Wroten to the Sixers, the Grizzlies have now distanced themselves from each of the past five drafts. Mike Conley (2007) and Jamaal Franklin (2013) are the only players on the Griz roster who were drafted by the franchise.Here's the breakdown:2008O.J. Mayo (let him walk for nothing in free agency)Darrell Arthur (traded to Denver for Kosta Koufos)2009Hasheem Thabeet (traded to Houston for Shane Battier)DeMarre Carroll (traded to Houston for Shane Battier)2010Xavier Henry (traded to New Orleans in three-team deal for Marreese Speights).Greivis Vasquez (traded to New Orleans for Quincy Pondexter)2011Josh Selby (traded to Cleveland in a deal for Jon Leuer)2012Tony Wroten (traded to Philadelphia for 2014 second round pick)WORTH REPEATING@jerrydbayless is among seven current NBA players taking part in Basketball Without Borders in Africa hosting NBA Cares clinics.Tagline: Griz Insider is a regular feature by Ronald Tillery, with information and insights gathered in his role as the CA's Grizzlies beat reporter.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) Visit The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) at .commercialappeal.com Distributed by MCT Information Services文件倉