Things in Memphis are even bleaker than usual these days. After the reactionary dismissal of head coach David Fizdale amid a brutal losing skid, the outlook has somehow only gotten worse. Part of that is due to starting point guard Mike Conley’s continued absence and a roster that simply isn’t constructed to withstand that type of blow to a star.
But it’s also because the organization no longer has an identity or a philosophy in place to keep them from drifting out of orbit entirely. From a purely objective standpoint, the franchise would clearly be better off embarking on a full-fledged rebuild, but that’s a difficult prospect with both Conley and Marc Gasol still on the roster, both of the whom upper management have repeatedly and emphatically insisted are not on the trading block.
It’s also far too bitter of a pill for a competitor like Gasol, who has been frustrated by this season’s turn of events, beginning with the decisions to let Tony Allen and Zach Randolph walk this summer. However, Gasol said in no uncertain terms on Wednesday that he’ll do everything in his power to make sure that the team doesn’t go into tank mode.
Via Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal:
Ask Gasol about the notion of intentionally losing and it all sounds like gibberish.
“My job is not allowing that to happen,” Gasol said. “My job is not allowing anyone to throw away the season. Because at 32, 33 next month, I don’t have a season to throw away. I don’t have those. I don’t have that luxury. I’m not 23, 24, where I can just say, `Well, next year it’s going to be better.’ I have that sense of urgency and desire to win… I hope that during the next five, six weeks before the break that the situation has completely changed, turned around, and we are a much more consistent team going forward.”
Gasol has also said that, while he won’t demand a trade, he’ll certainly remain open to it if the organization decides it’s in their best interest.
Pressure is mounting on both GM Chris Wallace and owner Robert Pera as the team’s board of directors has grown increasingly skeptical of the franchise’s direction. Half measures have availed them nothing so far, and the clock is ticking loudly for the team to figure out a path forward that is somehow amenable to all parties involved.
