2014-15 NBA Season Preview: Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph
(photo credit not found)

Marc Gasol has single-handedly validated the Pau Gasol trade for the Memphis Grizzlies. Never have two brothers been traded for each other in NBA history, and rarely have the draft rights to second-round picks been the foundation of a trade for a franchise player before. The trade was decisively derided as the Grizzlies giving away talent to the big-market Los Angeles Lakers, as the other pieces to the trade were Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, and two first round picks that each became the #28 picks in the 2008 and 2010 NBA Drafts. Marc Gasol, meanwhile, would return to his adopted-home in Memphis after his “college” years in his home country of Spain, and, six seasons later, will assuredly hit free agency next summer before re-signing with the Memphis Grizzlies. 

2014-15 NBA Season Preview: Rookie Week Picks

In the first week of our 2014-15 NBA Season Preview we took a look at some of the impact rookies entering the NBA. Our five candidates were all interesting, impact prospects from rebuilding teams, who should figure prominently into the Rookie of the Year race. Chris looked at Jabari Parker's NBA-ready game on Monday; Paul discussed Nerlens Noel's need for injury-free minutes while adjusting to a young 76ers team Tuesday; Wednesday was Dante Exum Day, as Chris projected his talents as a potential star guard; Marcus Smart was the subject of Thursday's piece from Paul on toughness; and Friday saw Rookie Week wrap up with Andrew Wiggins and how situation might suit him more in Minnesota.

In this week's podcast, we expanded upon our essays and looked at Parker, Noel, Exum, Smart, and Wiggins closer, but also within the context of their new environments and the talent around them. We also tried to address any other rookies on some of these rebuilding teams, before getting into our All-Rookie 1^st and 2^nd team lineups, and any honorable mentions and or sleepers for the 2015 Rookie of the Year Award.

We’ve tried to narrow down our lists to a few names for each category, but, really, this rookie class is so deep that the honorable mentions list is a legitimate-10 names deep. As always, there are plenty of rookies who struggle to adjust or earn minutes at the NBA level, just as there are second-round picks and undrafted free agents who fight for minutes and carve out roles in the pros. Here are our best guesses for the 2014-15 rookie class:

#24 - Charlotte Hornets

Kevin C. Cox/ Getty Images North America

What I’d Do:

Jarnell Stokes – Tennessee

6’8” (7’1.25” wingspan), 263 lbs., 01/07/1994 (20 years old)

In the few hours since I told Chris that I would be taking Jarnell Stokes at #24 for the Charlotte Hornets, word has come down from The Man Himself that my pick essentially doesn’t matter and they might have already settled on Mitch McGary.  I’m sure I’ll compare the two at some point in this piece but I’m okay with disagreeing on the player, because we agree on the team need at big man.