We have nearly 15 years of Grizzlies vast incompetency to compare to one season where they caught fire halfway through the season. I don't think cutting Gay (who is a very good player) and still paying $80 million more for him on top of what will be at or close to a max deal for Gasol is a move that will be wise for them. Whether they amnesty Gay or not, they are faced with paying a ****-load of money based on one half of a good season and little in the way of future assurances, or they can try and find a way to grab another C and ride out the contracts they ****-****ed themselves into (does anyone really think the slothful, drug-dealing, locker-room menace that won't pass the ball and couldn't give less of a **** whether his team wins or loses won't be back? Let's bear in mind he just played a contract year and got his last big paycheck and to that point, all he's cared about was his $).Really? Knowing how difficult it is to obtain a solid, defensive C (especially for a team like Memphis), you think they'd even consider letting him go? I don't think so. I see them using their Curry Cure on Gay and riding the roster that played very well in the playoffs.
I think Gasol's availability is no more than wishful thinking.
If teams are allowed to shed their least-desired contract, some team out there is going to give Gasol A LOT of money. Matched or not, it's going to happen.