Heading into Friday night’s game against the Portland Trail Blazers, it was announced the Raptors would start Marc Gasol for the second time since acquiring him in a trade. Dealing with large centres like the Blazers’ Jusuf Nurkic wasn’t the prime reason to get Gasol, but it’s definitely a reason; there’s also his high-level defensive acumen and elite playmaking ability to consider too.
The questions around Gasol in Toronto are instead about fit — as in, can the Raptors get Gasol as comfortable as possible, with as many of teammates as possible, as quickly as possible?