The Memphis Grizzlies and star center Marc Gasol continue to progress toward agreement on a five-year max contract that will cross the $100 million threshold, according to league sources. Sources told ESPN.com that the exact timetable for a verbal agreement between Gasol and the Grizzlies remains unknown, but team officials -- including owner Robert Pera -- were in Spain this week to greet Gasol in his hometown of Barcelona shortly after free agency commenced at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. Although the exact contract structure remains to be seen, sources said Thursday that Gasol's preference remains to do a full five-year deal with the only team he has ever played for in the NBA as opposed to a short-term deal. As ESPN.com reported earlier this week, Gasol has shunned the opportunity to let interested teams court him in free agency, signaling to the rest of the league that the 30-year-old is essentially unavailable. Players and teams can come to verbal agreements on new deals now that free agency has officially begun, but no new contracts can be formally signed until July 9, when a leaguewide moratorium on roster business is lifted. The Grizzlies on Wednesday came to terms with high-flying big man Brandan Wright on a three-year, $18 million pact. The move adds frontcourt depth behind Gasol and Zach Randolph and helps insulate Memphis against the expected loss of Kosta Koufos in free agency. - See more at: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/13187296/memphis-grizzlies-marc-gasol-nearing-deal-five-year-deal
