MEM/CLE trade: Speights on the move, Griz escape Lux tax

[BD12]

Marc J. Spears ‏@SpearsNBAYahoo
Grizzlies trade Speights, Selby and pick to Cavs for Lauer, source said.

Maybe the Cavs aren't tanking...Speights will put up better numbers in CLE and so will Selby (he was the summer league MVP).

[StMikes31]

I like this deal for the Cavs. Even though Speights is a headcase, the guy can ball.

[itbobby007]

Grizzlies trade Speights, Selby and pick to Cavs for Lauer, source said.

https://twitter.com/SpearsNBAYahoo/stat ... 2421287936

I believe Speights deal would leave Grizz about $100K over tax. Cavs can send cash to make up gap. Speights can veto deal (Bird Rights)

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status ... 7195788292

As I speculated in original Rudy piece, Grizz found contingency plan to cut tax bill w/o dealing him. In-season deal much less likely now

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status ... 8965740544

Grizz still almost certain to be taxpayers in next two seasons, meaning they will continue exploring cost-cutting trades this summer.

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status ... 1777058817

[BD12]

I like this deal for the Cavs. Even though Speights is a headcase, the guy can ball.

And he's on a VERY reasonable contract for a PF/C

[zilby]

Really don't understand this trade at all. Speights is a serviceable big off the bench, and Selby's still young with potential to be a good backup. Maybe they're really trying to shed contracts that bad...

[BD12]

Really don't understand this trade at all. Speights is a serviceable big off the bench, and Selby's still young with potential to be a good backup. Maybe they're really trying to shed contracts that bad...

Selby was never going to get playing time in MEM and I would say Darrell Arthur is better than Speights. Although if Arthur goes down, MEM is so screwed, That's a risk they were willing to take to escape the luxury tax

[N1QUE24]

Wayne Ellington is also included in this deal...

[ATLTimekeeper]

Not sure why Speights would waive his bird rights, unless Mem threatened to nail him to the bench.

[itbobby007]

Not sure why Speights would waive his bird rights, unless Mem threatened to nail him to the bench.

Playing time. He's in a contract year so he can up his value with increased mins and exposure. CLE's frontcourt is rather weak.

[Olufsen]

hope that trade gets the ball rolling for the other GMs

i doubt it tho

[Jval17]

Wayne Ellington as mentioned above, is also included in this deal. I dont like this trade for MEM at all. They give up a lot just to buy some time before they must trade one of gay/zbo. Hopefully this is the first domino to fall and gets gm's to start making deals!

@MySportsLegion
Cavaliers are getting a FIRST round pick in deal with Memphis.

[Indeed]

Temporary cap relieve for Memphis, and they are still desperate at trading Gay away. Maybe they will wait until next season, since most teams already traded their draft pick, which limit them from trading their future pick as well. However, I don't think many takers for Gay.

As for Cleveland, just to get more depth at PF/C with Varejao injured. I suppose they are tanking even harder with this roster.

[Zeno]

Grizzlies have another move to make if Ellington is involved too. That leaves them with only 11 players. Maybe they use some of the TPE created to pick up a couple of cheap bench guys from other teams struggling with the tax. They have like two million to spend under the tax after this deal. Or they could go with D-leaguers on 10 days until the end of the year.

The Cavs are going to need to cut someone as well.

[ATLTimekeeper]

Steve Kyler @stevekylerNBA 2 minutes ago
Hearing the Grizzlies picks is a first round pick in 2015 with top 5 protection. All of the players going to Cleveland are short term deals

That seems like terrible protection.

[dTox]

WOW the Cavs are doing this rebuild the right way, the Raps should take note. The only thing holding them back were their questionable draft selection, though both picks from the last 2 years have begun to turn things around.