Grizzlies looking to blow it up?

[jefe]

They aren't trying to blow it up, they are desperately trying to get under the tax.

In order to do so, one of Connely, Gay, Gasol or Zbo has to go.

If they can't find takers for Zbo or Gay, expect Gasol rumors to pop up next.

What I find strange is that if they're desperate to get under the tax, there are easier ways to do that. The Luxury Tax threshold is 70 mil, they are at 74 mil. It seems strange that they can't find a way to cut salary in other ways.

If you rule out trading Zbo and Gay, then it's pretty tough to cut 4 million in salary with a league minimum roster of 13 players without looking to Gasol or Conley. Rightly so, Gasol and Conley are off the table IMO, leaving one of Zbo or Gay.

[commadoor 64]

Exploring options is not the same as desperately blowing up.


Grizz are 4mil over the luxtax. That rises next year so new owners are gauging interest and exploring options.

In the past, old owner loved doing quiet, outta the blue trades and changes. New owners are being more transparent and just have new and different ideas about the franchise.

The reason for this is simply the new owners don't want to pay the old owners luxtax.

[LarsV8]

What I find strange is that if they're desperate to get under the tax, there are easier ways to do that. The Luxury Tax threshold is 70 mil, they are at 74 mil. It seems strange that they can't find a way to cut salary in other ways.

Outline an easier way for them to get under the tax.

They would have to straight DUMP two players on other teams. Thats not as easy to do.

[jamesnamida]

but why trade now?
wont the penalty only be 8 million next year?
since they are 4 over.
sure it increases after that, but why now?
they should trade gay and play inside out, but still, weird they are exploring zach.

[ClayDavis]

but why trade now?
wont the penalty only be 8 million next year?
since they are 4 over.
sure it increases after that, but why now?
they should trade gay and play inside out, but still, weird they are exploring zach.

their ownership views it one way. if they think they can win it all pay the tax if no, no thank you.

[Edumacated]

Management probably thinks it's not worth paying tax for a team that can't get out of the 2nd round.

[Froob]

Mathematically it just makes sense to blow it up. E=MC trade. zoingan. zonkin. zoy HollingeriNk

man you're killing me, not sure why this is even that funny but I can't stop laughing.

[Doctor MJ]

There has been rumours that the Grizzlies are exploring trades with both Rudy Gay and Zach Randolph. The Grizzlies are sitting in a pretty comfortable position out in the deep west, so why blow it up? I can see that Randolph is aging, and Gay is overpaid, but they are still playing at a good level and the team's chemistry is at it's best. They look like contenders as of now, and it seems like they are only thinking about the future and not the possibility of winning a championship this year. What do you guys think, and what do you think would be best for the franchise?

"blow it up" implies they are looking to give up on winning for the time being in order to save money.

There's really no reason to ever associate "looking to trade Rudy Gay" with "giving up". "looking for suckers" would seem the more appropriate expression.

[SweetTouch]

Looks to me like they're trying to get better

[Seralin]

They won't win a championship with the current core. So why not get rid of players on high contract and the ones that are aging and still have takers. They can probably take a risk with Cousins and still stay playoff-competitive.

[jamesnamida]

lol this has to kill some team moral.
Your owners don't believe in you, they don't think you have a chance at the finals, so they rather get under the tax and trade a big piece.
Never know what can happen in the season and playoffs, look at the lakers, look at the mavs over the heat, all the upsets in the playoffs, or just injuries to rival teams, imagine if KD or CP3 got injured.
I understand trading Gay a bit but if they just get cap relief scrubs for him, or even worse, for randolph, they are pissing this season away.

[EzeDoesIt]

Luxury tax. Good franchises would never do this with a 22-10 record..

Is this really the explanation though? Or is it that the new CBA has changed things and made the tax a lot worse? If teams like Memphis are forced to blow up their teams prematurely because of this CBA, that sucks.

We already kind of saw it happen with OKC, although of course they had several options they could have went with to keep Harden (not to mention they didn't "blow it up").

[crosko42]

They won't win a championship with the current core. So why not get rid of players on high contract and the ones that are aging and still have takers. They can probably take a risk with Cousins and still stay playoff-competitive.

I don't know about cousins, but they are capped out pretty bad right now and I agree this isn't a championship team.

They're already over the lux tax for next year without re signing Tony Allen, or the team options for Haddadi and Selby.

They are at 60.36m the following year just with ZBo, Gasol, Gay, Conley. If they re-up Allen for 5-6m a year (just a guess) you are at 65m for your starting lineup without anyone else on the team. If they don't want to go over the luxury tax line that is a terrible position to be in and will not result in a winning team.

[TruSkool]

it makes no sense for the grizzlies to blow up their team. they are so well balanced and they have a great record. doesn't make any sense.

[Ayatollah]

It seems that the Grizzlies are way more interested in their cap as for a possible contendership!

Marc Gasol is a lock, but ZBo and especially Rudy Gay are on the move... Imo the Grizz shouldn´t give up on the Gasol/Randolph combo, this is top 3 in league, ZBo is too good to trade and he´s worth his contract!

Gay should be traded immediately, the Raptors package is worth his value!


PS: This is a perfect example for every participant in the "transactions"-forum, who started a "verbal murder" if some deals aren´t equal in their point of view! The Grizzlies are in talks about a deal for Jared Dudley and a 1st Rd Pick! This isn´t nearly Gay´s value!