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I'm not sure what Memphis' mindset is in terms of Rudy Gay at this point, but from an outsiders perspective it seems like they're a better and more balanced team without him. It also seems like they used to run everything through Rudy when Zach Randolph should have been the first option. So, I was wondering if they would do something like:

To Memphis: 2011 #3, Leandro Barbosa (exp) & Linas Kleiza

To Toronto: Rudy Gay

Follow-up:

To Memphis: TPE

To Toronto: OJ Mayo

So, essentially #3 pick, Barbosa, Kleiza & the TPE for Gay and Mayo.

Memphis: They get a proven 6th man to replace Mayo along with another young addition through the draft. All they have to do is take on Kleiza's contract.

Toronto: They get 2 proven young talents for a pick and an expiring. They guys compliment the current Raptors beautifully and fit right in age-wise.

Toronto says yes obviously.

Don't think Memphis does though

Zarko wrote:Toronto says yes obviously.

Don't think Memphis does though

Yea Memphis is iffy for me. It all depends on how they see Rudy Gay imo.

How about you throw in the Hawks moving Marvin & Zaza to Memphis for Mayo & Kleiza. The #3 isn't enough to land Rudy and Klieza & Barbosa isn't enough to make up the difference. Marvin at least gives them a replacement and Zaza also gives them a back up for Gasol. Everybody leaves happy.

Option 2 - Geaux_Hawks edit:

To Memphis: 2011 #3, Leandro Barbosa (exp), Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia

To Toronto: Rudy Gay

To Atlanta: OJ Mayo & Linas Kleiza

When it comes to Rudy Gay, I'm a bit homer, but I think he would turn Toronto into an instant 8th seed with Derozan, Bargs, Davis, Bayless starting. Top-5 SF in the league.

You back up everything I say about you. Is the GM of Memphis drunk?

Geaux_Hawks wrote:When it comes to Rudy Gay, I'm a bit homer, but I think he would turn Toronto into an instant 8th seed with Derozan, Bargs, Davis, Bayless starting. Top-5 SF in the league.

I think he compliments the team well since a lot of our players are shooting impaired. I'd probably deal Bargs elsewhere though.

Memphis can decide they want to trade Gay, but for what? They have their big men set, they seem to have settled with their point guards, and their swingmen are all worthy of starting (maybe not Sam Young.) It's a fair deal minus including Kleiza, but Memphis are ready to contend and don't need picks to hold them back.

If I'm Memphis and the brass decide to move Gay, I package him with Mayo for a star SG/SF, then start Tony Allen alongside. The problem with that is that while Mayo and Gay for a star swingman is fair, there really aren't many of those available.

There is no way Memphis moves Rudy Gay for that. I mean who do they pick at #3? Derrick Williams isn't a 3 and Kanter would be really dumb there when they have Z-Bo and Gasol.

Toronto obviously says yes. Getting both Gay and Mayo here would make Toronto a good team if we could get a MLE level FA like a Mohammad. I love a core of Gay/Davis/A. Johnson/J. Johnson/DeRozan/Bayless/Mayo and whatever we get for Jose. That would be a great core to rebuild with

Just because Memphis won their first series without Rudy Gay doesn't mean they want to trade him. The Grizzlies owner went out of his way last year to publiclly state how much he liked him and no one else was going to get him. I can't see anything changing because of his shoulder injury.

Just like he has said with Marc Gasol.

It's OJ Mayo that is the only decent name player that they will be looking to trade. Marvin Williams, Zaza Pachulia, Linas Kleiza? Not a chance from Memphis.

With Rudy Gay injured, Mayo has increased in value and importance in the short term.

Most likely Memphis will look to move Mayo, with Gay resuming his 'lead wing scorer' role.

There is a very, very slight chance Memphis would move Gay for a salary relief/high draft pick package, but in that case Mayo would be the 'lead wing scorer' and be kept.

There is no chance the the Grizzles trade Gay and Mayo without bringing in a proven, quality lead wing player (and Toronto has noone close to fitting that description).

Most are fair responses. I was obviously under the assumption Memphis would be looking to move Rudy Gay. Quick question though; does Memphis have enough money to retain Marc Gasol? (assume the CBA stays the same just for this question)

He's a restricted FA with full Bird rights, so they don't need cap space or anything.

The question is whether ownership can afford to pay them - noone hear can do more than speculate, and even the Grizz might not be sure until they see the conditions in the next CBA. That's the main reason that Mayo is on the block. Again, if they feel they can't afford Conley+Gay+ZBo+Gasol+quality bench players, they may trade Gay for salary relief+high pick. But in this scenario they would expect to use Mayo as a cheaper wing scorer, not salary dump him with Gay.

ShanWow wrote:Memphis can decide they want to trade Gay, but for what? They have their big men set, they seem to have settled with their point guards, and their swingmen are all worthy of starting (maybe not Sam Young.) It's a fair deal minus including Kleiza, but Memphis are ready to contend and don't need picks to hold them back.

If I'm Memphis and the brass decide to move Gay, I package him with Mayo for a star SG/SF, then start Tony Allen alongside. The problem with that is that while Mayo and Gay for a star swingman is fair, there really aren't many of those available.

Indiana might be interested in something along the lines of granger/filler for gay/mayo. I think granger is just a step above Gay, can score, but plays off ball better, and I don't think he needs to be the #1.

Indiana was close to landing Mayo earlier, so they clearly want him. I think theyd take Gay, because they need more of a go to guy than Granger, and I think Gay is a little more suited to do that.

Or they try ATL and go for JJ, who can also be that perimeter scorer that they can use.

Thoughts?

Good grief. You do realize that in his last 15 games, before the injury, the Grizz were 11-4, right? It's not like they were horrible then got OMG fantastic. The turnaround in the team came with the addition of Tony Allen to the starting lineup, which is still in play when Rudy returns. The odd man out upon Rudy's return will be Sam Young. OJ Mayo will likely be moved and Shane probably won't sign a new deal with the Grizz.

What you want for Mayo?

It'll likely be pick(s) and cap space, if they stick by the framework of the Indy deal.

If you trade Gay, it is an effort to keep Mayo and Battier.

Derrick Williams would make for an interesting SF rotation with a re-signed Battier.

I think the better deal is with Sacto:

Gay and Arthur for Thompson, Casspi and Derrick Williams.

Sacto gets a guaranteed star and a quality b/u Big for 3 quality back-ups. Gay will be immediately productive and help all of the other pieces come together. Gay, Evans, Cousins & Thornton are a good core and Sacto still has the cash for Sammy.

The Memphis return is about $5.5mm per year in savings (Williams is $5.0mm, Thompson is $3.0mm and Casspi is $1.3mm) which allows them to re-sign Gasol & Battier and keep Mayo. They may eventually trade Mayo, but now don't have to do it as a firesale. The risk is that Williams can play SF and is not a bust. Casspi mitigates some of this risk at SF.

Both teams get much better next year.

Someone asked if the Grizzlies can afford to keep Gay and re-sign Gasol. There is only one person that can answer that, and it's the owner Michael Heisley.

Here is a guy who is a billionaire, has lost money pretty much every year he's owned the team, and yet has committed to Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, and just recently Zach Randolph big contracts in order to keep the core together to become winners.

So with the fact that Marc Gasol is a key member of the Grizzlies core, make your own conclusion. Mine is that he will spend the money on Gasol, keep the core as Conley, Allen(a bargain at $3mil), Gay, Randolph, and Gasol(whatever it takes), and get his GM to do whatever it takes to hold down salaries in every other position.

I don't think it's a matter of if can he afford to do it, but whether he is willing to do it. And given recent signings the answer is yes. But it's no secret that just about every ultra rich person has taken a hit to their worth because of the recession, and I'm sure Heisley is no different. Plus it's no secret he's been attempting to find someone local to buy into the franchise(for whatever share I don't know).

But even though I don't care for the guy he's shown to be a hands on owner who seems to have a passion for basketball.