Rudy Gay?

[It_Was_Typed]

From Bill Simmons' NBA Preview

15a. Rudy Gay
Gay was miserable last season, and that was before Iverson and Randolph showed up. The Grizzlies didn't sign him to an extension. He's the fourth option on a bad team. Right now, he's the sneakiest trade asset in the league. You know what's going to happen in January, when the Grizz are 7-23, Iverson and Z-Bo aren't speaking, Mayo is complaining behind the scenes and Gay looks more bummed out than Vivica Fox when Larry David told her, "Yeah, I'm going to need you only for the first two episodes"? You will be able to get Gay for the right price. Just save the Grizzlies $3 million, give them someone half as good, take one of their bad contracts as window dressing and throw in a No. 1 pick so the deal looks better than it is, and Chris Wallace is going to say, "I should probably shop this around, but screw it, I'll just panic and say yes."

(Translation: If you're looking for the most likely candidate for this winter's "How the hell did Playoff Team X get that guy for 50 cents on the dollar -- this is unbelievable!" trade, it's Gay.)

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/st ... ortCat=nba

The Jazz have the Knicks' first round pick next season and some prospects that could probably get the Grizzlies' attention if things go south.

Thoughts?

[HolyToledo]

Decent idea but the Jazz do have alot of wing players, thus I prefer the Jazz trade Boozer along with NYK pick for a center or PF that can defend. Again I would try to pry Biedrens away from GSW to play alongside Memo and AK-47 at the 2 big spots.

[It_Was_Typed]

The Jazz do have a stable of swingmen, but none of them will help the Jazz reach the next level.

If the Jazz can swing some kind of three way trade getting rid of Boozer and one of the swingmen (Miles?) for Gay I think it should be done.

Okur
Millsap
Gay
Brewer
Williams

[DelaneyRudd]

I read in a book that Sloan hates the Gays.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Best trade idea ever. I love Rudy Gay and he would be awesome along side D-Will. The Jazz are loaded on the wing but I think if you have the opportunity to snag someone as talented as Rudy Gay for cheap then I say go for it.

[Tapoona]

I say go for it. Would you rather hope to get a good draft pick and then hope that the player pans out, or would you rather trade that pick for a proven player. I haven't watched Gay play, but his numbers seem to be relatively good. I would even be fine throwing in Brewer or Miles (since that would have to happen anyway).


Edit: I only mention the Knicks pick due to the article mentioning throwing in a first round pick, heck throw in the Jazz's pick. I think a line up with Gay in it looks fairly impressive. But i realize that looking is a lot different than being.

[Soul Patch]

I don't know about the knicks pick being involved but one of our wings plus Booze seems like plenty.

[Wolverine]

I for one would not wear his jersey!

[StocktonShorts]

I for one would not wear his jersey!

I would totally wear it.

And they should make it happen.

[MeestR]

I for one would not wear his jersey!

I would totally wear it.

And they should make it happen.

ive seen some pretty pink jazz jerseys around. that'd be pretty cool to sport one of them with GAY on the back.

[outerspacefella]

I don't know about the knicks pick being involved but one of our wings plus Booze seems like plenty.

I would think about it if that were the frame of the trade... something in the Boozer or Millsap + Brewer or Miles or Korver mold... I wouldn't think of it if the NYK pick is involved.

But Gay is in his rookie contract, isn't he? I don't think it works under CBA rules... or is Memphis enough under the cap to absob the salary difference? mmmm I don't think so....

[CAE15]

I'd sport a Rudy Gay Jazz jersey no doubt.

[It_Was_Typed]

The problem with acquiring Gay would be that he's a free agent after the season.

He's probably looking for $10-12M per season.

[HammerDunk]

You guys really think that the NY pick is worth more than having a guy like Gay on the team? You are out of your minds with this whole NY pick! Having a guy like that would take us to the next level, I have no doubts about that. Ship Booze and his large contract, add some sweetener (I WOULD give up that NY pick for this guy), and that is a great deal, only if we can keep him here though...

Plus, the whole thought of the state of Utah cheering for a guy named Gay makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside...

[erudite23]

Are YOU out of your mind? At this point Gay is a malcontent on a losing team who doesn't do anything but shoot the ball. Would I like him? Yeah, but I can see a ton of problems with the idea, and when you're dealing with a potential top 5 pick in a good draft the value is just too high, period. I don't think people really understand what we are looking at with this pick. If you can land a young star, not even a superstar juts a regular star, on a rookie contract, that put you in position to contend for the next 3 or 4 years while limiting your cap number. That is the jackpot, right now. The value you get in having a "proven player" is offset by the fact that you have to pay that player PROVEN PLAYER MONEY. Meanwhile, a top 5 pick is so high that the bust rate is going to be at around 20-30% with a chance of getting a franchise type talent. You don't trade that for Rudy Gay, you just don't.


Now, that all said, I wouldn't mind at all if we sent a package of say, Ronnie Brewer and a future protected 1st in return for him and then let the salary thing play out during the offseason. I would do that. And I am big on Gay.

[Yung D-Will]

I wouldn't sport a Rudy Gay jersey but I think he'd be a great addition to the team and Jerry Sloan's offense.

[Tapoona]

And I am big on Gay.

that just sounds funny

I didn't realize he was on his rookie contract, which does make a difference. But why take a gamble on a pick that has a 25% chance of being a bust (if it is even a top 5 pick, it could be worse) when you could get a proven commodity? I would prefer the Jazz to trade the pick for proven talent, but who knows what they'll do.

[UTJazzFan_Echo1]

Problem is that RG is on his last year isn't he? Which means he would more than likely be a one year rental. I wouldn't trade the NY pick away for someone unless we knew we could keep em around for at least a couple years. No reason to give away such a good pick for someone who is going to get you into the playoffs for the season then leave.

I am a huge fan of RG but how well would he really fit into Sloans' system? I think if you trade for someone like RG you have to become an uptempo team. I understand we push the tempo when we can but if you trade for someone as athletically talented as RG you need to make uptempo basketball your focus.

[erudite23]

And I am big on Gay.

that just sounds funny

I didn't realize he was on his rookie contract, which does make a difference. But why take a gamble on a pick that has a 25% chance of being a bust (if it is even a top 5 pick, it could be worse) when you could get a proven commodity? I would prefer the Jazz to trade the pick for proven talent, but who knows what they'll do.

Like I said, because you have to pay proven talent proven talent money. But with a top 5 draft pick you have a chance to get a guy that will give you 35-50 million worth of production over his first 4 years for 12-16 million dollar contract. Getting talent on the cheap is how franchises with limited finances rise to the top. Its the model that got the Spurs 3 of their 4 championships, as they were paying TP rookie money in 2003, Manu rookie money in 2003 and 2005, they got Stephen Jackson for the minimum in 2003, they have had Finley making peanuts since he was bought out by Dallas...I could go on all day. The chance to get a star player and only have to pay that star player 2-5m a year for 4 years is too great an opportunity to pass up, even if there is a 25%ish chance of that pick going completely bust. The upside is too high.

[HammerDunk]

What are the chances of a top 5 draft pick becoming a great player? Not as good as I would like. But it's true, if he is coming off his rookie contract, he probably isn't a good fit for us.