duncan228
01-22-2010, 03:22 PM
Memphis Reportedly Shopping Rudy Gay (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=tsn-memphisreportedlysho&prov=tsn&type=lgns)
SportingNews
Yesterday, I wrote about the Grizzlies’ pursuit of Ronnie Brewer (http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/52815/is_ronnie_brewer_heading_to_memphis?) and heralded the new, more serious era for the Grizzlies. Well, it turns out I was wrong—apparently they’re interested in Brewer as protection if Rudy Gay walks away as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
But that’s not all. According to Chad Ford, Memphis is thinking about dealing Gay (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=TradeWatch-100121&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dford_ch ad%26page%3dTradeWatch-100121) before the deadline:
One, Memphis is concerned that this summer a team flush with cap space will offer Gay (who will be a restricted free agent this summer) a huge contract that Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley will be unwilling to match. Two, the team, currently at 22-19, would love to make the playoffs and believes it’s a veteran defensive presence away from getting there.
While a number of teams would be interested in Gay, a rising talent at age 23, keep your eye on the Pistons. They have been hunting for the right trade in which to move Tayshaun Prince. If Prince is healthy (he has been battling back and knee injuries all season), he might fit the bill for Memphis—and the Pistons could throw in a lottery pick from this year’s draft to sweeten the deal.
A veteran defensive presence would be nice for a team that currently starts Gay and O.J. Mayo on the wings, but Prince might not be the answer. As Ford mentions, Tayshaun’s played in just nine games this year due to injury, and none since January 9. And even when he’s been in the lineup, his stats haven’t been terrific.
They’d be losing a lot by dealing Gay. He’s second on the team in scoring with 20.5 ppg, just .3 behind Zach Randolph for the team lead. Perhaps players like Mayo and Marc Gasol could pick up some of the scoring load, but the Grizzlies have a good thing going now and shouldn’t mess with it too much. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see a Gay-less Memphis beating out a number of other qualified teams for one of the West’s final playoff spots.
It makes some sense to guard against losing one of your best players for nothing, and it’s always good to get an extra lottery pick. Yet there’s also something to be said for presenting your team as a legitimate option on the path of real progress. If Memphis trades Rudy Gay, they’d be putting that image in jeopardy.
SportingNews
Yesterday, I wrote about the Grizzlies’ pursuit of Ronnie Brewer (http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/52815/is_ronnie_brewer_heading_to_memphis?) and heralded the new, more serious era for the Grizzlies. Well, it turns out I was wrong—apparently they’re interested in Brewer as protection if Rudy Gay walks away as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
But that’s not all. According to Chad Ford, Memphis is thinking about dealing Gay (http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=TradeWatch-100121&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba %2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dford_ch ad%26page%3dTradeWatch-100121) before the deadline:
One, Memphis is concerned that this summer a team flush with cap space will offer Gay (who will be a restricted free agent this summer) a huge contract that Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley will be unwilling to match. Two, the team, currently at 22-19, would love to make the playoffs and believes it’s a veteran defensive presence away from getting there.
While a number of teams would be interested in Gay, a rising talent at age 23, keep your eye on the Pistons. They have been hunting for the right trade in which to move Tayshaun Prince. If Prince is healthy (he has been battling back and knee injuries all season), he might fit the bill for Memphis—and the Pistons could throw in a lottery pick from this year’s draft to sweeten the deal.
A veteran defensive presence would be nice for a team that currently starts Gay and O.J. Mayo on the wings, but Prince might not be the answer. As Ford mentions, Tayshaun’s played in just nine games this year due to injury, and none since January 9. And even when he’s been in the lineup, his stats haven’t been terrific.
They’d be losing a lot by dealing Gay. He’s second on the team in scoring with 20.5 ppg, just .3 behind Zach Randolph for the team lead. Perhaps players like Mayo and Marc Gasol could pick up some of the scoring load, but the Grizzlies have a good thing going now and shouldn’t mess with it too much. Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t see a Gay-less Memphis beating out a number of other qualified teams for one of the West’s final playoff spots.
It makes some sense to guard against losing one of your best players for nothing, and it’s always good to get an extra lottery pick. Yet there’s also something to be said for presenting your team as a legitimate option on the path of real progress. If Memphis trades Rudy Gay, they’d be putting that image in jeopardy.