Memphis rejects Cavs trade offer for Rudy Gay

[Rondoholic]

I don't understand why people think Gay is so available and for Pennies?

Memphis played pretty remarkable without him but shouldn't Gay, in theory push them that much further?

Is memphis known as a cheap team? Do they not have enough money to retain their other guys as well? Is Gay's value at it's peak now?

Teams can sometimes play above their heads and then just drop the next season (Bucks). Isn't it kid of knee jerk and premmature to think "we did great without Gay we don't need him". It was also one of the few Tony Allen injury free seasons in a while which is something I wouldn't bank on either.

He's a good player but I think Memphis also has to think (like the rest of the world) that they overpaid him with that 5 yr - $80M extension.  They proved they could be effective without him.  He may add something to the team, but if they could improve their salary situation by trading him, I would have thought they would have pulled the trigger.

[housecall]

Be a great trade for the Cavs Id say. And it really wouldnt be too bad for Memphis either, however, they can get more value for Gay and add more pieces to build on their teams playoff run this year. Gay seems to be expendable now even though he was playing superb before the injury... Memphis dont need a young number 4 pick though, they need a couple more veterans to bolster their rotation.

Disagree, Gay puts them over the top and in to contender status.

TP KCattheStripe,they figure after what they did this season a healthy Rudy's return will strengthen there chances at a championship run.They just went through the development stage of young players and don't really need any fresh projects.A few good vets.on the bench would probably be the direction they go by the playoffs.

[StartOrien]

I think what makes Memphis so special is an amazing commitment to feeding the post. I question if Rudy Gay will be able to keep that commitment.

[Lucky17]

I think what makes Memphis so special is an amazing commitment to feeding the post. I question if Rudy Gay will be able to keep that commitment.

I wonder. Did the Grizzlies play well despite losing Gay, or because of it? They added some defense and toughness to the starting lineup with Battier, and leaned on Randolph for the offense.

[LooseCannon]

This is clearly a political statement, with the Grizzlies wanting to make a pro-Gay stance in light of the bill going through Tennessee's state legislature that would ban discussion of homosexuality in schools.

Seriously, though, Rudy Gay is on one of the worst contracts out there.  An intelligent team would not be trying to acquire him.  A team should be asking for a lottery pick, or more, as compensation for absorbing that ridiculous contract.

[Who]

No surprise there. Rudy Gay is far more valuable than proposed trade package.

[greenpride32]

Seriously, though, Rudy Gay is on one of the worst contracts out there.  An intelligent team would not be trying to acquire him.  A team should be asking for a lottery pick, or more, as compensation for absorbing that ridiculous contract.

I agree, the Rudy contact is a bit much and I'm sure MEM would love to get rid of it after locking up Z-Bo.  He's a good player but if the cap restricts it only makes his contract that much worse.

[pearljammer10]

Be a great trade for the Cavs Id say. And it really wouldnt be too bad for Memphis either, however, they can get more value for Gay and add more pieces to build on their teams playoff run this year. Gay seems to be expendable now even though he was playing superb before the injury... Memphis dont need a young number 4 pick though, they need a couple more veterans to bolster their rotation.

Disagree, Gay puts them over the top and in to contender status.

TP KCattheStripe,they figure after what they did this season a healthy Rudy's return will strengthen there chances at a championship run.They just went through the development stage of young players and don't really need any fresh projects.A few good vets.on the bench would probably be the direction they go by the playoffs.

Yeah i see this but without Gay the defense as a system was much much better in Memphis.

[snively]

The draft is such a crapshoot after the top 2 that the rest of the lottery picks have greatly diminished value relative to other drafts.

Nobody ever heard of this Biyombo kid a few months ago and now he's a top 5 pick.  Nobody wants to trade a sure thing for a chance at a huge question mark.

[Marcus13]

I know Michael Heisley personally - and he's a huge fan of Rudy Gay.  OJ Mayo is much more available than Gay is. 

Not saying Gay isn't available for the right price, but they aren't actively looking to deal him

[Moranis]

I still think my 3 team trade makes a lot of sense

Boston gets Gay, Camby
Memphis gets Matthews, #25
Portland gets Garnett

Boston gets a young SF of the future and with Camby keeps some interior toughness.

Memphis gets a solid young wing signed for the cheap and a draft pick.

Portland gets the veteran leadership it needs while upgrading the PF slot and undoing some of the logjam it has on the wing (while saving a lot of future money).

[Chris]

I still think my 3 team trade makes a lot of sense

Boston gets Gay, Camby
Memphis gets Matthews, #25
Portland gets Garnett

Boston gets a young SF of the future and with Camby keeps some interior toughness.

Memphis gets a solid young wing signed for the cheap and a draft pick.

Portland gets the veteran leadership it needs while upgrading the PF slot and undoing some of the logjam it has on the wing (while saving a lot of future money).

I don't think Memphis is getting enough though.  I also think they already have their young, tough wing in Young. 

[KCattheStripe]

Be a great trade for the Cavs Id say. And it really wouldnt be too bad for Memphis either, however, they can get more value for Gay and add more pieces to build on their teams playoff run this year. Gay seems to be expendable now even though he was playing superb before the injury... Memphis dont need a young number 4 pick though, they need a couple more veterans to bolster their rotation.

Disagree, Gay puts them over the top and in to contender status.

TP KCattheStripe,they figure after what they did this season a healthy Rudy's return will strengthen there chances at a championship run.They just went through the development stage of young players and don't really need any fresh projects.A few good vets.on the bench would probably be the direction they go by the playoffs.

Yeah i see this but without Gay the defense as a system was much much better in Memphis.

Remember that Memphis didn't really start playing Tony big minutes until Rudy went down. When they benched OJ they started Sam Young in his place not Tony. Also, Rudy went down right before the trade deadline and then they got Battier. The defense going up and Rudy going down are related only in that it allowed for Lionel Hollins to make up for the blunder --his only of the season-- of starting Young over Allen and it forced them to get Battier.  Not really Rudy's issue.

[Marcus13]

I still think my 3 team trade makes a lot of sense

Boston gets Gay, Camby
Memphis gets Matthews, #25
Portland gets Garnett

Boston gets a young SF of the future and with Camby keeps some interior toughness.

Memphis gets a solid young wing signed for the cheap and a draft pick.

Portland gets the veteran leadership it needs while upgrading the PF slot and undoing some of the logjam it has on the wing (while saving a lot of future money).

Camby, Mathews and the 35 for Garnett..a guy on the verge of retirement?  Portlant isn't contending with or without Garnett, this deal doesnt seem to have any upside for them

[Chris]

I still think my 3 team trade makes a lot of sense

Boston gets Gay, Camby
Memphis gets Matthews, #25
Portland gets Garnett

Boston gets a young SF of the future and with Camby keeps some interior toughness.

Memphis gets a solid young wing signed for the cheap and a draft pick.

Portland gets the veteran leadership it needs while upgrading the PF slot and undoing some of the logjam it has on the wing (while saving a lot of future money).

Camby, Mathews and the 35 for Garnett..a guy on the verge of retirement?  Portlant isn't contending with or without Garnett, this deal doesnt seem to have any upside for them

Well, I wouldn't be surprised if Portland had deluded themselves into thinking they are on the verge of contending...I just don't think KG is a good fit next to Aldridge.  But, if the C's did want to blow it up, I think that kind of value could be there for KG from a team looking for that last piece to make a run (like maybe Atlanta).