The latest trade rumor to pop up was about the Charlotte Bobcats possibly trading their second overall pick for the Memphis Grizzlies star forward.
Memphis doesn't have all the money in the world right now to keep all their players. Gay has $16.5 million on his salary, along with hefty contracts towards Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Mike Conley is there, too.
The Grizzlies are looking to keep OJ Mayo as well, and they will have to pay big bucks to lure him back. But do they have enough? That is the main reason of why Gay has been rumored to be on the trading block.
However, according to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, team owner Michael Heisley has no sights on trading Gay.
“We’re not looking to trade Rudy Gay,” Heisley said. “We’re not shopping him around. Period. Do we sit around and say ‘What if we traded Rudy, who could we get?’ No. Right now, Rudy is part of the future of this team….
“Our plan was always to protect the core. I’ve the core for four years,” Heisley said. “If we ever decide to do something it won’t be because of salary. We’re going to build a team around this core group. We understand Rudy’s salary. We understood it when we gave it to him. We’re not looking to cut salary. We’re looking to try and win a championship.”
Personally, if the Grizzlies are okay with overpaying Mayo slightly, then do it. I think it's smart what Heisley is doing by keeping the core altogether.
Anyways, I don't think it would necessarily be a smart idea trying to trade Gay to save some salary cap space and get guys like Mayo and others in. I mean, for the past two years, the Grizzlies tried trading away Mayo for nothing in return. Heck, they almost gave him up for Josh McRoberts!
If they have to let Mayo walk, then so be it. They can find another shooting guard, because personally in my opinion, Gay is more of a factor than Mayo will be on this team.
The situation I see the Grizzlies in really reminds me of the Indiana Pacers.
Danny Granger is arguably the team's best player, just like Gay is. Granger was slightly overpaid when he got his new contract, just like Gay did. And he did have some injury problems after some solid seasons, just like Gay did.
Indiana also has a strong core like Memphis, having guys like Darren Collison, George Hill, Paul George, David West, Tyler Hansbrough, and Roy Hibbert. Granger has always been involved in trade rumors like Gay, but he is important to the team and for keeping the core together.
It would be wise of the Grizzlies to keep Gay, and if what Heisley is saying is true, then it's a good move going forward into the off-season.
Josh Dhani is the founder of FootBasket. He also contributes at Hoops Authority and Eight Points Nine Seconds. You can read more about him at his website. Follow him on Twitter @joshdhani.
