Memphis is Looking to Trade Rudy Gay, But It Won't Be Easy

Also, there’s that whole go-through-Randolph-and-Gasol angle which helped them make a run in the 2011 NBA playoffs while Gay was injured, whereas they couldn’t get out of the first round in 2012 with Gay healthy.

Perhaps most importantly, he’s expensive. Memphis is on the hook for $16 million this year, $17 million next year, then $19 million.

So the Grizzlies are looking to unload him. Who wants to take on that salary? Maybe Phoenix.

"There’s no framework of a possible deal in place, but the Grizzlies have expressed a strong desire that any package involving Gay include Suns forward Jared Dudley and future first-round draft picks, sources said."

The Suns have first round picks from the Lakers in 2013 and 2015 (and this year’s, if LA continues to struggle, could be a lottery pick).

I think the Grizzlies are going to have a difficult time dealing Gay. They’re not going to be looking to take on any bigs, and point guard Mike Conley’s got four more years left on his deal. So are they going to acquire a cheap shooting guard and spare parts? Or just spare parts and picks? ESPN is speculating the crummy Raptors could get involved, but the guy they want to unload (Bargnani), has $33 million left on his deal.

I don’t see anything happening, which may not be a bad thing for Memphis. After all, they are 22-10, 4th in the West. No trade is going to make them better than the Thunder; they played the Clippers virtually even in the playoffs last year before losing in Game 7; I like Memphis against the Spurs in a series.