Charlotte loses in that deal badly (because it's top 5 protected), because the Cavs are continually improving. That pick will be in the lower top 10 or draft pick in the teens. That pick will not nearly as good as Rudy Gay. Portland could strike a better deal than Cleveland...I've seen this suggested. Wesley Matthews (or Nicolas Batum), #6 pick, and possibly another pick for player for #2 pick. Charlotte still gets a fairly high draft pick in a deep draft, or they can trade down for more players and picks. Keep the pick and draft Barnes, Drummond, Sullinger, or Robinson (if he falls) or they can pick up trading partner with a more competitive team, like Milwaukee, Houston, Phoenix, or Dallas. Get another decent player and a lower pick. True about Gay and his contract is massive, but he would make them a more appealing and even slightly more competitive team. Most of all, Charlotte needs a ROSTER overhaul, since their future is apparently bleak (tickets for 2013-14 season are already being giving away to fans who purchase season tickets for 2012-13 season).
This trade will happen..book it. Memphis trades: Rudy Gay Golden State trade: Klay Thompson, Dorrell Wright, Andres Beidrins, 7th pick. Bogut Lee Gay ? Curry
The grizzlies AREN'T trading Rudy Gay. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jun/08/grizzlies-owner-michael-heisley-says-there-are-no/
That's way too much for Gay. I especially don't see the Warriors trading Klay Thompson. I think popular belief is they shipped off Ellis because of Curry but I think it's because of what they saw in Thompson. Dude's a baller and a long term answer for the 2 position. The Curry/Thompson backcourt stays in tact.
There are no plans to trade Rudy Gay! Really, this is about what you expect a team to say. It's basically the same thing the Rockets about Lowry. You never admit to shopping a guy.
I actually really hope Heisley won't trade Gay. Because it will likely result in more funny stuff in Memphis like trying to nickel and dime 1st round picks and trying to squeeze a bunch of minimum guys around its core. If anything, I'm more afraid of the team if they do manage to gain more cap flexbility by trading Gay away. Gasol/Randolph/Gay/Conley+scrubs doesn't really scare me if the Rockets manage to matter in the near future.
I really don't see what the fascination around Gay is all about. He is only an above average NBA SF. PER 17.34 last year. Above average that is it. You could probably pick him up easily for Parsons and the 16th. But that would solve that huge Memphis salary cap problem and give them room to breath. We would not want to do that would we?
There's no plans to trade him because they aren't going to find much of a market for his $53 million at his current...level.
And yet multiple teams have called about him offering picks and players to trade for him. Does. Not. Compute. Rudy Gay is a VOLUME SCORER. He is Ricky Davis.
Who & what? PS, kwame has reminded us already that Cleveland was willign to part with NBA legend Tristan Thompson for him. Anything else?
I personally do not put any stock in rumors. For the most part they are due to the FO trying to manipulate perceptions and market value.
