NBA Trade Rumors: Phoenix Suns In Trade Talks With Memphis Grizzlies For Rudy Gay
By Josh Sanchez
Rumors are swirling that the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns are engaged in trade talks that involve star forward Rudy Gay. Sources told Yahoo! Sports that Memphis has been actively shopping Gay and the Suns are one team that is returning interest.
"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.In an effort to avoid paying luxury tax in the short term, as well as get off the $17.8 million and $19.3 million owed Gay in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, new Memphis management has aggressively shopped Gay. The Grizzlies have made proposals on Gay to several teams, front-office sources told Yahoo! Sports."
Memphis is sitting at 22-10, which is enough to have them sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference. While the Grizzlies could be contenders in the postseason, Gay’s contract is too much for the team to hang on to. He is set to make $16.4 million this season.
Some have doubts that the Grizzlies will open their checkbooks and take on Gay’s contract, but they will have trade bait thanks to owning the Los Angeles Lakers first-round pick.
Whether it is Memphis or another team, it appears all but certain that the Grizzlies will be moving the star forward before the NBA trade deadline.