NBA Trade Rumors: Toronto Raptors In Talks to Acquire Rudy Gay

The NBA trade deadline is still weeks away, but one of the hottest names on the market still seems to be Memphis Grizzlies swingman Rudy Gay. Just about everyone from Charlotte to Boston to Los Angeles has been rumored to at one time have been interested in trading for Gay, but no trade has happened just yet.

Toronto would like to change that.

Despite all the teams that have been floated in Rudy rumors, the Raptors have been without a doubt his most devoted suitor and are tying to throw together a package that includes Jose Calderon, Ed Davis and other players or picks that would land them their coveted star.

Reports say that the Raptors covet not only Gay, but also forward Darrell Arthur.

But while the Raptors seem to be under the impression they can acquire Rudy Gay, the Grizzlies are singing a very different tune. The Grizzlies are standing firm in that the deal they made earlier in January that dumped salary onto the Cleveland Cavaliers was a calculated move so they they could avoid having to break up their core.

The trade with the Cav’s put the Grizzlies back under the luxury tax, meaning they don’t have to make anymore moves to clear money off the books. The biggest concern was that they wouldn’t be able to afford the core of Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley moving forward, but the trade earlier int he month relieved some pressure in the salary cap.

Boston has been rumored to be in on a deal for Gay, but such a deal would require them to give up Paul Pierce, which is something management doesn’t seem ready to do just yet.

So for now, it looks like the Grizzlies will push on with their core group of players intact, and they still need to be blown away by a deal to break that core up.