NBA Trade: Grizzlies Trade Rudy Gay to Raptors, Acquire Tayshaun Prince in Three-Team Deal
By Josh Hill
After weeks of saying they were content with keeping Rudy Gay and even after making a trade with the Cavaliers to clear up cap space, the Memphis Grizzlies have agreed in principle to trade forward Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors. The deal is still hinged on the involvement of a third team, but the belief is when that third team surfaces and agrees to take on guard Jose Calderon, Gay will be headed to Toronto.
According to reports, following Gay to Toronto will be center Hamed Haddadi
Going online now: ESPN sources say Grizzlies and Raps have deal in place to swap Rudy Gay and Hamed Haddadi for Ed Davis and Jose Calderon
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) January 30, 2013
Earlier on Wednesday, that third team was rumored to be either the Detroit Pistons or the Dallas Mavericks. If the Mav’s had been the third team in this deal, the Grizzlies wanted Vince Carter with Calderon going to Dallas. Marc Stein was the first to report, the Pistons were at the front of the line to acquire Calderon, but it was unclear who would be moving from Detroit.
When the dust settled, the Pistons ended up as that third team and agreed to send Tayshaun Prince to Memphis for Calderon and a second round draft pick. Pistons forward Austin Daye is also expected to be included in the deal.
No matter who the third team ended up being, the Grizzlies are set to receive a second round pick from the Raptors. Once Gay moves to Toronto, the Raptors are done in this deal as they’ll have moved both Ed Davis and Jose Calderon to Memphis. It was up to Memphis to find a third team to move Calderon (which ended up being Detroit) to thus completing the deal.
The deal is pending league approval but it’s expected to become official sometime soon.