NBA Trade Rumors: 5 destinations for Rudy Gay
By John Buhler
2. Memphis Grizzlies
Could a return to Memphis be in order for Sacramento Kings wing Rudy Gay? The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the most interesting destinations for the Kings small forward to land should Sacramento general manager Vlade Divac end up trading Gay before the NBA trade deadline.
Gay spent his first seven seasons playing for the Grizzlies before being traded to the Toronto Raptors during the 2012-13 NBA season. His ability to create his own shot and hold his own on the glass could help complement the continuing issues the Grizzlies have had at small forward, arguably since trading away Gay three years ago.
The Grit N’ Grind Grizzlies may be on their last hurrah, as their overly physical, slow-paced game is the great outlier in the NBA’s current age of pace and space. Memphis doesn’t need the most efficient offensive player at small forward, the organization just needs a guy that can effortlessly put the ball through the hoop to help make the most of their limited offensive possessions.
Gay has become a more efficient offensive player in Sacramento (108 rating) than what he was his first time around in Memphis (104). He would help the Grizzlies have one of the better frontcourts in the West in playing alongside power forward Zach Randolph and center Marc Gasol. Gay wouldn’t likely interfere with point guard Mike Conley’s offensive game.
Memphis will have to give Sacramento more than just wing Matt Barnes to pull off this trade. If the Grizzlies can put together an appropriate package for Sacramento, then they could have a piece in Gay that could help them in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs.
Memphis enters Thursday night with a 24-19 record and in sixth place in the West, slated to play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 3/6 matchup should the season end today. Gay could stand as the go-to scorer Memphis needs to keep pace with the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.
Next: 1. New Orleans Pelicans