[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

It’s funny how last season when Rudy Gay went down with that shoulder injury and the Memphis Grizzlies made that miraculous run in the 2011 Playoffs until they were eliminated by the Thunder, many pondered and imagined how much better they would have been with Gay in the postseason. Fast forward a year later, many opinions have changed. After an early, first-round exit by the Clippers, now many say that Rudy’s game does not fit in the Grizzlies’ system, stating that he stops the ball, takes unadvised shots at times, shows signs of fear he may re-injur that shoulder (rightfully so) and so on. Personally, I do not believe him being part of the system or not is the issue, but how he and Zach Randolph mesh on offense is the problem. When Gay went down last season, Z-Bo commanded that leadership role and performed as arguably the best Power Forwad in the 2011 Playoffs (next to Dirk). When Z-Bo went down in the beginning of the 2011-2012 season, a healthy Rudy Gay took those reigns and helped the Grizzlies clinch the 4th seed in the Western Conference. 

What are you opinions on Rudy Gay’s role in Memphis? Can he and Z-Bo co-exist as the primary scorers of the team?

[sheltwon3Participant]

I actually think he is not a good fit to doing what they did to be successful.  They need to move him for someone that is cheaper and will fit their role better.  Trade Rudy Gay to  Charlotte for the number 2 pick.

[rickybobbyParticipant]

 I was thinking the same thing because MKG would fit well with them because of his toughness, hardwork, defense,etc. 

[apb540Participant]

I really think Memphis is a solid trading partner for the Sixers.  In the right situation, I would be down to trade for Rudy Gay or take a chance on Z-Bo’s huuuge contract.

Sheltwon3, I like your trade idea of Gay to the Bobcats for 2.  Only thing holding that back is MJ wanting to take on that big of a salary.

[HotSnotParticipant]

http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/rudy-gay-trade

[benny15Participant]

rudy gay in charlote without any support will be very very bad. forcing him into a rebuilding team isnt the way to sell his contract on another team. if you said the warriors though for the 7th pick and a player to make the salaries work, RJ perhaps, then im sure theyd be happy to oblige. i think the deal breaker here might be if the warriors will have to add jeremy tyler to make the salaries match.

[aamir543Participant]

Hmm, Gay for the 2nd pick? An intersting move, but If I were Memphis, I’d only move Rudy if I knew that Randolph is now the Randolph of old, the guy that was putting up 20 and 11 and terrorizing defenders. Even 18 and 9 is fine, but if he’s not gonna be the same old Zach Randolph, than they need to keep Gay.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Lol,Bandwagoners…

Memphis needs more scoring and especially more ”Outside Shooting.”.Which was there problem in the playoffs not Rudy Gay..Rudy is Memphis most popular player..The city loves him and he’s a great guy…That i think needs to become more aggressive and should try to continue to improve his handles…..Some say he needs to become more vocal,but i’m a season ticket holder and often has set behind the bench and heard him scold guys for missing assignments and encourages them also…He’s had several game winning shots,he’s uplift and lead them from behind to several wins…Marc Gasol & Randolph are unstoppable when they’re on their game..And i think are the best center and power forward combo in the nba…But who do opposing coaches fear most in the final moments in the game? its Rudy..Rudy’s outstanding explosiveness is a great compliment to non athletic guys like ZBo & Gasol….Gasol and ZBo’s inside game can be stopped at times by defenses when Memphis isnt hitting outside shots..And when they’re not hitting outside shots,that forces Gasol and ZBo to do too much….

Conley has improved his outside shooting and was among the league leaders in steals..But he’s not the creative of a point guard and sometimes gets outplayed by opposing guards….For the past 3 years it seems like Memphis has been looking for a backup point guard,but insiders who know and follow the team know they’re looking for someone better than Conley…Coach Hollins let his intentions known months before the 2009 draft when he was excited to think of Ricky Rubio playinf for them..But upper management felt it would be years before he came over….I heard Hollins really loves Wroten,who might be there when they select..Maybe they can swing a deal and get John Jenkins who is the best shooter in this draft in the 2nd round…I know they want OJ back..But they cant afford him……When Mayo was hitting his shots Memphis was unbeatable…

Speights is a free agent and played much better then anyone expected,hit a few outside shots and had a few double doubles..Speights inspired play, might make them decide not to resign Darrell Arthur ,who has been injured off and on the past 2 years…..

 

[sheltwon3Participant]

You can grab Barnes with the number 2 pick and he is a better perimeter shooter than Gay and he also does not demand the the same way Gay does.  He would try to fit in with the big guys.  Grizz were better when they let their bigs play and the rest of the team played off of that.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Well ZBo has been remarkably consistent during his entire career so maybe we can just chalk up this season to injury and an inability to play quality minutes. Even his rookie year, ZBo’s Per 36 was 17 points and 10 rebounds. He’s basically continued to do that for his entire career until last season when he dropped to 15 and 9. He was his best in the prior two seasons but it was mainly because his rebounding improved a little and his shooting percentage also got a little better. But it wasn’t really a huge change. He was always a little bit of a blackhole and it was really his teammates who had to adapt to playing with him than the other way around. He was never a top 5 PF because while he got you points and rebounds he didn’t get you blocks, steals, assists or defense. But he became a very good starter and he had a run in those playoffs last year that was pretty darn impressive.

Gays a big salary, but also a big talent. I don’t think the team is ready to give up on him. Trading for the number 2 though would never happen. A number 2 pick generally has a very good chance of being about as good as Gay, but will only cost you $5 million on the rookie scale (I think). Why pay $10 million more a year just to get a sure thing when there are a number of players in this draft that seem very likely to be quality NBA starters?

[WolfRobParticipant]

 Bynum, Gasol > Gasol, Randolph. 

[HitsterParticipant]

If Gay was on the block then I wonder if say Cleveland might be interested in it for a deal revolving around the 4th pick as it would fill one of their holes at SF and Gay for the 2nd pick would seem to be giving a bit too much up in Charlotte’s case.

I agree that if Memphis could get Barnes or MKG then it would be a great fit.

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@RUDEBOY__

You’ve never been a fan of Mike Conley Jr and I don’t get it… To me, he’s probably the 3rd most important player on that team… And he’s only getting better.

—

But I wouldn’t trade Rudy Gay just yet. Give it another season. IF Gay can close up some of the holes in his game, I really think Gasol, Randolph and Gay can be the best trio in basketball.

[jeff416Participant]

As a Memphis fan, I wouldn’t mind if we traded Gay. Even though he is a very talented player, I’m not sure he is what this team needs. He is a good scorer, but he doesn’t really do any thing else great.  Also, his contarct is so big, that keeps us from getting any free agents that could help. If we were to trade him, it would have to be the right trade though. If we could get a high pick for him, I would be pretty happy with that. That would give us a player with a lot of potential who we could potentially build around and that would also give us a lot of cap room to make moves in free agency.

With that being said, im not sure who we would draft at #2. We need a shooter and another wing scorer, if Gay were to be traded. I think Beal would be a very good fit. Though Im not sure if I would want to take him #2. I also think Barnes would be a pretty good fit.

I dont think MKG would be a great fit though. Just because he is not great offensively and we already have one of the best perimeter defenders in Tony Allen.

[RUDEBOY_Participant]

Tezo,i love Conley..

But what team or fan wouldnt love to have a point guard that ranks among the top 10 point guards in the nba? Conley seems to fight for everything he gets..He’s not 1 of those naturally talented pgs like a Rose,CP3,D Will,Wall or Nash…Plus in halfcourt Memphis seems to do better when they’re running plays thru Gasol than when Conley is setting people up…

[jacknicholsonParticipant]

I think that is their personal issue and they should be taken as all. http://retosentrechicos.net/

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