The Memphis Grizzlies have been making noise in the 2011 NBA playoffs.
First they stunned the NBA world with their series win over the West’s first seeded San Antonio Spurs and now forcing a Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
They have done all this due to solid play of Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and the rest of the Grizzlies role players without their All-Star forward, Rudy Gay.
And now that Memphis has shown they can do all this without Gay, is Gay available for the right deal?
There is belief around the league that injured Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay could be had in the right deal. Gay, 25, has about $68 million left on his contract for the next four years. The Grizzlies have already given Zach Randolph a monster $71 million extension this spring and Marc Gasol’s expiring contract is up next.
Do the Grizzlies have enough money for Randolph, Gasol, Mike Conley’s five-year, $45 million extension that begins next season and Gay, too?
Gay averaged 19.8 points and 6.2 rebounds before suffering a shoulder injury which required surgery. He is still a young player, a prolific scorer, and capable of being a go-to guy for a team that desperately needs one.
However, he will come with a price. With the CBA still being worked out between the NBA and player’s union and teams wanting to remain fiscally sound, moving him will be a chore. Will a team want his huge contract and will a team be willing to part with quality players in a trade with Memphis?
Next season, if there is a next season, Gay is due $15,032,144 and tops off at $19,317,326 in his final contract year which is in 2014-2015.
(photo daylife.com)
