Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay has been in trade rumors as of late, and with the Feb. 21 trade deadline approaching, the team remains open to any offer offered by interested teams.
According to ESPM.com, though workable framework for a trade hasn't been established, sources say that the Toronto Raptors have moved to the top of the list to possibly making a push to acquire Gay.
If talks with the Raptors intensify, according to sources, a possible trade with Memphis could include other teams and more players. NBA front-office sources have maintained for weeks that Jose Calderon (who has an expiring contract), fellow Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (only $1 million in guaranteed salary next season) and former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani all are available.
The Boston Celtics are another team that have shown interest in making a trade for Gay. However, making a trade for Gay would require the Celtics to part with Paul Pierce, and with Gay expected to receive more than $35 million in the next two years, Celtics management may not be ready to make that decision.
New Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien told local reporters late last week that "we really like our team" and that it is "more likely than not that we do nothing" in terms of breaking up Memphis' marquee foursome of Gay, point guard Mike Conley, forward Zach Randolph and center Marc Gasol.
The Grizzlies had concern about being over the new luxury tax, so trading Gay would make sense, but they've already shed more than $6 million in salary with their recent trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, taking them under the luxury-tax threshold.
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins and various players have publicly lobbied for the right to play out this season with no dramatic changes to the roster, now that Memphis will not have a luxury-tax bill at season's end.
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