CelticsStrong
Celtics Basketball => Celtics Talk => Topic started by: crownontherocks on January 10, 2013, 07:47:58 PM
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OAKLAND, Calif. – Whether it’s close friend Rajon Rondo, Jarrett Jack, or other basketball colleagues, Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay has been leaning on his circle of NBA friends to get him through recent trade speculation.
While Rondo, according to Gay, is giving sound advice, the Boston Celtics guard can’t help being a little selfish.
“It’s hard to talk to [Rondo] because he is always saying, ‘We need you over here. We need you over here,’ ” Gay said. “So it’s not easy talking to him. But he’s being a friend, just telling me about keeping everything together and he makes you feel like you are still valuable.”
Gay, who is averaging 17.8 points and 5.8 rebounds, is being paid $16.4 million this season. Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski has previously reported that the Grizzlies have been shopping Gay to multiple teams, most notably the Phoenix Suns. By dealing Gay before the league’s Feb. 21 deadline, the small-market Grizzlies would rid themselves of the $17.8 million and $19.3 million owed to the seventh-year forward for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, which could ease luxury tax concerns, depending on what Memphis receives in return.
Grizzlies big men Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol have also been mentioned in trade rumors, but Gay’s name has garnered the most attention. The Grizzlies have a new owner in Robert Pera and a front office led by new CEO Jason Levien, who both sat courtside during a 94-87 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday. Grizzlies management has been calling teams to gauge interest in Gay, but no trade is imminent, a source told Yahoo! Sports.
Gay, 26, said he would like to stay in Memphis, but added that he would be happy wherever he plays.
“I’m more than just a basketball player and wherever I am, or will be, or wherever I go, they are going to realize I’m more than just a basketball player,” Gay said. “I can give just as much as I did here, if not more.”
Gay said the biggest strain has been how the rumors have affected his family.
“People don’t understand that we do have families, we do have personal situations we have to deal with while trying to be productive on the court,” Gay said. “Your family is calling saying, ‘What is going on? What is going on?’ I just tell them, ‘Don’t worry about it.’
“That’s the biggest thing. The more people talk about it, the more I think about it, because I don’t talk about it at all.”
[Also: Jeremy Lin's marketability taking a serious hit]
Jack, a valuable reserve guard for Golden State whose been traded four times in an eight-year career, has been key in helping Gay cope with the distractions.
“There are different emotions that play into it, but I don’t think it plagues him too much,” Jack said. “Basketball is always a safe haven for all of us. He’s going to be able to focus on the task at hand and be that player we’ve seen for seven years now.”
The Grizzlies (23-10) have the Western Conference’s fourth-best record and are 2½ games behind the San Antonio Spurs in the Southwest Division. Memphis has won four of its past five games and went undefeated on a three-game road trip that concluded Wednesday. If the team stays intact, Gay believes the Grizzlies will be title contenders.
“We can’t control [what trades happen], but if [the roster’s core remains] we have a chance to be special,” he said.
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I read this earlier, and I gotta say I really don't get it. The one thing this team doesn't need more of is wing players. We need more bigs and ball handlers.
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He better be careful because he'd be the one to go in order to get Gay here
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it's a shame it's not MEM moving to Seattle instead of SAC.
that's a solid squad in MEM and no one shows up to watch them. no way they'd be doing this if they were selling tickets. at least SAC still has a fan base...
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i didnt know Gay is only 26, lol
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To get Gay, Cs must send 2 good players to Memphis
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Sure we can trade green and bass for Rudy and hadaddi
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it's a shame it's not MEM moving to Seattle instead of SAC.
that's a solid squad in MEM and no one shows up to watch them. no way they'd be doing this if they were selling tickets. at least SAC still has a fan base...
Memphis has one of the best fan bases in the NBA.
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I can only imagine what Rondo has been saying to Josh Smith.
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It still baffles me that Memphis is trying to trade Gay. Aren't they one of the best teams in the league?
Anyway Gay is a pipe dream. Memphis can get much better value elsewhere. Forget about him before you hurt yourself.
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it's a shame it's not MEM moving to Seattle instead of SAC.
that's a solid squad in MEM and no one shows up to watch them. no way they'd be doing this if they were selling tickets. at least SAC still has a fan base...
Great point actually.
i didnt know Gay is only 26, lol
Another great point. Had no idea.
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it's a shame it's not MEM moving to Seattle instead of SAC.
that's a solid squad in MEM and no one shows up to watch them. no way they'd be doing this if they were selling tickets. at least SAC still has a fan base...
Memphis has one of the best fan bases in the NBA.
Yup. I think Dub must have them confused with Atlanta's fans.
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Memphis is only moving Gay to either get better or save money. We can't help them there.
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He better be careful because he'd be the one to go in order to get Gay here
lol... if this happens ;D oh my!
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He better be careful because he'd be the one to go in order to get Gay here
lol... if this happens ;D oh my!
Rondo and Green for Conley and Gay? Wow! ;D
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it's a shame it's not MEM moving to Seattle instead of SAC.
that's a solid squad in MEM and no one shows up to watch them. no way they'd be doing this if they were selling tickets. at least SAC still has a fan base...
Memphis has one of the best fan bases in the NBA.
Yup. I think Dub must have them confused with Atlanta's fans.
One year of showing up (good for 16th in attendance) for games after your team wins 41 games (in 66 game season) makes you a good fanbase?
Okay......
I guess by those standards who has bad fans? Heat/Atlanta?
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it's a shame it's not MEM moving to Seattle instead of SAC.
that's a solid squad in MEM and no one shows up to watch them. no way they'd be doing this if they were selling tickets. at least SAC still has a fan base...
Memphis has one of the best fan bases in the NBA.
I am in memphis on business right now. They play the spurs tomorrow but i think i will pass on that game and just wait til i get back home and go to the celtics-hornets game in march. :D
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it's a shame it's not MEM moving to Seattle instead of SAC.
that's a solid squad in MEM and no one shows up to watch them. no way they'd be doing this if they were selling tickets. at least SAC still has a fan base...
I think they would be trying to trade him even if they were a high revenue club. Gay is not even close to being worth the max deal he has. The strength of their team resides in their bigs and defense. Gay's been good for their defense but he leads their team in shots and usage despite being a low-efficiency scorer who doesn't create much for his teammates. Someone like Dudley, who is a better shooter and more unselfish, would be a very fine replacement for Gay at a fraction of the money.