Rudy Gay remains center of trade talks as deadline approaches

With less than a month remaining before the NBA trade deadline, talks between the Memphis Grizzlies and other teams revolving around forward Rudy Gay have heated up. According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, the Grizzlies have most recently engaged in serious talks with the Toronto Raptors, who also have interest in forward Darrell Arthur. Other clubs mentioned in Stein’s report include the Boston Celtics, who may have to part with Paul Pierce in a potential deal for Gay.

Currently the six-year veteran has two years left on his contract that will pay him more than $35 million. The sizeable figure has warded off some teams from making offers for his services, however, in addition to offering to take on the salary, the Raptors have made both promising point guard Jose Calderon and young forward Ed Davis available. Gay is currently in the midst of his worst season since his rookie campaign, averaging just 17 points and fewer than six rebounds per game while shooting below 40 percent.

Last week, the Grizzlies completed a small deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers to keep them under the NBA’s luxury tax threshold for the season. Now that the franchise is not forced financially to make a move, Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins reportedly does not want to part with the former UConn star. His club is currently slotted fourth in the Western Conference and has won five out of its last seven.

Meanwhile, clubs like Toronto and Boston who figure to be fighting for a playoff spot down the stretch, see a potential berth solidified with the addition of Gay. The Raptors are five and a half games out of the final playoff spot whereas Boston, who presently owns the No. 8 seed in the East, sits at least three games ahead of their competition.

For his career, Gay has averaged 17.9 points, 5.8 rebounds and shot 45.5 percent from the field. When healthy, he has started every game for Memphis since 2009.