STEALING FROM MEMPHIS: PART DEUX

When Memphis traded their best player Pau Gasol for his little brother and some spare change, the Grizzlie organization incurred the wrath of the other western conference teams and magically turned the LA Lakers from a middling playoff team to championship contender.  But the move that Chris Wallace later admitted wasn’t even his best offer, may have also set a precedence for future dealings with the Memphis Grizzlies.  Unlike many NBA teams, the Grizzlies’ best players may not be untouchable.

According to Ronald Tillery of the commercial appeal, the Grizzlies and Rudy Gay are not agreeing on talks of a contract extension.  The two parties have until Halloween to workout an extension and if an agreement isn’t reached by then, Gay would become a restricted free agent the summer of 2010.  Although not reaching an agreement wouldn’t mean the end of Gay playing for the Grizzlies, it would at least make things awkward for a time and put Gay’s future in doubt. 

Right now probably isn’t the right time, but if Gay fails to sign an extension, then I think he should become a major target for the Utah Jazz.  The wing position is the weakest for the Utah Jazz.  I love Ronnie Brewer and CJ Miles and Andrei Kirilenko, but the Jazz could use an upgrade and Gay would be one.  I don’t know what it would take to acquire Memphis’ star player, but the Jazz aren’t going to steal him away, Pau Gasol-style. 

I think the Grizzlies would at least have to consider a deal involving Carlos Boozer or one of the Jazz’s up and coming wings, Brewer or Miles.  Picks and perhaps Fesenko or Koufos would have to be involved, but Memphis is below the salary cap, so their would be some wiggle room contract wise.  Perhaps the Jazz could even volunteer to pay Jerry Stackhouse’s remaining salary, or take on Marko Jaric’s promised money.

I think if this deal were to work out, it would have to play out through part of the season.  Carlos Boozer needs to show that he can stay healthy and that he will play well.  If he does and Zach Randolph doesn’t work out for the Grizzlies (a given), then I think the idea of trading for Boozer becomes palatable for the Grizzlies.  It would be the perfect move for the Jazz.  They could start Gay along with Williams, Brewer, Millsap and Okur and the Jazz wouldn’t have two non-shooters playing the wing positions at the same time.  Gay is an above average outside shooter.  Kirilenko could get extended minutes at his natural position, power forward, and Gay would benefit from playing with a true point guard who can set him up for easy baskets. 

The best part of the trade is that Rudy Gay will make approximately $4 million each of the next two seasons, so he would add a relatively low cost to next year’s payroll.  And then the Jazz could work out an extension with Gay that wouldn’t kick in until Kirilenko’s large contract came off the books.  So for the Jazz, it would be a trade to help them in the short term and the long run.