Griz latest big trade sends Gay to Toronto

Posted: Thursday, January 31, 2013 7:00 pm

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Basketball Writer
Rudy Gay is on his way to Toronto in the latest and most dramatic move in the Memphis Grizzlies makeover, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press.
The Grizzlies agreed to trade their star swingman to the Raptors on Wednesday, parting with the leading scorer on a team that has aspirations of making a run in the powerful Western Conference. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.
The Raptors gave up point guard Jose Calderon and forward Ed Davis in the deal.
Another person familiar with the negotiations said the Grizzlies were in discussion with the Detroit Pistons to swap Calderon for Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince.
The moves surprised many around the league, including Calderon.
“It’s been my home for eight years,” Calderon said in Atlanta, shortly before leaving the arena.
Prince and Daye were both listed as inactive for the game against the Pacers in Indiana on Wednesday night, but a Pistons spokesman decline to comment.
Gay, averaging 17.2 points and 5.9 rebounds, signed a five-year, $82 million maximum contract in July 2010 with Memphis.
The 6-foot-8 small forward is due $16.5 million this season with $37 million more over the next two years.
That’s a big number for new owner Robert Pera, who took over the franchise last November and has quickly started addressing the team’s salary situation.
Just over a week ago, the Grizzlies sent valuable reserve Marreese Speights and two other players to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a move that cleared $6.4 million in salary and avoided a $4 million luxury tax hit this season.
Memphis coach Lionel Hollins had been lobbying to keep his five starters together the rest of this season, but he apparently lost that fight.
It’s a significant move for a team that was fourth in the Western Conference and three games behind the third-place Clippers.
Published in The Messenger 1.31.13