Rudy Gay Trade Rumors: Raptors Putting Together Deal For Grizzlies' Star, According To Report

The Toronto Raptors currently hold the No. 8 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, but many executives believe they will trade the pick to acquire more veteran help. One such player could be Memphis Grizzlies forward Rudy Gay. ESPN's Chad Ford reports that many around the league believe the Raptors are putting together some sort of trade package to acquire Gay.

I agree that the Raptors are looking to move the pick. They've been trying to package it with another young player like Ed Davis and a vet (Bargnani or Calderon). I think they want a big time player on the wing so that they can lure Steve Nash this summer. The guy most people in the league believe they are after via trade is Rudy Gay.

Gay led the Grizzlies in scoring last season, and there hasn't been a clear indication yet from the Grizzlies that they are looking to trade him. However, he struggled in their first-round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, and his contract (he's owed $53 million for the next three years) is problematic to a Grizzlies team that owes $63 million to four players (Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley) in 2013-14, when harsher luxury-tax penalties kick in. The Raptors, meanwhile, may be looking at a big jump next season with the likely addition of Jonas Valanciunas, last year's No. 5 pick, from Lithuania.

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