Memphis Grizzlies: Will Rudy Gay's Injury Stop OJ Mayo From Being Traded?
Swingman Rudy Gay recently injured his shoulder and is expected to be out of the lineup for a month or longer. This injury will hurt the Grizzlies severely. Gay is averaging around 20 ppg along with six rebounds. The injury could not have come at a worse time for the Grizzlies. The organization is in prime position for a playoff run and is 8-2 in the last ten games.
The All-Star break is approaching and this is the time of the season where trade rumors heat up day by day. Shooting Guard OJ Mayo has been a popular name in various trade rumors since the start of the season. Mayo has had a rocky season thus far. Executives around the NBA know that Mayo has yet to reach his ceiling as a basketball player and is worth trading for.
It has become very intriguing with the recent injury of Rudy Gay. With Gay out of the lineup the Grizzlies lack strong wing play. Sam Young and Tony Allen may not be capable enough to pick up the slack. There is already a glaring hole at the shooting guard position due to the inconsistencies of OJ Mayo and lack of production from rookie Xavier Henry. Tony Allen has given the team quality minutes, but he is at his best when is a role player.
The injury of Rudy Gay creates a heavy burden for Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, and Zach Randolph. These three are capable of scoring more points, but the loss of Gay will make each player work harder. Teams will continue to double team Randolph, daring players such as Tony Allen and Sam Young to hit shots from the outside.
OJ Mayo can come back into good graces if he shows that he is the Mayo of old. Mayo can fill the void of averaging 20 plus points a game with Gay out of the lineup. It is unknown if Mayo will be around after the trade deadline. Gay's shoulder injury may have put a cog in the trade process of trading Mayo.
Coach Lionel Hollins has dealt with adversity pretty well this season. This may be a step backwards for the Grizzlies if they do not find an answer quick. Standing pat and keeping Mayo may be the way to go. If the Grizzlies chose otherwise it would be best for them to land someone that can help shoulder the load to keep the Grizzlies in the playoff hunt.
