NBA Trade Speculation: 15 Ways the Cleveland Cavaliers Can Land Rudy Gay
After finishing the 2010-2011 NBA season at 19-63, an Eastern Conference worst, the Cleveland Cavaliers were compensated with the first and fourth overall picks in the upcoming NBA draft.
Now, while Cleveland owner Dan Gilbert has already stated that the Cavs want to draft point guard Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 overall selection, the team still has enough talent and substance to trade for a sure fire scorer.
In comes Rudy Gay.
After being drafted eighth overall by the Houston Rockets in 2006, Rudy Gay has become one of the better pure scorers in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging nearly 20 ppg over his past two seasons.
However, considering the Grizzlies made the biggest playoff run in team history this year without an injured Gay, many people are wondering if Memphis could do without his services.
This raises many questions revolving around the Cavaliers and what they have going on within the organization. A search for the next best thing to LeBron James has to be an ongoing process.
If given the opportunity, why wouldn't Cleveland trade for Rudy Gay and try to turn their ship around?
Despite their second worst NBA record this year, the Cavaliers still have some promising talent that could compliment Gay, including J.J. Hickson, Daniel Gibson, Antawn Jamison, Ramon Sessions and Anderson Varejao.
Given their current draft pick abilities, along with some young talented players currently on their roster, what can the Cleveland Cavaliers do to acquire Rudy Gay from the Memphis Grizzlies?
15. J.J. Hickson, Daniel Gibson and Cash Considerations
1 of 15
Hickson is obviously the prized player that Cleveland has to offer.
The 22-year-old averaged nearly 14 PPG and nine RPG this season and is able to play both forward and center.
With much speculation about Marc Gasol leaving Memphis to go play for a more serious contender, bringing in Hickson makes a whole lot of sense.
He'd bring an energetic attitude off the bench, and the Grizzlies could actually start him at the four spot and move Zach Randolph to center.
Daniel Gibson would be a throw in piece to give Memphis some scoring off the bench.
He averaged nearly 12 PPG last year and would instantly be one of the team's most prolific outside threats.
14. Anderson Varejao, Antawn Jamison and Daniel Gibson
2 of 15
A four player trade, in which Cleveland gives up three-for-one, seems fairly unlikely. But going after Varejao and Jamison wouldn't be a bad thing for Memphis.
If they do in fact lose Gasol to another team, which is something I'll be mentioning a whole lot of, getting serious depth at the four and five spots could push the Grizzlies into yearly contention.
Jamison is still a solid role player who could instantly compliment Randolph's scoring, giving the veteran a chance to hit the boards and pose a threat as an mid-range scorer.
Varejao could become a big-time defender in the West after nearly averaging a double-double in 2010 with 1.2 BPG.
Both big men would give Memphis a chance to form a more formidable attack down low off the bench, lending a hand to Randolph.
The Grizzlies currently have Leon Powe and Darrell Arthur coming off the bench, so grabbing the Cavs big two would be an obvious upgrade.
Gibson could put this deal over the top, lending serious minutes off the bench and allowing the Grizzlies to trade Gay without worries of finding a supplemental scorer.
13. Baron Davis, Daniel Gibson and Cash Considerations
3 of 15
The only problem with this trade is Baron Davis' contract.
The 32-year-old is currently owed $28.6 million over the next two seasons, so unloading his services to the Grizzlies may be harder than you think.
This type of trade, which consists of the Cavs giving up two prominent scorers for Gay, would only be feasible if the Grizzlies keep Gasol and don't inquire Cleveland about a big man.
Of course, the Cavaliers would have to buy-out a big portion of Davis' contract in order to move him.
He's still one of the better scoring point guards in the NBA, so Memphis would still be getting an upgrade over Mike Conley in the scoring department.
12. J.J. Hickson and Antawn Jamison
4 of 15
Jamison and Hickson would be a formidable duo to be involved in a Gay trade.
Hickson, as I mentioned before, is extremely young and he's already cemented himself as an above-average scoring big man.
Jamison consistently provides a solid outside threat at the four spot and could spell Randolph when he gets tired.
This trade would only go down if the Cavs weren't willing to move Anderon Varejao, because the Grizzlies would covet the center more than Jamison strictly based on a defensive need.
11. New York Knicks
5 of 15
This is just speculation.
The Knicks would be more than happy to get any role player they can get their hands on.
Varejao, Hickson, Gibson or Jamison, would all fit that criteria.
New York has enough money to be involved with buying out Baron Davis' contract in order to move him to Memphis.
While the Knicks really don't have anything to offer in return, their monetary abilities may play a major role in a Rudy Gay trade for Cleveland.
10. Antawn Jamison, Baron Davis and Cash Considerations
6 of 15
Once again a trade involving Baron Davis and his massive contract.
Jamison and Davis, while they aren't in their prime, still offer a veteran presence that could do wonders for a young team playing in the West.
A scoring guard off the bench for the Grizzlies is exactly what they need.
It would be an instant upgrade over Greivis Vasquez, even though the rookie had a productive first year off the bench.
Jamison and Davis could provide an all-around formidable bench, giving Memphis serious options late in games.
9. J.J. Hickson, Baron Davis and Cash Considerations
7 of 15
This is extremely similar to the last trade option.
Getting depth is the key to winning, especially in the West and even more so in the playoffs.
Acquiring Davis would allow the Grizzlies to insert the scoring guard where they see fit, creating an off the bench option that can put the ball in the basket and create for Zach Randolph and O.J. Mayo.
Hickson would provide a similar presence as Jamison could, but he's much younger and more hungry to prove himself in the NBA.
8. Los Angeles Lakers
8 of 15
With Mike Brown as their new coach, the Lakers could be looking to get into the mix.
Brown, who previously coached the Cavaliers, knows how to motivate and coach players like Hickson, Gibson, Varejao, and even Jamison.
After being swept by the Western Conference champions Dallas Mavericks, the Lakers are not a team that will sit back and avoid making off-season moves.
An option for the Lakers would be to possibly land Rudy Gay, but involving themselves for the services of Hickson and Jamison seem more likely.
Memphis could let go of Rudy Gay if they were to acquire say Andrew Bynum or Ron Artest.
Either player would be a formidable addition to the Grizzlies up and coming team, and it would allow Cleveland to acquire Gay through Los Angeles.
7. No. 4 Overall Pick, Baron Davis and Cash Considerations
9 of 15
This seems like one of the more likely scenarios in which the Cavaliers get Rudy Gay from Memphis.
Moving Davis' contract would be a little easier if he's the only player being traded from Cleveland.
If Memphis were to trade Gay and get Davis, they'd surely lose youth, but still maintain a veteran scoring presence off the bench.
The main factor in this trade option is the no. 4 overall pick.
Cleveland got too lucky by getting the first and fourth picks, so getting rid of one of them for a potential perennial All-Star is a no-brainer.
It all depends on how much the Grizzlies covet the fourth overall pick and who they think they can draft at that position.
6. No. 4 Overall Pick, Daniel Gibson and Cash Considerations
10 of 15
Probably a better option for the Grizzlies, involving Gibson with the No. 4 overall pick instead of Baron Davis, would be up to Dan Gilbert and company.
There's no doubt that the Cavs want to keep Gibson over Davis.
Moving Davis would not only open more cap room to sign somebody else besides Rudy Gay, but keeping Gibson would prolong the fan favorite's stay in Cleveland.
However, Gibson is more than movable when it comes to acquiring a player of Gay's caliber, so this trade is highly likely.
5. Boston Celtics
11 of 15
Another option for a three team trade.
Boston's frontcourt is becoming old and depleted.
They looked slow against Miami during the playoffs this year, unable to match-up against the Heat's speed and youth.
Shaq and Glen Davis are impending unrestricted free-agents heading into this offseason, and with Kevin Garnett and Jermaine O'Neal's contracts coming to an end after next year, the Celtics are in need of some youth.
Who better than J.J. Hickson or Anderson Varejao?
Both have already shown that when they're surrounded with a talented winning team, they're able to provide huge minutes against any NBA squad.
Boston may even be interested in Daniel Gibson or Baron Davis.
It all depends on who the Celtics resign and who they let go. They may be in the market for a young power forward-center, so don't count them out as a third team in a Cleveland-Memphis Rudy Gay trade.
4. J.J. Hickson, Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson
12 of 15
If the Cavs were to give up Hickson, Varejao and Gibson, they'd have to be sure they could replace those talents via the draft.
It would set Cleveland up with Rudy Gay and Kyrie Irving leading the offense, allowing Dan Gilbert to draft a big man with the No. 4 overall pick.
For Memphis, they'd get both big men to compliment Randolph and Gasol, if they keep Pau's brother, and the trade would provide them with an instant three-point threat off the bench.
The only problem with this trade would be the fact that Memphis may try to include another player to trade to Cleveland.
This would make it extremely hard for the Cavs to take on two contracts from the Grizzlies, two draft pick contracts and the already $28.6 million deal that Davis is under.
3. No. 4 Overall Pick and J.J. Hickson
13 of 15
This deals make the most sense.
Hickson is very young and has been getting better by the season.
His ability to shutdown smaller forwards, while posing as a formidable scoring big man, may be enough to pry Gay away from Memphis.
Hickson would be dealt alongside the No. 4 overall pick, giving Memphis the option to draft a big man to replace Gasol if he leaves, or select another scoring threat to replace Gay.
2. No. 4 Overall Draft Pick and Anderson Varejao
14 of 15
There's really no explanation needed.
This is the same exact trade than the previous, but it involves Varejao instead of J.J. Hickson.
It would be a matter of preference for Memphis.
Hickson or Varejao?
1. No. 1 Overall Draft Pick
15 of 15
Trading the No. 1 overall selection for Rudy Gay is the last resort.
The Cavaliers have already stressed their interest in Kyrie Irving as their franchise player, but if it means getting an established 24-year-old scorer in the NBA, then it may be worth it.
For Memphis, they'd be borderline stupid not to do this deal.
Even if they didn't feel that Irving is the guy they want, the Grizzlies could easily go after somebody else.
Maybe even Derrick Williams.
It's nearly inevitable that Rudy Gay will go somewhere else, and considering that Marc Gasol could be on the move as well, gaining some All-Star potential via the No. 1 overall pick would provide Memphis with instant offensive supplements.
