NBA Trade Rumors: Is Rudy Gay the Player to Turn the Cleveland Cavaliers Around?

"We have no plans whatsoever to trade him."  

These were the words of Michael Heisley, owner of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Yeah, and Nick Saban said he wouldn't be the next head coach at Alabama.

So let's assume, for the fun of all things NBA trade rumors, that Rudy Gay could be traded this offseason. The Cavaliers have already reportedly offered the No. 4 overall pick along with their trade exception to Memphis for Gay and the four years and $68 million left on his deal.

Is this even a smart move, picking up close to $70 million for a player coming off a shoulder injury?

In a word, maybe.

Rudy Gay has shown a lot in his five seasons. His high scoring average (19.8 ppg) coupled with a high shooting percentage (47.1) are very impressive for a small forward, and his late game heroics this past season against a certain south Florida team proved much to the delight of Cavaliers fans.

He's proven he can lead an above average Western Conference playoff team.

What about a 19-win Cavalier squad?

Is Rudy Gay not just good enough to lead Cleveland back to the playoffs, but take home a title?

It appears Cavs management thinks so with their proposed trade, but I'm not so sure.

Gay is a tremendous player, no doubt about it. He's a terrific scorer from everywhere on the court and has proven he can take and make the late shots in games.

He also happens to be a true small forward. No offense to Joey Graham, but the man didn't quite secure the position last year.

Gay fulfills many needs for Cleveland, sure. His services, however, may come at too high a price.

Not only would the Cavs be taking on nearly $70 million, the trade would also mean almost certainly passing on Derrick Williams, who could turn out to be better, and much cheaper, than Gay.

By sacrificing the fourth overall pick in the trade, the Cavs would also be forced to pass on the next great NBA center, Enes Kanter. 

Who really wins in this deal?

I like the idea of bringing in a veteran to add some stability to the team while they begin to grow into a contender once again. Antawn Jamison and Baron Davis won't be around much longer, and the Cavs would be wise to use the trade exception to their advantage if possible.

Giving up the fourth overall pick when it could very well yield Enes Kanter is a huge risk. It's also evident that the Grizzlies would demand more.

I say, let them keep him. Memphis is in a good position now with their young core and early playoff success.

Wait until the first offer comes in for restricted free agent Marc Gasol. Wait until the small market Grizzlies realize they have four large contract extensions with Gay, Zach Randolph, Mike Conley and Gasol and may need to unload a little salary to avoid losing the franchise money. Wait until Memphis decides to pick up the phone and make the call, looking for a taker for one of their higher priced stars.

If this happens and the asking price comes down, then Rudy Gay should be a welcome addition in Cleveland. 

If it doesn't, than Enes Kanter and $70 million to spend somewhere else works out just fine too.