4-Team Blockbuster to land Rudy Gay

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Here is the trade on the ESPN Trade Machine, exluding draft picks (please note that Kleiza was used in place of Bayless, since their salaries are roughly the same): http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6vhmpl4

To Golden State
- Bayless (backup PG behind Curry)
- Pondexter (for salary balancing for Memphis - cheap expiring contract)
- Toronto's 2013 2nd round pick

To Philadelphia
- Calderon (backup PG behind Holiday)
- Davis (backup PF behind Allen/Thad Young)
- J.Johnson (SF/PF depth, or possibly even starting SF with Harkless off the bench)
- Memphis' 2013 1st round pick

To Memphis
- Iguodala (starting SF, to replace Gay)
- Wright (backup SF - 3pt specialist)
- DeRozan (starting SG, to replace Mayo)

To Toronto
- Gay (starting SF)
- Vucevic (backup C, behind Valanciunas)


Toronto's next moves after trade:
1. Sign Flynn to be backup PG
2. Re-sign Magloire to be 3rd C
3. Re-sign Uzoh to be 3rd PG


LINEUP
C: Valanciunas, Vucevic, Magloire
PF: Bargnani, Amir, Acy
SF: Gay, Kleiza
SG: Fields, Ross
PG: Lowry, Flynn, Uzoh

- Toronto would only be about $5M over the salary cap (if Magloire/Acy/Uzoh each get $1M and Flynn gets about $2.5M)

[Blacklash2k4]

You really want Gay don't you, CalgaryRapsFan? :P

[CalgaryRapsFan]

You really want Gay don't you, CalgaryRapsFan? :P

Yes. He is significantly better than any of our current wings. Even if just Calderon & DeRozan are traded away, Gay's salary would only add just over $2.5M incrementally to the total team salary, so it's hardly the cap handicap that some people want to make it out to be. He is still young and can grow organically with the team's core for the next 5-8 years.

[Maleko]

If we added in a S&T (GS) for Brandon Rush I am all in.

I like the trade.

[charlesnba23]

Yeah that's a great trade. Let's pray for this to happen. Til then, I propose this one but it won't happen neither: Jose, DeMar, James, Ed, 2013 second round pick and TE for Rudy and Tony.

[CalgaryRapsFan]

With Gray allegedly re-signing with Toronto, I've reworked the trade, since it makes little sense for Vucevic to wind up in Toronto. I think this deal would help all 4 teams - I think I'm being objective, but would like to hear some other thoughts.

To Philadelphia
- Calderon
- Davis
- J.Johnson
- Pargo
- GS's 2013 2nd round pick
- Toronto's 2013 2nd round pick could also be included, if they need a little more

To Memphis
- Iguodala
- DeRozan
- Wright

To Golden State
- Bayless (S&T)
- Pondexter
- Memphis' 2013 1st round pick

To Toronto
- Gay
- Rush (S&T)


Philadelphia
- Calderon provides veteran leadership/mentoring from the backup PG spot, as a $10.5M expiring contract
- Davis & JJ provide depth/flexibility at PF/SF (I could even see JJ starting at SF ahead of Harkless, if Thad Young starts at PF)
- Pargo is included as salary matching/dumping for Memphis, becoming their 3rd string PG ($1M expiring contract)
- add a 2nd round pick
- only add $1.9M to the total team salary

Memphis
- Iguodala replaces Gay as a more defensive-minded starting SF
- Wright replaces Pondexter at backup SF, providing much needed 3pt shooting
- DeRozan replaces the departed Mayo as the offensive part of their SG tandem (with Allen)
- only add $3.5M to the total team salary

Golden State
- Bayless becomes their backup PG, providing solid insurance behind injury-prone Curry
- Pondexter is included as salary matching/dumping for Memphis, becoming their cheap 3rd string SF ($1.2M expiring contract, with team option for 2013-14)
- add a 1st round pick
- would only add $1.1M to the total team salary (if Bayless were to sign at his QO amount of approx. $4M)

Toronto
- Gay becomes the starting SF (expensive, but only 26 next season, so should be part of Raps' core for many years - under contract for next two years, with third year being a player option)
- Rush is added to the wing rotation, likely starting to balance the 1st unit, providing much needed 3pt shooting (approx $4.5M)
- a cheap backup PG needs to be added, perhaps a guy like Flynn (approx $2.5M)
- assume Acy ($1M), Gray ($3M), Magloire ($1M) and Uzoh ($1M) all sign/re-sign
--> Toronto would be left with a 14 man roster, with total team salary at approx. $67M


Toronto Depth Chart
C: Valanciunas, Gray, Magloire
PF: Bargnani, Amir, Acy
SF: Gay, Kleiza
SG: Rush, Fields, Ross
PG: Lowry, Flynn, Uzoh

2nd Unit Rotation
C: Gray (11th man, used when needed to matchup against big opposition C's)
C/PF: Amir
PF/SF: Kleiza
SF/SG: Fields
SG: Ross
PG: Flynn


ESPN Trade Machine Link: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=79g3e6a

* Kleiza was used as a placeholder for Bayless, as their salaries are pretty close
** Rush was not included in the deal but it would work, as Toronto would have roughly $23M salary going out, with only Gay's $16.5M salary coming back (Rush @ $4.5M would total $21M salary coming back)

[ReubenJRD]

With Gray allegedly re-signing with Toronto, I've reworked the trade, since it makes little sense for Vucevic to wind up in Toronto. I think this deal would help all 4 teams - I think I'm being objective, but would like to hear some other thoughts.

To Philadelphia
- Calderon
- Davis
- J.Johnson
- Pargo
- GS's 2013 2nd round pick
- Toronto's 2013 2nd round pick could also be included, if they need a little more

To Memphis
- Iguodala
- DeRozan
- Wright

To Golden State
- Bayless (S&T)
- Pondexter
- Memphis' 2013 1st round pick

To Toronto
- Gay
- Rush (S&T)


Philadelphia
- Calderon provides veteran leadership/mentoring from the backup PG spot, as a $10.5M expiring contract
- Davis & JJ provide depth/flexibility at PF/SF (I could even see JJ starting at SF ahead of Harkless, if Thad Young starts at PF)
- Pargo is included as salary matching/dumping for Memphis, becoming their 3rd string PG ($1M expiring contract)
- add a 2nd round pick
- only add $1.9M to the total team salary

Memphis
- Iguodala replaces Gay as a more defensive-minded starting SF
- Wright replaces Pondexter at backup SF, providing much needed 3pt shooting
- DeRozan replaces the departed Mayo as the offensive part of their SG tandem (with Allen)
- only add $3.5M to the total team salary

Golden State
- Bayless becomes their backup PG, providing solid insurance behind injury-prone Curry
- Pondexter is included as salary matching/dumping for Memphis, becoming their cheap 3rd string SF ($1.2M expiring contract, with team option for 2013-14)
- add a 1st round pick
- would only add $1.1M to the total team salary (if Bayless were to sign at his QO amount of approx. $4M)

Toronto
- Gay becomes the starting SF (expensive, but only 26 next season, so should be part of Raps' core for many years - under contract for next two years, with third year being a player option)
- Rush is added to the wing rotation, likely starting to balance the 1st unit, providing much needed 3pt shooting (approx $4.5M)
- a cheap backup PG needs to be added, perhaps a guy like Flynn (approx $2.5M)
- assume Acy ($1M), Gray ($3M), Magloire ($1M) and Uzoh ($1M) all sign/re-sign
--> Toronto would be left with a 14 man roster, with total team salary at approx. $67M


Toronto Depth Chart
C: Valanciunas, Gray, Magloire
PF: Bargnani, Amir, Acy
SF: Gay, Kleiza
SG: Rush, Fields, Ross
PG: Lowry, Flynn, Uzoh

2nd Unit Rotation
C: Gray (11th man, used when needed to matchup against big opposition C's)
C/PF: Amir
PF/SF: Kleiza
SF/SG: Fields
SG: Ross
PG: Flynn


ESPN Trade Machine Link: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=79g3e6a

* Kleiza was used as a placeholder for Bayless, as their salaries are pretty close
** Rush was not included in the deal but it would work, as Toronto would have roughly $23M salary going out, with only Gay's $16.5M salary coming back (Rush @ $4.5M would total $21M salary coming back)

Over a talent stand-point, I have Fields over Rush at the starting 5 position, but this could look like it works for all teams well. But what scares me is Flynn backing up Lowry...

[CalgaryRapsFan]

Over a talent stand-point, I have Fields over Rush at the starting 5 position, but this could look like it works for all teams well. But what scares me is Flynn backing up Lowry...

I think Rush would better compliment the loaded starting unit, due to his high 3pt shooting %. I also like Fields and Ross on the wings on the 2nd unit, as one is a cutter (Fields) and the other an outside shoter (Ross); Rush and Ross would be 2 outside shooters and no cutters. I don't think Rush is the better player overall and Fields would likely wind up playing more minutes, but I do like the balance Rush brings at the start of each half.

You're absolutely right that the only negative I see is the weakened backup PG position. Lowry seems like a high-minutes type of player and I think Flynn still has a high upside (he was a top-10 draft pick), but that would be the one weak-link. Toronto could go for a pricier backup, but that would inch them closer to the luxury cap level.