Memphis Grizzlies owner quashes rumours about Rudy g*y trade – NBA Update
Memphis Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley has made it clear that star forward Rudy g*y is not being shopped to other teams. Rumours had been doing the rounds that Rudy g*y was made available for a trade by the Grizzlies.
Grizzlies were supposedly after a draft pick in return for a player presumed to be a bit of a burden on the payroll, especially with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement imposed. g*y is set to make $16.4 million next season after averaging over 19 points
and 6 rebounds in the 2011 – 2012 campaign.
Various NBA franchises had been linked with a move for g*y. These included the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic, who are both fighting to keep their own super stars tied down and looking to bring in some quality support for them.
Golden State Warriors, Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Bobcats were also reportedly interested in acquiring Rudy’s services.
Michael Heisley though has made it clear in no uncertain terms that the small forward is not on the trade market and is still very much a part of the future at Memphis.
"We're not looking to trade Rudy g*y," Heisley told the Commercial Appeal. "We're not shopping him around. Period. Do we sit around and say 'What if we traded Rudy, who could we get?' No. Right now, Rudy is part of the future of this team."
Rudy will be the second highest paid player behind Zach Randolph for the Grizzlies if he stays with the team over the summer. Interestingly, the two players have taken turns getting injured over the last two campaigns and Memphis did better in the 2010 –
2011 playoffs when g*y was out.
With both players fit and ready the Grizzlies crashed out in the first round of the playoffs to a high flying Los Angeles Clippers side. The defeat came as a bit of a shock to the Grizzlies who had aimed for as high as an NBA Finals appearance in the post
season.
The Grizzlies were considered dark horses by pundits around the NBA because of the depth and quality at their disposal but the lack of a genuine star cost them in shape of a first round exit.
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