Knicks consider signing Kenyon Martin/Suns in trade talks for Rudy Gay

By Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc J. Spears | Yahoo! Sports

As Rasheed Wallace's foot injury lingers, the New York Knicks are showing a renewed interest in free-agent forward Kenyon Martin, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Kenyon Martin spent last season with the Clippers. (Getty Images)
The Knicks have done some additional fact-finding on Martin in recent days, sources said.
Martin has been open-minded about the possibility of accepting a 10-day contract to get the opportunity to prove his value to the Knicks, sources said.

Wallace has missed 12 straight games with what the Knicks call a "stress reaction" in his left foot. The uncertainty surrounding Wallace's return has made the Knicks circle back on the possibility of signing Martin, sources said.
Wallace's status is the "critical piece" to the Knicks signing Martin, one league official said.
Martin, 35, played the most reduced role of his career with the Los Angeles Clippers in his 12th season in 2011-12. The Knicks' roster includes four former teammates of Martin that he's has good relationships with: Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith, Marcus Camby and Jason Kidd.
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YAHOO SPORTS

The Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns are engaged in trade talks centered on forward Rudy Gay, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Rudy Gay is averaging 17.8 points and 5.8 rebounds this season. (USA Today Sports)
The Grizzlies have been shopping Gay to multiple teams, and found an interested trade partner with the Suns, sources said.
There's no framework of a possible deal in place, but the Grizzlies have expressed a strong desire that any package involving Gay include Suns forward Jared Dudley and future first-round draft picks, sources said.
In an effort to avoid paying luxury tax in the short term, as well as get off the $17.8 million and $19.3 million owed Gay in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons, new Memphis management has aggressively shopped Gay. The Grizzlies have made proposals on Gay to several teams, front-office sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Gay will make $16.4 million this year.
The Suns have been mindful of their financial state under Phoenix owner Robert Sarver, and there are still doubts within the organization they will ultimately be able to absorb the remainder of Gay's contract.
The Suns own the Los Angeles Lakers' first-round picks in 2013 and 2015.

Under new ownership and management, the Memphis front office is dubious these Grizzlies are constructed to contend for the Western Conference title, sources said. Owner Robert Para has turned basketball operations over to CEO Jason Levien.
Memphis is 22-10 and presently holding the fourth seed in the West.

112288

22-10 and dubious they can contend. John Hollinger must have decreed that Gay's PER is really a purr.

Sam

Sam,

Memphis looking into trading Gay or Randolph is all about money.
They are the second smallet market in the NBA and already are over the salary cap with just their top 4 players next season.

If Mike Conley plays in the playoffs like he did in November and not December, I think Memphis can be a contender.

I agree.

Sam

tjmakz wrote:If Mike Conley plays in the playoffs like he did in November and not December, I think Memphis can be a contender.

Not without Gay and Randolph.

Memphis is not going to trade Gay and Randolph, they would only trade one of them. They will get a pretty decent package for Gay, but not great since he is overpaid when you view his salary in terms of the new CBA.

Here is a trade that I think could help 3 teams.
To Toronto: Rudy Gay. A very solid SF who would be part of the Raptors future with Kyle Lowry, Ed Davis, DeMar DeRozan, Jonas Valanciunas and 2012 1st round pick Terrence Ross. With Toronto's inability to sign quality free agents, this would lock in their top 6 players with multi-year contracts. Add in Bargnani, Fields and John Lucas III, and Toronto should be a team that competes for the playoffs in the East.
To: Memphis: Jose Calderon, Derrick Williams . Calderon would a very solid back up to Mike Conley and Memphis could play both Calderon and Conley in the backcourt on some occasions. Williams would be the starting SF, a role that fits his game more then being a PF, even though he is built like a PF. Memphis would retain Calderon's rights for next season if they wanted to re-sign him or trade him in a sign and trade. The big plus for Memphis is that they would reduce their 2013-14 salaries by $12.8m. That would keep them millions under the luxury tax threshold.
To Minnesota: Amir Johnson. Minnesota already has Dante Cunningham and Kirilinko as SF's and don't have much need for Derrick Williams. Amir Johnson is a tough rebounding and defending PF who could add depth to Minnesota's frontcourt while Love is injured, which looks like will be the rest of this season.

Draft picks could be exchanged if necessary.

mrkleen09 wrote:

tjmakz wrote:If Mike Conley plays in the playoffs like he did in November and not December, I think Memphis can be a contender.

Not without Gay and Randolph.

Exactly what I was thinking. Moreso if they lose Randolph. They played pretty well without Gay last year. I don't think they can win anything without Randolph unless they bring in some type of post player.

tardust wrote:

mrkleen09 wrote:

tjmakz wrote:If Mike Conley plays in the playoffs like he did in November and not December, I think Memphis can be a contender.

Not without Gay and Randolph.

Exactly what I was thinking. Moreso if they lose Randolph. They played pretty well without Gay last year. I don't think they can win anything without Randolph unless they bring in some type of post player.

Gay only missed 1 game last season.

Thank TJ, you are correct. I was thinking about the year before last when Gay missed 28 games. It was Randolph missing the games last year. They may be able to get along without both, who knows.

I feel that Randolph is probably more valuable to Memphis then Gay is.
I think they would be fine moving one and saving $10m or so per year from Gay's contract.