The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed in principle to trade Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors, and details are still being worked out according to ESPN’s Marc Stein: “The Memphis Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors have agreed in principle on a trade that will send leading scorer Rudy Gay to the Raptors, according to sources with knowledge of the deal. Sources told ESPN.com that the Grizzlies will acquire forward Ed Davis and veteran guard Jose Calderon from the Raptors and then move Calderon on to a third team to ultimately make this a three-team deal.”
While the Memphis front office must be happy to have Gay off the books, the players in the locker room do not seem to share that same enthusiasm.
More from Stein: “Sources told ESPN.com the Grizzlies will acquire forward Ed Davis and veteran guard Jose Calderon from the Raptors and then move Calderon to a third team to ultimately make this a three-team deal. The Detroit Pistons, sources said, are one of the prime options to take on Calderon, having pursued the Spanish floor leader all season. Sources told ESPN.com that the Pistons have agreed to send Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye to the Grizzlies to acquire Calderon as part of the trade. Memphis, sources said, is also expected to receive a second-round pick from Toronto as part of the deal. The Raptors, sources said, are expected to take on Grizzlies reserve center Hamed Haddadi in addition to Gay. The Dallas Mavericks, sources say, were also interested in acquiring Calderon but were not prepared to surrender swingman Vince Carter, whom Memphis coveted to help fill the void created by Gay’s departure.”
In other news:
- Rajon Rondo will seek a second opinion on his torn ACL, according to CSNNE.com: Boston Celtics guard Rajon Rondo will get a second opinion within days on his torn right ACL injury. And that second opinion may come from arguably the best in the business – famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. “He (Dr. Andrews) is one that we’re definitely considering,” Rondo’s agent Bill Duffy, told CSNNE.com. “If he’s No. 1, there’s a couple 1As and 1Bs we’re looking at as well.”
- The race is on for Greg Oden, and Miami, Cleveland and Boston are on the short list, according to FOXSports Florida: Conley (Oden’s agent) confirmed another team on Oden’s list is Cleveland. He said Boston also could be a possibility although there haven’t been conversations yet with the Celtics. If the Heat were to sign Oden this season, they would need to have an open roster spot. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Wednesday the Heat will guarantee the contract of forward Jarvis Varnado for the rest of the season after his second 10-day contract expired. That would give Miami 14 players with guaranteed deals.
However, as of late this afternoon, ESPN NBA reporter Chris Broussard tweeted:
- Kyrie Irving, Damian Lillard and Anthony Davis are set to headline the 2013 BBVA Rising Stars Challenge, per NBA.com at All-Star Weekend: The BBVA Rising Stars Challenge — televised live nationally on TNT at 9 p.m. ET and broadcast live on ESPN Radio, with live audio also available on NBA.com in multiple languages — features two teams each consisting of nine rookies and sophomores mixed together, drafted from a pool selected by the NBA’s assistant coaches.
- Brook Lopez has been selected to replace Rajon Rondo in the 2013 All-Star game, according to NBA.com – more here from the boss at SheridanHoops: “The best center in the NBA, statistically at least, is going to the All-Star Game after all. Brook Lopez was chosen Wednesday by commissioner David Stern to replace the injured Rajon Rondo in the league’s showcase event on Feb. 17. The news came just hours before Lopez and the Nets were set to play the Eastern Conference-leading Miami Heat at the Barclays Center.”