Rudy Gay will miss four weeks with a partially separated shoulder, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal reports. Gay left the Memphis Grizzlies' win at Philadelphia early, and a Wednesday MRI revealed the partial tear. The Grizzlies don't have another game scheduled until after All-Star Weekend, but with Gay out through the first half of March, Memphis is left reeling.
Rudy Gay Injury Costs Grizzlies Their Star For At Least Four Weeks
Franchise owner Michael Heisley has all but demanded a playoff berth; the Grizzlies currently sit a half-game behind the Nuggets and Jazz for the No. 8 seed in the West, and just a game and a half behind Portland for No. 6. But Gay is vital in propping up Memphis' average offense; without him, Zach Randolph will have a remarkable lack of scoring help, and the Grizzlies' perimeter offense will be at a disadvantage nearly every night.
If there's any fortune in timing, the injury comes before the NBA trade deadline (Feb. 24). Last year, in a move to push for the playoffs, Memphis traded a first-round pick for Ronnie Brewer, who promptly had what effectively became a season-ending injury. If Memphis is concerned Gay's absence could end the team's playoff bid prematurely, the franchise could become even more aggressive on the trade market.
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