Grizzlies trade several bench players to Cavaliers in salary dump

It’s correct to say that Gay’s much more likely to stick around past the trade deadline. In reality, though, the Grizzlies just kicked the can down the road.

Ultimately, if the Grizzlies want to avoid future luxury tax bills, they’re going to have to trade one of their high-salaried players. That puts us right back where we were when these rumors first started. Gasol is too valuable, Conley is too cost-efficient and Randolph is too old. That leaves Gay as the player that likely will be dealt.

But the key is salaries: the Grizzlies have desperately wanted to get under the luxury tax, the main reason they wanted to get rid of Gay in the first place. Speights is due over $4 million this year, Ellington over $2 million. Dealing them dips Memphis below the tax -- with room to spare -- and will likely keep them from getting rid of Gay.

The prospect of moving Gay was a tough one: first off, he’s set to make over $16 million this season, next season, and the year after that after signing for $82 million in 2010. And while Gay’s a really good player, it’s tough to justify bringing on that type of contract for a player that on many teams would be a second - or maybe third - option: it’s a tough sell to ask teams to bring on about $50 million in contract obligations for a player who has never been to an All Star Game in the first place, not to mention that not many teams would be willing to part with a halfway decent group of players in return.