Rudy Gay may be available for S&T

I wonder if the Blazers would be interested? He could be the third scorer we're looking for to take some pressure off Broy.

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wi...0516/grizzlies_might_sign_and_trade_rudy_gay/

 

Try the second scorer. We currently have a #1 and a bunch of role players.

 

I've always liked Rudy Gay's game. He's not a #1 option, but he's a solid #2 scorer that attacks the rim and can shoot from distance. Adding him would make it difficult to double team Roy and LaSoftest in a playoff series.

 

Rudy Gay is only slightly better that Travis Outlaw. He just has a better name brand.

I think Outlaw or Gay would be a fine bench scorer, but Gay would want a role and salary appropriate to a star...because he's been hyped as one, despite never producing like one. And Memphis would charge a lot in trade, despite his on-court value not being that high.

So my opinion is definitely pass.

 

Rudy is looking for a max or close to that kind of contract. With Roy, LA and Oden . . . I don't know if the Blazers can afford to lock up another young player with a long and large contract.

 

You rely on PER too much. By doing so you ignore than Gay is a much more complete player than Outlaw.

Gay would be nice, but at no more $10M, and that might be too steep, idk. It'll be interesting to see what he is offered.

 

No thx, next?

 

I'm not ignoring anything. If you mean I rely on statistical data and not just flashy highlights, I agree. Gay is not a very good passer, and he's not a better rebounder than Outlaw. He's probably a worse defender than Outlaw, to boot.

I've watching him play plenty of times, both in college and the pros. I was actually quite high on Gay coming out of college, but he failed to translate potential into reality. I thought he'd be an excellent all-around player and had the tools to be a very good defender....instead, he's just a scorer and not a terribly efficient one.

 

Actually you are ignoring one thing. Reality. Rudy Gay's offensive game is much more rounded then Travis's ever was. He has a much wider variety of moves and the ability to handle the ball, which gives him a much more versatile offensive game. He isn't limited to a jab step fade away jumper and 3 point shooting. He is also a much better finisher on the break.

 

Outlaw is also just a scorer and not a terribly efficient one, but he also doesn't have the ability to get to the hoop like Gay does, and then finish when he gets there. Gay is much better in both of these areas.

Neither are great man to man defenders, but Gay still has the ability to get in the passing lanes and create turnovers(1.5stls last year).

Gay is a much better all around player than Outlaw, something PER won't tell you. PER is just merely one tool of measuring a players ability and not even close to being the be all end all.

 

Is he still one of the worst defenders in the league?

 

I think if Batum was given the same scoring opportunities that Gay was given, he would have better stats. The SF in Nate's offense is probably the most underused possition on the floor. Not bashing, just observing

 

Let's also not forget you can legitimately play Gay at the SF spot while with Outlaw he has to play PF.

 

All true - but is that enough to justify the difference in their price tags? If Gay was a UFA who was available for the MLE, that would be one thing - but Portland would have to give up talent in a trade, AND would be stuck with an (inflated) extension.

 

I agree, PER is seriously flawed. So how about its major competitor, +/-? Let's see, Travis's +/- per minute was .168 (better than everyone except Camby), while Gay's was all of 0.010, good for sixth best of that sorry franchise.

 

What do you mean "legitimately"? Both are poor dribblers for their position. Both can defend it, but only Travis tries.

Gay is a horrible player. Any team that signs him is going to be very sorry. Memphis may be a cheap team, but it wasn't cheapness that led them not to give him a qualifying offer. There's a good reason he's a UFA.

Last but not least, remember this?

 

All I have to say about that stat.

 

this is a myth that has been debunked many times. There have been several games where Travis has started at the 3 and done well... you can easily look those up

On offense both Travis and Rudy are wings with their games oriented on the perimeter as opposed to the high or low post. On D both are mediocre at best no matter who they guard. That Nate chose to often have TO guarding post players more then perimeter players was usually because he'd want a speed mismatch on the other end... that and Portland didn't have another good backup PF option

STOMP

 

It's hard to take you seriously right now.

 

It doesn't contradict what I said. I never argued Outlaw was better. In fact, I said Gay was slightly better.

"More well-rounded offensive game" is meaningless if it doesn't translate to significantly superior on-court production. Steve Nash has a much, much, much more well-rounded offensive game than a prime Shaquille O'Neal, but a prime O'Neal was much, much more effective.