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And when you look at the Grizzlies' future salary commitments - Gay, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Mike Conley are slated to make $58.8 million all by themselves next year, which is roughly the value of the salary cap - you realize that something has to give. That's why we will always see his name in trade rumors, much like we did this summer. But he's not quite worth his contract, and so he's cast in the difficult position of being too good to lose, but not good enough to live up to his price. Ever since signing a five-year, $82 million contract in 2010, Gay has been the closest thing to a franchise player on this roster. The difference? The Thunder must decide whether it's worth keeping a group of young potential superstars together, whereas the Grizzlies have already decided to keep a group of very good, but not super-elite players together. Like the Thunder, they have a lot of money tied up into their stars.
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Like the Thunder, they are a successful small-market team.
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DID NOT TRADE RUDY GAYįor all the talk about the Oklahoma City Thunder's future payroll issues, the Memphis Grizzlies are in an even tougher spot. Eventually, though, they will face a crossroads where they must decide between paying a premium to stay relevant or blowing it up for yet another long rebuilding project. The Memphis Grizzlies had a pretty quiet summer, electing to keep their nucleus together for one more run at the top of the Western Conference.