First Big Trade

Players changing hands in this trade:

From Memphis Grizzlies:

Rudy Gay
Hamed Haddadi

From Toronto Raptors:

Ed Davis
Jose Calderon

From Detroit Pistons:

Austin Daye
Tayshaun Prince

To Memphis Grizzlies:

Ed Davis
Austin Daye
Tayshaun Prince

To Toronto Raptors:

Rudy Gay
Hamed Haddadi

To Detroit Pistons:

Jose Calderon

Analyzing the Memphis Grizzlies:

On first glance at this trade it doesn't seem to make much sense for Memphis, and as you look at it further it makes just as little sense. This looks like a move to appease a SF who has wanted out of Memphis for awhile, and help free up some much needed cap space as they look to extend Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and sign potential free agents around them They replace Gay with two long, athletic defenders who will help their defense but greatly diminish their offensive capabilities. The Grizzlies must be banking on vast improvement from Austin Daye, an increased load on offense for Randolph and Gasol, and signing a marquee free agent (Possibly Lebron-though he'd never go to Memphis) in order for this deal to work out for them long-term. It will take the Grizzlies from a solid top 4 team in the West to a fringe playoff team and possibly get them into the lottery to acquire more young talent that they now have the cap room to sign and then create long term deals for. This move makes the Grizzlies worse in the present, and have much more uncertainty in the future. I'm not a big fan of this trade for them.

Grade: C

Analyzing the Toronto Raptors:

Replacing Jose Calderon and Ed Davis with Rudy Gay is a huge step up for the Raptors, though it is strangely reminiscent of the Tracy McGrady deal in Toronto. Pairing Gay with Kyle Lowry, Andrea Bargnani, and Demar DeRozan gives the Raptors a headline of young (but unproven), solid talent to build around. They won't be contending for championships with those four guys alone, but they got a solid deal and didn't really have to give up a ton, and a special shout out to Brian Colangelo for getting this deal done without having to give up any draft picks. This helps the Raptors now, and will pay dividends in the future. Good move.

Grade: B+

Analyzing the Detroit Pistons:

The Pistons have two stud big men in Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond that they need to surround with smaller guards who can distribute, run the pick and roll, and shoot the 3 well.  Jose Calderon is a perfect fit to either run alongside Brandon Knight, or spell him without any drop off in play.  Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince need a little bit more space to operate to succeed well, and I don't think they were going to get that in Detroit and Joe Dumars knew it.  Replacing the aging Prince and actually getting something in return for it is great, but this move will also allow for Monroe and Drummond to continue to develop alongside two solid-very good point guards who will be able to space the floor and faciliate easy buckets for those two big men. Solid move by Detroit who pounced on a deal that was good for them (because I think Memphis would have been better served to keep both Davis and Calderon). This move helps the Pistons both now and in the long term development of young talent, which is why I like it.

Grade: B+

By: Greg