Why Rudy Gay will play for the Washington Wizards next season, and why I'm okay with it

It is no secret that this summer's free agent market is the biggest in NBA history. Bron Bron, D-Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare, and possibly Kobe will all be up for grabs. Most sources list 8 teams with enough cap space to go after one of these superstars and offer a maximum contract this summer: Miami, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington, Sacramento, Minnesota and the L.A. Clippers.

Now, obviously, this summer is really about LeBron and everyone else. But that "everyone else" is pretty good, and some of the above teams will be significantly better come next November. But let's be honest: LeBron isn't heading north to Minnesota, and D-Wade isn't trying to take his flash out to Sacramento. Some teams, as much as they'd like to think they have a chance at one of the above superstars, just don't...

So what are those teams going to do? Let's assume that LeBron stays in Cleveland, or goes to New York. Wade stays in Miami, and the Heat pick up another big-time player (think Amare or Joe Johnson). There are still alot of teams out there, and most people (i.e. Bill Simmons) think that these teams are going to get desperate and offer a huge contract to a second-tier player.

Now, let's talk about the Grizzlies and Rudy Gay. Gay is a restricted free agent, meaning that, at the end of the day, if the Grizzlies want Gay to stay in Memphis, they can have their way.

But the cards point toward another outcome. Michael Heisley has made it very clear that he is not looking to spend alot of money. He is not going to go out and sign free agents that will put the Grizzlies near the NBA's highest payrolls, and then watch the team get swept in three straight playoff series, again. And with the recent signing of Ronnie Brewer, I don't care how much Heisley and Wallace deny it...it does not look like Rudy Gay will be in Memphis next season.

So where will he be? Washington.

With all the recent uncertainty and negative publicity surrounding the Wizards, I have a hard time seeing Bron Bron, Bosh, D-Wade, or Amare going there next season. I believe the Wizards will be one of those teams on the outside looking in. It is going to be one of those situations where they have money, and will need to spend it to show the fan base they are trying. They will spend an absurd amount of money on a Rudy Gay or a Joe Johnson.

Rudy Gay grew up in Baltimore. Baltimore is not far from Washington. All you tweeters go back and look at Rudy's tweets from the recent trip to Washington. He talk about how great it was to be back close to home, how he loved having all his fans there. How would it feel for Rudy to have that every game?

The Wizards just traded Antawn Jamison, and they are unlikely to re-sign Josh Howard. Agent Zero is behind bars, where are the points going to come from for the Wiz? Al Thornton? Andray Blatche? Randy Foye?

The Wizards will want offensive firepower. Rudy Gay averages 20 a game, more than any current Wizard. Rudy Gay can bring local interest. Fearless prediction: Rudy Gay will play for the Wizards next season.

Why I am okay with it:

Right now, the Grizzlies have 5 legitimate players--players that other teams might actually want. Those players are Gasol, Mayo, Randolph, Gay, and Brewer. Of those five, I believe Rudy Gay is the most dispensable, and I will tell you why.

Reason #1: There are other Rudy Gays in the NBA. Athletic 6-8 swing men aren't exactly going out of style. In contrast, Marc Gasols are hard to find.

Reason #2: (Get ready...) Rudy Gay is a lackluster defender. This is a shock to...no one. Did you see Rudy's defense on the Kobe game-winner the other night? He handled that screen for Kobe about as well as JP handles cars in 'Angels in the Outfield'.

Reason #3: Not re-signing Rudy Gay means the Grizzlies will keep Ronnie Brewer. Unfortunately, Ronnie was hurt in his Memphis debut last week. But in the long run, I think that injury will work out for good. Ronnie gets less time to prove himself, and less time to tempt possible suitors into offering him a big deal this summer. It makes it easier for Memphis to re-sign him, and, like Gay, he is restricted (if we want him, we can have him).

Reason #4: Ronnie Brewer works into the Grizzlies future better than Rudy Gay. He is still young, he brings local interest, and he is one of the better perimeter defenders in the NBA. (If Brewer is on Kobe the other night, that shot might not go in...) At 6-7, Brewer is versatile, can play the 2 or the 3, and gives the Grizzlies the option to move O.J. to the point and put Ronnie at the 2. He can slash, and he is not a black hole. He is not a franchise player, but he doesn't have to be paid like one either.

Reason #5: Keeping Brewer, and not Gay, gives the Grizzlies more space to re-sign Randolph and O.J. If you think that this summer is critical for the Grizzlies, think about the summer after. Gasol, Randolph, and Mayo are all free-agents--the three most valuable assets in our franchise right now. To think that 1 or 2 of these could be gone is scary...

So there you have it. Gay brings local flare to the East Coast, and Brewer brings it to the Mid-South. Washington gets their scorer, Memphis gets some flexibility.

Down the road, a legitimate-point-guard-not-named-Michael Conley, O.J. Mayo, Ronnie Brewer, Zach Randolph, and Marc Gasol sounds like a pretty good starting five to me. Maybe by that time, the (Bismarck) Wizards will have sent us a valuable asset in return...Mr. Thabeet.

Viva los underdogs, and viva la vida de Grizz.

Jordan "Jumpshot" Griesbeck