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The 3 all-time best Memphis Grizzlies trades in franchise history

By Jack Williams

Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Zach Randolph, Memphis Grizzlies Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets: Shane Battier and Rudy Gay

This might not show up on many lists for the greatest Grizzlies trades of all time, but this was one of the best moves that Memphis has ever made.

Yes, Shane Battier was a huge player for the Grizzlies, but after a strong rookie year with the Grizz, he didn’t do much in the following years and had hit a very distinct ceiling. The Grizzlies could have kept him long term, but trading him made more sense considering his age and the franchise’s future.

They would trade Shane Battier to the Houston Rockets in exchange for a rookie Rudy Gay and Stromile Swift. Gay was clearly a strong prospect, and it payed off for a Grizzlies team that got more production out of a young Gay than they did out of a veteran Battier.

Gay would go on to be one of the best Grizzlies players in franchise history before they would deal him out in a three-team deal to the Toronto Raptors.

Gay was a strong defender and an elite scorer, leading this team to multiple playoff runs. He will be remembered on Beale Street for a long time.

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