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06:23 PM ET 02.12 | Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera made his first availability to the media on Tuesday since becoming the owner of the team, and he attempted to back up his actions with talk. Taking heat for trading away swingman Rudy Gay, Pera defended the move and said that he was a big fan of Gay. The Grizzlies owner admitted that Gay was better than the pieces Memphis received, but he said it was beneficial for both Gay and the team to go their separate ways. "I was actually a big Rudy Gay fan," Pera told the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "He was awesome. But like I said, going back to basketball and how it's a team sport and all the pieces fit together, the offense we run is really traditional. It's inside-outside, a grinding type of offense. Rudy's talent, his potential really couldn't be maximized in our system. I think it was good for him and I think it was good for the team."

Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

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February 12, 2013 06:34 PM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 06:33 PM ET 02.12 by jgb

there is no defense of the tradethey could've given this team a chance to make a run THEN in the off season move him.... trading away a guy that gives you an easy 16-18 night in night out when your back-court and other wing players are mediocre was a salary dump - which is offensive

^^^^^^^THIS