Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–USA TODAY Sports

The Rudy Gay sweepstakes inches ever so closer to a definitive conclusion.

According to a report by Marc Stein of ESPN.com, the Toronto Raptors are engaged in serious trade talks with the Memphis Grizzlies over possibly acquiring Gay.

Even though the logistics of a potential deal have not been fully worked out, Bryan Colangelo and the Raptors staff remain vigilant in their attempts to land this coveted wingman.

Sources say that point guard Jose Calderon and emerging power forward Ed Davis are the main pieces Toronto is dangling in front of Memphis at the moment.

Stein also mentioned how a third team could possibly be brought in to make a deal work. Former #1 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft Andrea Bargnani and backup point guard Kyle Lowry are also on the chopping block.

Toronto has expressed interest in Grizzlies forward Darrell Arthur, as well.

Gay has two years left on his contract valued at over $35 million dollars.

Memphis recently dealt Marreese Speights, Josh Selby, Wayne Ellington and a protected 2015 first-round draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Jon Leuer in order to clear cap-space.

Does this potential trade make sense for both teams?

Not at all.

While Rudy Gay is a tremendous talent, the Raptors really have no major need for him. Sure, the roster is extremely lacking in players who can close out games and dominate the fourth quarter, but Toronto has enough wing players to last a lifetime with DeMar DeRozan, rookie Terrence Ross, free-agent signing Landry Fields and Alan Anderson coming off the bench.

Where would Gay fit in with all of that? Would more deals need to be made?

Besides, with the way Ed Davis has been coming on as of late (Between January 9-26, Davis is averaging a team-high 14.9 points and 8.2 rebounds), it’s not going to be that easy to just give up on him with the way he’s currently producing for the team.

Adding Rudy to the Raptors would, at best, make them a low-seeded playoff team. If getting smoked in four games by an elite Eastern Conference powerhouse in the first round of the postseason is something they strive to do, then so be it. That’s their ceiling if they make this deal.

Memphis would like nothing more than to keep Gay and continue to have him be an integral part of the Grizzlies strong early season run (29-15, fourth in Western Conference), but as always, the power of the mighty dollar waves its mighty hand. With Gay’s struggles, the teams lack of depth and that huge contract weighing them down (even with the team now under the luxury tax), perhaps new owner Robert Pera will have no other choice but to cut ties with their star and deal him before February 21st.

However, it’s more than likely that the core of Gay, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol and newly annointed all-star Zach Randolph will stay together for the  remainder of the season, make a strong playoff push, and then Memphis management will look at the possibility of trading Gay over the course of the summer instead.

Although, with Rudy’s name at the forefront of trade rumors for such a long time, how could they not deal him at this point?

With just 24 days left before the deadline, Rudy Gay trade talks will only continue to heat up.

Chris Walder is the Editor here at Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter at @WalderSports

Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-US PRESSWIRE

It’s do or die for “Il Mago” in 2012/13.

If General Manager Brian Colangelo doesn’t see things that way, he very well should.

In his first three outings of this ongoing preseason, Andrea Bargnani has been very lackadaisical in his effort, putting up  terrible numbers in the process.

Including the Raptors opener against Real Madrid and the teams last 2 games against the Detroit Pistons, Andrea has gone 10 for 33 from the field and 8 for 15 from the charity stripe. In over 46 minutes of action against Detroit those two games, he grabbed just 4 rebounds in total.

This may come off as an overreaction of course. It’s just the preseason. These games don’t matter.

Lest we forget, Andrea missed a good portion of the 2011/12 season. He played in just 31 games due to a calf injury.

During the first half of the season, Bargnani averaged 23.5 points a game on 47.6% shooting. When he returned, his numbers dipped to just 16.6 points on 39% from the floor.

“Before the injury, I was among the top (scorers). That’s where I need to be and I know I can be there. Now I have to come back next year and do it. (Toronto Sun)

It’s entirely possible that Andrea still isn’t 100% and fully recovered from his injured calf. The preseason is designed to allow players to not only prepare themselves emotionally for a 82 game season, but to help recoup and recover from any withstanding injuries or just plain old not being in shape.

I believe where this animosity is coming from is years of holding out for the former #1 overall pick to transition from an above-average NBA player (if he’s even that) to a perennial all-star whose looked upon as one of the greatest big men in the league today.

I don’t think “Il Mago” can ever reach that milestone.

Scorers are a dime a dozen in the National Basketball Association. Back in 2005-06, even the seldom thought of Mike James put up 20.3 points a game for the Raptors.

The funny thing is that James (a 6’2 point guard) has a career average of 2.3 rebounds, which is just 2.5 boards less than Bargnani’s (a 7 foot center) 4.9.

Andrea has gotten by these past 7 years on his scoring ability. Being as tall as he is with the athleticism to drive to the paint from the perimeter makes Brian Colangelo see a star-quality and/or potential in him that is not at all there.

The problem with potential is that someday, you’re supposed to live up to it.

Only a handful of players around the league can do what Bargnani does at his size on the offensive end. The only issue is that he doesn’t do it well enough to make himself overly special or important.

He can’t rebound, he can’t defend stronger players down low, he can’t block shots at a decent enough rate (0.5 for his career) and he doesn’t have the leadership intangibles to motivate those around him.

So why is he still here?

When is enough……enough?

It’s put up or shut up time for Andrea Bargnani. The Raptors front-office has brought in a bunch of new pieces this offseason (Kyle Lowry, Jonas Valanciunas, Landry Fields, John Lucas III, Terrence Ross) to help catapult this franchise to greater heights in the Eastern Conference.

Ultimately, the success of the Toronto Raptors will depend on whether Andrea can flip the switch and become that star everyone in the city wants (and prays) he can be. Perhaps a permanent move to the power forward position (with Jonas Valanciunas as the center of the future) will be the spark he needs to turn around his career and be effective in more areas of the game.

Who knows.

Bargnani is running out of excuses, and Raptors fans are running out of patience.

Christopher Walder is a sports blogger and lead editor for Sir Charles in Charge. You may follow him on Twitter @WalderSports