$50 Million For Rudy Gay?: The Memphis Grizzlies and Rudy Gay are still trying to get a deal done today, word is both sides have exchanged ideas and the number being floated around is 5-years $50 million. The Grizzlies supposedly introduced the idea of a 3-year deal worth $30 to $35 million.

Last night in Denver, Rudy said he thinks $50 million is the right number.

"I've been playing for four years," Gay said to Chris Tomasson AOL Fanhouse. "I only know how to play one way. It's not going to change whether I have a contract or not."

"If it's not 50, if it's more, I stand behind him," Gay said of his agent. "I'm not going to turn it down."

Grizzlies' owner Michael Heisley said this weekend that the hesitation on getting a deal done has more to do with finding the right price for Rudy and without anyone in the market place really setting a value on Rudy the Grizzlies are in essence bidding against themselves.

"There's no question we have a high appreciation for Rudy and his talent," Heisley said to Ron Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. "Now the question is how do you get to the right deal? If you're asking me am I willing to pay as much as I can possibly pay, no. That's not appropriate in today's financial climate.

"We're going to make a very attractive offer to Rudy. We think he's a great player. They think he's a great player. We have a very high opinion of Rudy."

"We're trying to come to an agreement," Heisley said. "I don't want people to think anything else."

Rondo Gets His Deal: After spending much of the pre-game last night talking about how rare it was for players to stay with one team, Rajon Rondo seemed like he was destined for restricted free agency this coming summer.

While Rondo was on the floor facing off against Chris Paul and the Hornets, his agent reached a verbal agreement on a 5–year $55 million contract extension that will keep Rondo in a Celtic jersey for the foreseeable future and off the restricted free agent market next summer.

"As much as we were willing to wait his contract out, the Celtics stepped up to the plate to meet the original request," Rondo's agent Bill Duffy said to Marc J Spear of Yahoo!. "This is a really fair contract. We wanted him to be paid like one of the top five point guards around. It also allows the Celtics to maintain continuity to continue to be one of the best teams at this time."

Rondo who was the 21st overall selection in 2006, and was traded to Boston from the Phoenix Suns on draft day will now be locked up through 2015 at just at $11 million per season.

"This is unbelievable for a kid that was taken far down in the draft," Duffy said of the deal. "But we've said that it's not where you're drafted, but where you are selected. He ended up being in the perfect situation."

The Celtics had been openly critical of Rondos maturity and professionalism this summer, and even entertained trade talks with other teams. It was during those talks that the Celtics came to realize Rondo's league wide value prompting them to make a deal. The belief in Boston was if Rondo hit the open market next summer; there could be teams willing to offer more than $11 million to lure Rondo away from the Celtics.

With a deal now complete and awaiting league approval, Duff says Rondo and the Celtics are absolutely on the same page now, its amazing what $55 million can do in establishing trust.

"The relationship between Rajon and the Celtics is on the highest level on and off the court," Duffy said. "It's a strong bond right now. Any concerns they had relative to this approach are no longer."

3-0 Start: The Orlando Magic are off to a 3-0 start and while wins against Philadelphia, who gave them fits in the playoffs and Toronto, a conference rival were good tests for the Magic. The wins against playoff teams were even more impressive because the Magic got them without some of their All-Star talent.

The Magic have been without All-Star starter Rashard Lewis who is serving a 10-game league suspension for use of performance enhancing drugs last season and have gotten stellar play from second-year forward Ryan Anderson, who has been dubbed with the nickname "Rhino" by his teammates. Anderson is carrying the load admirably scoring 17.3 points per game while grabbing 4.00 rebounds and shooting a scorching 55% from NBA three, said another way he's 11 of 20 from three-point range in three games.

That's better than Utah so far as a team (8 of 18 on the season); Anderson's 11 makes in three games is even more impressive when you consider 11 NBA teams have made fewer than 13 threes on the season so far.

The Magic played yesterday without Vince Carter who sat out due to a badly twisted ankle and the Magic got a career day out of JJ Redick who scored 27 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Redick also logged a career best 45 minutes.

So what's the point? The Magic are storming through teams in the Eastern Conference without some of their All-Star talent, imagine how they'll be when they get to full strength?

Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy warned that it is still early and the team is still trying to find their groove just as others in the league are, but in a conference where one or two wins may decide the playoff seeding the early success is welcomed in Orlando.

The Magic visit their arch rival Pistons in Detroit on Tuesday, then return home for a two game stand versus the Suns on Wednesday and a rematch versus Detroit on Friday.

Unexpected Leadership: The Portland Trail Blazers have been far from fluid and dominate in their opening games of the season. While the team sits at 2-2 on the young season it's been far from pretty on the floor.

{AUTHOR_BOX}Last night in Oklahoma City the Blazers got the win, pulling away in the 4th quarter but more importantly they got some much needed leadership from Greg Oden, who is taking his head coaches' advice to heart and becoming a vocal participant this season.

"Look, I know I'm not a big scorer on this team, so I'm just trying to bring something else, something that doesn't show up on the statistics," Oden said to Jason Quick of the Oregonian. "And that's talking, bringing energy."

Blazers' coach Nate McMillan called out his team's effort recently and challenged them to police each other on the floor.

"Would you allow your brother to continue to do something he shouldn't be doing? Or would you say something to him?" McMillan remembers telling his team. "And that's what it is all about. They are brothers out there, this is a family, and if we are not playing defense or you are not covering your man, say something to him. It's not personal. It's holding each other accountable."

The Blazers will play host to the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday and have their next three games at home.

NBA Chats : It's a light day on the chat front today starting with Bill Ingram at 11am EST. Bill is just back from Oklahoma City and will answer your questions on anything NBA, so get your questions in early. HOOPSWORLD's rookie Alex Kennedy will host his weekly NBA chat at 2pm EST. Both chats do fill up fast some getting in early always helps your odds. You can always find the next chat here: Upcoming HOOPSWORLD Chats.