Many eyebrows were raised when the Memphis Grizzlies traded away long-time member Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal at the end of January, experts questioned whether Memphis had given up it's chance to de-throne the Thunder as Western Conference champs, but star power forward Zach Randolph says he feels the team is better since the trade and gives management his support.

From The Commercial-Appeal:

Randolph was asked if he agreed with team chairman Robert Pera, who this week said his new-look Grizzlies are better equipped for playoff success after a trade that sent Rudy Gay to Toronto.

"I definitely do," Randolph said during a media session in a ballroom at the posh Hilton Americas hotel here. "I think once we get our identity together and continue to play, get some more games under our belt as a unit and come together, I think we can surprise a lot of people."

In a 20-minute interview session where media members came and went, Randolph was asked about the trade nine times. Gay is missed, he said. He hears the doubts but doesn't believe them, he said. The new pieces will help the team, he said. And as a veteran, he knows it's incumbent on him to help the team jell.

Image via: AP Photo/Matt York