After asking fans to offer submissions for what dunk he should perform during the Sprite Slam Dunk Contest on YouTube, Rudy Gay has made a selection.

Gay’s first dunk of the contest will be from a dunk submitted by Brandon Lacue form Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The 22-year-old is a member of a group called Team Flightbrothers.

Here is Lacue’s dunk on YouTube that Gay will attempt first tonight. It’s the first dunk on the video:

Watch here!!!

The NBA and Gay are also flying Lacue into New Orleans to sit courtside during the Sprite Slam Dunk to watch Gay perform. He will also attend Gay’s special “dunk practice” earlier in the day.

The Sprite Slam Dunk is apart of NBA All-Star Saturday Night airing at 7 pm on TNT.

The incoming text message apologized for not getting back to me sooner, and said “call when works for you.” So I immediately picked up the phone Friday night and dialed up Pau Gasol. The 7-footer answered after just having landed in Los Angeles around midnight CST.

He sounded sad. He seemed dazed. Gasol actually was confused, too. He never saw this coming. Gasol never thought he’d be traded and had no inkling when the Griz informed him that he needed to board a plane because he’s a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

“It’s not easy to digest,” Gasol said. “You leave something that you’ve been committed to for such a long time — all of a sudden you’re on a plane going to a different team. It’s pretty shocking.”

More from Gasol in the Sunday Commercial Appeal.

Meanwhile, here’s more fallout from the Gasol trade:

*** The Griz and Lakers have been talking for some time. One of their initial discussions involved a deal that would have included Mike Miller and Hakim Warrick, and Lamar Odom. The Lakers are said to have declined. The Griz also talked to Denver and Cleveland about Gasol.

*** Part of the motivation for the Gasol deal had to do with the discontent from fans. A large segment of the fan base (as fickle as they are) disliked Gasol, booed him and wanted the Griz to ship him at any cost. The team realized that, along with just 13 wins, having a franchise player (and highest paid player) that can’t draw at the ticket window would never work. People wouldn’t pay to see Gasol play. So part of the thinking is perhaps they can shop for one who can draw fans.

*** I’m hearing strong vibes that the Logo brokered this deal. No proof but where there is smoke, there’s a fire. Jerry West still has owner Mike Heisley and general manager Chris Wallace’s ears. Plus, West is very interested in having Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak succeed. Just my two cents.

*** After talking to several league executives, the Griz have pissed off the Western Conference with this deal. Elite West teams are said to be angry that the Griz just handed the Lakers an important piece in their quest to become a championship contender. Typically, All Stars are sent to the ‘other’ conference. Imagine how Atlanta and Chicago must feel right now. But those East teams weren’t offering cap room.

*** Don’t be surprised if Mike Miller is traded. Don’t be surprised if the great Kyle Lowry, not Javaris Crittenton, is eventually dealt to clear out the crowded point guard position.

*** Wishful thinking to those of you who think Heisley is stripping down the franchise to sell it. Would he dump the franchise if a buyer came along and paid his price? Sure. But Heisley, in a recent meeting with the local owners, said he’ll probably die with this team. He plans on owning it for a long time. He just doesn’t plan on suffering the losses he’s already endured during that span. One way to ensure that is to get the payroll in line.

Stay tuned.

The Griz sent Pau Gasol and a 2010 second-round pick to the Lakers and received Kwame Brown, Aaron McKie (a one-year, sign-and-trade deal), Javaris Crittendon, a 2008 first-round pick (Top-3 protected), a 2010 first-round pick (Top-6 protected), the rights to Marc Gasol and cash.

The Griz just traded Pau Gasol to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks — one in 2008 and the other in 2010.

Stromile Swift will be sent to New Jersey for Jason Collins in a deal that is expected to be announced soon. Swift was sent home today and didn’t practice with the Griz. He won’t play tomorrow against the Utah Jazz.

The New Jersey Nets continue to make a push for Stromile Swift, and have apparently offered center Jason Collins this time. It is not known if this is a straight-up proposal. But it could be (unlike the one Memphis turned down earlier this season involving Jamaal Magloire and other players) because Collins and Swift’s salaries essentially are equal this season and next.

As of this morning, however, the Grizzlies balked at acquiring Collins. The Griz coaching staff is said to be less enamored with Collins, who is not even as athletic as Darko Milicic.

Swift, meanwhile, returned to practice Thursday ready to put his one-game suspension behind him. The 6-9 forward/center did say, however, that it’s time to move on if the Grizzlies don’t intend to play him.

Stay tuned.

The Grizzlies have suspended Stromile Swift for one game for conduct detrimental to the team. Swift and head coach Marc Iavaroni exchanged words on the bench during the Grizzlies’ loss Monday to the Dallas Mavericks.

Swift stood, leaning over Iavaroni, apparently trying to make his point during the disagreement. Assistant coach Johnny Davis eventually intervened before Swift strolled to the end of the bench. Swift will miss the Grizzlies’ game Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets.

Albeit a player who never fully reached his potential, Swift has never been a knucklehead. So this is clearly a surprise turn of events in what has been a disappointing season for the Griz.

ROSTER MOVE: The Grizzlies will allow Bobby Jones’ second 10-day contract to expire today. He will not be signed for the rest of this season. Jones appeared in nine games for the Griz. He averaged 4.4 points on 39-percent shooting. If the Griz sign another player soon, he likely will be a point guard given Mike Conley’s injury and Damon Stoudamire’s departure via a buyout.

The Damon Stoudamire Buyout Saga is over.

The veteran point guard verbally accepted the Grizzlies’ latest proposal. He will be set free as soon as the Is are dotted and Ts are crossed on a legal document.

That could happen today but it is more likely to go down officially on Monday. I am told that the only way this doesn’t happen is if Stoudamire pulls out before he signs the paperwork.

That’s not going to happen. Both sides are happy mainly because the deal is less than what the Grizzlies wanted and more than what Stoudamire thought he’d have to pay.

The bottom line is that Stoudamire will be free to sign with the team of his choice after clearing waivers. And the Grizzlies can move on with their youth movement, having kept their word to help the 13-year veteran to a championship contender.

Stoudamire’s preference is to move to Boston. A person close to Stoudamire said he would choose Toronto (where his career began) over Phoenix as a second option.

The Griz, meanwhile, will likely look to add another point guard ASAP because rookie Mike Conley appears to be hurt badly after suffering a chest/rib injury Friday night at Washington.

Don’t expect Conley to play tonight. Don’t expect Stoudamire to play, either, although he will appear in FedExForum for the last time as a Grizzly.