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A Guide To The Deadline: Buying Or Selling The Biggest NBA Trade Rumors

By Jon Shames

Feb 12, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) works against New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Sacramento Kings defeat the New York Knicks 106-101 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) works against New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Sacramento Kings defeat the New York Knicks 106-101 in OT. Mandatory Credit: Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) dunks against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Rudy Gay – Sacramento Kings

Rudy Gay is one of those guys who seems to always have his name in trade rumors — no matter what year it is or what team he’s on.

To an extent, this speaks to his value. Gay wasn’t seen as an essential piece to the Memphis Grizzlies’ core back in 2013, and he was a non-fit with the Toronto Raptors from day one. When he was traded to the Kings, it seemed as though Gay had found a home that would embrace him for what he was.

Here we are, though, two years later, and Gay is pegged as one of the more likely players to be shipped out — though this time, at no fault of his own. He’s having himself another solid season — 17.9 points per game on 47.3 percent shooting, the second-best mark of his career.

Gay is undoubtedly one of the league’s most talented scorers, and he’s not a bad fit in Sacramento by any means. Still, his team needs defense more than anything else, and this could make Gay expendable. From CSN Bay Area:

"We continue to hear Gay is not on the block. That does of course come with a caveat. If Vlade Divac and the Kings brass believe they can make the team marketably better through trade, be it Gay or anyone else, they will listen."

Teams are interested in trading for Gay, even if he isn’t being actively shopped. The Clippers, Celtics, and Heat have all been linked to Gay in recent days, though the rumors haven’t picked up much steam. While nothing appears imminent, Gay seems a likely candidate to be dealt, given the struggles of his Kings squad.

It could go either way, but the quick-triggered Sacramento management will undoubtedly be looking to improve before the deadline, and if they do make a major deal, Gay will be the first one to go.

Verdict: Buy

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