Somehow, the Sacramento Kings are only two games out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference with their 15-23 record. Even though they still have a realistic shot at the playoffs, the Kings know they aren't true contenders and that they need to do some things to get to the point of being a more serious contender. One of the moves the Kings might be willing to make to take a step forward is trading forward Rudy Gay, according to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops.
The trade deadline is only one month away, so trade talks should be heating up pretty soon, but Gay's name is not one that has been brought up often in rumors so far this season. One of the reasons is because he still has two more years left on his contract. Gay is owed $13.3 million next season and has a player option for $14.2 million in 2017-18.
Even though the Kings control Gay, they are hoping to use him to fill another need. Sacramento reportedly offered Gay to the New Orleans Pelicans for Ryan Anderson, an offer which the Pelicans declined, for now. That trade would make a lot of sense for both sides, though. The Pelicans have struggled mightily at the small forward position, which is where Gay plays, and the Kings could use a stretch four like Anderson to give Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins room to operate inside.
The Pelicans really like Anderson, but he is a free agent at the end of the season, so trading him might be their most prudent move, considering they are at the bottom of the Western Conference. The report stated that the Pelicans turned down the Gay-for-Anderson swap "for now," but it can likely be revisited as the trade deadline gets closer.
If the Kings are truly serious about trading Gay, they should find no shortage of takers, as he is still just 29 years old and is a proven NBA scorer. Gay used to have a reputation as a high-volume scorer that can't help a winning team much, but since joining the Kings, he hasn't shot less than 45 percent in a season, including 46 percent so far this year. Gay's contract is also a bargain for the next two years when you consider that the cap is going way up, and someone like him could be worth around $20 million in the next couple of years, so he should be a highly sought after trade target.
