A couple of weeks ago it was reported that the Sacramento Kings made Rudy Gay available in trade talks. Gay isn't set to become a free agent but the Kings are looking to see what they might be able to get for him at this time. The Kings haven't set out with a goal that they have to trade Gay but they are somewhat willing as long as it is the right offer. The New Orleans Pelicans made an offer but the Kings turned it down, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.
The reported offer from the Pelicans was Eric Gordon and Alonzo Gee for Gay but that wasn't exactly what the Kings were looking for. This offer was before Gordon broke his finger, which will keep him out 4-6 weeks, but since that happened it is unlikely this trade will be revisited. Earlier the Kings had reportedly proposed a trade of Gay for Ryan Anderson straight up to the Pelicans, an offer which New Orleans declined, so it seems like these two teams won't be able to strike a deal for Gay.
The Kings are reportedly looking for someone they consider a quality young player in any deal with Gay or someone that is under contract for at least one more season beyond this one. The thought process here for Sacramento is that they don't want to trade Gay, who is under contract for next season and then has a player option for 2017-18, for someone who could leave as a free agent this summer. Gordon is a player that fits that bill which is why the Kings rejected that offer.
Let's not forget that the Kings are currently just a half game out of the eighth spot in the Western Conference and Gay is the team's second leading scorer at 18 points per game. Gay has been traded from both Memphis and Toronto before and both teams improved after he was gone. James Herbert of CBS Sports doesn't see that happening to the Kings though so a trade may not be all that likely.
The takeaway from all of this is that Gay is available in a trade but the Kings want a lot back in return for him. Gay is an important part of this King's team which has a very real chance of making the playoffs but if they get a really good offer they likely won't pass it up. All in all it is very unlikely that Gay is traded before the Feb. 18th trade deadline.
