NBA Trade Rumors: Trade With Kings Could Send Rudy Gay To New Orleans
It’s no big surprise that Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans need some big-time help, and it may even be too late already for this season. NBA trade rumors have had the Pelicans connected to possibly landing a few guards and even Dwight Howard or DeMarcus Cousins. Well, New Orleans may still trade for a player from the Sacramento Kings, but it is looking like it may end up being Rudy Gay.
New Orleans has won two straight and climbed out of the cellar in the Western Conference. At 13-26 though, it will be hard to make any run at the playoffs, but not necessarily impossible. As of Sunday night, they are only 3.5 games out of the eighth spot currently held by the Utah Jazz.
One player change could make a huge difference, and Fox Sports believes that player could be Rudy Gay.
The Pelicans executive office has admitted that the team is looking into possible trades before the NBA trade deadline on Feb. 18. While rumors have floated around, the Pelicans have never detailed which players they are looking at, or even what positions.
According to NOLA.com though, the Pelicans and Kings have had talks about a trade involving Gay and possibly Ryan Anderson. This isn’t the first time the Pelicans have looked at trading away a valuable asset like Anderson.
In December, there were talks with the Phoenix Suns about sending Anderson there and the Pelicans acquiring Markieff Morris. Those plans ended up falling through and now Morris has been linked to numerous other rumored trades.
With Anderson’s contract expiring this summer and him being an unrestricted free agent, the Pelicans want to get something for him.
Even though Anderson plays off the bench, he would easily look for starter-type money from the Pelicans or any team. He’s a lights-out shooter who is averaging 17.1 points-per-game and 6.2 rebounds while racking up 31.5 minutes-per-game off the bench.
Rudy Gay is averaging 18 points-per-game and 6.9 rebounds. His scoring average is his lowest since 2013, but his leadership and skills would be a huge plus to the Pelicans and really help out Anthony Davis down low.
This trade may not end up happening right away as the Pelicans may wait to see if a better deal comes along, but they shouldn’t wait too long. If the Kings are looking to pull the trigger on a trade involving Rudy Gay, they won’t hold off forever.
Pelicans general manager Dell Demps has now admitted what New Orleans is looking for and why.
”We will be looking at that (small forward) position, and all positions you know, we want to win games. The bottom line is we’ve got to figure out what it’s going to take for us to win games. We are working right now and we will do what’s needed to get this team on track.
”People always ask about about trades, are you going to do something on the short term. We have to do what makes sense We just can’t make a trade to just make a trade. You can’t just get rid of a guy and bring back lesser talent or is it going to make the team deficient. So we’re looking right now.”
New Orleans didn’t make a lot of moves in the offseason and have dealt with a number of injuries so far this year that got them off to a very poor start. Now, they’re playing a little better and getting healthy, but Anthony Davis needs a lot more help.
The Sacramento Kings are in a better position for the NBA playoffs, but could use one player change to give them that extra push, too. A trade swapping Rudy Gay and Ryan Anderson with the New Orleans Pelicans could drastically help both squads.
[Image by Rocky Widner/Getty Images]
