Add the Houston Rockets to the list of teams interested in acquiring small forward Rudy Gay from the Sacramento Kings .
Moments after it was reported that the Minnesota Timberwolves are looking at a Rudy Gay trade , the Inquisitr has learned that so are the Rockets. All signs point to the Kings eventually dealing their small forward. It is just a matter of where will he get sent to.
The Kings have several suitors for Rudy Gay. The list of teams include the Chicago Bulls , Miami Heat , Timberwolves, and Rockets. According to the Miami Herald , Gay wants to play for the Heat .
The problem with that is the Heat do not have any pieces that can be used in a deal, with the exception of the players they would prefer to keep. The Heat’s other moveable parts are low-salary players which will not add up to the 25 percent threshold necessary to complete a trade with teams who above the salary cap. Another potential holdup is Gay’s contractual status.
Rudy Gay ‘Appealed’ by Potential Trade to Heat: https://t.co/P6VJSTW6Py
— Heat Nation (@HeatNationCom) August 8, 2016
Rudy Gay has a player option worth $14.2 million for the 20117-18 season. Gay can have an off year and decide to stay in his deal as assurance that he will earn reasonable NBA dollars. The Heat are trying to have cap room next season so they can go after a max free agent. Trading for Rudy Gay creates a risk.
As for the other teams, the Bulls are a good fit and they could use Taj Gibson and Tony Snell in a trade for Gay. Chances are great that the Kings will want the Bulls to either take on the contracts of Kosta Koufos or Ben McLemore.
The Minnesota Timberwolves have Ricky Rubio whom they can deal. Since the Kings need a point guard, such a trade of Gay and Rubio is the perfect scenario for both teams.
Will a trade between the Kings and Timberwolves happen? Not if the Houston Rockets get their way.
Basketball Insidershas reported that the Rockets has emerged as a teamwith a great deal of intrigue regarding a Rudy Gay trade. It would be an interesting fit given who now coaches the Rockets.
New Rockets’ coach Mike D’Antoni is one of the most creative offensive minds in the NBA. Granted, D’Antoni did not fare well in his previous two stops, the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. Much of that had to do with not having the complimentary players to fit his system.
The Rockets’ coach relies on quick sets, taking shots with only 12 seconds gone off the shot clock. That follows up with offensive rebounding and continuing the quick set. In order to run this system, two ball-handlers are needed. They must be flanked with two spot-up shooters and a low post player, who can run the floor. Each player has to be versatile. NBA superstar James Harden will be in charge of what Mike D’Antoni wants to do.
There should be few issues in Houston. The Rockets have a couple of other guys who can do what Mike D’Antoni needs to have done. In the offseason, the Rockets’ front office have added a couple of fast pace players to the roster.
Eric Gordon gives the Rockets another versatile guard who can handle the basketball, play without it, and hit the occasional jump shot. Gordon’s former New Orleans Pelicans teammate, Ryan Anderson joins him on the Rockets as the designated spot-up shooter.
Anderson does not get enough credit for his rebounding, which could help the Rockets in their resets of the offense. Adding Rudy Gay to the aforementioned trio gives the Rockets another slasher with a good shooting touch.
Unlike the Heat, the Rockets have little concerns about Rudy Gay’s player option. The Rockets can absorb Gay’s salary with little problem, thanks to the contract extension , as reported by Sports Illustrated , they gave James Harden a few weeks ago.
Doing that gives the Rockets future cap flexibility going forward. Adding Rudy Gay does not harm it. It gives the Rockets another trade chip if things go awry.
Is it safe to consider the Houston Rockets the odds-on favorite to trade for Rudy Gay? Not just yet. It will take two teams to make a trade.
What can the Sacramento Kings get from the Rockets? That is a fair question.
Would the Houston Rockets make point guard Patrick Beverly available to the Kings?
A better question is will the Rockets formally submit a trade offer to the Kings for Rudy Gay?
[Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images]