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While Gay's contract is not cheap, it's not prohibitively expensive either and it expires soon. A drop in the standings could bring back the issues between Cousins and George Karl and not only cost the Kings their shot at making the postseason for the first time since 2006, but also the fragile peace they have achieved so far. Making a move now that the team's chemistry is sound could backfire horribly. They are currently half a game back from the eighth seed in the West, which means the playoffs are a real possibility. The Kings are not gunning for a championship right now, but they desperately crave respectability. Why it doesn't make sense to trade Rudy Gay
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If they can get someone on a rookie contract or a draft pick for Gay, they should take the opportunity to get younger. The only young, cheap rotation players they have are Ben McLemore and Willie Cauley-Stein. Hickson trade several years ago, and they traded another future first-rounder along with the eighth pick of the 2014 draft to get cap space last summer. They still owe the Chicago Bulls one first-round pick from the awful Omri Casspi - J.J. Sacramento also needs to get its hands on some young players and picks. Gay is not perfect, but he might be one of the few players available who fit that description. A dozen teams in the East are trying to make the playoffs and a handful of Western teams could use a big wing to play power forward to match up with the Golden State Warriors and battle Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant. If the Kings hope to trade Gay, now's the time. With Cousins and Rajon Rondo handling the shot creation, a wing that can shoot and defend without occupying a large offensive role may fit better with the starters. Gay is a good player, but he's perfectly replaceable, so for the right price, parting with him makes complete sense. They should consider offers for everyone on the roster except for DeMarcus Cousins. The Kings are not even close to contending, so committing to a flawed core is the last thing they should do. So let's take a closer look at this rumor. If the right deal materializes, however, he could be moved. For all his flaws, Gay is still a productive player in his prime who causes no locker room issues and can play two positions. His rebounding has improved now that he's playing more power forward, but the Kings are still better when he's on the bench, specially on defense.Īccording to Stein, the Kings won't trade Gay for just anyone, which makes sense. He's averaging the fewest points per game since his rookie season, while his three-point shooting percentage is down.
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The news isn't exactly surprising, as Gay is far from untouchable. The Sacramento Kings are willing to trade Rudy Gay if it brings back a quality return, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.