The Sacramento Kings are said to not be in the running for a title shot this NBA season. With that said, the DeMarcus Cousins squad is noted to be in the process of rebuilding its roster. Generally, this process pushes basketball teams to get rid of old players to create a lineup free of the past roster's flaws. Hence, it usually comes as no surprise when veteran players of an NBA team get traded for one or two newcomers and a draft pick.
Recent speculations reveal that the Sacramento Kings might finally be entertaining offers for Rudy Gay. The NBA veteran has been with the Rajon Rondo squad since 2013. Gay later on accepted a three-year contract extension with the Sacramento Kings in November 2014. With a year left on his contract, rumors are now emerging that Gay might be traded off.
"The Sacramento King are indeed willing to trade Rudy Gay, sources say, after fairly frequent speculation on that topic in recent weeks," revealed Marc Stein of ESPN. This piece of information got a number of NBA teams interested, with the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and the Toronto Raptors named as potential landing spots for Gay.
However, Stein's sources claim that the offer to trade Gay comes with a "conditional willingness."
Stein shared, "Sacramento is said to be seeking a quality young player in return if it parts with Gay. Or a player they like with at least one year left on his contract after this season, which would give the Kings some insulation against trading for someone in February who turns around and leaves town in July. (Gay, 29, is scheduled to earn $13.3 million from the Kings next season before he's forced to decide on a $14.3 million player option in 2017-18.)"
Hence, the Sacramento Kings are not completely willing to get rid of Gay. Given the conditions set forth by the squad, it looks like the NBA star could only exit the team if the "right deal" comes along.
"In short: Sacramento isn't outright trying to move Gay but would be willing to do so in the proverbial 'right deal,'" said Stein.
To illustrate the stance of the Sacramento Kings in trading Gay only for the right deal, Jesus Gomez of SB Nation noted that the NBA team refused the offer of the New Orleans Pelicans.
"Sacramento, for example, rejected New Orleans' recent offer of Eric Gordon and Alonzo Gee for Gay before Gordon suffered a fractured finger that will keep him out until after the deadline. They don't want to move him just for the sake of it," shared Gomez.
