Sacramento Kings small forward Rudy Gay. (Photo : Getty Images)
Recent trade rumors have emerged that the Los Angeles Clippers are currently pursuing Sacramento Kings wingman Rudy Gay as the team continues to find ways in improving its small forward starting spot.
With Josh Smith traded back to the Houston Rockets late last month, Doc Rivers now has the mercurial Lance Stephenson, ineffectual Wesley Johnson, and 17-year veteran Paul Pierce as his remaining options at the no. 3 position, which is risky considering that the team is trying to keep up with the giants of the West.
The Clips are currently at the fourth spot in the Western Conference standings donning a 32-16 record, four-and-a-half games behind third-running Oklahoma City Thunder and three-and-a-half games ahead of closest pursuer Memphis Grizzlies.
However, snagging Gay from the Kings will be a tall order for Rivers and company as they allegedly do not have enough assets to offer Sacramento anything that would make the deal agreeable.
Fansided's Tom West noted that "the Clippers are looking for a three man. They have interest in Rudy but they really don't have enough to get him, so I don't think you end up seeing him with the Clippers".
One trade piece option could be 25-year-old Lance Stephenson, who can still be effective if playing in the right system. However, Stephenson is in the doldrums right now, averaging 4.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, all career lows since his sophomore season, playing in only 15.6 minutes per game, which more likely will not get the interest of Sacramento.
SB Nation said that the Kings would rather take in Clips starting shooting guard J.J. Redick than Stephenson, but in turn it is highly unlikely that LA will give up their best shooter at all costs. Besides, after Redick, the only options for Rivers at the two guard are Jamal Crawford and C.J. Wilcox.
The 29-year-old Gay is in his 10th season in the NBA and is currently averaging 18.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists with a playing time of 34.3 minutes a night in 42 games so far for head coach George Karl.
He has been in Sacramento since December 2013 after he was traded, together with Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy, by the Toronto Raptors to the Kings for Greivis Vásquez, John Salmons, Chuck Hayes and Patrick Patterson.
