Rudy Gay (L) and Greg Monroe. (Photo : Getty Images)
NBA veterans Rudy Gay and Greg Monroe are reportedly two of the biggest names who are still available on the trade market this summer after a couple of weeks of wheeling and dealing around the league.
All the superstars have been in place early in free-agency with Kevin Durant quickly choosing the Golden State Warriors, Dwyane Wade moving back home to the Chicago Bulls, and LeBron James set to remain with the reigning champions Cleveland Cavaliers although he has not officially signed a contract yet.
With most of the prized free agents already locked in with their respective teams, the trade market is expected next to be busy and open for business.
Uproxx cited ESPN's Marc Stein that "the Sacramento Kings and Milwaukee Bucks are still trying to move Rudy Gay and Greg Monroe, respectively" as the two teams are seeking a place in the playoffs next year.
Sacramento has not qualified to the playoffs in 10 seasons already while Milwaukee had alternated advancing and falling short of the postseason for the past four years. Last season, the Kings were 10th in the Western Conference with a 33-49 record while the Bucks finished 12th in the East with the same 33-49 slate.
The report noted that Gay and Monroe were both deemed as an ill-fit by their respective ballclubs because their "games haven't exactly aged well with a changing NBA".
Gay's size deficiency as a power forward and lack in quickness and three-point shooting as a small forward makes him out-of-place with what former Kings head coach George Karl is trying to do. Meanwhile, Monroe's inability to play defense and his old school back-to-the-basket game is "stalling the Bucks' athletic youth movement" last season.
At the moment, rumors are out that Gay is being eyed by the Los Angeles Clippers while the San Antonio Spurs are said to be interested in Monroe.
News 4 San Antonio indicated that the five-time NBA champs are "interested in Bucks center Greg Monroe" although it would be a stretch to the Spurs' salary cap as they have already signed big men Pau Gasol and Dewayne Dedmon.
Monroe is owed $17 million next season and San Antonio was never known to overpay players especially in the Gregg Popovich era.
Another issue with signing the former Georgetown standout is his unwillingness to play off the bench. With Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge expected to occupy the starting big men spots, the Spurs would again be an ill-fit for the throwback center.
