Taj Gibson (Photo : Getty Images)
There are some NBA trade rumors that seem so easy that it's frustrating for fans as to why it has not happened yet.
The Rudy Gay for Taj Gibson swap has been rumored for over a year now and despite the offseason changes, the fit remains obvious. Even with the massive overhaul of the Chicago Bulls, swapping Gibson for Gay makes sense, all the more with Coach Fred Hoiberg at the helm.
It's clear that Hoiberg prioritizes the offense, a stark contrast from Tom Thibodeau which has somehow left Gibson in limbo. Hoiberg has used multiple options at power forward in the hopes to emulate "small ball." In this set-up, it seemed like Nikola Mirotic was a great fit but according to SB Nation team site Blog a Bull, Mirotic's limitations have caught up with him.
According to Vijay Vemu of BaB, "Mirotic is perfect for that role, but there was injury, his lack of defense, and inconsistent shooting almost made him unplayable sometimes" and that has resulted in Hoiberg playing Doug McDermott at the position. Vemu thought that this move is "disastrous" but he added that "word out of this year's Summer League is the Bulls will probably try to do that this year as well."
If Gibson is simply not an option anymore, why not trade him for Rudy Gay who can offer the offense sans the physical limitations of McDermott since Gay is strong enough to match up against opposing fours. But Gay can also slide down to the three position, something Gibson could not do.
As Brian Mazique of Forbes noted there is still a logjam at the Bulls frontcourt. "Robin Lopez is seemingly locked in as the starting center, but Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, Bobby Portis and Cristiano Felicio will be fighting for playing time as the backup five and at the power forward."
Only Mirotic can slide down to the three among those players but he doesn't do well guarding faster swingmen. The point is clear, Gay is a better fit for the Bulls than Gibson is.
On the other hand, the Kings roster is filled with centers and they have attempted to play Cousins at the power forward position. They intend to do the same with incoming rookie Skal Labissiere. Apart from that, the only natural power forward for them is Anthony Tolliver.
So why has this deal not taken place? The Chicago Bulls are probably the cause for the hold-up. They have already gained leverage with Gay's public incrimination of the Kings, while the Bulls have kept Gibson under wraps. The suspicion is that they are probably asking for more than just Gay, like future draft picks-either protected firsts or second round picks.
The Kings have all the motivation to trade Gay. Their lack of communication with their player has let them beyond the point of no return. The Bulls know this and while they also need Gay in their fold, they have successfully held on until the Kings blinked first.
