The Sacramento Kings are in the thick of NBA trade rumors as they continue to find a home for Rudy Gay and Ben McLemore.
Gay has openly called out the Kings' management and has questioned the direction of the team. Kings GM Vlade Divac has also shared his side of the matter. Eventually, Gay talked to ABC 10 reporter Sean Cunningham apparently after meeting with Divac.
"There's been things before that I've been unhappy about that I haven't been vocal about, so I can't see it on my side, but I do feel as though if there's nothing going to be happening, then they should vocalize that."
"At this point in my career I just want to be happy," said Gay. "I talked to Vlade and we're trying to make that happen."
Perhaps the way to make him happy is to send him to another team. Rudy Gay is wary about his playing time because he has the chance to become a free agent. If he wants a big payday, the numbers could come in handy.
One proven way to augment your stats is to play for a team coached by Mike D'Antoni. Fortunately for him, the offensive-minded coach just returned via the Houston Rockets.
Gay is a scorer who can create his own shots. He also has three point range (a must for the Rockets) and he can even play stretch four. If he is sent to the Rockets, being one of the veterans can assure him playing time.
In SB Nation site Sactown Royalty, one of the trade scenarios involved the Kings sending Rudy Gay and Ben McLeMore to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley.
"Rudy Gay would be a perfect fit under D'Antoni as he can score in transition and can play either forward spot," the article reasoned. McLemore, on the other hand, can be developed as another three-point prospect.
For the Sacramento Kings, they get their primary goal in a trade-a ballhandler. Ariza and Beverley are also good perimeter defenders-an aspect of the game that the Kings have yet to address.
The Rockets' primary ballhandler is James Harden, whether they have a point guard or not. Thus, losing Beverley would not sting so much (they do have Prigioni). It would be better to surround him with gunners like Eric Gordon or McLemore.
Gay is like a bigger, stronger version of Ariza. The Rockets reportedly value him a lot and since the Kings placed Gay on the block, they might be the ones who need to add more value via draft picks.
The trade could benefit both teams on the surface. It remains to be seen whether the team's decision makers see it that way.