The OKC Thunder remain interested in trading for Rudy Gay in hopes of further improving their lineup. But with the Thunder having limited assets to orchestrate a deal, it could be difficult for the team to acquire Gay, who has
ESPN's Zach Lowe claimed that the Thunder are still intrigued in adding Gay to their lineup, with the team hoping to remodel around star Russell Westbrook. Since the departure of Kevin Durant to the Bay Area, the Thunder have been linked to acquiring a veteran like Gay, who could shore up OKC's game on both ends of the floor.
"They remain interested in bigger wings, including Rudy Gay, sources say, in part because such a player would slide everyone down to their intended spots: Oladipo to the bench, and Andre Roberson back to defending shooting guards," Lowe wrote.
The Thunder do not have much pieces to offer for the services of Gay. Andre Roberson and Anthony Morrow could be likely trade candidates, as well as Cameron Payne, although combining the mentioned players won't still be enough to match the $13 million the Kings owe Gay this season. But on the other hand, the Kings may get too picky when exploring deals for Gay.
After announcing his intentions to explore free agency next summer, Gay has left the Kings in a position where they must consider getting something in return instead of losing the 30-year-old for nothing. There are several contenders that could trade for Gay, and even a lopsided deal could be on the table as long as Sacramento gets something in return. But if the Thunder could come up with an enticing package the Kings cannot resist, there is a chance Gay ends up in Oklahoma City before the deadline.
"Gay fits into the Oklahoma City lineup incredibly well and even provides the hypothetical situation with some interesting small-ball lineups. Extensions for guys like Steven Adams mean the cap-space situation next year might not lend itself to major splashes in free agency, anyway," Chris Roling of Bleacher Report wrote.
As it stands, the Thunder's only chance of acquiring Gay is including a third-party in a potential trade. One scenario that could work for the Thunder is sending Enes Kanter to a team like the Indiana Pacers, who are looking for a rebounding big man, while shipping Cameron Payne to the Kings. Sacramento would then send Gay to OKC. To complete the deal, Indiana would send Monta Ellis to the Kings and Rodney Stuckey to the Thunder.
Gay and Stuckey would give the Thunder reliable scorers off the bench, giving the team a more fluid offense when Westbrook is off the court. On the other hand, Ellis and Payne addresses Sacramento's need of steady backcourt pieces, while Kanter provides the Pacers a defensive and rebounding big man.
It remains to be seen whether the Thunder are open to such deal, but it seems imminent the team would ramp up their efforts to land a proven veteran like Gay in hopes of establishing themselves as contenders in the West.
Video courtesy: YouTube/FreeDawkins