The Cleveland Cavaliers could consider Rudy Gay an option before the deadline, with the team possibly looking for a 3-and-D guy.
The Cavs could be on the move to add a two-way wing who can hit threes and cover multiple positions. The defending champs have been rumored to add a backup point guard after reaching an impasse with Mo Williams, but according to Rohan Nadkarni of Sports Illustrated, the Cavs could explore adding a 3-and-D player.
"One more defensive wing-who can also hit threes-would be the perfect gift for LeBron James. Cleveland will not get away with leaving Kevin Durant open the way they did with Harrison Barnes in last summer's Finals," Nadkarni wrote.
Gay would be a perfect addition for the Cavs if they are truly looking for a two-way wing. Gay is a capable scorer and can create his own shots, giving Cleveland another scoring option. The 10-year veteran is only shooting 34.9 percent from beyond the arc this season, but playing alongside the likes of Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James could leave him open to drain threes.
Defensively, Gay could be a key cog for the Cavs on that end. Gay can cover up multiple positions and would provide the team a defensive stopper in the perimeter. He may not completely stop Kevin Durant, but he could still be an asset for the Cavs when playing defense.
It could be only a matter of time before the Sacramento Kings move Gay, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Gay's intentions of exploring free agency in the summer of 2017 has made him one of the most available players in the league, but Kyler insisted any potential deal for the 30-year-old wing won't give the Kings much in return.
"Kings forward Rudy Gay continues to be the name most NBA insiders feel will be moved. Gay is battling some injuries, but it's believed he'll be moved before the trade deadline. Unfortunately for the Kings, he's not expected to return a ton so Sacramento may hold on to him and his scoring until February," Kyler wrote.
The Cavs do not have much to offer the Kings in a potential deal, but including Iman Shumpert, Mo Williams and Kay Felder could work for Sacramento, who may consider adding backcourt pieces to balance their frontcourt-heavy lineup.
It remains to be seen whether the Cavs would develop a genuine interest in trading for Gay before the 2017 trade deadline. Giving up too much for Gay could be a gamble for the Cavs, especially if he could only be a one-year rental for Cleveland. Nevertheless, the Cavs should take a hard look at such move to improve their chances of repeating as NBA champs.