Rudy Gay (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Sacramento Kings continue to be involved in NBA trade rumors as they try to resolve the Rudy Gay situation.
Gay had confirmed his doubts about the team management's direction for the team and expressed his frustration in a public manner through an interview with Sactown Royalty.
"I have no idea," Gay responded, when asked about the direction of the team. "I suit up and give it my all. That's all I can do in this situation, that's all you can do. Go out there and play as much as you can. Obviously, we don't have anything to really build on. We have a new coach. I think that's the only thing we can really build on. New coach and seeing how it plays out."
While Gay has since clarified his comments and has communicated with Kings GM Vlade Divac and both seemed to reach a compromise. But that compromise would probably still result in trading Gay.
If Gay had his way, one of his preferred destinations would be the Miami Heat, as per this report from Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
"According to an associate, the Heat is among teams that very much appeal to Sacramento forward Rudy Gay, who has been available in trades. But Miami likely lacks the tradable assets to acquire him if it wanted to and his $14.2 million player option for 2017-18 is worrisome. Players signed this month in free agency cannot be traded until Dec. 15."
As Jackson points out, there aren't too many assets that the Heat can trade for Gay at this point because most of their roster consist of newly signed players and re-signed restricted free agents. The Heat is also capped out so the salaries have to match.
One trade that the Kings would like is Goran Dragic. The Kings do not have a starting point guard as yet-they have to rely on Darren Collison. Dragic would be a good fit but it's unlikely that the Heat would trade him with just Gay in return.
However, Pat Riley is reportedly determined to make a run at free agents in 2017 and there is some speculation that Dragic, who is on a sizable, long-term contract, may be one player shipped out.
Gay is expected to be a free agent as he has a player option that he would likely turn down. Would the Heat trade their starting point guard for Gay just to accommodate their free agent chase?
