Rudy Gay (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The Oklahoma City Thunder could explore trading for Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay in hopes of adding depth at the team's small forward position.
Rudy Gay, who has announced his intentions to explore free agency next summer, remains a likely trade candidate for the Kings, and the Thunder could be among the teams looking to swoop the veteran forward, according to the Oklahoman writer Erik Horne.
"Since we know the Thunder has at least had interest in Rudy Gay, you'd imagine that interest is still open if the right deal comes along. Either way, Roberson may not be the guy at SF, particularly since they didn't get that deal done. Doesn't mean he can't come back, but they clearly want to strengthen the position, be it through Grant or someone else," Horne wrote.
Acquiring Gay would give the Thunder a veteran at the wing who can get it done on both ends of the floor. Gay, who averages 22.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game for the Kings this season, can defend multiple positions and could become OKC's second scoring option.
Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical recently claimed that the Thunder have maintained a "strong interest" in trading for Gay. It remains to be seen whether OKC would truly consider such move, but any potential deal would probably involve Andre Roberson, who declined to work out a contract extension with the Thunder.
Roberson would provide the Kings an athletic guard, who could be an essential piece on the franchise's rebuild. The 24-year-old shooting guard only averaged 5.1 points per game last season, but Roberson plays effectively as a lockdown defender for the Thunder.
The Thunder could use the $7.4 million trade exception from dealing Ersan Ilyasova to the 76ers and send Roberson, Cameron Payne and Kyle Singler to Sacramento, a deal which works under the NBA salary guidelines and ESPN's trade machine.
It remains to be seen whether OKC would be willing to risk trading for Gay, who could turn out as a one-year rental for the Thunder. But if the team is serious about contending this season, it is a deal worth considering.
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