Rudy Gay (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
Rudy Gay's injury may have changed the Sacramento Kings plans on the trade market and even free agency in the summer of 2017.
Gay's season could be over after the veteran forward suffered a torn left Achilles in the Kings' 106-100 loss against the Indiana Pacers. According to Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee, the injury could likely be the end of the season for Gay, who is averaging 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game for the Kings.
"He was diagnosed with a torn left Achilles' tendon that will sideline him for the rest of the season. It delivered a figurative punch to the gut of a struggling team before it begins a season-long eight-game trip," Jones wrote.
Video courtesy: YouTube/Ximo Pierto Final
The Kings, who currently sits at No. 11 in the West, need all the help they could get to crack into the playoffs and end the team's 10-year postseason drought. But with Gay out for the rest of the season, Sacramento didn't just lost a key player, but has been left with a difficult decision on how to move Gay's contract before the February 23 trade deadline.
Gay has been linked to trade rumors after announcing his intentions last year of his plans of exploring free agency in the summer of 2017. The Kings have been reportedly reluctant to trade Gay just for the sake of making a deal, but losing him in the offseason without any compensation could play as a factor for the franchise to let go of the 30-year-old wing.
Teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers were touted as potential landing spots for Gay. However, after his season-ending injury, it is unlikely the Kings could ever include Gay in any potential deal that could help improve the team's roster.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Gay's unfortunate setback may change the landscape of the trade deadline and free agency for the Kings.
Rudy Gay's torn Achilles will seriously change trade deadline and free agency. He planned to opt-out of $14.2M for 17-18. Complex choice now
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) January 19, 2017
Whether Sacramento truly plans on moving Gay or not, his injury has given the team without any choice but to wait for him to opt-out from his remaining contract with the Kings. For Gay, he could only hope teams would show interest in signing him this coming offseason once he fully recovers from the Achilles injury.
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