Rumor: Pacers and Kings Discussing Rudy Gay Trade

The Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings have had “recent trade discussions” about bringing wing scorer Rudy Gay to the Hoosier State.

The Indiana Pacers have been busier on the trade market than in free agency, and they may be trying to deal for another proven scorer. According to Marc Stein of ESPN, the Pacers are discussing a move for Rudy Gay with the Sacramento Kings.

ESPN sources say Sacramento and Indiana have had recent trade discussions involving Kings F Rudy Gay potentially sending him to the Pacers
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2016

While Rudy Gay has drawn criticism in some basketball circles for his penchant for the midrange game and his high-volume-shooting tendencies, the almost-30-year-old can straight score.

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Gay has averaged 18.4 points per game for his career, on 45.2% shooting, and he put up 21.1 points per game for the Kings as recently as 2014-15. Though not known for his ability to defend, Rudy is a big body on the perimeter at 6’8″ who can play various positions in the modern NBA.

There is no news about who might be included in the deal from the Pacers end.

Monta Ellis, however, has been a long-time target for Sacramento. Last offseason, Indiana was reportedly able to sign Ellis for a lower overall contract value than the combo guard was offered by the Kings. A straight swap — one scorer for another — certainly could make sense.

Re: @ESPNSteinLine report about Rudy Gay trade talks: there's a definite desire to find him a new home, & an eternal pursuit of Monta Ellis.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 2, 2016

Under the new, elevated salary cap, both players are on team-friendly deals. Ellis has three years remaining on his contract, at roughly $11 million per year, although the third year is a player option.

Gay only has one year remaining guaranteed, at $13.3 million, followed by a final player-option year that he is almost certain to decline given the financial realities of the NBA now.

UPDATE: Sam Amick of USA Today, and who worked for years as a Kings beat writer for the local Sacramento Bee, is now reporting that the Kings have “no interest” in Monta Ellis. The Kings also have no interest in Rodney Stuckey, another player that the Pacers would seemingly be willing to part with.

It may, in fact, be a new day in Sacramento: I'm quickly corrected on the Monta front, told Kings have no interest. Rodney Stuckey, either.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) July 2, 2016

Marc Stein reported that “Sacramento still has interest in Ellis,” however, about 20 minutes earlier for what that’s worth. Take it how you will.

Sacramento still has interest in Monta Ellis -- its top free-agent target last summer -- but Indy is said to prefer dealing Rodney Stuckey.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2016

And regardless of whether Monta or anything the Pacers will offer is desirable to the Kings, Stein says that Rudy Gay is definitely on the trade market.

Sources maintain Rudy Gay, no matter what happens with Indy, is right there with Greg Monroe in terms of proven players available via trade.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 2, 2016

If Larry Bird swings a deal for the UConn product, Gay would be the fourth big acquisition for the Pacers this offseason.

Indiana traded away George Hill and its 2016 first-round pick for Jeff Teague and Thaddeus Young, respectively, and then went out and signed Al Jefferson on the first day of free agency.

Combined with losing Solomon Hill and Ian Mahinmi (presumably), Bird has already shown his preference for scoring and quickness over more-limited players who make their money on defense.

Snagging Rudy Gay would be another sign that the Pacers’ new strategy is 100% focused on trying to outscore opponents in the post-Frank Vogel era.