The Oklahoma City Thunder remains a potential destination for Rudy Gay, but with limited pieces to move, the team may find it difficult to acquire the services of the veteran wing.
The Thunder could still look to add an offensive player to keep their title hopes high this season. After Kevin Durant took his talents to the Bay Area, Russell Westbrook has taken over the Oklahoma City. However, it has also become evident that the Thunder needs to give Westbrook a running mate on the offensive end who could fill the void left by Durant.
ESPN's Zach Lowe that the Thunder have remained interested in adding "bigger wings" like Rudy Gay, who could do wonders to the team's offensive game. Gay, who is averaging 18.6 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Kings this season, would not only help Westbrook score points, but his versatility on the defensive end would also help the Thunder become legit contenders in a stacked Western Conference.
Gay is set to explore free agency next year, making him a likely trade candidate for the Kings before the deadline. However, the Kings have been able to keep hold of Gay despite trade talks linking the veteran forward to the Thunder, in a deal that could have involve OKC's second-year point guard Cameron Payne. But with Payne yet to return from a foot injury, the Thunder could consider moving other pieces if they want to acquire Gay.
Andre Roberson has been rumored as a possible trade chip for Gay, with the former failing to work out a contract extension with Thunder, making him a restricted free agent next year.
Roberson isn't an explosive scorer, but he is an athletic wing who could finish at the rim and has been the Thunder's best defender at the wing. With the Thunder agreeing to lucrative extensions to Westbrook, Victor Oladipo and Steven Adams, they may not be enough cap space to match offer sheets Roberson could receive in the summer of 2017.
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.
Would the Thunder gamble on a one-year rental like Gay, while breaking up their core of second stringers? Gay is proven talent, but any potential deal would depend on the Thunder's willingness to keep Roberson long-term.
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