NBA Rumors: Here’s Why Other Teams Won’t Go After Sacramento Kings’ Rudy Gay Through a Trade

Aug 12, 2016 09:05 AM EDT

For some time now, Rudy King of the Sacramento Kings has been at the center of recent trade rumors. Although some are suggesting that the defending champion the Cleveland Cavaliers will most likely go after him, there's a very big chance that Gay will not be traded.

When it comes to rumors involving Gay, the Cavaliers is one of the teams that's on top of the list. That's because for one, Cleveland is currently a very enticing environment for any players, primarily because they just came from winning the 2016 NBA championships.

But aside from this, another factor that makes the Cavs a likely landing spot is the current status of their roster. Up to now, the Cleveland organization has not yet finalized its lineup. Sure, LeBron James and head coach Tyronn Lue are already onboard, it is not yet clear if other members such as J.R. Smith and Kevin Love will remain in the roster for next season.

However, as noted by Steve Kyler of Baketball Insiders, although Gay would be a great addition to any team next year, there are several factors that could deter franchises from going after him through a trade with the Kings.

According to Kyler, Gay is set to make $13.3 million in the upcoming season. This means that if the Lings decide to trade him away, they would end up taking a hit from a portion of his remaining salary. Also, Sacramento will probably need to find a team that's willing to shoulder the amount on Gay's contract.

Even with a loaded salary space, this scenario would not seem very tempting for any team in the NBA primarily because trading for Gay would end up in a one-year rental, according to Bleacher Report.

This factor alone could immediately rule out the Cavs as a potential landing spot for Gay through a trade. That's because aside from the taxes that the team is currently facing, the Cavs also have to be smart with their money especially if they are still keen on re-signing free agent Smith, who is reportedly asking for $12 million a season.

However, despite these factors, this doesn't necessarily mean that other team will no longer have a chance to secure Gay. After all, the player only has one year left in his contract with the Kings. That means teams desiring to get him will be able to do so next offseason, when Gay officially becomes an unrestricted free agent.