League sources say while there are teams that have expressed interest in Gay - most notably the Houston Rockets - getting anything of real value back on what could be a one-year rental at Gay's price tag is hard math to make work. "The problem with trading Gay, who is owed $13.33 million this season, is that the Kings would have to take back some level of salary in the deal and find a team open to taking on Gay in what could be a one-year rental.
"For weeks, there has been talk that Kings forward Rudy Gay could be had in a trade and that despite his ability to be an unrestricted free agent next summer, there are many around the league who believe the Kings will not only move Gay, but that it could happen before training camp starts. Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders said in a report later picked up by NBC Sports that the Rockets are one of the teams with the strongest interest in the 10-season veteran. That partner could very well be the Rockets. On top of that, Gay has been rifting publicly with the franchise, and the latest news has it sounding like Kings GM Vlade Divac is actively trying to move the forward as quickly as a suitable partner emerges, maybe even before the season starts. The Kings are looking to get something for Gay before he walks at season's end for nothing. The forward has one year and $13.3 million left on his contract, with a player option for 2017-2018 that he is unlikely to exercise, especially if he stays in Sacramento. It's public knowledge that the Sacramento Kings are looking to trade Rudy Gay.