The Spurs could be willing to part with Gay, who re-signed with the team last summer and is averaging 10.1 points and 5.6 rebounds this season. “If they get a nice asset back, I think they would do something with Rudy Gay, but I think their asking price is too high,” said the league executive. “Rudy still has something in his tank,” said an NBA scout,
who added teams are not dying to help the Spurs as the franchise had dominated the league throughout Gregg Popovich’s tenure as head coach.
The NBA trade deadline can become unpredictable. Names barely or never reported in potential scenarios move, and one team can make the unexpected transaction towards their championship pursuits.
The San Antonio Spurs are just trying to make the playoffs, however, currently sitting 2.5 games outside the Western Conference picture. They are 22-27, but not far enough from the eighth seed to swing the pendulum towards buying or selling. Jabari Young of CNBC’s report Monday, noting the Spurs want to move Marco Belinelli and DeMarre Carroll, but also are “100% obsessed” with making a record 23rd consecutive playoff appearance.
Then comes this anecdote from Young:
Dallas Mavericks
In position to finish in the middle of the pack in the West, the Dallas Mavericks have been linked to a veteran wing like the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Robert Covington, If Dallas strikes out on Covington, Gay makes some sense for a scoring threat to place in between Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.
Courtney Lee’s $12.75 million expiring salary almost matches Gay’s money, with Ryan Broekhoff’s inclusion to even it out. However, in taking a cap hit for 2020-21, the Spurs do not receive significant additional compensation in this scenario. They can still take back the 2020 second round pick that’s more favorable between Golden State and Houston, though, per the deadline-day deal made between Cleveland, Houston and Sacramento in February 2019. This should fall near the top of the second round.
Or
Miami Heat
Miami has high-salaried, movable players, but minimal to no draft assets to move, given their previous history of trades.
San Antonio can take back Kelly Olynyk and Derrick Jones Jr., who is the closest piece to an asset in this scenario, for Gay. The Heat are third in the Eastern Conference, but combating the Milwaukee Bucks may require at least one piece added at the trade deadline or via the buyout market. This situation uses their glut of big salaries to not only acquire one back, but upgrade their group around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.