The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers Should Trade for Rudy Gay

By Josh Wilson

Mar 23, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) dribbles the ball around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) in the second half at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 113-104. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) dribbles the ball around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Andrew Wiggins (22) in the second half at Target Center. The Timberwolves won 113-104. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Philadelphia 76ers might be wise to look into trading with the Sacramento Kings for Rudy Gay.

The Philadelphia 76ers are on the prowl for veterans. With the team looking to have a bounce-back year after a 10-win season in 2016, they need to put a team on the floor that has an average experience higher than 3 years. Some of the signings that the Sixers have completed so far will allow them to do that, but that doesn’t mean they’re done just yet.

With July 7th past us, most free agents are now off of the table. Many have signed with their new (or old) teams.

That being said, that means that it’s time for the trades to pick up again. Trades typically start occurring right before the NBA Draft, and then dwindle down after the draft is completed as free agency approaches. Then, they pick back up once free agency dies down.

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The Sacramento Kings, looking to rebuild, have placed some of their players on the trade block. Among the three players that have been reportedly shopped around is Rudy Gay, a 10-year veteran who has spent the last two and a half seasons with the Kings.

Gay, who was a member of the All-Rookie first-team in his first season, continues to pump out productive numbers, despite his age (29 years old).

Bryan Colangelo has been adamant that he wants a larger veteran presence on the team, and has gone out and gotten three veterans for the Sixers. Only one of them, however, looks fit to join the starting roster.

Although having veterans play as rotation players off of the bench is important, I believe the most effective veteran presences are also starting pieces. Here are two looks at the starting roster that I think could come into play. One is if the Sixers don’t get Gay, and the other is if they do.

Starting roster scenario No. 1

Starting roster scenario No. 2

  • PG: Sergio Rodriguez
  • SG: Nik Stauskas
  • SF: Rudy Gay
  • PF: Ben Simmons
  • C: Jahlil Okafor
  • Average years of experience: 3.4

Now, these scenarios assume a few things, including the idea that Okafor will start over Noel, but you get the idea. Gay’s 10 years of experience will help give the Sixers’ starting roster that flare of experience that it might need to be more competitive next season.

Some might find trouble with the idea of pushing Robert Covington out of the starting lineup for Gay, and possibly eliminating Jerami Grant‘s role with the team altogether. I think that one of these two would be included in the potential trade for Gay, and the other would be a solid backup for him.

It would be a solid addition to the trade to include Grant or Cov because they each have some really great contracts that give teams a huge bang for their buck.

As for the trade, the Sixers may actually have to give up Noel or Okafor in order to get Gay. The Kings may be parting ways with DeMarcus Cousins, and will be looking for a new center to push their franchise in the right direction.

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Gay doesn’t come bearing as much veteran knowledge as some other guys — he’s only played in 7 playoff games altogether — but his decent 3-point shooting and ability to score near 20 points per game should make him an attractive target to the Sixers. Adding him to the starting lineup makes things automatically a lot more cohesive.