NBA Trade Rumors: Latest on Russell Westbrook, Rudy Gay and More

Derrick Rose was just the beginning. 

Since the NBA rumors market picked up trade buzz surrounding the former Chicago Bulls point guard and the team wound up shipping him to the New York Knicks, it hasn't been so easy to scoff at what the market suggests.

In other words, it's important to pay attention to what the market has to say in the wake of Kevin Durant signing with the Golden State Warriors—especially when one of the marquee names making the rounds is Russell Westbrook.

Here's a look at the latest.

Sacramento Fire Sale

Brandon Dill/Associated Press

The Sacramento Kings don't sound shy about wanting to somewhat start over.

Granted, if the front office was fully committed, it would trade DeMarcus Cousins (kidding). Label it however you want, but the team lost Rajon Rondo despite a bit of a career renaissance last year, and now Rudy Gay alongside other core depth pieces might be on the chopping block, too.

To be fair, Gay was never the best fit under former head coach George Karl. Those Rondo-Cousins plays didn't give him a ton of room to operate, and he wound up averaging just 17.2 points per game, his lowest total since his rookie year if one ignores partial seasons when he bounced from team to team.

ESPN.com's Marc Stein revealed the Kings would like to trade Gay and also have center Kosta Koufos and guard Ben McLemore on the block. Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee added context and brought up an interesting name:

Folks might scratch their heads a bit at this whole situation. Gay doesn't seem as if he wants to be around anymore, which is fine, but McLemore is a 23-year-old guard with somewhat intriguing upside, and it sounds like the Kings wouldn't mind swapping him out for a player such as a 30-year-old Monta Ellis.

Ellis suits up for the Indiana Pacers. Stein noted at the start of July the Kings had an interest in him after missing out in free agency the summer before, though he only averaged 13.8 points per game last season.

If it's any consolation to those who want to see the Kings build through a young core and develop talent, it doesn't sound like the organization will let any assets go for cheap. James Ham of CSNBayArea.com hinted at as much in a recent tweet:

With the world seeming to understand the Kings want to blow it up around their center, it's good the front office won't accept a low-ball offer—surely there are more than a few. 

Sacramento seems like a team wanting to win now. It has 30-year-old Arron Afflalo at shooting guard and if Gay leaves, 36-year-old Matt Barnes helping at small forward.

One of many teams undergoing brash philosophy changes this offseason (think Chicago, among others), the Kings will have to hope it works in the deep Western Conference because the Cousins clock won't stop ticking.

Westbrook's Trade Status

The Oklahoma City Thunder don't have Westbrook on the trade block.

So says Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, who spoke with Colin Cowherd (via Dan Feldman of NBC Sports), saying, "I know this: They will not, in the short term here, be putting him out in trade talks."

It's interesting because one would think the Thunder don't want to get burnt by a superstar twice. The front office can't offer Westbrook an extension of more than three years, and he wouldn't sign it anyway. It wouldn't make sense to when the team can offer five years later or he can go wherever he wants on the open market. 

Turner Sports analyst David Aldridge provided another reason many would think the Thunder have Westbrook on the block:

It's been a rough month for the Thunder. The Golden State Warriors—the team that whipped the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals once in a 3-1 hole—wound up stealing Durant, and now it seems like the rest of the teams in the Association are standing around rubbing their hands together in anticipation of snatching Westbrook.

This is the developing trend, so much so that Chris Broussard of ESPN shocked most during an interview on MSG by revealing the Los Angeles Lakers don't think they even need to trade for Westbrook—they can just wait it out and sign him next summer.

"The Lakers think they can sign [Westbrook]," Broussard said. "I was talking to some people, some executives, yesterday about possible trades they might do, or offer, and I was told they think they can sign him as a free agent. So why should they give up anything?"

The situation could still change, of course. The Thunder could see the light and realize Westbrook alone isn't going to lead the team to a title. Not impossible, but not very likely either. 

Oklahoma City could demand more in return for Westbrook right now as opposed to at the trade deadline. The allure of a team getting Westbrook for an entire season, even if he is a rental, could entice some teams into coughing up major future assets. A team getting him at the deadline for a half season won't be so inclined to sell the farm.

The Thunder made the mistake of not getting an answer from Durant until he was on the phone with the brass telling them he was gone, swooned by someone prettier. The team can't afford to let it happen again, hence the rumblings.

It also explains teams like the Lakers allegedly lining up for him, even if right now the Thunder don't seem ready to let Westbrook go.

All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.