NBA Rumors: Latest on Possible Rudy Gay Trade, George Hill Extension and More
The transaction market continues to heat up in the early stages of the 2016-17 NBA season as teams have now had an opportunity to see their on-court products for an extended period of time.
Some like what they're seeing, which has prompted rumors of contract extensions. Others are searching for options on the trade market.
Here is the latest on some of the league's most notable rumors.
Rudy Gay
The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking for a sizable wing presence to add to their roster in an attempt to add another dimension of scoring alongside the explosive Russell Westbrook.
According to ESPN.com's Zach Lowe, Rudy Gay is one of those targets, which could bring equilibrium to the roster: "They remain interested in bigger wings, including Rudy Gay, sources say, in part because such a player would slide everyone down to their intended spots: [Victor] Oladipo to the bench, and Andre Roberson back to defending shooting guards."
Oklahoma City is a mediocre shooting team from distance, with a 34.4 percent mark entering Friday night. Their best scorer, Westbrook, shoots right around that number at 34.8 percent.
Gay has a career percentage around that area as well, but this season has seen him hit 42.4 percent of threes through 11 games. On top of that, he's shooting 47.7 percent overall from the field while averaging 21.3 points per game.
That kind of scoring ability would be welcomed on a Thunder team that has just two other players in Oladipo and Enes Kanter averaging double-digit points per night behind Westbrook.
George Hill
The Utah Jazz look to have some money to spend, and they could be using it to keep point guard George Hill in Salt Lake City.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein, the Jazz have $13 million cap space and could soon use it to offer either Hill or forward Derrick Favors an in-season extension: "According to the latest rumbles in circulation on the matter, Hill has emerged as Utah's priority here."
Given his start to his first year with the Jazz after five with the Indiana Pacers, Hill has been playing at an All-Star level despite a thumb injury.
In seven games, he averaged 20.4 points and five assists per game while shooting 54.1 percent from the field.
The 30-year-old is set to hit free agency after this season, but after this kind of start, the Jazz might not let him get that far.
Cavaliers Guard Search
While the Cleveland Cavailers might be set at the point guard position for the foreseeable future with Kyrie Irving, the team has had problems finding a backup.
After Matthew Dellavedova departed for the Milwaukee Bucks in the summer and Mo Williams simply didn't show up, Cleveland attempted to rely on rookie Kay Felder as Irving's backup, but it hasn't worked.
Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon shed some light as to what the Cavaliers could do before the calendar year ends after a reader asked him about the possibility of the team picking up former Miami Heat and New Orleans Pelican Norris Cole:
"Though it was reported that Cole has an NBA opt-out clause, the Cavs believe Cole is not available until February, after the Chinese season—and could be locked up even longer if his team makes the playoffs. At any rate, it would not appear he is on their radar any longer. All indications are (for now) that they will try and go the trade route to get a backup to Kyrie Irving.
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Vardon speculated that the Cavaliers could pull off a deal "around Dec. 15," when free agents who signed with their respective teams during the offseason can be traded.
Two names he brought up were Deron Williams of the Dallas Mavericks and D.J. Augustin of the Orlando Magic.
Stats courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com (stats and figures as of 11/17/16).
