Trade rumors run rampant this time of year. After all, the majority of decision makers have come together in Las Vegas to network at Summer League. As such, "discussions" happen frequently, and rumors are born. And our old friend Carmichael Dave took to Twitter on Thursday to demonstrate just how a trade rumor is born.

So let's try this rumor thing and watch how it gets dissected. I'll put the tweet out, I'll use ACTUAL happenings, and then explain. — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

One thing I picked up on in Summer League- a lot of chatter about Denver being interested in reuniting Rudy Gay with Malone. More to come. — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

In speaking with more than one person close to the Nuggets, there is more than just a wish to Rudy in a Denver uniform. — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

When delving into the Nuggets/Gay rumors, the names Wilson Chandler and Jameer Nelson came up. Also fits cap wise. Stay tuned. — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

So- true story. While waiting to talk to Coach Malone after their game, I was talking to both a Nuggets friend/staffer, and a Denver writer — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

The subject of Gay came up, and how he and coach Malone had a great relationship.Then the conversation turned to specific players for 10 min — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

So right there I spoke to:



1. A nuggets staffer (a PR guy,but hey a staffer)



2. A writer (close to team)



There's the "multiple source"... — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

So with the two sources "close to the team, I add in the location of the conversation "summer league" to add gravitas. Now we got something — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

As we were having this meaningless convo, we were all three throwing names out. I then took a couple and did this: pic.twitter.com/p7MDzdwtzS — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

So now I have a trade idea that has a location, a couple of good sources, and makes sense under the cap. And a good story. VOILA! Rumor time — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

Now bookmark both of the tweets I sent proposing the actual Gay to Denver rumor. Even though I am blatantly showing the BS,watch them spread — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

My point is rumors are easy to start, and still maintain that you're sourced and being honest. But 99.9999 are BS to fill news cycles — Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) July 14, 2016

Roughly an hour later:

Report: #Nuggets interested in #NBAKings #Kings star SF-PF Rudy Gay. Would reunite him with head coach Mike Malone. — @kc1nyk (@kc1nyk) July 14, 2016

***

This is an excellent example of why we as fans need to examine rumors, and not just take them at face value. Sometimes smoke means there's fire. Sometimes, it's just smoke.