Rudy Gay was in trade rumors to the Indiana Pacers last year that never materialized, but does Kevin Pritchard still want him?

Rudy Gay declined his player option with the Sacramento Kings, putting him on the free agency market this July. Considering he told the Kings his plans almost a year ago, it wasn’t surprising.

The reason we’re talking about him today is that last year the Pacers were involved in rumors with him, but no trade ever materialized.

Gay only played 30 games with the Kings last season before a ruptured Achilles tendon took him out of commission. Interestingly, his last game was against the Pacers. He was shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc and playing some of the most efficient basketball of his career and averaged 18.7 points and 6.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game before he went down.

There is a market for his services out there even now, but the question is how much does Gay want to be paid next year? He opted out of a $14.3 million contract. While the new CBA has bumped up salaries, Gay’s history in the NBA is a legacy of being good, but never great. He can help a team, but he can’t be expected to carry one.

If he were to help the Pacers, it would be on the offensive side of the ball, but he has limits. While he shoots the 3-pointer accurately, he only takes a few a game. The 6’8″ small forward can rebound and score, but he does need the ball to be effective, a possible issue if he’s sharing the floor with Jeff Teague, Lance Stephenson, and Paul George. We don’t know for sure who is still going to reside in Indiana this October, but Gay’s fit isn’t perfect at first glance assuming Indiana runs a similar starting lineup out next season,

Gay could fit in and improve the Pacers second unit in the right situation, but whether he is interested in coming off the bench is another question entirely. While playing with the reserves might actually work for the Pacers, Gay was still starting last season and I don’t know if he is ready for that role even as he’s on the far side of 30 years old.

Will Pritchard finally swipe right on Rudy Gay? Only time will tell, but the Pacers limited cap space might preclude them from putting Gay in blue and gold.