Rudy Gay has been the subject of trade rumors for what seems to be the majority of his career. This summer, however, he has finally grown frustrated with how it’s been handled. For the past few weeks, there have been rumors about Gay requesting a trade or about the Kings shopping the veteran forward.
In an interview with Blake Ellington of Sactown Royalty, Gay opened up about those same rumors. Most notably, Gay voiced his frustrations about the Kings’ front office.
I mean it’s been pretty loud as of late so it’s hard not to pay attention to [trade rumors]. I think it just goes to, I don’t know, I think there’s always ways to do things and in this situation I don’t think it’s going about the right way. No matter what your intentions to do with your players, I would think the first thing you want to do is make sure people are happy with what you are doing. That hasn’t been the case.
During the exit interview it was just how the season go, we should have done this, we should have done that. Those things weren’t really discussed at that point. I think it’s pretty obvious what situation is going on here. At this point in my career, I think I want some kind of consistency and we don’t have that here, at all.
You don’t want to hear things on the internet, on Twitter. You would like to hear it from out of the horse’s mouth. Just be upfront with people, that’s all you have to do.
Gay’s comments about the Kings’ front office certainly don’t paint a pretty picture. The lack of communication from the organization is something that other players will look at when considering joining the team. A franchise with a reputation for chaos, Sacramento cannot afford to have this type of information made public.
Gay has a point, obviously. No one wants to be told they are being shopped around by the internet. This is probably the culmination of many different frustrating situations in Sacramento for Rudy. Whether it’s been coaching, teammates, or more trade talk, Gay’s tenure with the Kings has been anything but smooth sailing.
The issues that the forward has faced in Sacramento may have contributed largely to the underwhelming season he had last year. As he put it in the interview (before immediately retracting his statement), Gay looked disinterested at times. According to him, that was the root of the rumors that he was seeking a trade (which he now denies):
No. I think people saw my disinterest, not disinterest, but I think people saw what went on this season and kind of went on that to say that I asked for a trade. I still feel like I had a lot more to give … because of the structure of the team I wasn’t able to give everything.
Again, hearing that a key player on a team trying to reach the playoffs is disinterested in playing is a bit scary. Gay has always had a reputation as a player who coasts through games, however, so all blame cannot be placed on the organization.
The most telling part of Gay’s disinterest in the Kings as a whole at this moment is the following quote. When asked about the potential of the team next year if he comes back, Gay had the following to say:
I don’t know. Honestly, I haven’t paid attention. I don’t even know who our new players are to be honest with you. I’ve just been focused on trying to be healthy and trying to get in shape and get ready for the season, wherever that might be.
Well, it sure doesn’t sound like Rudy Gay will be back in Sacramento next year.
