Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala aren’t the only small forwards the Detroit Pistons may be going after.Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com says the Pistons offered Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva (both expiring contracts) to the Toronto Raptors for forward Rudy Gay, according to sources.
The Raptors are trying to clear their books following the 2013-14 season, as Windhorst says, and Gay has two years left on his five-year, $82.3 million contract. The Raptors already traded big man and former No. 1 pick Andrea Bargnani to the New York Knicks.
However, according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard this afternoon, the Raptors are not looking to trade Gay. Gay, 26, averaged 18.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season. He was traded to Toronto from the Memphis Grizzlies near mid-season.
The advantage for the Pistons in this scenario would seem to be the two years left on Gay’s contract. Signing free agents Smith or Iguodala would likely require a long-term deal, making it more difficult to also retain the young core of Greg Monroe, Brandon Knight and Andre Drummond down the road.
The Pistons also have talked to the Boston Celtics about guard Rajon Rondo, who’s signed through the 2014-15 season amid a five-year, $55 million contract.
