Jan 12, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay (22) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. The Mavericks defeated the Grizzlies 104-83. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

It looks like the Charlotte Bobcats are quite interested in trading for Rudy Gay.

The ‘Cats will probably have to give up a decent amount if they want to nab the career 17.8 point per game scorer.

Here’s what the Charlotte Bobcats have that Memphis (or any team in the league, really) would want.

Three future first round draft picks, including two possible picks this season depending on where Portland finishes.
The expiring contract of Gana Diop.
Kemba Walker (not going anywhere).
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (probably not going anywhere).

The ‘Cats also have other assets that might entice the Grizzlies into a trade:

Jeffrey Taylor and his cheap 2nd round pick contract.
Gerald Henderson and his deal that expires this summer.
A cheap, but experienced and talented sixth man in Ramon Sessions.
The titanic, world-beating talent that is Tyrus Thomas (Yeah. Just making sure you’re still paying attention).

With a contract like Gay’s ($17 million next year, $19 million the next), Diop would almost have to be included in the deal.

Memphis would probably also want a couple picks, a young player, and maybe even Ramon Sessions.

Here’s a deal that could work, if it included one or two of the future picks Charlotte owns.

Honestly, though, the Grizzlies would probably want Sessions instead of Reggie Williams, and that might not even be enough to get Memphis to budge.

Would giving all of that away (one or two picks, Henderson, Diop and Sessions) be worth taking on Gay’s contract?

He certainly would give Charlotte a “right now” player, but he’d also limit the ‘Cats in free agency, take time away from Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s development and probably walk away in three years if the Bobcats haven’t made significant strides into becoming at the very least a regular in the playoffs.

Nov 17, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay (22) looks to drive on Charlotte Bobcats small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) during the first half at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports

The other day we mentioned that Rudy Gay could be a trade option for the Charlotte Bobcats other than DeMarcus Cousins.

After all, there were plenty of rumors this summer that Gay would become a Bobcat and Charlotte would trade Memphis the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft.

Now those rumors are heating up again.

According to Vince Galloway, an NBA news writer, the Bobcats are “very interested in Rudy Gay”, because Charlotte wants “a ‘right now player’” not another draft pick.

Hoopsworld’s Steve Kyler and the Charlotte Observer’s Rick Bonnell also have at least acknowledged the rumor that the ‘Cats are “aggressively” pursuing Gay.

The most tormentingly ironic part of this madness is the fact that Charlotte could have just drafted Gay in 2006 had they not taken Adam Morrison.

Gay is averaging 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists this year. His PER is at the lowest it’s been since his rookie season, and his shooting efficiency numbers are the lowest they’ve ever been.

If those stats are just outlying aberrations, whichever team ends up trading for him (if any) would land a guy who’s scored 17.8 point per game in his career, produced a 52.8 percent true shooting percentage, and grabbed 5.7 boards per game.

Check back in with Roberto Gato as the story develops for thoughts on who Charlotte would likely have to give up in a trade for Gay, and if it would really be worth it for the ‘Cats to make this trade.

Nov 17, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay (22) drives on Charlotte Bobcats small forward Jeffery Taylor (44) during the second half at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-USA TODAY Sports

It’s been widely reported, especially on this website, that the Charlotte Bobcats are a possible destination for DeMarcus Cousins if he were to be traded.

But what about some other big name players who could be on the move?

ESPN.com reports the Toronto Raptors are interested in acquiring Rudy Gay, and the Memphis Grizzlies haven’t really said they’re not going to trade him. The website also reports that the Milwaukee Bucks are widely thought of as the NBA team most likely to make a move, and that Utah could deal Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap.

Do the Bobcats have a shot at any of those guys? Do they even want any of them?

Edward Shuler noted the Bobcats could go after Jefferson pretty heavily in the off season when he becomes a free agent this summer. He and Millsap are both unrestricted free agents this summer, so acquiring either of them through a trade would not make it more likely to retain them on a new contract, because any team could match or surpass a Bobcats offer.

As for the Milwaukee Bucks, the only stars on the team worth aqcuiring are Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis, and the ESPN.com report says Jennings probably won’t be dealt, and the Bobcats don’t really need either of those guys with Kemba Walker developing this year.

Finally, Rudy Gay could be a guy the Bobcats might try to make a move on.

There were rumors this summer the ‘Cats might have been trying to acquire him in a deal that would’ve included Charlotte’s No. 2 overall pick in the draft.

Charlotte has plenty of first round draft picks to dangle in front of any trade partner, and with Gay not having as great as season as some expected (17 points, 5.7 boards, but a 15 PER) one of those picks (and a few players) might be enticing enough for Gay to end up in Charlotte.

He would add a scoring punch and talented veteran presence (key word: Talented) to Charlotte’s roster, and although the Bobcats just drafted their small forward of the future, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is playing just over 20 minutes per game this year and he could shift over to power forward while he’s on the court with Gay.

A trade for Rudy Gay is probably unlikely, but if there’s another big name player besides DeMarcus Cousins the Bobcats might be looking at, Gay is the only name that makes much sense.

May 13, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay (22) during the second half of game seven in the Western Conference quarterfinals of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers at FedEx Forum. Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 82-72. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE

It was a groggy, zombie-like morning for me today, but I did manage to find my humanity long enough to read a few stories suggesting and even reporting that Charlotte is actively shopping the second pick in the 2012 NBA draft. So will the Charllote Bobcats trade it?

Here are the stories:

This one says Charlotte is thinking about trading the pick for Rudy Gay.

This one  expands on the rumors and gets into some reporting.

Other than that there are a few stories that speculate on other possible trade partners, but there’s nothing else in the way of hard news on this story.

I’m not in love with trading the secodn pick for Gay for a few reasons.

One is his contract. 16 million next year, then 19 the next. Why pay that kind of money for a guy who probably won’t make your team substantially better over those two years?

Second is the fact that Charlotte probably wouldn’t get much else back besides Gay for the second pick. Memphis has the 25th pick, and by then, the talent pool will have most likely drained.

If the Bobcats can find a suitable partner though, trading the secodn pick wouldn’t be a bad idea.