This trade idea is premised on the idea that there is no way Sacramento trades Demarcus Cousins, while George Karl wants to bring in some of his favorite Nuggets to surround DMC.
I have always opposed trying to acquire Rudy Gay. However, two things have changed. One is that he signed an extension for an amount that I find much more tolerable than his previous contract. The other is that he has shown the ability to modify his game and function as a smallball stretch four and playmaking point forward instead of just being a volume scorer.
So, Denver goes into full rebuilding mode and sends Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson to Sacramento. Maybe Sully goes to Sac'to and Denver gets the #16 pick and the Philly second-round pick. Sacramento gives up Rudy Gay and Darren Collison. They also give up a young player like Nik Stauskus and draft considerations. However, a rebuilding Nuggets have no need for the veteran Gay and the likely #6 pick may be a bit of an overpay.
Enter the Celtics, who have a use for Gay as an upgrade on Evan Turner. His bump up to 3.7 assists per game shows that he might have the passing ability at SF that the Celtics need to compensate for Marcus Smart and Avery Bradley's relative deficiencies in that area.
The Celtics give up a package of Jared Sullinger (or maybe Olynyk) and at least one first round pick for Rudy Gay. Other contracts may be moved for salary cap math reasons. Maybe Gerald Wallace's expiring contract gets sent to Denver. The Celtics retain the ability to sign a major free agent.
The Celtics end up looking like:
a guard rotation of Smart/Bradley/Thomas
Gay/Crowder at SF
Bass and/or Jerebko brought back to split PF minutes with Olynyk
Zeller backing up a free agent center acquisition like Robin Lopez or Omer Asik
James Young trying to earn playing time. Maybe Evan Turner sticks around, getting some of his minutes as the fourth guard. Datome could be back for cheap as a guy who ha a chance of becoming that 40% three point shooter off the bench. The Celtics may or may not have some rookies to fill out the roster, depending on what draft considerations they have to give up.