Thunder Waive Rudy Gay to Cut Down 21-Player Roster

(Photo : Christian Petersen/Getty Images) PHOENIX, ARIZONA - Rudy Gay (#8) of the Utah Jazz during the second half of the NBA game at Footprint Center on January 24, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated Jazz 115-109.

The Oklahoma City Thunder has waived veteran forward Rudy Gay; sources told Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have waived Rudy Gay, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 20, 2023

Gay spent the last two seasons with the Utah Jazz, averaging 5.2 points and 2.0 rebounds in 14.6 minutes of play in 56 appearances for the team during the 2022-23 NBA season.

The 36-year-old was traded this offseason to the Atlanta Hawks in the trade involving John Collins' move to Utah. A few days later, Gay shipped again to Oklahoma City in a deal involving Patty Mills.

HoopsHype contributor Yossi Gozlan stated that the Thunder cut Gay from their roster after reaching the offseason limit of 21 players. He was the first choice to be waived since his salary cannot be aggregated in a trade.

Rudy Gay is one of the oldest active players in the league

Rudy Gay was the eleventh-oldest player in the NBA last season and one of the three remaining players from the 2006 NBA Draft class alongside PJ Tucker and Kyle Lowry.

The 17-year veteran was selected by the Houston Rockets as the eighth overall pick, and he was shipped weeks later to the Memphis Grizzlies, where he spent the majority of his career.

He spent a brief time with the Toronto Raptors in 2013 before getting traded to the Sacramento Kings in the same year. Gay joined the San Antonio Spurs in 2017 and continued to be a serviceable player under Gregg Popovich.

In 2021, Gay signed as a free agent with the Utah Jazz.