The Detroit Pistons were among the bidders for forward Rudy Gay when the Memphis Grizzlies made him available last season and they are once again going after him now that there's been a management changeover in Toronto.
The Pistons have offered the Raptors the expiring contracts of Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villanueva in an attempt to acquire Gay, league sources told ESPN.com.
Stuckey and Villanueva are both scheduled to make $8.5 million this season and Gay has two years and $37 million left on his contract. Gay averaged 19.5 points on 43 percent shooting in 33 games after a midseason trade sent him to Toronto.
The Raptors have already made one cap-clearing trade this week, shipping off Andrea Bargnani and the $23 million left on his deal to the New York Knicks with an eye toward cleaning their books following the 2013-14 season. New Toronto general manager Masai Ujiri is sending signals that he intends to tear down much of the Raptors' bloated payroll and moving Gay could be part of that plan.
The Pistons have more than $20 million in salary-cap space and are aiming high on that front as well. They made Atlanta Hawks free agent Josh Smith their top target and have pursued other potentially high-priced talent such as Andre Iguodala.
