8 Houston Rockets that never played a single minute

1. Rudy Gay

The Houston Rockets selected Rudy Gay with the eighth overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft and immediately traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies for Shane Battier, who became a favorite among Rockets fans. Gay made the All-Rookie First-Team with the Grizzlies, posting averages of 10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 42.2 percent shooting, and 36.4 percent from three.

Gay has been one of the more consistent players in the league since being drafted, as he’s lasted 17 years and counting in the Association. Gay hovered around the 20-point mark for around 10 consecutive seasons for three different teams and was the top scorer on the Grizzlies and Toronto Raptors.

Gay holds career averages of 15.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 45.2 percent from the floor, and 34.6 percent from three. However, the championship ring has eluded him throughout his career, as he’s never made it past the opening round of the playoffs.

Gay had a rather active 2023 offseason, as he was sent to the Atlanta Hawks as a result of the John Collins trade, only to be subsequently sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder, alongside Usman Garuba and TyTy Washington in exchange for Patty Mills.

The Thunder later released all three players and Gay has remained a free agent ever since.