Source: Wolves target Rudy Gay

David Kahn says he plans to call two agents at 11 o'clock Wednesday, when the NBA's free-agency negotiation period begins.

I hear from a good league source that one of those two guys is Memphis forward Rudy Gay.

I texted David Kahn for a confirmation or denial Monday evening and he did not respond.\

UPDATE: Kahn texted back this morning (Tuesday) and said he couldn't do either, confirm or deny.

For months, Gay has seemed like one of the most realistic possibilities if the Wolves did something significant in free agency because he's young (23), could grow into the kind of star you can build a team around and is a restricted free agent for a Memphis team that might not be willing to match a rich offer.

Last week, the Wolves drafted Wesley Johnson, who plays the same small-forward position as Gay.

That pick might suggest that the Wolves won't be in the market now for another small forward, but remember: This team drafted four point guards (and traded away two) last summer and also added swingmen Martell Webster and Lazar Hayward along with Johnson on draft night.

If Gay is one of their targets and if they should be able to sign him, either they're planning that Johnson and/or Gay can play shooting guard in Kurt Rambis' system or perhaps another deal would be in the works. Keep your eye on Derrick Favors, whom the Nets might have drafted just to trade if they can sign a star power forward (Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer) in free agency.

Kahn said he wants to bring two candidates to town to see Target Center and meet team personnel, including owner Glen Taylor.

The question about Gay is whether the Wolves would try to package a front-loaded offer too painful for the Grizzlies to match or whether they'd try to strike a sign-and-trade deal.

Any Wolves offer to a free agent that approaches a maximum deal probably would have to include the other team taking back Al Jefferson and his contract, which has three years and $42 million left.

The Grizz might have been willing to do that if it meant getting rid of Zach Randolph, but would they do so for Gay while keeping Randolph, a power forward just Al, on the roster?

That's a big if.