Recapping the Sacramento Kings trade for Rudy Gay

Bryan:

"It’s not often you see a trade that immediately benefits both teams, but this is one of those rare cases. For Toronto, it clears up hefty salary and gets them a few small but talented pieces who could find a role with the organization going forward. That’s really all you can ask for in a cost cutting move. As for Sacramento, they give up little and potentially net a high reward player in the process. Yes, they forfeited short term salary cap space – but it was space you were going to eat with Patterson and Vazquez’s upcoming contracts, assuming you were to keep them. So unless you were going to let them walk, you really didn’t extend yourself financially. As for the talent, Petterson and Vasquez were nothing more than role players. Some may take exception to that, as if it’s a bad term but it’s not meant to be. But neither was a star nor were they ever going to be. They had a niche and that was their ceiling. They’re guys you add to an already good team to bump them over the line, not guys you build around. Granted, Rudy Gay might not be a player you want to build around either but in Sacramento he doesn’t have to be, which is why Gay shouldn’t have a problem thriving in purple and black. Acy and Gray were solid throw-in’s, but the deal was all for Gay who should give the Kings a player who can create his own shot, can fill a void at small forward (despite the whole ‘stretch’ rumors), clears up a roster log-jam at PG and PF thanks to sending out pieces and isn’t a long term commitment. If it doesn’t work out, you’re not stuck dealing with the situation for another six years. Overall, it was a near perfect trade for both teams who can walk away feeling as if they won the deal and given what both teams are attempting to do, I think they can."