Through all the hoopla and praised heaped on DeMarcus Cousins’ new found maturity, Rudy Gay is quietly proving that he is worth a nice contract extension with the Kings.
When Gay was traded to the Kings in the middle of the 2013-14 season, there was some reservations that Gay was not going to be the player that he once was with the Memphis Grizzlies. Gay really didn’t fit in with the Toronto Raptors, as his shooting percentage tumbled off the cliff, and the team wasn’t going anywhere.
But sometimes, what looks like bad omens can actually be a blessing in disguised. The Kings needed a perimeter player to pair up with Cousins, someone who could get 20 points a night on the wing to free up Cousins’ double-teams.
As it turns out, that player was Rudy.
Rudy looks like a brand new player in a Kings uniform, as he has re-found his outside touch, and has also taken on an all-around approach to his game. His 3.2 assist per game is the highest of his career, and he is also helping Cousins’ out on the glass, to the tune of seven rebounds a game.
This is a new and improved Rudy Gay we are witnessing here, which is a large part of the Kings hot start to the 2014-15 season. But looming over Gay and the Kings is his contract, which expires at the end of this season.
Sir Charles In Charge
Gay and the Kings were trying to hammer out an extension before the start of the season, but the talks stalled, and left Rudy little choice but to pick up his option for this season that will pay him $19 million. But Gay still wants an extension, and the Kings have to give it to him.
The last time the Kings had a star small forward, Peja Stojakovic was lighting up opponets from the outside. But the small forward position has been a revolving door since. But when Gay arrived, the Kings finally had stability at the small forward position.
Gay looks like he is playing with a chip on his shoulder, with the chip being the Kings reluctance to extend his contract. This may be good to the Kings on the court, but the Kings can ill afford to let Gay walk at the end of the year.
So it’s time for the Kings front office to pull out their wallets and pay Gay, because he has quietly earned his contract extension.