On Sunday December eighth, the Toronto Raptors completed a trade sending forward Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings. The deal included Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy on the Raptors side. In exchange, Toronto received Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes. Here are some changes you will see in both these team’s locker rooms.

The trade that sends Rudy Gay to Sacramento.

1. Despite getting rid of a “star” player, the Raptors may have gotten better:

Let’s be honest, Rudy Gay was easily having his worst season since his rookie year. Although it wasn’t his entire fault, he was shooting under 39% from the floor. For a number one option, that’s pretty horrible. Yes his 7.4 rebounds per game and 1.3 blocks were a career high, but his focus should have been to get the ball in the hoop. Too many times has he taken an absurd amount of shots and failed to convert, effectively hurting his team. The pieces the Raptors got in return can easily make up for Gay’s offensive production, and makes them tougher in the post, something the Raptors haven’t been good at especially since Tyler Hansbrough got hurt on Friday.

Rudy Gay’s career averages.

2. There are now five point guards on the Raptors. Is Masai done dealing?

The roster makeup indicates no, he isn’t done. The deal brings in Vasquez, who is a much better passing point guard than Kyle Lowry. Vasquez also has the size at point guard that Ujiri covets. While in Denver, Masai picked Evan Fournier, a shooting guard that had the potential and the ball skills to move to the point. Although he didn’t really work out as a point guard Fournier is playing well in Denver at the 2. Masai also brought in Julyan Stone in Denver and most recently Toronto, Stone is also a 6’6” point guard but hasn’t gotten off the bench much so far this season. Vasquez is a big guard who broke out last year averaging 9 assists per game.

Greivis Vasquez career averages.

Kyle Lowry is more of a change of pace, up-tempo point guard that looks to score quickly rather than set up the offense. Vasquez can score himself, but with him on the court it’s more likely that he’ll be using Jonas Valanciunas in the post. Vasquez was acquired this past offseason by the Kings, but a combination of a dip in production and a breakout season by Isaiah Thomas left him as the odd man out. Vasquez had a breakout year with Anthony Davis manning the post in New Orleans last year, with Valanciunas in Toronto, they could form a scary tandem. In short, Kyle Lowry could be the next one to go in Raptor-land.

3. Money, Money, Money.

This deal saves Masai Ujiri just under $20 million next season. Both Vasquez and Patterson have qualifying options beyond this year, meaning that the Raptors have the choice to exercise the option or not. If they do, they have the opportunity to match any offer the player signs, if not, he’s off the books. John Salmons is making 7.5 million this year and seven million next year. However, next year’s salary is a team option, meaning the Raptors can opt out of that contract, saving them the seven million on their books.

The Sacramento Kings payroll before the trade.

The only player guaranteed money past this year is Chuck Hayes, due just under $6 million. While he’s a very undersized center at 6’6”, he’s as tough as they get and can rebound which is something the Raps have been lacking a lot. The money saved from the Bargnani trade and now the Gay trade gives Toronto some flexibility to go out in the free agency market this upcoming summer.

4. What now for the Kings?

Sacramento has been making some moves lately. They recently acquired Derrick Williams from the Timberwolves, and now Rudy Gay makes two talented players, even if both have played poorly so far. They’ve done that while revamping their roster. Their projected starting lineup for the rest of the season would look like this:

PG – Isaiah Thomas

SG –Ben McLemore

SF – Rudy Gay

PF – Derrick Williams

C – DeMarcus Cousins

On paper, that’s a good team. But in the competitive western conference, it may not be enough to move into that top eight, which is what their payroll suggests this team should be doing. Cousins’ new contract kicks in next season, while Thornton is due just under $8.7 millions next year and Carl Landry and Jason Thompson are due at least $6 million per year through the 2016/17 season.

Rudy The King

Having just traded for Gay, there is a certain expectation around the league that the Kings will offer Gay an extension. If they extend him, they are practically locked into this team for the foreseeable future, it could be a great move by the Kings buying low, or hurt this franchise for a while.

5. With four players incoming to the Raps, someone has to be waived.

With Vasquez being a point guard, that makes five on the roster. Meaning that it’s very likely one of them gets waived. Lowry has too much value, it comes down to DJ Augustin, Dwight Buycks or Julyan Stone. Stone is a Ujiri favorite, so he may be saved. It comes down to Buycks and Augustin. Buycks has been seeing a bit more minutes than DJ (10.2 to 8.2 mpg), and has shown flashes of being a decent player down the line. Augustin has had his chance in the league and hasn’t been able to separate himself from the bunch. My bet is DJ is let go.

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