The Sacramento Kings have been one of the most active teams in the NBA trade market early in the season after dealing for Derrick Williams and now the team has snagged Rudy Gay from the Toronto Raptors and both teams could continue to be aggressive, as names like DeMar DeRozan, Kyle Lowry, Jimmer Fredette and Jason Thompson could be next to move.
The teams made a deal for Rudy Gay and this comes a year after he was traded from the Grizzlies to the Raptors and now both teams could be working on more deals before the trading deadline. According to ESPN.com and Marc Stein, both teams remain in the mix, including with players like Kyle Lowry and Jason Thompson and teams like the Lakers, Knicks and Sixers could be partners in deals moving forward. Acquiring Gay and Williams makes the Kings have an influx of players are certain positions and that could spur a deal, while Masai Ujiri is hoping to get payroll down even more as he tries to rebuild.
The Raptors have been playing better than expected this season and the way the eastern conference is shaping up, even with the trade the team has a chance to make it into the playoffs as one of the lower seeded teams and Masai Ujiri knows that those spots are up for grabs. Thompson has been bounced around by the Kings and with his position he could be a solid option to get dealt and while he has a five year extension on him for over $30 million, the new ownership group could decide to get rid of that Monday if they can and he is making $5.6 million this season and $12.4 million the next two seasons combined.
Taking on Gay is not without its risks as well, especially with the prickly DeMarcus Cousins also in the mix and the moves for the Raptors follows what the team has been doing since dealing Andrea Bargnani. The new deal with the Raptors and Kings sent John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes to the Raptors and Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy out west and now the two teams will work on getting their new players into the lineup.
"We won't have three guys tonight," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said when asked about the trade. "Until it's official, I can't comment on it."