AP Source: Toronto To Trade Rudy Gay To Sacramento
The Sacramento Kings are making another major move under new owner Vivek Ranadive in hopes of turning around the franchise's struggles.
The Kings have reached an agreement to acquire forward Rudy Gay from Toronto in a multiplayer trade, a person familiar with the deal said Sunday night. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade is still pending NBA approval, said the deal is expected to be official Monday after players pass physicals.
The Raptors will receive Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, John Salmons and Chuck Hayes. The Kings also will acquire Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy.
Toronto was playing at the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night. All three players involved in the trade for the Raptors were not in uniform against the Lakers.
Raptors coach Dwane Casey couldn't specifically talk before the game about the trade because it was not official yet, but he praised Gay's contributions to the team.
"Rudy is a prince of a guy. He's an athletic, dynamic wing player, he gets to the basket at will and can shoot the ball and handle the ball," Casey said. "We were using him in a drag situation, a pick-and-roll situation because he could see over the defense, and he was growing into that role and he was doing a better job. That was a different role for him to do that. He was bringing the ball down the floor, breaking pressure. So that's what he meant to us."
Yahoo Sports first reported the trade.
The move is the second major one for the Kings already this season as they begin rebuilding under Ranadive. Sacramento sent Luc Mbah a Moute to Minnesota for Derrick Williams on Nov. 26.
Sacramento (5-13) had lost six straight games until beating the NBA-worst Utah Jazz on Saturday night. The Kings are hoping Gay can provide immediate help while convincing him to stay long term.
Gay is making $17.8 million this season. He holds a $19.3 million player option for the 2014-15 season but is widely expected to opt out of his contract and test free agency.
Gay, who was traded from Memphis to Toronto last season, is in his eighth NBA season. He's averaging 18 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his career.
The trade is by far the biggest and boldest under first-year Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri, who worked with new Kings GM Pete D'Alessandro in Denver previously. Sending Gay to Sacramento sheds salary and gives Toronto future financial flexibility.
Toronto (6-12) had lost five straight entering Sunday night's game.
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