NBA Trade Rumors & News Update: Rudy Gay Moves to the Sacramento Kings in Seven Player Deal

Rudy Gay may have just settled into a new address outside the United States, finding a place to play for the Toronto Raptors in Canada. However, now he has to look for another address, as he was recently traded to the Sacramento Kings, reported on ESPN.

The deal between the Raptors and the Kings, which has yet to be finalized, would send John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes from Sacramento to Toronto in exchange for Gay, Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy. The number of players were required to accommodate the $17 million salary of Gay for the year.

NBA.com reported that only Hayes' salary was guaranteed for next year and Salmons was bought out for $1 million of a $7 million guarantee. This comes after the Kings had acquired Derrick Williams last November 26 from Minnesota. This trade would place a logjam at the small forward position for the Kings moving forward. 

Gay has been averaging 19.4 ppg in the season, and over his career had averaged 18 ppg. He was drafted eighth overall in the 2006 NBA draft for Houston and was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies on a draft night trade, according to the Sacramento Bee. 

The new management of the Sacramento Kings have explored options to improve its roster and provide the necessary support for its mercurial center DeMarcus Cousins. CNN Sports Illustrated predicts that the trades would result in a line up change with Isaiah Thomas starting at point guard followed by Jimmer Fredette. Starting at small forward is Rudy Gay with the trade, and the recent trade of Derrick Williams would fill the power forward spot. 

Raptors coach could not comment on the trade, according to CBC.ca, but said about Rudy Gay, "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. We were using him in a drag situation, a pick and roll situation because he could see over the defence, and he was growing into that rile 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."