Flashback to December 2013 when the Toronto Raptors and Sacramento Kings completed a blockbuster trade that sent Rudy Gay from Toronto to Sacramento. Many thought the Raptors did this trade to tank for Andrew Wiggins, which wasn’t the case as Wiggins went first overall to the Minnesota Timberwolves. After the trading Rudy Gay, the Raptors have gone on to make the playoffs in three straight years.
The Trade
Sacramento Kings get: Rudy Gay, Aaron Gray, Quincy Acy
Toronto Raptors get: John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson, Chuck Hayes
At the time the trade looked like a good trade for both teams; however, now three and half years later LWOS will re-look the trade.
The Trade Then for Sacramento
Rudy Gay is still a a major part of the core in Sacramento along with DeMarcus Cousins, as those two are looking to finally end the Kings playoff drought.
Quincy Acy is currently a free agent, but he did help the Kings out a bit with a minor trade that sent him and Travis Outlaw for two players who were quickly waived and never played with Sacramento. However Acy did re-sign and play for the Kings last season, starting 29 games.
Aaron Gray only played 33 games with Sacramento, 6 of which he started. After the 2013-14 season Gray signed with the Detroit Pistons, but he didn’t make the team and is now a coach with Detroit.
The Trade Then for Toronto
John Salmons played 60 games for the Raptors, but in the off-season he was traded along with a 2nd round pick for Lou Williams and Lucas Nogueira. Williams ended up only playing one year for the Raptors but did win Sixth Man of the Year in that year.
Greivis Vasquez played 143 regular season games with the Raptors, 34 of which he started, along with some playoff games. He was key backup point guard for Kyle Lowry during his tenure with Toronto. On the day of the 2015 NBA Draft the Raptors traded Vasquez to the Milwaukee Bucks for a 2017 lottery protected 1st round pick and Norman Powell.
Patrick Patterson has been a major factor for the Raptors, starting and coming of the bench in the past three seasons. Patterson will get a good look at the starting power forward spot next season for the Raptors.
Chuck Hayes played two seasons for the Raptors but wasn’t re-signed and floated around a couple teams; he is a free agent.
What the Trade is Now
Sacramento Kings get: Rudy Gay
New York Knicks get: Travis Outlaw
Toronto Raptors get: Lucas Nogueira, 2017 1st round pick, Norman Powell, Patrick Patterson
Atlanta Hawks get: 2015 2nd round pick (Marcus Eriksson)
Los Angeles Lakers get: Lou Williams (free agency from Raptors)
This trade is now a franchise altering trade with another player still coming to Toronto in 2017 with a 1st round pick. This is perhaps Masai Ujiri’s best NBA trade ever that has made the Toronto Raptors contenders for years to come.
