The Rudy Gay trade was criticized as one-sided. One star and marginal players for four rotation players (no starters). However, it's one sided in favor of the Toronto Raptors!

In these strange times, getting a star is not always a good thing. With the new CBA constantly increasing the penalties on teams that exceed the salary cap, collecting star veterans can only be done by a handful of teams (NY Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, LA Lakers) who seem unfazed by "repeater taxes." The OKC Thunder has already felt the sting and traded James Harden. The Chicago Bulls are facing that situation, and may have to sacrifice losing Luol Deng or amnestying Carlos Boozer or both, just to avoid it.

Toronto would be the next team to make the great escape. Investing in a former Executive of the Year awardee is paying dividends for the Canadian franchise. The Sacramento Kings new GM Pete d'Alessandro is Ujiri's understudy at Denver. He feels that the new management owes the Sacramento fans who passionately fought to keep the team. They need to improve the team, and getting a household name like Rudy Gay is a step. Good or bad, the fans will more likely buy a ticket with Gay in the team than all the other players he was traded for.

Is this THE team for Sacramento? Perhaps not. Bleacher Report discusses that this is a step for the Kings for future development. Gay can give the Kings possible financial gain, this year or next year. Gay may opt out if another team offers a long term contract albeit a lower price. Monta Ellis did it.

Gay will also be placed as a starter alongside the unleashed Derrick Williams. The positions will be confusing, but the Kings want more exposure for the players they actually want to keep (Isaiah Thomas, Jimmer Fredette, Ben McLemore) all perimeter players. An athletic frontline and a quick, shooting backcourt, with Cousins in the middle. Jason Thompson, the other guy at the four, may be the next in the domino of trades.

If Gay leaves, the Kings will find him easy to replace when they have $ 19 million to spend. Athletic shooting forwards are common in the NBA. Talented centers without woeful injury issues are not. Rudy Gay is the former, Boogie Cousins is the latter.