The Sacramento Kings have completed the first trade for the season sending Rudy Gay, Isaiah Thomas and Car Landry to Toronto in exchange for Grevis Vasquez, Chuck Hayes, Landry Fields, Tyler Hansborough and three 1st round picks.
The Kings came to the realisation early on that they were a mediocre, middle of the road team and decided to clear the decks by sending two starters away. A move that may garner criticism across the league, the Kings thinking is to reset and take a step backwards before moving forwards again. Gay was no guarantee to return next season with a player option and Thomas will be an unrestricted free agent so receiving pieces for players that may not be around next season was a risk the team was willing to take.
Vasquez is considered an upgrade by Sacramento with the team having issues with Thomas' lack of passing and low IQ for a point guard even though he was averaging around 6 assists a game to being the season. He will step into the starting line up in place of Thomas. The rest of the team will remain the same as Gay was missing through injury. Fields may be giving backup minutes with the others only expected to receive minor, if any.
The Kings turn to the coaching office now where they are still yet to land a replacement for Michael Malone.
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