The NBA season is off to a fast start and one team that has begun the season with a nice run are the Toronto Raptors, as they are right in the mix in the Atlantic division and while that may not last the year, the team could make a run, but it might be without Rudy Gay, as the former Memphis star, along with DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry could be traded by the deadline.
According to Pro Basketball Talk and ESPN.com, Gay is on the trading block for GM Masai Ujiri this season as he tries to rebuild and according to the report, everyone apart from Jonas Valanciunas, including DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, are available. The Raptors picked up Gay last season and while he has played well for the team, averaging 18 points and nearly nine rebounds, he could be on his way out of town since he has a big contract. DeRozan and Lowry are solid young players, but with the team getting a new management structure, things could get blown up to start over again.
Gay is making nearly $18 million this season and while he is young at the age of 27, since he will be a free agent at the end of the season if he wants with an opt out, that could mean the Raptors look into trading him. Gay has averaged over 16 points in his career with 8.6 rebounds and while he is a talented player, he might not be in the long term plans for the franchise, who are remaking things with a new GM and top exec in Tim Leiweke.
Gay was originally traded back in January from the Grizzlies and he was sent to the Raptors for Ed Davis, Jose Calderon, Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince, as those players split between the Grizzlies and the Detroit Pistons in a three way deal. Gay has been solid for the Raptors, but the team needs to go in a new direction to be a playoff contender and while he is a good scorer, the team does not see him as a franchise building block.
The Raptors rank 23rd in the NBA in scoring this season through five games and while they are ranked sixth in defense and fifth in rebounding, the team could switch things up by the end of the year. The Raptors are playing the Pacers next followed by the Utah Jazz and the deal for Gay could start moving as the deadline gets closer.