Rudy Gay traded from Raptors to Kings: reports

The Rudy Gay era in Toronto appears to be over.

According to multiple reports, the Raptors on Sunday agreed to shipthe veteran swingmanto the Sacramento Kings in a multi-playerblockbusterswap, along with Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray.

In exchange, the Raptors will reportedly get Chuck Hayes, Greivis Vasquez, John Salmons and Patrick Patterson.

Yahoo! Sports reporter Adrian Wojnarowski first broke the news on Twitter Sunday night.

All three players involved in the deal for the Raptors were not in uniform ahead of their tilt with the L.A. Lakers, and the Raptors are expected to make the trade announcent Monday.

Raptors coach DwaneCasey couldn't reference the deal specifically before the game, as nothing is official,but had nothing but good things to say about 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," Casey said. "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 role 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."

Gay, who is making $17.8 million US this season and has a $19.3 million player option for next season averaged 19.4 points per game and 7.4 rebounds in 18 contests this year for Toronto. The eight-year veteranwas acquired by former general manager Bryan Colangelo in a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies last season.

Gay, a six-foot-eight, 230-pound forward, averaged just 2.2 assists per game for the Raptors this year and has struggled with his jump shot to the tune of a career-low 39 per cent from the field.

The move would be another major shakeup as GM Masai Ujiri continues to reshape a roster and team that hasn't qualified for the post-season since 2008 which is tied with the Washington Wizards for the longest active streak in the NBA.

Toronto (6-12) has struggled to find its groove this year, losers of five straight despite being just 1.5 games out of first place in the weak Atlantic Division.

Gray contributed 1.3 ppg and 2 rpg off the bench, while 23-year-old Acy saw action in seven games for Toronto this year.

Expiring contracts

In Vasquez, Toronto would be getting a six-foot-six guard who is averaging 9.8 points with an ability to find open teammates something the Raptors desperately need. The 26-year-old native of Caracas, Venezuela has put up 5.8 assists per contest so far with Sacramento.

The Raptors rank dead last in the NBA in assists per game at 17.3. Vasquez also carries with him a modest cap hit of $2.5 million.

Patterson would provide a solid presence in the paint for Toronto. At 6'9and 235 pounds, the forward/centre has hauled in 5.8 rebounds per game for the Kings this year and is making $3.1million.

Salmons is a 33-year-old veteran who was originally drafted 26th overallby the Philadelphia 76ers in 2002, and with a cap hit of $7.5 million this year (and $7 million next year) he is the most expensive piece coming from the Kings.

What may have been another incentive for the Raptors is that both Vasquez and Patterson have expiring contracts.

Hayes, 30, spent the first six years of his career with the Houston Rockets before joining Sacramento in 2011. He will earn $5.7 million this season and $5.9 million next season.