Gay followed that season up with an equally impressive second season, where he averaged 21.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and a steal. In other words, he was everything but what Kings fans expected him to be. In 55 appearances for the Kings in the 2012-13 season, Gay averaged 20.1 points per game on 48.8% shooting from the field, in additions to 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.2 blocks per game. Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images In hindsight, though, the trade was an absolute steal for the Kings. Gay was traded to Toronto in a similar salary dump not even a year prior to that, so it wasn’t like the Kings were getting a player that had much value around the league. Sacramento also received Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy. The Raptors sold low on Gay, and traded him to the Kings for the expiring contracts of John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes. For the money he made at the time, it didn’t cut it. Meanwhile, Gay was struggling to find his footing in Toronto, where he averaged 19.4 points on 38.8% shooting from the field through 18 games in the 2012-13 season. Prior to trading for Gay, the Kings were in need of help on the wing, and in need of another starting-caliber player to put alongside Isaiah Thomas and DeMarcus Cousins. Rudy Gay and the Sacramento Kings found each other at the perfect time.
