[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

Rudy Gay to the Kings was possibly the biggest in-season trade this season and was often talked about as a failure waiting to happen.  A headcase/darkhole in Cousins with a darkhole/hero-baller in Rudy Gay would eventually lead to terrible efficiency and losses.

Well, the losses part is still true but they are the Kings and are a work in progress.  Let’s break down how they’ve been doing since Rudy Gay arrived.

Before Rudy Gay put on a Kings uniform, Sacramento was 6-14, with no hopes of getting up on their feet.  Since the Gay has been playing for them though, they are simply 6-8, any upgrade is an upgrade, right?

Now, issues with how efficient Cousins and Thomas would be, along with Rudy Gay were supposed to surface, right?  Well, exactly the opposite:

Cousins before the Rudy Gay trade

• 22.5 PPG — 10.5 RPG — 2.7 APG — 49.2% off 17.1 shots — 7.9 FT/A

Now ever since Rudy Gay has been playing alongside him

• 25 PPG — 13 RPG — 3.7 APG — 49.4% off 17.6 shots — 10.6 FT/A

Clearly, DeMarcus Cousins has upped his play ever since Rudy Gay arrived and he’s become a much more efficient player while hardly shooting any more shots.  Impressive, but how is Isaiah Thomas doing?  Thomas was and is the primary ball-handler on the Kings roster and is more of a scoring PG.  One would assume that with the addition of Rudy, there wouldn’t be any shots to go around and Thomas’ numbers would have to dip, right?

Thomas before the Rudy Gay trade

• 18.3 PPG — 5.4 APG — 46% off 12.8 shots — 2.3 RPG

Thomas with Rudy Gay

• 20.4 PPG — 7.5 APG — 44.4% off 15.9 shots — 3.6 RPG

Now, his efficiency did dip a bit but his scoring is still as strong as ever and his assist numbers have never been higher since RG arrived.

Now, we get to Rudy Gay, one of the most inefficient scorers in the NBA.

With the Raptors

• 19.4 PPG — 3.3 3PT/A — 4.9 FT/A — 38.8% off 18.6 shots

With the Kings

• 20.6 PPG — 2.5 3PT/A — 5.5 FT/A — 51.4% off 14.9 shots

He’s shooting less threes and getting to the line more, he’s also shooting a higher % from the field and charity stripe.  He’s taking nearly 4 fewer shots in Sacramento while scoring more than an extra point .  His efficiency, at this moment with the Kings, is at 1.38 PPS.  That’s more efficient than Aldridge, Cousins, Curry, George, and Irving, all of whom average more points than Gay.

In the 14 games that Gay has played with the Kings, Sacramento has scored 100+ points in 93% of their games.

In the 20 games prior to Rudy Gay joining the Kings, Sacramento scored 100+ points in only 55% of their games.

As a matter of fact, before Gay joined the Kings, key Sacramento wins included the Suns (twice) and the Mavericks.  Since he’s joined the Kings, they’ve beaten Houston (twice), Miami, and Portland.

The Kings may be an unfinished product and will most likely not make the playoffs in a tough Western Conference this season, but don’t be surprised when your favorite team and a playoff contendor loses to them in the coming months.  Especially when Carl Landry gets back, this team could win a few games and spoil a few nights after the All-Star weekend.

[HitsterParticipant]

Excellent analysis as always, whilst checking last night’s results I glanced at Rudy Gay’s SAC stats and noticed his FG percentage had rocked from what it was in Toronto. I hadn’t realised that Thomas had been much more efficient since Gay had arrived.

With Gay on the roster, SAC are able to spread the floor more and DMC will often draw the double team so it by default increases the shooting options for those around him. Also the team’s Head Coach Mike Malone has come to the job with a very solid pedigree as one of the best assistants in the league so is now able to run a more disciplined and efficient team than the Kings have had in recent years.

DMC is now probably the most prolific scoring C in the NBA and perhaps in the top 3 to 5 of scoring front courters in the whole league. His fantasy value may be higher than what he currently gives the team resultswise but maybe that is starting to turn around too. He has been made team captain so has been forced to show maturity along with his huge talent and statistical output and this is starting to really show in his game. He must surely get an All Star nod this year for his output regardless of the Kings’ position.

I also don’t see them making the play offs – they are currently 9 wins back but are 5-5 in there last 10 games so I could see them going near to .500 for the last 48 or so games especially when Carl Landry gets back. They’ll be in the lottery again but can have a shot at getting a top 3 pick and at worse will probably get a pick within the top 12 and maybe be able to draft a default top 10 talent in a deep draft.

Where once everyone was worried the team would move out of Sacramento, with a new owner, new Head Coach, a smart young GM and the new arena to come. Times look more promising in Sac-town than since perhaps the C-Web era.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

Excellent analysis as always, whilst checking last night’s results I glanced at Rudy Gay’s SAC stats and noticed his FG percentage had rocked from what it was in Toronto. I hadn’t realised that Thomas had been much more efficient since Gay had arrived.

With Gay on the roster, SAC are able to spread the floor more and DMC will often draw the double team so it by default increases the shooting options for those around him. Also the team’s Head Coach Mike Malone has come to the job with a very solid pedigree as one of the best assistants in the league so is now able to run a more disciplined and efficient team than the Kings have had in recent years.

DMC is now probably the most prolific scoring C in the NBA and perhaps in the top 3 to 5 of scoring front courters in the whole league. His fantasy value may be higher than what he currently gives the team resultswise but maybe that is starting to turn around too. He has been made team captain so has been forced to show maturity along with his huge talent and statistical output and this is starting to really show in his game. He must surely get an All Star nod this year for his output regardless of the Kings’ position.

I also don’t see them making the play offs – they are currently 9 wins back but are 5-5 in there last 10 games so I could see them going near to .500 for the last 48 or so games especially when Carl Landry gets back. They’ll be in the lottery again but can have a shot at getting a top 3 pick and at worse will probably get a pick within the top 12 and maybe be able to draft a default top 10 talent in a deep draft.

Where once everyone was worried the team would move out of Sacramento, with a new owner, new Head Coach, a smart young GM and the new arena to come. Times look more promising in Sac-town than since perhaps the C-Web era.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jester87Participant]

We all know these guys have talent, so it’s not surprising if on a single night they can beat Miami or give headaches to the Spurs. Also, Gay knows his stock have hit rock bottom and he has to play with more discipline if he wants to get some money on his next contract. Thomas has been an upgrade over Vasquez as their starting point guard. Nonetheless the trade is still terrible for cap reasons, unless Gay opts out of his contract this year. If he doesn’t they have to pay him another year at $19 M and they might not be able to sign Thomas because of that (which would be beyond laughable). Or they might find some way to sign Thomas again but giving up any cap flexibility. Do you think that this team with another year of experience plus a lottery pick is going to be good enough to make the playoffs? I hardly think so. But they can still hope Rudy Gay pulls a Kirilenko, opts out of his deal to sign a cheaper one with someone else. If that happens they’re great winners, but it’s unlikely.

On the other hand one can always point out how good the Raptors have been since Gay went away!

 

[Jester87Participant]

We all know these guys have talent, so it’s not surprising if on a single night they can beat Miami or give headaches to the Spurs. Also, Gay knows his stock have hit rock bottom and he has to play with more discipline if he wants to get some money on his next contract. Thomas has been an upgrade over Vasquez as their starting point guard. Nonetheless the trade is still terrible for cap reasons, unless Gay opts out of his contract this year. If he doesn’t they have to pay him another year at $19 M and they might not be able to sign Thomas because of that (which would be beyond laughable). Or they might find some way to sign Thomas again but giving up any cap flexibility. Do you think that this team with another year of experience plus a lottery pick is going to be good enough to make the playoffs? I hardly think so. But they can still hope Rudy Gay pulls a Kirilenko, opts out of his deal to sign a cheaper one with someone else. If that happens they’re great winners, but it’s unlikely.

On the other hand one can always point out how good the Raptors have been since Gay went away!

 

[bullsdynasty92Participant]

 Could it be that both teams won with this trade? With this trade, I was thinking that Toronto was trying to slide back in the standings and the Kings were going to end up regretting their decision. To my surprise, that hasn’t happened. Both teams now look as if they have a bright future ahead of them.

[bullsdynasty92Participant]

 Could it be that both teams won with this trade? With this trade, I was thinking that Toronto was trying to slide back in the standings and the Kings were going to end up regretting their decision. To my surprise, that hasn’t happened. Both teams now look as if they have a bright future ahead of them.

[KayjayParticipant]

Did win with this trade. Cousins needed help in the category of scoring. Cousins is the most prolific scorer at the center position, however being a center he has other responsibilities as the main paint defender. Isaiah is also a great scorer, but he also has other responsibilities in terms of passing and bringing the ball up the court. With Rudy they get a some defense, and currently efficient scoring. Rudy helps Cousins and Thomas as much as Cousins and Thomas help him. Rudy just wasn’t a good fit in Toronto. He works better with a dominant threat in the post, and is the reason why he is thriving once again.

Like it was said, the Kings are still a work in progress and probably won’t make the playoffs. But they can get better as a team and finally form an identity this year. Its not how you start, but how you finish. And if this continues Kings will finish with a young core starting to take shape.

[KayjayParticipant]

Did win with this trade. Cousins needed help in the category of scoring. Cousins is the most prolific scorer at the center position, however being a center he has other responsibilities as the main paint defender. Isaiah is also a great scorer, but he also has other responsibilities in terms of passing and bringing the ball up the court. With Rudy they get a some defense, and currently efficient scoring. Rudy helps Cousins and Thomas as much as Cousins and Thomas help him. Rudy just wasn’t a good fit in Toronto. He works better with a dominant threat in the post, and is the reason why he is thriving once again.

Like it was said, the Kings are still a work in progress and probably won’t make the playoffs. But they can get better as a team and finally form an identity this year. Its not how you start, but how you finish. And if this continues Kings will finish with a young core starting to take shape.

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

The increased output by Thomas is probably also a result of the departure of Vasquez though. Nontheless, still a nice analysis.

I am impressed though by how Cousins and Gay are able to play efficiently together.

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

The increased output by Thomas is probably also a result of the departure of Vasquez though. Nontheless, still a nice analysis.

I am impressed though by how Cousins and Gay are able to play efficiently together.

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