Another blockbuster trade is officially in the books for the Sacramento Kings. The team announced that the deal to acquire Rudy Gay, Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray from the Toronto Raptors was completed this afternoon.
“We’re excited to welcome these additions to our team,” Kings GM Pete D’Alessandro said in a prepared statement. “In Rudy we’ve acquired one of the league’s proven scorers while Aaron and Quincy provide size and depth in our frontcourt. We also appreciate the contributions and efforts that John, Chuck, Greivis and Patrick made to the Kings organization. We all wish them the very best moving forward.”
Gay, Acy and Gray won’t be available to play when the Kings take on the Dallas Mavericks tonight. However, the three new Kings are in Sacramento and spoke briefly with media upon arriving at Sleep Train Arena this afternoon. Below are a few quotes and notes from their impromptu introduction to the capital city.
Rudy Gay
Gay’s thoughts on joining the Kings:
Excited to say the least. I have a couple guys with me that came with me. It’s a new beginning. I’ve been saying it all day. Obviously, they have a lot of young pieces and I’m glad to be a part of it.
The 27-year-old forward on what he knows about his new team:
Well, obviously DeMarcus (Cousins). He’s a great player. He’s been a great player for a couple years now and he’s taken that leap. (They have a) new coach. Aaron Gray actually played for him, so he knows a lot about him. Other than that, we haven’t played them yet this year so I don’t know much other than that.
Gay on how happy he is to get a fresh start in Sacramento:
I am. I’m very excited. Just being in a new jersey, new organization after kind of a rough patch in Toronto, I think it’s gonna be a good start for me.
Gay on if he expected to be traded by the Raptors:
It wasn’t a surprise. I think timing was surprising to me, but I wasn’t surprised at all. I pretty much knew what direction the organization was going to go in.
Gay on Kings fans:
Well I’ve known (Sacramento) is always known for having loud and rowdy fans and I’m glad they’re on my side now.
Aaron Gray and Quincy Acy
Gray on if being traded with fellow teammates makes the transition smoother:
For sure man. I mean, not only are you getting two really good basketball players in Rudy and Quincy, but two really good guys. So it’s great to always have people like that around.
Gray on Kings coach Michael Malone, who he played for in New Orleans during the 2010-11 NBA season:
I think he’s great man. He helped us out so much make a playoff push over there in the west in New Orleans. Obviously that ‘s something we want to establish here. Got nothing but good things to say about Mike.
Acy on what he knows about the Kings:
Five wins right now, so we’re gonna try to get some wins and turn things around.
Additional Notes
- With the exception of Cousins, Gay doesn’t have any existing relationships with any current Kings players. During the summer of 2012, Gay played with Cousins at Team USA mini-camp in Las Vegas ahead of the London Olympics.
- Gay along with Gray and Acy are familiar however with a member of the Kings coaching staff. Assistant Micah Nori coached Gay, Gray and Acy in Toronto last season. Nori came to Sacramento this year after spending 15 seasons with the Raptors organization.
WATCH: Rudy Gay arrives in Sacramento
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