McCaw provides a young forward for the Spurs to take a flier on through next year. Two trade exceptions allow them to absorb part of his money while San Antonio takes back Patrick McCaw, Stanley Johnson, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the Raptors’ 2020 first round pick. It, of course, has a chance to make the NBA Finals again, but that could require defeating one or both of the Milwaukee Bucks and Miami Heat.įor wing depth, the Raptors turn to an old member of the pre-title days, as Gay played north of the border in 2013. Without Kawhi Leonard, Toronto is still 36-14 and in second place in the East.
#RUDY GAY BUYOUT UPGRADE#
This situation uses their glut of big salaries to not only acquire one back, but upgrade their group around Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo.
![rudy gay buyout rudy gay buyout](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/605bf81be12053cdc1197564/0x0.jpg)
The Heat are third in the Eastern Conference, but combating the Milwaukee Bucks may require at least one piece added at the trade deadline or via the buyout market.
![rudy gay buyout rudy gay buyout](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/01/19/USAT/9b611e9a-9a86-45dd-8b61-6968879598ce-2022-01-19_Turner_Sabonis.jpg)
San Antonio can take back Kelly Olynyk and Derrick Jones Jr., who is the closest piece to an asset in this scenario, for Gay. Miami has high-salaried, movable players, but minimal to no draft assets to move, given their previous history of trades. This should fall near the top of the second round. They can still take back the 2020 second round pick that’s more favorable between Golden State and Houston, though, per the deadline-day deal made between Cleveland, Houston and Sacramento in February 2019. However, in taking a cap hit for 2020-21, the Spurs do not receive significant additional compensation in this scenario. If Dallas strikes out on Covington, Gay makes some sense for a scoring threat to place in between Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis.Ĭourtney Lee’s $12.75 million expiring salary almost matches Gay’s money, with Ryan Broekhoff’s inclusion to even it out.
![rudy gay buyout rudy gay buyout](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YYS5VMpmt_qFYjioSHmo6amL99U=/0x0:2400x2706/1400x933/filters:focal(984x695:1368x1079):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69661077/Image_from_iOS__5_.0.jpg)
In position to finish in the middle of the pack in the West, the Dallas Mavericks have been linked to a veteran wing like the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Robert Covington, per The Athletic.