Gay has me unsure

"Breaking news: the Raptors have traded for Rudy Gay!"

Is what I would've said last week if I would've been blogging about the Raptors, like usual. Instead, here I am a week late. Enjoy!

As you all know, Jose Calderon and Ed Davis were traded for Rudy Gay last week. Gay is now the best player on the Raptors. I just don't think he's worth what he's getting paid. Over the next two seasons (not including this season), Gay will make $36 million. He's averaged around 20 points per game each season and saw his role diminished on a good Memphis team this year.

There's a reason Memphis dealt him. Gay's toxic contract kills cap space. The Raps are still under the $70-million tax level this year with a total salary around $66 million. For the 2013-14 season, assuming Kleiza and Gray exercise their player options, Toronto will have around $74 million in salary, placing them over the tax level. After next year, the only significant free agent the Raptors should consider resigning is Kyle Lowry. His cap hit is pretty small right now as he's making around $6 million per season for the next two years. Unless his production drops substantially, he can expect a raise.

Then again, Colangelo has shown that he doesn't manage the Raps using common sense, so expect Colangelo to offer Lowry a huge contract regardless.

Despite Gay's huge cap hit, the Raptors needed a shakeup. Unless they have a miraculous second half of the season, Toronto is already out of playoff contention anyway. Solid building blocks are in place though. Amir Johnson is playing well and Valanciunus has the potential to be a solid centre. DeRozan has shown improvement and Lowry is an above-average point guard. One thing is clear: Bargnani needs to go.

He's looked timid in games he has played this year, he'll be making more than $30 million over the next three years, and he hasn't developed into the dominant player that Colangelo was hoping for. Let's hope he can put together a string of good games and boost his trade value.