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NBA: 7 players with the most to lose in 2014-15

By Bryce Olin

Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 21, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) during the first quarter of a game at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 12, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Kings defeated the Sixers 115-98. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Kings defeated the Sixers 115-98. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

6. Rudy Gay, Sacramento Kings

Gay is the most intriguing player in this ranking because he’s so overpaid to begin with. Gay is making $19.3 million this season. $19 MILLION!

For a guy who shoots 45 percent from the field and 34 percent from three-point range, that’s one of the worst contract in the NBA.

Season Tm G MP FG FGA FG% 3P% TRB AST STL PTS
2013-14 TOT 73 34.7 7.4 16.2 .455 .330 6.0 2.9 1.3 20.0
2013-14 TOR 18 35.5 7.2 18.6 .388 .373 7.4 2.2 1.6 19.4
2013-14 SAC 55 34.4 7.4 15.3 .482 .312 5.5 3.1 1.2 20.1
Career 585 35.9 7.0 15.4 .451 .342 5.8 2.1 1.4 18.2

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/22/2014.

Gay played better after he was traded from Toronto to Sacramento 18 games into last season. In Sacramento, Gay shot 48 percent from the field and averaged 3.1 assists per game, the best assist average of his entire career.

Coming off a good performance with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, Gay heads into the 2014-15 season with a chance to prove he can be a team player and help turn a franchise around.

In the past, Gay could only be described as the NBA’s version of Miley Cyrus, swinging from team to team on top of a giant wrecking ball. It’s no surprise both teams Gay played for, the Grizzlies and Raptors, improved  immediately after Gay had left the team. Both, the Raptors and Grizzlies made the playoffs the season they traded Gay.

Gay looks better with the Kings, and he’s taking better shots.

% of FGA by Distance
Season Tm 2P 0-3 3-10 10-16 16 <3 3P
2013-14 TOT .833 .248 .228 .166 .191 .167
2013-14 TOR .824 .245 .224 .131 .224 .176
2013-14 SAC .836 .249 .230 .180 .178 .164
Career .806 .266 .168 .158 .215 .194

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 9/22/2014.

Ultimately, I doubt Gay stays in Sacramento after this season, unless it goes much better than expected. The Kings are a mess; no one knows what they’re doing. Gay probably won’t stay in that hell-hole unless the Kings overpay him, which is set up perfectly to happen, so I could definitely see it happening, but it definitely should not happen.

Eventually, Gay will want to win… or should want to win. And, that’s probably not going to happen in Sacramento for at least another four seasons, by my estimation. If Gay wants to win and could embrace a lesser role, there will be teams looking for a stretch-four or sixth man.

I think I’m a little higher on Gay than most people, but only because of his performance with Team USA. Gay wasn’t hoisting 22-footers; he came off the bench, did his job, and looked genuinely excited to be a part of the team. If Gay keeps that attitude, I think he has a bright future.

Plus, Gay’s definitely not afraid of taking the big shots:

Teams will be interested in Gay in free agency, no doubt. If Gay is willing to play for $8 million or so per season, a fringe contender like Dallas or a tier-below team like Phoenix could be in the mix for Gay. This season, Gay just has to prove he’s a team player who’s willing to commit to play defense, rebound, and not take 20-foot fadeaways, and someone will want Gay.

If Gay reverts back to his old long-two, no-defense strategy we saw for so long, Gay could miss out on a lot of money, even if that means staying in Sac-Town.

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