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5 reasons Sacramento Kings should trade for Ricky Rubio

By John Buhler

Mar 8, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) dribbles in the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ricky Rubio (9) dribbles in the first quarter against the San Antonio Spurs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 14, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) reacts as a timeout is called in the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 14, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) reacts as a timeout is called in the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Rudy Gay

It’s not just Cousins who is frustrated by the front office mess in Sacramento. The Kings have another All-Star caliber player in small forward Rudy Gay that frankly doesn’t want to be in Northern California for very much longer.

Gay is a strong go-to scorer that can take over an offense with an impressive midrange game. The problems that have followed Gay for years are that he doesn’t really make teammates better nor does he really commit himself to defensive excellence.

He has to understand that this is and will be Cousins’ team in 2016-17. Cousins is an All-NBA talent, whereas Gay is at best a top-five small forward in the game. Gay will have the option to rekindle a former working relationship with Joerger from their time together in Memphis on Lionel Hollins’ staff.

What can really help Gay find some semblance of comfort in a tough situation in Sacramento is to have a point guard like Rubio that will love nothing more than to feed him the rock in the half-court, midrange offense.

Rubio has the vision and the passing ability to ensure that both Cousins and Gay can coexist in the same Kings offense. With Rubio’s commitment to distributing the basketball to superior shooters, Gay can be at peace knowing he can still get his 15-20 PPG while Cousins gets slightly more than him.

Next: 3. Strong defensive player

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