The Toronto Raptors do not expect to trade Rudy Gay this summer.
The Raptors small forward was the subject of trade rumours last month but new general manager Masai Ujiri gave a definitive no when asked if Gay could be on the move.
“We need to see the team before we know the direction we’re going to take,” Ujiri told Brady & Lang Tuesday morning. “People talk about the so-called taking a step back but we can’t give away players. I don’t believe you should go into a season thinking that way. I understand the big picture. We will figure it out. We need to see where we are and then we can assess where we go.”
While some thought the team would consider a major rebuild, Ujiri has no interest in conducting a fire sale with his roster and does not see value in moving an asset like Gay at this point.
ESPN reported last month that the Detroit Pistons were offering two expiring contracts in Rodney Stuckey and Charlie Villaneuva in exchange for the 26-year-old.
Gay is scheduled to make $17.8 million this season and has a player option of $19.3 million for 2014-15.
He was acquired in a mid-season three-way trade by former GM Bryan Colangelo with the Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies where the Raptors gave up longtime point guard Jose Calderon and power forward Ed Davis.