Sacramento could pay a Kings’ ransom in Rudy Gay trade

Question for wannabe NBA general managers: If you had a chance to add an inefficient scorer who plays passable defense while possessing one of the league’s worst contracts, you’d pass, right?

Pete D’Alessandro wouldn’t.

The new Sacramento Kings general manager couldn’t resist the allure of Rudy Gay, who scores points galore but needs a lot of shots to do so. His player efficiency rating was 116th in the NBA at the time of the seven-player trade between the Kings and Toronto Raptors, which cost the Kings a lot more than starting point guard Greivis Vasquez and a passel of nobodies.

The Kings have to pay a prorated portion of Gay’s $17.9-million contract for this season and will presumably be responsible for the $19.3-million player option Gay is expected to exercise for next season.

That means less salary cap room, another high-volume shooter alongside DeMarcus Cousins and Isaiah Thomas and lots more losses in which the Kings score 100 points.

But hey, it’s an upgrade over John Salmons, right?

Changing perceptions

Anyone who claims Jason Collins hasn’t made a difference in gay and lesbian issues because he hasn’t played in the NBA since becoming the first athlete in a major pro sport to announce he was gay hasn’t checked Collins’ itinerary.

Among other things, the former North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake High star has attended events for the Human Rights Campaign; the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network; the Trevor Project and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. He also marched in Boston’s Pride parade with Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.), a former classmate from Stanford.

Collins headlined a fundraiser for the Democratic National Committee’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Leadership Council and introduced Macklemore and Ryan Lewis at the MTV Video Music Awards before the duo sang “Same Love,” which promotes marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Collins continues to hope a team will sign him before March 1, the last date players can be added to rosters and retain playoff eligibility.

“That’s the ultimate deadline,” Collins told the Washington Blade. “But up until that date I’m going to continue to work out, continue to train. I consider myself a free agent and I’m ready when and if an NBA team calls my name.”

Parental control

Sitting in the stands and vocalizing your displeasure is no longer required to be an overbearing parent in the NBA.

Trey Burke’s mother and father went on Twitter to question the Utah Jazz’s playing of veterans over youngsters, including their son and fellow rookie Rudy Gobert during a game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

“Rudy, Rudy, Rudy … it’s worth a shot,” Ronda Burke tweeted.

About an hour later, Benji Burke objected to a We Are Jazz Nation tweet about the need for patience amid a rebuilding season.

“@WeAreJazzNation then play the young guys thats [sic] coming back next year. Rebuilding means get them ready for next season.”

Another fan then tweeted about rookies not playing much, drawing a pointed retort.

“if thats [sic] the case,” Benji Burke tweeted, “ … then we’re not rebuilding. We are putting a band aide on a sore. #realtalk”

And, thanks to the Burke parents, that sore is festering in cyberspace.