Raptors Trade Gay, Kobe Makes Debut

Masai Ujiri managed to rid the Raptors of Rudy Gay in a trade with the Sacramento Kings in which the Kings take Gay and his horrific $19M player option for next season in exchange for parts (John Salmons, Chuck Hayes, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson) that will save them a lot of money.

Following the Bargnani trade with the Knicks, that's some good work by Ujiri. Presumably he's still looking for deals for Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan.

Meanwhile, the Raptors beat the Lakers in L.A. in Kobe Bryant's debut. I didn't stay up to watch it, but Bryant scored 9 points on 2-9 from the floor, and turned it over 8 times. Amir Johnson was the big star, going for 32 on 14-17 from the floor. The Lakers starting lineup included Robert Sacre and Wesley Johnson.

Elsewhere, the Celtics embarrassed the Knicks at Madison Square Garden by 41. One of the worst beatings we'll see this season, the Celtics shot lights out (56% from 3), but the Knicks didn't bother showing up. 34-11 in the first quarter, and the game was over. Amazingly, despite shooting 34%, the Knicks only managed 4 offensive rebounds.

The U.S. got the expected rough World Cup Draw on Friday, with Germany, Portugal and Ghana in their group. Going to be very difficult to get through that group; on the other hand, if they do advance, it's a real accomplishment.  Going to have to get all three points from Ghana in the first game.  Portugal has talent, but really struggled in qualifying, and the U.S. beat them once before at a world cup (in 2002).

Meanwhile, my French neighbor is giddy having drawn Switzerland, Ecuador, and Honduras. Dammit.

With the Mexico City cancellation, the Wolves will play only their third game of the month tomorrow in Detroit. The Pistons were on a nice winning streak until their loss to Miami last night. Still, before that they had won four in a row including wins in Miami and Chicago. Still, the Wolves need to grab some wins here, and at Detroit followed by home to Philadelphia are two potential wins before five out six on the road leading up to Christmas.

Today in history:

1793: Noah Webster establishes first New York daily paper
1905: The Strauss opera Salome debuts
1958: Robert H.W. Welch and others form John Birch Society
1990: Lech Walesa wins presidential election in Poland

Today's musical birthday is Joan Armatrading, who was born in 1950

Open thread for Monday.