The deal is an unqualified coup for Raptors general manager Masai Ujiri, who has now managed to shed his team's two worst contracts (Andrea Bargnani was the other one) in his first few months on the job.

The Raptors are taking on four players whose salaries could total around $20 million next season, so at first glance, it appears that dumping Gay's salary ($17.9 million this year and $19.3 next year) didn't come cheap.

But Toronto can buy out Salmons' contract after the season, saving nearly $6 million in the process. Additionally, Patterson and Vasquez are both owed qualifying offers after the season. So, if the Raptors want to let them walk away, they can save another $8 million in salary.

Gray will be a free agent after this season, and Acy's contract isn't guaranteed beyond this year, so the Raptors gave up a bit of financial flexibility on their end. But all told, there's no way to talk about this trade without categorizing it as an unqualified financial success.

Ujiri didn't just save the Raptors some money, either. He rid the team of a player whose high-volume, low-efficiency scoring was stunting the growth of the rest of the young roster.

If there's one takeaway from this transaction, it's this: Never trade with Masai Ujiri.