if gay doesn't opt out, i still think they eat the cost of re-signing thomas, unless it approaches the obscene. even if they're jumping up and down like idiots over their 2014 draft selection, as they were with mclemore, they just can't risk bleeding talent, and the chances of executing a sign-and-trade of thomas, as they did with tyreke evans, are pretty slim...
now, personally i think it's foolish to throw a bunch of money at an undersized chucker with an aversion to defense that edges you into luxury tax territory when you're a basement-dweller. it's why i was such a staunch proponent of shopping isaiah thomas as part of a larger package in advance of the deadline. after cousins and gay, and considering that the kings' 2014 draft pick can't be traded until draft day, isaiah thomas was the team's most valuable and movable asset, and they would have been selling at an all-time high...
the rumors were that IT could be had for the right deal, but i never got the sense that PDA was aggressively attempting to trade him. now he will likely have to ask his owner to swallow a luxury tax bill for a losing team. bummer for vivek, but i think he'll take it on the chin in the hopes that PDA will continue improving the team's competitive chances heading into next season...