It’s a tale of two teams. One is grateful for the opportunity to approach respectability, the other is left to explain to its fan base why it decided to break up a band that was approaching championship contention.

The Toronto Raptors felt the Rudy Gay trade was one they had to make, as long as they didn’t part with potential cornerstone Terrence Ross, who will stay in Ontario, joined by one of the league’s most athletic and explosive swingmen.