Post by CHANGEME on Jan 26, 2008 0:08:43 GMT -5
The Kings made some dramatic moves that probably mean they won't be as good next season. There are major holes going into free agency. It's not like it's a minor thing like not having a sixth man or the depth we need. We don't have a legit point guard, and we don't have any power forward at all. We have cap space, and that's about it.
So here are the trades:
Kings receive: SG Rodney Stuckey
Sonics receive: PG Jason Kidd
Losing Kidd hurts the team immediately. I can't tell you how many games he won us when we faced elite point guards. His size and great defense gave opposing point guards fits, and often I felt he was the reason we won those games. I remember the playoff series against Phoenix the year we won it all -- Nash had a horrendous series. However, let's be honest, he was aging, and his 17M expiring made for an attractive trade piece. We were able to swing him for a young player with A potential in Rodney Stuckey. I know I made a joke about the Big Sky, but in reality, Stuckey has some positives with outside shooting and defense and room to grow.
Kings receive: SF Jamont Gordon and PG Dee Brown
Jazz receive: SG Kevin Martin
I knew that Kevin Martin had value despite coming off a poor season. We were targeting a pick in the 9-17 range. After missing with the Jazz in an attempt to get Speights, we kept talking with him and asking about deals involving Brewer or Gordon or Speights. I had illusions of grandeur about getting two of them, but when the draft ran to the 20th pick and it didn't look like I'd have any luck with a trade. I backed off of my asking price, and the Jazz jumped at the chance to get a ready scorer. I do feel that Jamont Gordon can be as good as Martin in a few years, but it'll take some ATC's and it'll take more ATC's to make him better. I'm active, so I'm willing to do that.
So what are the plans from here for the Kings?
Fill in the holes through free agency. We need a passable PF, a passable PG, and backups at C and PF. Our 23M should be enough to spread that around and get all of that. We also plan on keeping our pick next year. We acknowledge that we may not be very good next year too, so that pick could be valuable. Picking in the first round for the first time in NBL history could be an interesting move for us as well.
We're plainly building around Hawes and Carmelo, and fortunately after the deals, we have a couple younger players with A potential to build on as well. We're happy with the offseason so far, but free agency will be important.
So here are the trades:
Kings receive: SG Rodney Stuckey
Sonics receive: PG Jason Kidd
Losing Kidd hurts the team immediately. I can't tell you how many games he won us when we faced elite point guards. His size and great defense gave opposing point guards fits, and often I felt he was the reason we won those games. I remember the playoff series against Phoenix the year we won it all -- Nash had a horrendous series. However, let's be honest, he was aging, and his 17M expiring made for an attractive trade piece. We were able to swing him for a young player with A potential in Rodney Stuckey. I know I made a joke about the Big Sky, but in reality, Stuckey has some positives with outside shooting and defense and room to grow.
Kings receive: SF Jamont Gordon and PG Dee Brown
Jazz receive: SG Kevin Martin
I knew that Kevin Martin had value despite coming off a poor season. We were targeting a pick in the 9-17 range. After missing with the Jazz in an attempt to get Speights, we kept talking with him and asking about deals involving Brewer or Gordon or Speights. I had illusions of grandeur about getting two of them, but when the draft ran to the 20th pick and it didn't look like I'd have any luck with a trade. I backed off of my asking price, and the Jazz jumped at the chance to get a ready scorer. I do feel that Jamont Gordon can be as good as Martin in a few years, but it'll take some ATC's and it'll take more ATC's to make him better. I'm active, so I'm willing to do that.
So what are the plans from here for the Kings?
Fill in the holes through free agency. We need a passable PF, a passable PG, and backups at C and PF. Our 23M should be enough to spread that around and get all of that. We also plan on keeping our pick next year. We acknowledge that we may not be very good next year too, so that pick could be valuable. Picking in the first round for the first time in NBL history could be an interesting move for us as well.
We're plainly building around Hawes and Carmelo, and fortunately after the deals, we have a couple younger players with A potential to build on as well. We're happy with the offseason so far, but free agency will be important.
