Kings and free agency - part 2

kingsboi

Hall of Famer
If the Kings would have landed Wes Matthews for anywhere near the rumored $$ - a large faction of Kings fans would have whined about it being a bad deal. Many were complaining about it already. Now that they didn't get Matthews, some of those same fans are complaining. Can't have it both ways, people.

Like it or not, at least the FO is trying. It's better to try and fail than not to try at all. All it takes is one break to go your way and suddenly players will want to play here. It's like magic.
I remember when the Kings first signed guys like Jon Barry and Vernon Maxwell back in 1998 - before the team started really winning. That's the kind of role players we got. Then, suddenly, guys like Bobby Jackson, Jim Jackson and Keon Clark wanted to play here because a winning culture had been established. Even established veterans such as Mike Bibby and Brad Miller gave their blessing to trades and, eventually, re-signed. It can happen again. Just got to be patient.

Not that long ago, nobody wanted to play for the Warriors or Clippers either, despite the markets they are in. Even the Lakers are struggling to attract FA's. Same goes for the Knicks. Nobody wants to go to a place where there is a losing culture.
There is a difference between a losing culture and a dysfunctional culture. The Clippers were dysfunctional for two decades I believe before finally turning it around...
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
It's too bad we didn't get Wes, but its better than overpaying for a role player. It is better to save our cap space and boost up depth for the future. It's shady but I wonder if we can back out of the deal now and just keep the first rounder and pick swaps.
No.

And if he's healthy $16mil is no longer overpaying for Matthews. He's better than Carrol et. al. Just what any decent guy is going to get under the new CBA. And then the idiot woman at their head is going to have them all go on strike about how unfair it is to get paid only $15mil a year for being born tall. its tough having to get those big shoes you know, and you have to press the seats all the way back in your car.
 
We traded away junk. Nothing more or less. 3 non-contributors to a very bad team.
We essentially traded away pieces that can easily be signed back. We released our obligations to common commodities for the CHANCE to get a big fish or two. That is always a good move. And I'll add something here: IT WAS LOW RISK for this very reason.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
I don't know when you changed your views on things but cap space and free agency was always the last option for a small market non playoff team to build. We build through the draft and trades. Cap space can be valuable when used correctly like what Detroit or philly did. If we use the space correctly fine. But we gave up more than we should have seeing what the Suns did. I just hope we don't use up all this new cap space overpaying for 3rd tier free agents
1) we failed to build.

and

2) we are out of time.

Theory is great, but when you are out of time you move aggressively.
 

kingsboi

Hall of Famer
If I remember correctly didn't the Kings in 98 whiff on one or both of Ike Austin and Matt Geiger before Vlade ultimately chose us? Sometimes you just need a little luck, hopefully we have some left.
since the Kings don't get any luck in the lottery process...maybe they will elsewhere because it sure hasn't happened since David Kahn.
 
We traded away junk. Nothing more or less. 3 non-contributors to a very bad team.
One man's trash is another man's treasure. But you forgot to leave out 1. The first round pick and 2. What we traded our "junk" for. Next to nothing. Hey if we can still get something decent, fine. But the free agency market is drying up and I don't want to overpay for more "junk". Remember the last big free agent signing was Landry aka "junk"
 
We essentially traded away pieces that can easily be signed back. We released our obligations to common commodities for the CHANCE to get a big fish or two. That is always a good move. And I'll add something here: IT WAS LOW RISK for this very reason.
No, that's what the Suns did. We traded away players who were 2 years away from expiring to get Matthews or Ellis. Rondo is, and was always, the 2nd piece of the pie after them. What if he says no? If the Suns strike out, they have extra cap space going forward, but they still have their draft picks. In the next 4 years, we will have 2 of our draft picks taken away and 2 of them possibly being swapped out. That's terrifying.
 

HndsmCelt

Hall of Famer
Just running in place throwing money at things. No longer have the star though so just where we were in 2005 or so.
No doubt the Mavs are caped out with out the replacement for Dirk, BUT they are making moves to improve. My initial point was that the Clippers have to be leaving a bad taste in Jordan's mouth after not just living up to their hype but just flat out playing gutless ball in the play offs. I don't pretend to believe that Dallas IS a true contender but they are trying. Meanwhile the top teams (SA, GSW and OKC) are not looking for a big so where does that leave DJ? I'd at least want to play with guys who WANT to win a championship and a few guys that have.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
I'm going to remember this post when somehow, someway, we get a top 3 pick and the 76ers swap with us. Just wait. Knowing our luck, just wait.
Yes, we'll be forced to take their #4.

And won't matter anyway. If we are in that position then the game has been lost and Cuz is gone. All resources have to be fully mobilized to prevent that occuring. If it does its 6 more years of darkness.
 
I'm going to remember this post when somehow, someway, we get a top 3 pick and the 76ers swap with us. Just wait. Knowing our luck, just wait.
EVEN if that is to happen, we gambled. You don't win if you don't play. Come on, guys! You rather improve 5 games or 20-30 games a season?
 
Not even Vlade would tell you for sure that he traded away those players for Wes Matthews. "Our future"? I don't know about you but if JT, Landry and Nik are "your future of the Kings", I don't know if I wanna be in that same future.
I could give a damn about the players we traded. Did you not look at the small print? We gave away a first round draft pick after we ALREADY OWE ONE to another team. Not only that, but in the next two years, if we get stuck by lightning after missing the playoffs...AGAIN....and get a top 3 pick, the 76ers can switch their pick with ours. AND DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR! It's a goddamn robbery and we're just sitting here watching it happen.