I have been contemplating the reasons behind the DMC trade and have deduced why it had to go down the way it did. In the end, I think it was the best for all parties.
First off, we do not know what goes on behind the scenes with the whole DMC dynamic. But, I think that Vlade had decided long ago, from his drafts and free agent signings, that DMC was too volatile to build the team around long term. From his on court outburst and technicals, to cussing out coaches, berating newspaper reporters, bar room fights, to flipping off fans, I think he had seen enough. He knows when he sees a cohesive locker room and I get the feeling that the Kings locker room wasn't all that cohesive.
From Vlade's post trade comments, I think it was partly to cover his butt for getting so little in return, but I think he was also trying to shed a little light on the DMC situation. He shouldn't had kicked DMC on his way out, that is pretty clear, but you can glean some behind the scene thought process from his words. He had mentioned that they knew that DMC had anger issues and he resisted any anger management treatment or counseling at all, until they started talking about an extension. Then, DMC was willing to consider treatment. Vlade did not see that gesture as genuine, and we will never really know if it really was.
Once Vlade decided that DMC had to go, which I believe was before the draft, considering how he drafted. He just had to get the owner on board with the decision to trade DMC. From all accounts, Vivek loved DMC and did not want to trade him.
One main culprit in this trade, that not many people talk about was the new Designated Franchise Player tag that teams could give their franchise player. This changed the game for re-signing DMC from an approximate $28 mil price tag to 40% of the cap and $42 million price tag. You are talking about 40% of your cap space going to one player, on a sub-0.500 team! That left little room for the Kings to improve around DMC. And from all accounts, DMC was expecting that max and probably wouldn't have accepted much less than that, especially when you look at his new agent. I think this new price tag helped swayed Vivek into trading DMC mindset.
Vlade, for all his transgression was trying to maintain DMC trade value, while everyone in the NBA knew they would have to sell low on DMC eventually. I'm sure he was getting some low ball offers, that is why he had to put out the dreaded "Vote of Confidence" stance to everyone, to try and drive up DMC asking price. That, plus he was still waiting to get approval from Vivek on a trade. If Vivek doesn't give Vlade the green light to trade him, Vlade would have to stay the course and would have resigned DMC in the summer, whether he wanted to or not.
Now, once the trade was coming to fruition, Vlade tried to do the decent thing and warn DMC's agent, which ultimately drove down DMC trade value even further, once the agents contacted teams that DMC would not sign an extension. Had Vlade not tried to be decent and give DMC's agent a warning about the trade, the Kings may have gotten 2 1st round picks out of this trade.
At this point, Vlade had to pull the trigger and complete the deal. He and/or Vivek really wanted Buddy and the Kings essentially got 2 first round picks from the DMC trade anyways (their own top ten protected and N.O.'s pick). I have no doubt that we would have lost their 1st round pick this year, if DMC was still on the team. Had they waited until the summer, the best they would have gotten, would of probably had been 2 first round picks and a young player, which they may not have like as much as they liked Buddy.
Essentially, the Kings got 3 first round picks in the DMC trade, Buddy Hield (2016 6th pick), Kings keep their Top 10 pick this year, and hopefully a top 10 N.O. pick this year.
Essentially the Kings are left with a young and exciting core, that had the DMC trade not had happened, would never have had the opportunity to shine for a long, long time. Now the Kings and Vlade can mold the team as he sees fit, hopefully, something that the Kings fans can be proud of. A young core of Buddy, Skal, WCS, Malichi, Papa and Bogdan (hopefully) can have a very bright future. This team can grow together, something that could not have happened when you had the urgency to compete with a 27 year old All-Star Center in the prime of his career.
Youth Depth Chart:
PF: Skal
SF: Malichi (or 2017 Lotto pick)/ Bogdan
C: WCS/ Papa
SG: Buddy / Bogdan
PG: 2017 Lotto Pick
First off, we do not know what goes on behind the scenes with the whole DMC dynamic. But, I think that Vlade had decided long ago, from his drafts and free agent signings, that DMC was too volatile to build the team around long term. From his on court outburst and technicals, to cussing out coaches, berating newspaper reporters, bar room fights, to flipping off fans, I think he had seen enough. He knows when he sees a cohesive locker room and I get the feeling that the Kings locker room wasn't all that cohesive.
From Vlade's post trade comments, I think it was partly to cover his butt for getting so little in return, but I think he was also trying to shed a little light on the DMC situation. He shouldn't had kicked DMC on his way out, that is pretty clear, but you can glean some behind the scene thought process from his words. He had mentioned that they knew that DMC had anger issues and he resisted any anger management treatment or counseling at all, until they started talking about an extension. Then, DMC was willing to consider treatment. Vlade did not see that gesture as genuine, and we will never really know if it really was.
Once Vlade decided that DMC had to go, which I believe was before the draft, considering how he drafted. He just had to get the owner on board with the decision to trade DMC. From all accounts, Vivek loved DMC and did not want to trade him.
One main culprit in this trade, that not many people talk about was the new Designated Franchise Player tag that teams could give their franchise player. This changed the game for re-signing DMC from an approximate $28 mil price tag to 40% of the cap and $42 million price tag. You are talking about 40% of your cap space going to one player, on a sub-0.500 team! That left little room for the Kings to improve around DMC. And from all accounts, DMC was expecting that max and probably wouldn't have accepted much less than that, especially when you look at his new agent. I think this new price tag helped swayed Vivek into trading DMC mindset.
Vlade, for all his transgression was trying to maintain DMC trade value, while everyone in the NBA knew they would have to sell low on DMC eventually. I'm sure he was getting some low ball offers, that is why he had to put out the dreaded "Vote of Confidence" stance to everyone, to try and drive up DMC asking price. That, plus he was still waiting to get approval from Vivek on a trade. If Vivek doesn't give Vlade the green light to trade him, Vlade would have to stay the course and would have resigned DMC in the summer, whether he wanted to or not.
Now, once the trade was coming to fruition, Vlade tried to do the decent thing and warn DMC's agent, which ultimately drove down DMC trade value even further, once the agents contacted teams that DMC would not sign an extension. Had Vlade not tried to be decent and give DMC's agent a warning about the trade, the Kings may have gotten 2 1st round picks out of this trade.
At this point, Vlade had to pull the trigger and complete the deal. He and/or Vivek really wanted Buddy and the Kings essentially got 2 first round picks from the DMC trade anyways (their own top ten protected and N.O.'s pick). I have no doubt that we would have lost their 1st round pick this year, if DMC was still on the team. Had they waited until the summer, the best they would have gotten, would of probably had been 2 first round picks and a young player, which they may not have like as much as they liked Buddy.
Essentially, the Kings got 3 first round picks in the DMC trade, Buddy Hield (2016 6th pick), Kings keep their Top 10 pick this year, and hopefully a top 10 N.O. pick this year.
Essentially the Kings are left with a young and exciting core, that had the DMC trade not had happened, would never have had the opportunity to shine for a long, long time. Now the Kings and Vlade can mold the team as he sees fit, hopefully, something that the Kings fans can be proud of. A young core of Buddy, Skal, WCS, Malichi, Papa and Bogdan (hopefully) can have a very bright future. This team can grow together, something that could not have happened when you had the urgency to compete with a 27 year old All-Star Center in the prime of his career.
Youth Depth Chart:
PF: Skal
SF: Malichi (or 2017 Lotto pick)/ Bogdan
C: WCS/ Papa
SG: Buddy / Bogdan
PG: 2017 Lotto Pick
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