I don't know that I agree with this sentiment...when you're trying to rebuild there's either moving forward or not...In a rebuild you need to try to develop younger players, look to the future, etc, etc... Our one singing this summer was a 32 year old for 3 years. Do we really think we will win a championship in those three years? If we're rebuilding then you give minutes to young guys like Justin Williams, Spencer Hawes and perhaps someone from the summer league...So what if they arent as good as Mikki immediately, at least they're out there learning and we can see what we have.
We have NO IDEA yet how the minutes are going to be allocated. I personally believe people are getting way too hung up on Mikki coming to the Kings. He can be a useful mentor in a lot of ways to our other new 7 footer.
There is NO concrete pattern for a rebuild. Each instance is different and I think people are getting ahead of themselves and the Kings in their rush to decide the impact of every move. It's July.
Next you drop Ronnie Price, a guy who we all can agree had tremendous athletic ability and some solid potential to pickup a 28 year old pg to packup Bibby...if you do this, you once again look past guys on your summer league team who perhaps have more long term potential and athletic ability in order to get a guy who might have a little more polish and basketball IQ but only the potential to be a subpar backup pg in the league....
Um, I think I recall hearing somewhere that Price requested that we retract the qualifying offer. And again, the idea we're going to find a lot of jewels in the summer league players is just without basis in fact. Most of those guys are playing summer league in a desperate attempt to get a team (ANY team) to give them one last chance to get into the NBA. They're not the cream of the crop. They're the bottom of the barrel. We may find someone of use - like Justin (who, remember, PETRIE FOUND) - but I'm not relying on any of them to make a substantial long-term effect in the league or on the Kings.
This isn't how you rebuild, this is how you desperately hold onto the last scraps of a dying nucleus...On the surface these moves were clearly made to make a run at the 8th seed in the playoffs...maybe Petrie has been told by the Maloofs to hold onto the playoffs at all costs, I don't know. Perhaps there is a misperception that the fans won't come to watch a young, bad, team that is developing....I for one would be more excited for that version than the current version we've assembled.
Sorry, but I simply do not agree with this assessment.
You think it's a failure of rebuilding. I see it as interim steps on the path to an eventual rebuild that won't be complete for at least a couple of years. A LOT can happen in a couple of years.
And I think we ARE going to see an exciting team this year, regardless of wins. We'll have a mix of youth and veterans that, with the proper guidance, could easily be a lot more fun to watch that what we've suffered through - for the most part - for the past couple of years.
And, as I've said before, I think the kids can benefit from the experience Mikki is bringing to the team.
So, bottom line? You can be disappointed and I'll be hopeful and look forward to attending even more games in Arco this coming season than I did last year.
And one more random thought?
It seems no matter what Petrie does - OR DOESN'T DO - people are going to second-guess and criticize. Had he not made any acquisitions by now I'm pretty sure we'd be seeing threads condemning him for simply sitting still and not doing anything.