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Dog On It!
http://www.nba.com/features/moves_2005_sac.html
Geoff Petrie targets castoffs to revamp Sacramento
Western Gunslinger By Brad Friedman
Geoff Petrie doesn't rebuild the Kings. Sacramento's president of basketball operations simply reloads.
Petrie already has found replacements for Chris Webber and Doug Christie, who helped compose the foundation of a Sacramento team that was considered by some a Finals contender at the beginning of last year.
In the same manner he acquired Webber in 1998 -- when off-the-court turmoil fueled the Wizards' desire to part ways with their star -- Petrie landed Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells by targeting players more readily available than peers of a similar talent level.
In Abdur-Rahim's case, it was reportedly a suspect knee that made the former Olympian obtainable. The New Jersey Nets originally acquired him in a sign-and-trade with Portland Aug. 2 but rescinded the deal a week later because of concerns relating to his long-term health.
During the July recruiting process, the Kings fought hard to agree to terms with Abdur-Rahim on the free agent market, so when the Nets unexpectedly backed out, the 28-year-old signed three days later with Sacramento.
"Things happened in an unpredictable manner regarding the New Jersey situation," said Abdur-Rahim, who is reunited with former Grizzlies teammate Mike Bibby. "Even when I made the decision to commit to New Jersey, it was between coming here or going there. (If) Sacramento moved on and wouldn’t have become an opportunity, I would’ve been left scrambling to go anywhere, so more than anything I’m thankful that this situation was still here for me."
Abdur-Rahim disputes the notion that there's anything wrong with his knee.
"The only thing I can tell you is that I’m healthy," he said. "I guess they (Nets) did their physical and some something that made them uncomfortable. I’ve never missed games or practices because of my knees so like I said, their concerns came out of the blue to me. As far as what went on in New Jersey, my focus, my heart and my attention is here. I’m ready to move forward and be apart of this team.”
Wells was also an easier pickup because of a "damaged goods" label that diminished his market value. Considered a blossoming All-Star with the Portland Trail Blazers several years ago when he averaged 17.0 points per game, Wells' reputation took a hit after reports of him being a disruptive influence on team chemistry surfaced.
Portland eventually dealt him to Memphis, which decided this summer it was time to end Wells' two-year stay. The Kings jumped at the chance to land the 6-5 shooting guard, giving up a pair of reserves in Bobby Jackson and Greg Ostertag in return.
Petrie doesn't seem all that concerned with the supposed baggage Wells brings to Sacramento.
"The story for Bonzi and for the Kings is what happens from this day forward," he told the Associated Press. "It's about how he plays, what he is, and the kind of contributions he can make. Whatever he has done in the past -- to the extent that he wants to discuss it or acknowledge it we are comfortable with it and very comfortable in talking to him. He's excited about coming here to play."
With a starting lineup consisting of Mike Bibby, Wells, Peja Stojakovic, Abdur-Rahim and Brad Miller, the Kings are a comparable team on paper to the one that would have existed had they never traded Webber and Christie midseason last year. Although they had to give up the valuable backup guard Jackson to get Wells, they also now have the depth of Corliss Williamson, Brian Skinner and Kenny Thomas in the frontcourt provided by the Webber exchange.
Petrie made that swap -- along with the Christie transaction -- because both of those players were at a point in their careers where their value on the court and on the player movement market wasn't going to get any higher. Soon after the changes, Webber's injury problems, defensive woes and inability to operate without the ball in his hands were highlighted in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Christie sat out a large portion of the year in Orlando and was waived using the team's amnesty clause Monday.
By not taking on pricey, long-term salary obligations in trading away those players, Sacramento gained the cap flexibility to move in Abdur-Rahim.
"We’re very happy that it worked out the way it did," said Kings head coach Rick Adelman. "He’s a guy we wanted all along. I think Shareef is going to really help us. He gives us a proven scorer inside. He’s also a very good rebounder. He’s going to give us a threat around the basket that we need at this point with this team."
Rather than bringing in Wells, Petrie could have elected to pursue re-signing Cuttino Mobley, the 2-guard he got in return for Christie. As evidenced by Mobley's deal with the Clippers, however, that task would have commanded the type of long-term obligation that made Petrie want to move Webber, the Kings' franchise player, in the first place.
"We feel that Bonzi can come in and give us versatility at two positions," Petrie said. "He's the different type of player than we've had here before in terms of his overall skill level. And he is part of a process here where our backcourt has become much longer, quicker and more athletic."
And quickness is something Petrie knows a thing or two about. Just six months ago when his Kings traded their franchise player, it seemed as if the organization that had made so much progress since breaking out of its long stay in Lottery Land could have headed right back where it started.
Looking at the team today, you'd think the Kings never even skipped a beat.
Geoff Petrie targets castoffs to revamp Sacramento
Western Gunslinger By Brad Friedman
Geoff Petrie doesn't rebuild the Kings. Sacramento's president of basketball operations simply reloads.
Petrie already has found replacements for Chris Webber and Doug Christie, who helped compose the foundation of a Sacramento team that was considered by some a Finals contender at the beginning of last year.
In the same manner he acquired Webber in 1998 -- when off-the-court turmoil fueled the Wizards' desire to part ways with their star -- Petrie landed Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Bonzi Wells by targeting players more readily available than peers of a similar talent level.
In Abdur-Rahim's case, it was reportedly a suspect knee that made the former Olympian obtainable. The New Jersey Nets originally acquired him in a sign-and-trade with Portland Aug. 2 but rescinded the deal a week later because of concerns relating to his long-term health.
During the July recruiting process, the Kings fought hard to agree to terms with Abdur-Rahim on the free agent market, so when the Nets unexpectedly backed out, the 28-year-old signed three days later with Sacramento.
"Things happened in an unpredictable manner regarding the New Jersey situation," said Abdur-Rahim, who is reunited with former Grizzlies teammate Mike Bibby. "Even when I made the decision to commit to New Jersey, it was between coming here or going there. (If) Sacramento moved on and wouldn’t have become an opportunity, I would’ve been left scrambling to go anywhere, so more than anything I’m thankful that this situation was still here for me."
Abdur-Rahim disputes the notion that there's anything wrong with his knee.
"The only thing I can tell you is that I’m healthy," he said. "I guess they (Nets) did their physical and some something that made them uncomfortable. I’ve never missed games or practices because of my knees so like I said, their concerns came out of the blue to me. As far as what went on in New Jersey, my focus, my heart and my attention is here. I’m ready to move forward and be apart of this team.”
Wells was also an easier pickup because of a "damaged goods" label that diminished his market value. Considered a blossoming All-Star with the Portland Trail Blazers several years ago when he averaged 17.0 points per game, Wells' reputation took a hit after reports of him being a disruptive influence on team chemistry surfaced.
Portland eventually dealt him to Memphis, which decided this summer it was time to end Wells' two-year stay. The Kings jumped at the chance to land the 6-5 shooting guard, giving up a pair of reserves in Bobby Jackson and Greg Ostertag in return.
Petrie doesn't seem all that concerned with the supposed baggage Wells brings to Sacramento.
"The story for Bonzi and for the Kings is what happens from this day forward," he told the Associated Press. "It's about how he plays, what he is, and the kind of contributions he can make. Whatever he has done in the past -- to the extent that he wants to discuss it or acknowledge it we are comfortable with it and very comfortable in talking to him. He's excited about coming here to play."
With a starting lineup consisting of Mike Bibby, Wells, Peja Stojakovic, Abdur-Rahim and Brad Miller, the Kings are a comparable team on paper to the one that would have existed had they never traded Webber and Christie midseason last year. Although they had to give up the valuable backup guard Jackson to get Wells, they also now have the depth of Corliss Williamson, Brian Skinner and Kenny Thomas in the frontcourt provided by the Webber exchange.
Petrie made that swap -- along with the Christie transaction -- because both of those players were at a point in their careers where their value on the court and on the player movement market wasn't going to get any higher. Soon after the changes, Webber's injury problems, defensive woes and inability to operate without the ball in his hands were highlighted in Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Christie sat out a large portion of the year in Orlando and was waived using the team's amnesty clause Monday.
By not taking on pricey, long-term salary obligations in trading away those players, Sacramento gained the cap flexibility to move in Abdur-Rahim.
"We’re very happy that it worked out the way it did," said Kings head coach Rick Adelman. "He’s a guy we wanted all along. I think Shareef is going to really help us. He gives us a proven scorer inside. He’s also a very good rebounder. He’s going to give us a threat around the basket that we need at this point with this team."
Rather than bringing in Wells, Petrie could have elected to pursue re-signing Cuttino Mobley, the 2-guard he got in return for Christie. As evidenced by Mobley's deal with the Clippers, however, that task would have commanded the type of long-term obligation that made Petrie want to move Webber, the Kings' franchise player, in the first place.
"We feel that Bonzi can come in and give us versatility at two positions," Petrie said. "He's the different type of player than we've had here before in terms of his overall skill level. And he is part of a process here where our backcourt has become much longer, quicker and more athletic."
And quickness is something Petrie knows a thing or two about. Just six months ago when his Kings traded their franchise player, it seemed as if the organization that had made so much progress since breaking out of its long stay in Lottery Land could have headed right back where it started.
Looking at the team today, you'd think the Kings never even skipped a beat.
