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Money is no object when it comes to cuts
The Maloofs will give Eric Musselman the team he wants; contracts won't figure into the decisions.
By Sam Amick -
Last Updated 1:24 am PDT Sunday, October 22, 2006
Even before the questions of who has played better, there is the one about who costs more.
At least that's usually the case.
Roster trimming in the NBA isn't always about the fit. The finances usually come into play, with decisions sometimes being made based on the price tag of parting ways rather than the value of the player himself.
But just as the Kings' situation appeared trickier than most, co-owner Joe Maloof came along to ensure his basketball branch that the dollar won't be dictating their moves, even if it means the team pays a luxury tax it has tried so hard to avoid. Their 17-man roster must be down to 15 by Oct. 30, though teams are allowed to carry as few as 13 players. Kings ownership, apparently, has made those decisions a whole lot easier.
"We're a young team, and we've got to try and take as many players as we can under contract," Maloof said. "That's how I look at it. Whatever the full amount of players is, we want to have that. It doesn't matter what we're paying him. If the guy can help us on the court, that's all we (care) about."
The quandary comes with the players who might cost a lot even if they're not around. And the temptation to cut them is in the potential of youth, with rookies like big men Louis Amundson and Justin Williams looking more capable of helping both now and in the future.
Amundson, for one, earned the best kind of fans in July, when the forward's scrappy summer-league play in Las Vegas left the Maloofs predicting big things for the rookie from UNLV this season even before he made the roster.
"I really like his hustle, but that's going to be up to coach (Eric) Musselman and (Kings basketball president) Geoff (Petrie)," Maloof said. "It's easier that way. You've got the two smartest guys in the country with basketball decisions.
"Let them make decisions and they come to Gavin (Maloof) and I, and we'll just stamp it."
Kings center Vitaly Potapenko has yet to pass a conditioning test and thus hasn't played in an exhibition game, this after a 2005-06 campaign in which he logged 31 minutes after being traded to Sacramento in February. But cutting him would cost $3.6 million, with no discount for the practical purposes of such a decision.
Loren Woods, a free-agent signee center who hasn't played in two consecutive games, would be a cheaper casualty ($400,000 in guaranteed money).
Or perhaps the Kings would consider freeing up their logjam at the point, where an unconventional approach to ballhandling means the depth chart behind Mike Bibby includes more than just point guards. And just as second-year point guard Ronnie Price has been drawing much praise for his improvement, the approach has left veteran Jason Hart out of the mix. Should Hart be cut, the Maloofs would have to cut a check for $1.6 million.
Unless the Kings cut Amundson and Williams, whose rookie minimum salaries are paid if only they make the team, the team's payroll might surpass the luxury tax threshold of $65.42 million. That, Joe Maloof said, was of no concern.
"Whatever team he wants, he can have it," Maloof said Friday.
Musselman, interviewed before he was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence, said he appreciates the choice for sense over cents. His team faces New Orleans in Reno tonight.
"This will be a big weekend, because we know it's getting close to time to make some decisions," Musselman said. "I think all of our conversations have been (about) what's best for the team. I think that the final outcome will be what's best for the team. That's a lot better than being in a situation where it's only based on contracts."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
Money is no object when it comes to cuts
The Maloofs will give Eric Musselman the team he wants; contracts won't figure into the decisions.
By Sam Amick -
Last Updated 1:24 am PDT Sunday, October 22, 2006
Even before the questions of who has played better, there is the one about who costs more.
At least that's usually the case.
Roster trimming in the NBA isn't always about the fit. The finances usually come into play, with decisions sometimes being made based on the price tag of parting ways rather than the value of the player himself.
But just as the Kings' situation appeared trickier than most, co-owner Joe Maloof came along to ensure his basketball branch that the dollar won't be dictating their moves, even if it means the team pays a luxury tax it has tried so hard to avoid. Their 17-man roster must be down to 15 by Oct. 30, though teams are allowed to carry as few as 13 players. Kings ownership, apparently, has made those decisions a whole lot easier.
"We're a young team, and we've got to try and take as many players as we can under contract," Maloof said. "That's how I look at it. Whatever the full amount of players is, we want to have that. It doesn't matter what we're paying him. If the guy can help us on the court, that's all we (care) about."
The quandary comes with the players who might cost a lot even if they're not around. And the temptation to cut them is in the potential of youth, with rookies like big men Louis Amundson and Justin Williams looking more capable of helping both now and in the future.
Amundson, for one, earned the best kind of fans in July, when the forward's scrappy summer-league play in Las Vegas left the Maloofs predicting big things for the rookie from UNLV this season even before he made the roster.
"I really like his hustle, but that's going to be up to coach (Eric) Musselman and (Kings basketball president) Geoff (Petrie)," Maloof said. "It's easier that way. You've got the two smartest guys in the country with basketball decisions.
"Let them make decisions and they come to Gavin (Maloof) and I, and we'll just stamp it."
Kings center Vitaly Potapenko has yet to pass a conditioning test and thus hasn't played in an exhibition game, this after a 2005-06 campaign in which he logged 31 minutes after being traded to Sacramento in February. But cutting him would cost $3.6 million, with no discount for the practical purposes of such a decision.
Loren Woods, a free-agent signee center who hasn't played in two consecutive games, would be a cheaper casualty ($400,000 in guaranteed money).
Or perhaps the Kings would consider freeing up their logjam at the point, where an unconventional approach to ballhandling means the depth chart behind Mike Bibby includes more than just point guards. And just as second-year point guard Ronnie Price has been drawing much praise for his improvement, the approach has left veteran Jason Hart out of the mix. Should Hart be cut, the Maloofs would have to cut a check for $1.6 million.
Unless the Kings cut Amundson and Williams, whose rookie minimum salaries are paid if only they make the team, the team's payroll might surpass the luxury tax threshold of $65.42 million. That, Joe Maloof said, was of no concern.
"Whatever team he wants, he can have it," Maloof said Friday.
Musselman, interviewed before he was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence, said he appreciates the choice for sense over cents. His team faces New Orleans in Reno tonight.
"This will be a big weekend, because we know it's getting close to time to make some decisions," Musselman said. "I think all of our conversations have been (about) what's best for the team. I think that the final outcome will be what's best for the team. That's a lot better than being in a situation where it's only based on contracts."
About the writer: The Bee's Sam Amick can be reached at samick@sacbee.com.
