LPKingsFan
All-Star
ESPN's TrueHoop has an interesting post today about what, if the Kidd trade goes through, New Jersey's plan for rebuilding should be. Henry Abbott mentions that a lot of good young players, including Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Yao, among others, could be free agents in 2010 depending on contract extensions and opt outs. He says that because NJ will have a pool of young talent (Harris, Williams, Boone, etc), Jay-Z's star power, and a new arena in Brooklyn, it makes sense to look towards 2010 to make the big splash.
The same could be said to some extent for Sacramento. Now, the Maloofs aren't quite Jay-Z, and the arena talks seem to remain at a standstill, but I wouldn't be surprised if Petrie holds off on making a free agent splash until then.
As of now, the only contracts we'd have on the books in the sumer of 2010 are:
Martin: roughly $10 million
Salmons: $5.8 million
Hawes: (team option) $2.9 million
2008, 2008, 2010 first round picks (average $2.5 million each): $7.5 million
Assuming Garcia and Douby get extensions as well (roughly $6 and $3 million, respectively), we'd have only $35 million on the books. Assuming the salary cap continues its rise of around $2 million/year, we'd have about $25 million in cap space (unless, of course, we use some in the year before).
That's not an excuse for inaction, however. I'd like to see Bibby and Artest shopped aggressively for picks and prospects. What it does mean, is that dumping KT and SAR, which would devalue a Bibby or Artest package, isn't the most important thing. If you can get a better pick or prospect for Bibby and Artest, I'd say do it. Continue building the team through trades in the draft, then, in 2010 when the rest of the puzzle is almost complete, add your final piece through free agency.
I know Sacramento has never been a free agent haven. Vlade still remains our biggest acquisition in free agency. But having cap space also gives you flexibility in taking on salary in trades (much as San Antonio got Hedo for free in the Brad Miller deal). And, of any year, it looks like 2010 will be a good one to have some room.
The same could be said to some extent for Sacramento. Now, the Maloofs aren't quite Jay-Z, and the arena talks seem to remain at a standstill, but I wouldn't be surprised if Petrie holds off on making a free agent splash until then.
As of now, the only contracts we'd have on the books in the sumer of 2010 are:
Martin: roughly $10 million
Salmons: $5.8 million
Hawes: (team option) $2.9 million
2008, 2008, 2010 first round picks (average $2.5 million each): $7.5 million
Assuming Garcia and Douby get extensions as well (roughly $6 and $3 million, respectively), we'd have only $35 million on the books. Assuming the salary cap continues its rise of around $2 million/year, we'd have about $25 million in cap space (unless, of course, we use some in the year before).
That's not an excuse for inaction, however. I'd like to see Bibby and Artest shopped aggressively for picks and prospects. What it does mean, is that dumping KT and SAR, which would devalue a Bibby or Artest package, isn't the most important thing. If you can get a better pick or prospect for Bibby and Artest, I'd say do it. Continue building the team through trades in the draft, then, in 2010 when the rest of the puzzle is almost complete, add your final piece through free agency.
I know Sacramento has never been a free agent haven. Vlade still remains our biggest acquisition in free agency. But having cap space also gives you flexibility in taking on salary in trades (much as San Antonio got Hedo for free in the Brad Miller deal). And, of any year, it looks like 2010 will be a good one to have some room.
