If we sign Ak to a large contract, im assuming that we will no longer have the capspace to offer Daly the lucrative deal he wants. And vice versa. If we had a choice between the two who would you sign?
I'd like to have both but I'll take Sammy over AK. I think sometimes people just get excited over new acquisitions rather than a familiar face, but we need a shot blocker. I like AK and would love to see him in a Kings uniform, but I guarantee we'll miss Dalembert on this team this season if he isn't replaced by another 7 footer
AK is a shot blocker. He's never averaged less than 1.2 blocks per game his entire career. Unlike Sammy D, though, AK can do a lot of other things besides shot blocking.
EDIT: I just checked the stats and AK actually has a higher career shot blocking average than Sammy, lol.
If I was playing GM, and I wasn't in a position to get both AK and Daly I'd do the following:
1.) Get AK.
2.) Amnesty Garcia/Salmons
3.) Trade JT for Okafor (Probably be able to pull this off due to the salary relief/good big NO would be getting in return)
PG - Tyreke/Jimmer/Thomas
SG - Thorton/Salmons/Jimmer
SF - AK/Salmons/Greene/Honeycutt
PF - Cousins/JJ/Whiteside
C - Okafor/Hayes
From the outside looking in, if I were to use the amnesty, I'd rather do it this year, to create capspace, to re-sign Dalembert. But I just get the feeling the FO isn't that high on bringing him back. Considering the fact that we can probably get him for under 10mil/year, I have to believe that there is something going on there in regards to that relationship that we (as fans) aren't aware of.
Okafor's contract is just gigantic, and we'd basically lose all of our financial flexibility. But his contract finishes up before we'd have to max out Cousins, and I love the starting 5 this would give us, as well as the depth, so I think we could afford to be a bit inflexible for a year or two with a roster that good.
In a perfect world, if the Hornets end up with Kaman's expiring, the Hornets would consider amnestying Okafor if they couldn't find any takers for his contract, and give us an opportunty to snatch him up, but of all the scenarios I've mentioned in my perfect world, that is probably the least unlikely to take place.
If you do #1 then you lose the cap space to do #3. #3 would have to match salaries.
They #1 do one and #3 if they amnestied Garcia or Salmons.
That still wouldn't be enough. Signing AK takes them the cap. They aren't going to amnesty Salmons and have to pay him 3 years of his contract and not play. Garcia is a lower salary and only 2 years, but that wouldn't create enough space for the trade.
Do neither. Keep the roster intact. The Kings are not in 'win now' mode and as for building excitement, the current roster as it sits should bring plenty of excitement to the city as we watch them grow and develop and (hopefully in the near future) contend. There is no need to spend money on players who will be out of the league after their contract expires/next injury. I understand that a shotblocker is a nice thing to have but keep in mind Chuck Hayes shut down both Amare Stoudemire AND Blake Griffin and damn near avg'd a triple double against the Warriors last season. I say stand pat and keep your money until something actually worth it comes along.
If you do #1 then you lose the cap space to do #3. #3 would have to match salaries.
It's a tough one. If I felt Dalembert was 100% excited to be a King, I'd lean in his direction because of his skill set and size. But I just don't see it. IMO, the only reason he's mentioned a return to the Kings is because of $, not that he really wants to be here. And he constantly mentions his offensive skills...something this team doesn't need from him.
So I'd go with AK. If no other reason he can guard multiple positions - from Kobe to Durant to Dirk - and that's a huge factor in the Western Conference. I'm having a hard time envisioning any of the Kings on the current roster guarding any of those guys, with AK, it's a no-brainer.
AK!
Why not go for both. We are $14 mill under the cap. Amnesty Garcia and that puts us at $19/$20 mil under the cap. Sign both for $9 or $10.
PG - Evans, Jimmer, Thomas
SG - Thorton, Salmons
SF - AK, Salmons, Greene, Honeycut
PF - Cousins, Hickson, JT
C - Dalembert, Hayes, JT, Whiteside
That's a nice line-up.
Next year JT, Hickson and Greene are off the books which frees us up $7 mil. next year. However I think we will be able to pay there Qualifying offer. We would be over the cap after signing extensions in a few years put we will be so deep we will be able to trade players with out losing depth. Another bad thing is we will not be in the market for the Free Agents next season.
I like the way you think. Too bad the owners/management aren't as ambitious.
Question though since we are under the cap cam we just out right trade Garcia for cash or a $1 mil player so we dont have to pay him and still get rid of contract.