Just_Lurkin said:
That's probably one of the things he's afraid of....
Exactly. And that's the one thing I think is a direct result of the Christie and Webber trades. Players don't want to sign only to be traded away. Since the organization showed where their emphasis is, we're not going to see players staying here to be part of the something special because the something special no longer exists. And, of everything that's happened, I think that's the part that saddens me the most.
whozit said:
I don't think this move is related to those trades.
We'll have to agree to disagree because I firmly believe and will til my dying day that if Webber hadn't been traded, Darius would have not opted out. The message has been sent to players that no one is safe, and that regardless of what they may be told, they can and might be traded "for the good of the team." Darius isn't stupid; nor is his agent. Why should he opt in for one more year with the Kings only to end up in some package deal going somewhere else?
IMHO people simply aren't realizing the significance of trading Chris Webber mid-season, especially for what we got in return. It did NOTHING to give any of our remaining players any kind of feeling of security and, regardless of what is said about the NBA being a business, the players are human and they like to think they're at least going to be given some consideration. Chris Webber, a true King among Kings, was blindsided by a last-day trade. That, in and of itself, speaks volumes. Whether it was a good trade or not is immaterial. The way it was done was stunning to say the least...and it sent a message that won't soon be forgotten.