And yet...
Dally came here because he wanted more minutes and touches than he was getting in Philly (25.9 mpg, 6.4 FGA per game). And, at the end of the year, he's going to be wanting another contract, probably not too far off from what he's getting now, and probably for 4-5 years. Unless the new CBA looks to change things in a very big way, we might have to choose between resigning Dally and being able to retain some of our best kids as they finish their rookie contracts.
I see it as kind of a mess, although not in a very bad way. I think that the FO solved a lot of our worst problems by getting Landry and Dalembert, then jumped on an (incompatible) opportunity that was just too good to turn down -- Cousins + Whiteside. I don't think they had a real plan on how to deal with the logjam, and I'm not sure that they do now. Depending on how our rookies do, and what educated guesses about the new CBA are like, I wouldn't be surprised to see either or both of Landry/Dally gone before the trade deadline.
You make some good points, and I could see things going in a lot of different directions. As you stated, we don't know what the new CBA will contain, and therefore its difficult to really know what can and can't be done. However, we have had a glimpse of what the owners are asking for, and if we were to assume that they'll get what they want, its possible that we might be able to resign Dalembert for a considerably reduced price.
But thats pure speculation on my part. Regardless of the CBA, its unlikely that Dalembert will have anyone offering him another contract for 12 mil a year. If there is someone willing, then I wish him goodbye and Gods speed. So that aside, it may come down to whether he's happy here or not. From everything I've read about him, and its considerable, he was a fairly happy camper until Speights showed up and started taking his minutes. If thats true, then his unhappiness is more about minutes than FGA's because his attempts per 48 have stayed pretty consistant.
I think he felt slighted by having a rookie come in and take his minutes, more than how many shots he was taking. If so, then the question is, how many minutes will keep him happy, and how do we get him the minutes, and at whose expense. Of course if he doesn't bring the defense the Kings need or doesn't fit in well with the team, then its all a moot point. But I can't really argue in the abstract, so I'm going to assume that he will fit in. And if so, then I see the real battle for minutes coming from Thompson and Landry. Simply because the easiest way to get Dalembert more minutes is by playing him on the floor with Cousins for 5 to 6 minutes a game. And that 5 or 6 minutes would have to come from either Thompson or Landry.
As far as who is the obvious choice to go before the trade deadline? Well once again there are a lot of unknowns. What if the Kings are seriously in the playoff hunt? Do you dare gamble with the chemistry of the team and trade either Landry, my personal choice to go first, or Dalembert? Probably not! But if not, and you have no intention of resigning one of them, then that player walks at seasons end and you get nothing in return. Of course, if it looks as though were out of the playoff race, then I think you have to move whoever it is thats not considered part of the Kings future.
You called a mess, and thats a good way of putting it. Because in fact, it is sort of a mess. A nice mess, but a mess none the less. Its sort of like having a project with enough investors, and suddenly you have a couple more investors show up and want a part of the project. Now you have more money than you need and have to figure out how to put it all to good use without hurting the project, or dramaticly changing the direction of the project. Nice problem to have..
