Because Payton is on old vet who respects Webb and his desire to win a championship. That would have been the attraction and the bond. Now the front office has kind of run up a white flag this season, and that old vet is gone. So for Gary who's left to respect as a competitior -- who's he coming to Sactown to go to war with one last time? Because that's what he's probably looking for.
Only way I could really see him doing it is if he knows + respects Bibby/Bobby -- they are the two "dawgs" left on the team (maybe Moblye, but Cat seems too slick for Gary). But of course the problem there is that they also play his same position, so much as he might respect them, the chemsitry might be off anyway as they'd rarely be on the floor at the same time and wouold be competing for minutes.
Only way I could really see him doing it is if he knows + respects Bibby/Bobby -- they are the two "dawgs" left on the team (maybe Moblye, but Cat seems too slick for Gary). But of course the problem there is that they also play his same position, so much as he might respect them, the chemsitry might be off anyway as they'd rarely be on the floor at the same time and wouold be competing for minutes.
You know what's crazy, I may be one of the few people who felt really really good about our chances in the playoffs this year. The win over the Spurs in December really made me a beleiver with Mo Evans and KMart playing good ball off the bench, and CWebb playing tough D. If Webb could have brought the defensive insensity in the playoffs he brought against Duncan that night I don't think there is anyone we couldn't beat in a seven game series. I know we went through a cold stretch right before the trade, but they were all extremely close losses to good teams with us missing Peja and getting jobbed by the refs. If we win the three games we lost due to bad calls people are calling us serious contenders and maybe Webb doesn't get traded.
I pretty much was feeling that if we got late in the season, Bobby got healthy and Peja decided to back his team mates, be a man and try, the young guys would have the PT under their belt to be ready for the playoffs, we're more athletic, and have battled through injuries and adversity. I really thought we could put together a better run than what we put together last year. I just think the athletecism of MO and Kmart off the bench would have made a tremendous difference from last year's team, plus Webb is playing better than he was at the end of last season.
I pretty much was feeling that if we got late in the season, Bobby got healthy and Peja decided to back his team mates, be a man and try, the young guys would have the PT under their belt to be ready for the playoffs, we're more athletic, and have battled through injuries and adversity. I really thought we could put together a better run than what we put together last year. I just think the athletecism of MO and Kmart off the bench would have made a tremendous difference from last year's team, plus Webb is playing better than he was at the end of last season.
At first glance signing Payton would sound like idiocy, but he in fact could be a pretty decent fit. Yeah he's a loudmouth with an enormous ego. But on the other hand he could be a great 25-30 minute contributor behind Bibby and Mobley.
Noone knows exactly when Bobby will be back, and even then how well he'll perform. It seems like the last few times Bobby has come back from injury he has pressed way too much and played badly. Bobby also has expressed that he doesn't want to be here in that he asked the Kings not to pick up the team option(which they did).
Should the Kings choose to package Bobby and one of their many power forwards in the offseason, they might have some takers. Mobley is also a question with his free agent status. Getting Payton signed to a cheap one year deal could provide insurance in both of the previous scenarios. GP doesn't play the defense he once did, but would still probably be the Kings best one on one defender.
A few year ago when GP first started bouncing around to different teams I thought how great it would be for him to come in and play SG. He'd be close to home(Oakland) and could proivide the defense/ballhandling/swagger that the kings sometimes lack.
Noone knows exactly when Bobby will be back, and even then how well he'll perform. It seems like the last few times Bobby has come back from injury he has pressed way too much and played badly. Bobby also has expressed that he doesn't want to be here in that he asked the Kings not to pick up the team option(which they did).
Should the Kings choose to package Bobby and one of their many power forwards in the offseason, they might have some takers. Mobley is also a question with his free agent status. Getting Payton signed to a cheap one year deal could provide insurance in both of the previous scenarios. GP doesn't play the defense he once did, but would still probably be the Kings best one on one defender.
A few year ago when GP first started bouncing around to different teams I thought how great it would be for him to come in and play SG. He'd be close to home(Oakland) and could proivide the defense/ballhandling/swagger that the kings sometimes lack.
Speculation on Bobby leaving is a bit premature... after spending yet another season on IR most teams will think long and hard before pinning their hopes on him as a starting PG he will get offers but only time will tell what the offers will be or what the Kings will want. I don't rule out a sign and trade, I love Bobby but there is a younger more durable high energy gaurd on the bench that makes Bobby almost redundant.
If GP isnt the 1 or 2 option everytime he is on the floor their will be problems,I can only think of a handfull of people in the NBA who are more of a redass than GP.He is no longer the glove, or the mitten.I think the Kings need to work on what they got,cause IMO the trade looks ever so slightly better everyday.
I agree with almost everything you say. I know our chances were slim, before before the trade I really had a lot of hope. For years we have been injury plagued in the post season, and I just kept thinking that if somehow, someway, we could all just be healthy and playing well come playoff time we would be hard to beat.
The only thing I disagree with is that I don't think those 3 losses affected the trade. I think this trade was a "bigger picture" thing, not a decision made by the losing streak.
Quote in the Boston Herald adds Sacto to the GP list:
"..........In Phoenix, where the Suns would like to add Payton as backup for the hobbled Steve Nash, a recruiting drive is on as well. `He would be a great fit,'' Nash said yesterday.
*****The Suns have the added appeal of being much closer to Payton's family in Los Angeles. The same applies to Sacramento, which reportedly is also a late entrant in the chase due to the injury to Bobby Jackson."
Payton is from Oakland and we are nearer to the NBA finals without hime than is Boston with him. Chemistry? You don't buy it you research the possibility and hope for the best. Sure would be interesting. At a step slow is he better than House? I think so by a long shot. BWDIK. (but what do I know)
"..........In Phoenix, where the Suns would like to add Payton as backup for the hobbled Steve Nash, a recruiting drive is on as well. `He would be a great fit,'' Nash said yesterday.
*****The Suns have the added appeal of being much closer to Payton's family in Los Angeles. The same applies to Sacramento, which reportedly is also a late entrant in the chase due to the injury to Bobby Jackson."
Payton is from Oakland and we are nearer to the NBA finals without hime than is Boston with him. Chemistry? You don't buy it you research the possibility and hope for the best. Sure would be interesting. At a step slow is he better than House? I think so by a long shot. BWDIK. (but what do I know)
It dont matter, Payton officially returned to the Celtics. So ya, hes in the East.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2005003
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2005003
