Hughes to play second fiddle to the King (& Mobley Implications)

[Jerryaki]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2103569

looks like the market for Cuttino's services just opened up some more...

hmmm, looks like this actually belongs in the free agent tracking thread. sorry!

 

[Bricklayer]

We've already got a thread discussing this in the NBA forum entitrled "Help for LeBron", but I'll leave this open/unmerged as being Kings realted because of the effect it might have on the Mobley situation.

I am frankly a little relieved that Cleveland got one of the big three OGs. Not sure how many suitors there are for Cat now who have cap room above the MLE. Clippers are one apparently (and mysteriously). Not sure who else.

 

[Jerryaki]

is washington over the cap? maybe this somehow works out into a sign and trade for kwame and filler plus cat and filler.

as for cleveland, i hope that hughes isn't fool's gold, and that his stellar contract year stats don't haunt them if they make next year's playoffs.

 

[Bricklayer]

is washington over the cap? maybe this somehow works out into a sign and trade for kwame and filler plus cat and filler.

Yeah, Whozit mentioned the Kwame possibility in the FA Tracking Thread just a minute ago -- had not considered that possibility, but its interesting as a backup plan in case we are unable to pull off the Nene deal. My main concern would be that Cat is going to want more than the MLE, and so the contracts we take back will have to be roughly equal (let's say at least $7mil, maybe $8mil). Taking a flyer on Kwame for the MLE sounds like a reasonable chance to take. Such a big upside its worth the risk. But taking a flyer on him for $7 or $8mil begins to get out of hand. If he flops, you're really hurting. I would definitely prefer to get back Kwame + another contract to match Mobley's deal.

 

[Diabeticwonder]

Taking a quick look at Washington's roster and salaries for potential deals that would land Kwame here's what they have other than Jamison and Arenas:

Etan Thomas: $5.39 mill (5 years left)
Brendan Haywood: $4.00 mill(5 years left)
Jared Jeffries: $2.02 mill (1 year left plus qualifying offer year)
Jarvis Hayes: $2.01 mill (1 year left, plus team option year, plus qualifying offer year)

 

[Bricklayer]

Taking a quick look at Washington's roster and salaries for potential deals that would land Kwame here's what they have other than Jamison and Arenas:

Etan Thomas: $5.39 mill (5 years left)
Brendan Haywood: $4.00 mill(5 years left)
Jared Jeffries: $2.02 mill (1 year left plus qualifying offer year)
Jarvis Hayes: $2.01 mill (1 year left, plus team option year, plus qualifying offer year)

Hmm...problem there is that I think they like most of those guys. I was kind of hoping they had a dead contract of some sort around. Not that I would want a dead contract. Just that the thought of really committing to Kwame with a major contract scares me.

 

[Greg Ostertag]

Taking a quick look at Washington's roster and salaries for potential deals that would land Kwame here's what they have other than Jamison and Arenas:

Etan Thomas: $5.39 mill (5 years left)
Brendan Haywood: $4.00 mill(5 years left)
Jared Jeffries: $2.02 mill (1 year left plus qualifying offer year)
Jarvis Hayes: $2.01 mill (1 year left, plus team option year, plus qualifying offer year)

Except that Washington would never add any of those 3 guys, all whom will play big parts for their team next season. I don't see it being likely we land Kwame for Cat, unless we add in a 1st rounder or another decent/solid player

 

[Diabeticwonder]

Etan Thomas' deal is horrible and there's no way that GP takes that on. As for Haywood, Jeffries adn Hayes, I really don't see them giving any of those three up and I actually think that they may just slot Hayes into the starting SG spot and now go after a PF. With that said, it still looks as though Denver has to be the first option for a sign and trade with Cat.

 

[Bricklayer]

Except that Washington would never add any of those 3 guys, all whom will play big parts for their team next season. I don't see it being likely we land Kwame for Cat, unless we add in a 1st rounder or another decent/solid player

Well, not sure that Kwmae has that sort of value right now. Somebody out there may be willing to take a chance on him, but he was such an immature turd in the last year that I have a hard time seeing too many teams being willing to trade away major pieces from their team to get him. Maybe a solid bench guy and a youngster or something. But I doubt they'd do much better than Cat as far as talent goes.

P.S. Etan Thomas's deal isn't THAT bad. MLE I believe. I don't think Wash in unhappy at all with him as a rugged banger as a 6th/7th man.

 

[funkykingston]

I think the Wizards will probably give Jarvis Hayes a shot at the starting spot. He's not the defender that Hughes is, and he's much less versatile, but he is a much better shooter and Washington really needs outside shooting.

If Mobley was more of a playmaker I could see them having interest, but he's not. A Mobley/Arenas backcourt could set some records for bad shot selection.

 

[Purple Reign]

I think this is great news for the Kings. Mobley's options are beginning to dry out to the point that it is either Denver or places that he may not fit or he returns to the Kings at a reduced price and his agent and GP can wotk out a suitable trade. In my view, here are his potions and the players the Kings may be interested in:

1. Washington - Kwame Brown
2. Denver - Nene Hilario
3. Portland - Shareef Abdur Rahim
4. LA Clippers - Corey Magette

 

[whozit]

I'm not sure of the legal details, but since Washington put a qualifying offer of 6+ million are they not on the hook for that amount if he doesn't sign an offer elsewhere? If that is the case, a value has already been established for him and it would put it in the range for a straight up trade. Whether the Kings are willing to wager those type wages on a gamble is a different story.

 

[funkykingston]

Well, the Clippers can sign him outright so I would take them off the list as a potential sign-and-trade partner. In fact, I just hope LA re-signs Simmons and loses all interest in Mobley.

I'd love Nene, I'd be OK with SAR (hopefully with more moves coming) but I'm pretty wary of Brown. As I mentioned in another thread, I don't see the Wizards having a lot of interest in Mobley, but if they do, I'm not sure the Kings want to commit to a long term deal for Kwame. And I think he'll want a four or five year deal starting above the MLE in a sign-and-trade.

Hey, if for some reason the Wizards would take back Kenny Thomas, I'd gladly roll the dice. But if not, I'm not sure I want long term deals for both of them. Both have shown signs of being locker room problems neither undersized or underacheiving are the first word you want to think of when describing your teams frontcourt players.

Basically with any scenario where Kwame Brown comes to the Sacramento, you are banking on the offense and culture of the Kings to restart his career. Almost every player to come through has had great years here, but that's also mainly attributable to Adelman's offense and I'm not even sure he'll be back.

 

[Ryle]

I'm not sure of the legal details, but since Washington put a qualifying offer of 6+ million are they not on the hook for that amount if he doesn't sign an offer elsewhere? If that is the case, a value has already been established for him and it would put it in the range for a straight up trade. Whether the Kings are willing to wager those type wages on a gamble is a different story.

This is a no-brainer for the Kings. You could get a player back who is labeled as an underacheiver and is getting a fresh start and is also playing for a contract.

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

This is a no-brainer for the Kings. You could get a player back who is labeled as an underacheiver and is getting a fresh start and is also playing for a contract.

sure, its a fresh start, and him being upset and coming here from Wash could be equavalent to Chris Webber for all we know, even tho Webber was successful in college (more or less) and in the NBA(deffinetly). I'm just presenting the possiblity.

I don't think I'd want to take a chance on Kwame myself, but maybe GP will see a good side of Kwame if he talks to him or something.

 

[thesanityannex]

the only downside I can see to Kwame Brown is the small size of his hands.

 

[Diabeticwonder]

Personally, I would take Kwame over SAR at this point, but my first choice would be Nene. I just don't think that SAR is a legit PF whereas Kwame and Nene are.

 

[whozit]

This is a no-brainer for the Kings. You could get a player back who is labeled as an underacheiver and is getting a fresh start and is also playing for a contract.

He is a restricted free agent. If the Kings did a S&T for him, he would have to of already signed a contract. Playing for a contract would no longer be true, he would be under contract. He should have been playing for a contract last year.

 

[BobbyJ_for3!]

So he must have decided to play for a contract by goofing off and screwing up. Yeah, playing for a contract would be a factor if it were true, sure.....

 

[Ryle]

He is a restricted free agent. If the Kings did a S&T for him, he would have to of already signed a contract. Playing for a contract would no longer be true, he would be under contract. He should have been playing for a contract last year.

Not so sure about that. He is a restricted free agent because the Wizards tendered him a qualifying offer and if he signs it he's on the books for about 6.5 million next year and will then be unrestricted the following year.

 

[funkykingston]

If he signs it, he's staying with the Wizards. Unless it's via S&T, Washington can't move him immediately after signing him. If it IS a sign and trade, it won't be a one year deal. It will be a long term contract, and that's what worries me.

 

[PFFFT!!]

No thanks on Kwame. Im all for Nene and/or SAR

 

[Bricklayer]

Notes from the East Coast on Kwame and Shareef

Wasn't sure where to put this, so many kind of intertwined threads:


1) Kwame -- Knicks are still pursuing, and it seems the Wizards have stepped up their efforts to sign and trade him in the wake of losing Hughes, and are looking for an OG (as some on here predicted). According to the Times, if they were to deal with the Knicks, they would want Quentin richardson back (raised question marks for me because unless I'm mistaken Q can't be traded now for another 90 days (maybe 60)). Anyway, if that's true, then Cat would very much be in line with the sort of player and level of player that they would be looking for.

2) Shareef -- the Nets are still trying to get Shareef, and here was an interesting little factoid from the Post (not always reliable of course), but apparently Portland does not want to take any players back for him. The Nets are trying to use their $4.9mil trade exception and throw in a pick and maybe some cash. Would have to assume we would be in the same position, and I think we still have some trade exemptions ourselves. So no Corliss swaps or whatever, they just want to clear the cap room and get a pick or two, but we'd have to be willing to take on more salary, which would buck the three year trend around here.

 

[whozit]

.....

2) Shareef -- the Nets are still trying to get Shareef, and here was an interesting little factoid from the Post (not always reliable of course), but apparently Portland does not want to take any players back for him. The Nets are trying to use their $4.9mil trade exception and throw in a pick and maybe some cash. Would have to assume we would be in the same position, and I think we still have some trade exemptions ourselves. So no Corliss swaps or whatever, they just want to clear the cap room and get a pick or two, but we'd have to be willing to take on more salary, which would buck the three year trend around here.

Doesn't make sense. Not sure if you threw in cash if that amount could be added to the salary of the player, I have my doubts on that. If the mid-level is around $5.1 million why would he take less and do a favor for the team he has a reported problem with. I would be near certain that he could get the full mid-level from someone, even us (would probably mean bye-bye Maurice). Now I could see resigning House cheap and using the salary exemptions to get to a fair level (not sure about throwing away draft picks on him however). As a unrestricted FA, Portland only has as much power as Shareef is willing to give. That was one of my reasons for Corliss in that I thought his $6 million dollar salary was less than Shareef could command. That along with Corliss's contract only good for this coming year and the next at which point he could be a valuable ending contract.

 

[funkykingston]

How about Ostertag and a 1st rounder?

Given the 25% rule, I believe the Kings could start SAR at slightly above the MLE.

 

[T[MaC]]

On another note, Simmons is planning to sign with Milwaukee when possible (ESPN). Stupid Clippers

 

[nbrans]

2) Shareef -- the Nets are still trying to get Shareef, and here was an interesting little factoid from the Post (not always reliable of course), but apparently Portland does not want to take any players back for him. The Nets are trying to use their $4.9mil trade exception and throw in a pick and maybe some cash. Would have to assume we would be in the same position, and I think we still have some trade exemptions ourselves. So no Corliss swaps or whatever, they just want to clear the cap room and get a pick or two, but we'd have to be willing to take on more salary, which would buck the three year trend around here.

That was definitely the implication of the article, and I agree with your analysis, but it may be possible that Portland just doesn't want any of the Nets' players in return for Shareef. I really doubt the Blazers would take on Jacque Vaughn or Ron Mercer plus the trade exception just to get Shareef more money. My hope still is the Kings actually have a player the Blazers would take in a S&T (Corliss, Kenny Thomas). It seems unlikely to me that the Blazers would just let a talent like Shareef go without getting something of value in return.

This is probably wishful thinking on my part.

 

[Entity]

We were all fine with Mobley just walking away. Now that there is a chance to get Something for him we are being picky. I say we take what we can get for Cuttino if we can unless its of no use to us. I think Either NeNe or Kwame would be a great addition. Both of them are young and could learn alot in a short period of time since they already have the basics. If we land either of these young guys i will not complain. Denver seems dead set against giving up NeNe and I have a feeling that Kwame will be a changed man in our system in Sacramento. I would also take Eddie Griffin if all fails with the youngsters. Eddie has some issues but, who doesn't

 

[captain bill]

I saw a blurb somewhere saying that Mobley's agent was actively looking for a sign and trade with Denver, but that the Nuggets didn't want to part with Nene so it wasn't working well. Hopefully something will eventually come out of Mobley.

The Knicks pursuing Kwame is amusing. Building a core of Kwame Brown and Jerome James would be quite interesting.

 

[Bricklayer]

Further notes from NY regarding Kwame:

Accroding to the Post this morning (again, not always reliable), guys being offered for Kwame right now include James Posey, Fred Jones, Caron Butler. So Mobley would fit right into that level of player (maybe a little better, but a little older too), but would not necessarily be the guy they'd choose.