K-Mart / Cisco Analysis

[SacTownKid]

Bonzi and Artest may be a very good combo, but then again, maybe it isn't. Maybe Kevin Martin compliments Ron more than Bonzi would. Maybe Ron and Bonzi is a perfect combo. Time will tell. But time is running out. Petrie and the Maloofs have to do something one way or the other by the deadline.

If Bonzi could net us a big guy that can help in the rebounding/shotblocking department then maybe things look a little different.

 

[yanon]

But the problem is that the current Kings line-up is not complete, they are still not strong in the front court. To be a serious contender, they need to trade some of the marketable Kings players for a strong and quality big man. If they can get the quality big man that I talked about by trading KT and Corliss, then the Maloofs should keep Bonzi but that is not going happen. Other teams will want qualilty players in return for their big man.

 

[Bricklayer]

But the problem is that the current Kings line-up is not complete, they are still not strong in the front court. To be a serious contender, they need to trade some of the marketable Kings players for a strong and quality big man. If they can get the quality big man that I talked about by trading KT and Corliss, then the Maloofs should keep Bonzi but that is not going happen. Other teams will want qualilty players in return for their big man.

Reef too.

But yes, in order to get an impact player, you either have to get lucky with Reef, use Bonzi, or hope that some idiot will trade you a frontcourt stud for the Philly three. Oh wait...

 

[yanon]

Reef is a relative bargain. He would be a very valuable sixth man coming off the bench since he can score and back up our shallow front court.

Bonzi and KT or Corliss for Etan Thomas and other players (prefer a backup point guard) is the trade I want.

 

[Bricklayer]

Reef is a relative bargain. He would be a very valuable sixth man coming off the bench since he can score and back up our shallow front court.

Bonzi and KT or Corliss for Etan Thomas and other players (prefer a backup point guard) is the trade I want.

Etan is nto goingto turn things around. I like him, but he is not better than a slightly bigger Brian Skinner. That's not who you burn up Bonzi for.

As for Reef -- he might be able to be a 6th man, but I don't think that's what he wants, and unless you manage to bring in a truly exceptionsal stuf in front of him, he's not the 6th man, he's the starter. And even if you do find that stud, he's still what he is -- pure scorer. 2/3 of yoour frontcourt still has reboudning/size issues. And at 25mpg he's no longer such a great bargain.

All of which does not say he has to go, but as one of the players being theoretically replaced he is certainly right up there, and his very "bargain" status makes him a much more valuable trading piece than if he was still working on his old $12mil contract.

And of course if you combine the two guys, maybe, just maybe, you can work your way into the top level of players out there if somebody is looking to break up a larger contract.

 

[ParniValjak]

Etan is nto goingto turn things around. I like him, but he is not better than a slightly bigger Brian Skinner. That's not who you burn up Bonzi for.

As for Reef -- he might be able to be a 6th man, but I don't think that's what he wants, and unless you manage to bring in a truly exceptionsal stuf in front of him, he's not the 6th man, he's the starter. And even if you do find that stud, he's still what he is -- pure scorer. 2/3 of yoour frontcourt still has reboudning/size issues. And at 25mpg he's no longer such a great bargain.

All of which does not say he has to go, but as one of the players being theoretically replaced he is certainly right up there, and his very "bargain" status makes him a much more valuable trading piece than if he was still working on his old $12mil contract.

And of course if you combine the two guys, maybe, just maybe, you can work your way into the top level of players out there if somebody is looking to break up a larger contract.

The only question is, would the Maloofs take on a bigger contract. Lets face it, over the last couple of years they have become serial tight arses who would like to put a contender on the floor but don't want to pay luxury tax.

Fact is that in today's NBA is almost impossible to build a contender by staying under the luxury tax.

I do agree with you though that Reef is our most tradeable asset at the moment and couple with Bonzi, might just get us that front court player we really need.

 

[yanon]

Brick,

You have big dreams. I never thought about trading both SAR and Bonzi for a true star-level low post big man but such a trade force the Maloofs to take on huge luxury taxes. The Maloofs will more likely seek for a trade that brings upgrade in the frontcourt while lower the total team salary in the near future. For example, trading Bonzi and KT for a good power forward plus a player with soon to expire contract will probably work for the Maloofs. Granted the Kings will not be a sure-fire title contender like they would be by trading for a young star-level powerforward but it makes financial sense for the team and it is easier to find a trading partner for such a trade. Imagine a solid near-star level 1 through 6 line-up might turn the Kings into a blue-collar title contender much like the Pistons.

 

[4cwebb]

The Maloofs WILL pay the luxury tax if it gets the Kings back to elite status. They've already made the BIG gamble by bringing Artest to the Kings. They're not going to all of a sudden jeopardize their investment by going cheaper.

I hope that your assessment is right. I'm afraid that the Maloofs are tax averse now that they've tried the whole "buy a title" routine and it failed (albeit just barely).

And, as others mentioned, it seems to me that moving Reef and Bonzi for a starting PF whose best attributes are rebounding and defense is the way to go at this point. Too bad Reggie Evans isn't 6'10", mainly b/c acquiring him would probably only take Reef at this point (since he's in reality 6'8"). Still would've liked to seen the Kwame Brown experience unfold in Sacto.

 

[Bricklayer]

Brick,

You have big dreams. I never thought about trading both SAR and Bonzi for a true star-level low post big man but such a trade force the Maloofs to take on huge luxury taxes. The Maloofs will more likely seek for a trade that brings upgrade in the frontcourt while lower the total team salary in the near future. For example, trading Bonzi and KT for a good power forward plus a player with soon to expire contract will probably work for the Maloofs. Granted the Kings will not be a sure-fire title contender like they would be by trading for a young star-level powerforward but it makes financial sense for the team and it is easier to find a trading partner for such a trade. Imagine a solid near-star level 1 through 6 line-up might turn the Kings into a blue-collar title contender much like the Pistons.

But no it wouldn't cost us any more tax. People keep on saying that, but you have to trade salary for salary, so if we're not paying tax now (and we're not) then merely trading two smaller salaries for one equivalent larger salary doesn't change the game much. You haven't gained any salary at all, just consolidated it.

In any case, Bonzi's been hurt but people quickly forget that he was the single best player on our roster for the first two months, better than Bibby, Peja, Miller, SAR any of them. His value may not be quite that high, but he, and possibly SAR, represent our single best chances to go get the stud or studs we need up front to be anything more than mediocre. If we blow them for a pile of bench fodder ala Webb, what do we have? Bonzi is 15 and 8 (that last number the biggest thing I have seen out of a true guard in a long long time). He is somebody's starter. Reef is 16 and 6 (preinjury), and while I think his career may be fading, he is still some team's starter. And if I am going to move those guys, I want back a guy who can put up equivalent (but different) numbers, and either be a starter or at least a top 6th man.

These trades may represent our last real chance to snag that player with people who may be expendable. After that you either have to sucker somebody into taking our spare parts, or you have to start cutting into people we don't have ready replacements for. And if we do make a run at the playoffs here, we actually ironically may blow our chance to get that guy in the draft either.

 

[kgrichwine]

The Maloofs WILL pay the luxury tax if it gets the Kings back to elite status. They've already made the BIG gamble by bringing Artest to the Kings. They're not going to all of a sudden jeopardize their investment by going cheaper.

This looks like wishfull thinking to me. Haven't the Malloofs been going cheap for several years now? I don't even want to go down the road with all the talent that has run through the Kings fingers in the name of saving money. They have and will jeopardize OUR investment IMHO.

 

[yanon]

Brick,

Bonzi salary comes off the book after this year. So, the only trade that wouldn't cost the Maloofs more luxury tax is trading KT and SAR who are already signed. If using Bonzi and SAR's salary for that new players, who are probably signed to long contract, then the Kings will still have KT's bad contract and will be paying luxury tax for many years.

So, what I think is more sensible for this team is get someone (who is good but costs slightly more than Bonzi) plus another player with an expiring contract in a deal for Bonzi plus either KT or SAR.

 

[Bricklayer]

Brick,

Bonzi salary comes off the book after this year. So, the only trade that wouldn't cost the Maloofs more luxury tax is trading KT and SAR who are already signed. If using Bonzi and SAR's salary for that new players, who are probably signed to long contract, then the Kings will still have KT's bad contract and will be paying luxury tax for many years.

So, what I think is more sensible for this team is get someone (who is good but costs slightly more than Bonzi) plus another player with an expiring contract in a deal for Bonzi plus either KT or SAR.

No, I think there's some misunderstanding somewhere:

a) right now, today, we are not paying luxury tax

b) that's with Bonzi and Reef together earning $13mil +

c) if we kept both Bonzi and Reef next year and paid Bonzi the same amount he is earning this year, then next year Bonzi and Reef would still cost $13 mil (slightly more because of salary advances), and we STILL would not be over the tax threshold.

d) and accordingly, if we traded the two of them for one player who was earnign $13mil (or multiple ones earning $13 mil) we would not be over the tax threshold next year either.

e) Basically there is NO way for us to EVER end up paying the luxury tax ina Bonzi/Reef type trade unless we somehow take back considerably more salary than we trade away. Bonzi coming off the books has absolutely no effect on our luxury tax situation -- we don't pay tax with him, nor do we pay tax wihtout him. Eitehr way we're still below the approx $60 mil cutoff.