Kings trade Opens Door for Martin and Evans

[kingsofnba]

don't think that petrie didn't see the writing on the wall... DC has been a great player and person for the kings the last 4 1/2 years and we will all miss him... but he has been slowed by injury and age (will be 35 years old come playoffs)... petrie knew that christie may not be his starting shooting guard by next year and couldn't justify paying him 8.25 mil to come off the bench...

petrie liked what he saw in Martin and Evans enough to trade away one of his most veratile veterans, knowing full well that one of them would be starting over DC by next year... now mobley will help the kings this year, but will opt out of his contract at the end of this year and become a free agent... unless he blows the kings management minds with his play over the next few months, expect petrie to let mobley walk as a free agent... i can't see the maloofs giving mobley 7-8mil a year, unless he's the key to them winning a championship this year...

otherwise, expect mobley to be a rental for the playoff push and for martin or evans to be our starting shooting guard by next year.. this will open up salary space to resign peja to more money and keep him in sacto...

GO KINGS!!!

 

[Bricklayer]

That is a possible scenario. But there are a number of problems.

First, we have to be REALLY sure that one of the kids can handle the job full time. At least if we're planning on continuing to contend. The fact of the matter is that we were not good enough so far this year, and our top 4 guys (Webb, Peja, Bibby, Miller) are probably all about as good as they will ever be. So we have to actually get BETTER at OG than we have been in order to be serious contenders.

Second, Mobley has a player option, so its really up to him, not us, whether he returns or not.

Third, its still unclear whether Peja is going to want to return or not himself. Its also unclear whether he's really the sort of guy that is worth a max deal or not. Max deals are for superstars who lead you, and you can't afford to drop one on a one-dimensional guy who disappears every year in the playoffs or you will never have a shot at a title. Peja still has to prove he's worth that kind of money.

Fourth, the Bobby Jackson factor -- Doug was not the only aging/injury prone backcourt veteran who we may have to replace. And Mobley might be the sort of guy who could provide some of that same punch as a 6th man. Certainly we aren't going to be able to get another Bobby at his bargain basement contract. The only way around that is if we decide that we are going to actually commit to BOTH Evans and Martin to replace Doug AND Bobby. But now you're really stretching things. From Doug/Bobby to Maurice Evans and Kevin Martin as an upgrade to a chamipnship contender? Yikes.

This move cerainly gives us the flexibility to take your approach if things fall in place. But a lot has to go right for letting Mobley just walk to be a reasonable option. I fear that move because it is NOT basketball related, but is Maloof penny-pinching related. I can't really ask those guys to dish out untold millions a year to win, but the fact is if they don't we might never pull it off.

 

[MotorCityKingsFan]

How about Matt Barnes at SF next year if Peja's not the guy??? Bobby is injure-prone now. We can't afford to sign him next year either. He was a great bench player, but he wants to be a starter, too. I'm not mad at all about this trade. This would clear the way for Michael Redd!!!!

 

[Bricklayer]

How about Matt Barnes at SF next year if Peja's not the guy??? Bobby is injure-prone now. We can't afford to sign him next year either. He was a great bench player, but he wants to be a starter, too. I'm not mad at all about this trade. This would clear the way for Michael Redd!!!!

I like Matt, but having him move int ot replace Peja would such a titanic drop off in talent that I don't think there's anyway we could make up for it with any combination of other players at the other positions.

Think Redd's a free agent at the end of the year + Milwaulkee is worried because he's been making moon eyes at Cleveland (tell me next time you hear that!) and Lebron. Pretty sure that you can't sign and trade someone in exchange for the other team signing and trading one of their gusy, so the only way we could get him is via trade or signing him ot an exception (whihc obviously is not going to happen). So hard to see how we would get Redd at this point via Mobley unless I am missing something.

 

[starks]

Brick, a max deal for peja....how much it could be $$$$?...and how many years?

 

[funkykingston]

Mobley vs Evans and Martin

I hope RA sticks to his comments about Kevin and Maurice having earned PT. I would hate to see Mobley come in and watch those two get relegated to the bench. I'm sure he has his reasons, but Adelman has a track record of taking guys who were getting regular minutes and inexplicably fading them into the background. Darrick Martin, Tony Delk, Hido, Massenburg and others have gone from contributors to deep bench with little to no explanation. Often times, the players themselves have remarked that they weren't clear why the change was made.

I will wait to see how Mobley fits in with the Kings, but he wasn't a favorite of mine previously. I have often remarked that Orlando (and before that Houston) had the backcourt with the lowest combined Bball IQ in the NBA. And I don't see Mobley taking less shots, especially in this offense.

One positive is that Mobley IS a guy who can create his own shot, which is something that DC certainly couldn't. In fact only Bibby can consistently create a good shot for himself at any given time. Cat is also a clutch shooter, which is nice. It will prevent teams from keying on Bibby. And even though Webb has hit some this year, it will hopefully stop him from feeling that he absolutely has to launch shots late in games.

I like this deal because of its flexibility. If Mobley doesn't fit in he can opt out and the Maloofs can resign Bobby (and next offseason Peja) without fear of the luxury tax. And if he does find his niche with this team, then the Kings just got a player 5 years younger who can hit big shots for a guy past his prime who was due to make quite a bit of money next season.

But either way I'll miss Doug.