Marty Mac: Trading Bibby would miss the point

[VF21]

http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/276348.html

Marty Mac's World: Trading Bibby would miss the point
By Martin McNeal - Bee Columnist
Published 12:00 am PDT Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C2

We keep hearing Kings guard Mike Bibby's name in rumored trades, but there seems to be a major missing component in return for the veteran point guard.

If I'm new head coach Reggie Theus, Bibby goes nowhere until there is a capable point guard slated to be on the roster on opening night. Right now, there wouldn't be one if Bibby is traded.

The Kings clearly are not throwing in the season since they decided to sign free-agent forward Mikki Moore to a three-year deal over the weekend. However, to even consider beginning the season at the point with undrafted rookie Mustafa Shakur or the currently unsigned Ronnie Price or a combination of any other players such as Francisco García and Kevin Martin is tantamount to saying the Kings are looking for a lottery pick.

If that's what they are doing, that process should have begun during the past two months of last season when the draft was considered one of the strongest in years. As for signing Moore, it shows basketball president Geoff Petrie has not lost his mind.

The entire free world has known for awhile now that the Kings needed length and athleticism in the frontcourt. Moore brings those qualities and quickness, but he's never been a big rebounder.

However, Moore made a league-leading 60.9 percent of his field-goal attempts last season with the New Jersey Nets. What the Kings acquired was an excellent mid-range jump shooter, who never has blocked shots or rebounded well. He grabbed double-figure rebounds three times in 79 games last season.

Moore will run the floor hard and finish shots around the basket. What the Kings and the rest of the league will find out is if Moore can do his thing just as well without Jason Kidd as with him.

Maybe we'll even see how Bibby and Moore work together.

Artest is really, really something new

Listening to, and watching the Kings' talented -- yet troubled -- swingman Ron Artest brings to mind a few trivia questions.

Question: Who else can be laying back with his feet up on a press table and seconds later become embroiled in one of the biggest brawls in U.S. sports history?

Answer: That was Artest, while a member of the Indiana Pacers, who then was hit with a cup of beer, responded by going into the stands in Auburn Hills, Mich., in November 2004 and touched off what has become known as "Malice at the Palace" (of Auburn Hills).

Question: What other player would assess the Kings' roster in its current state, even at a comedy show with a winning prize of $1 million, and say, "Sacramento is going to win the title?"

Answer: What title? Answer No. 2: When do your sessions begin again?

Question: Who can consistently go to schools to talk to kids, return to his own neighborhood to conduct annual tournaments and even take a trip to Kenya to learn more about himself and his history -- and still be seen as one of the bad boys of sports?

Answer: Artest, the dribbling contradiction.

About the writer: The Bee's Martin McNeal can be reached at mmcneal@sacbee.com.

 

[vytzka]

Question: What other player would assess the Kings' roster in its current state, even at a comedy show with a winning prize of $1 million, and say, "Sacramento is going to win the title?"

Answer: What title? Answer No. 2: When do your sessions begin again?

Sad, but priceless

 

[Bricklayer]

Marty's columns continue to lurch and wobble, but I think the first third of it was trying to say the Kings must still be in win now mode, since if we were trying to rebuild we would have either made trades at the deadline, or trades to get extra picks in the draft, and we certainly wouldn't have signed a 32 yr old journeyman to the MLE. And that accordingly, since we are not in a rebuild and are actually still trying to win now/rebuild on the fly, that we cannot trade Bibby either.

Which, if it were not for the enormous number of rumors that that has not been our plan, would just be oh so nifty.

 

[Troy]

Artest is his own worst enemy...he's an enthusiastic/emotional kid in a man's body. I love his passion for the game and his wanting to win at any cost. We just aren't that team and being in the small community environment we are in Sac, I don't see this as a happy marriage down the road.

I also hope we don't trade Artest for pennies on the dollar because he definately earns his pay check unlike Bibby and Miller last year and then adds a whole lot more good and bad!

 

[Bricklayer]

Artest is his own worst enemy...he's an enthusiastic/emotional kid in a man's body. I love his passion for the game and his wanting to win at any cost. We just aren't that team and being in the small community environment we are in Sac, I don't see this as a happy marriage down the road.

I also hope we don't trade Artest for pennies on the dollar because he definately earns his pay check unlike Bibby and Miller last year and then adds a whole lot more good and bad!

If we don't trade him for pennies on the dollar then we either lose him for nothing on the dollar or get hitched to him permanently, which is roughly as wise as when Carmen Electra decided to marry Rodman.

We do not need anymore drama around here. No incidents. No I'm sowwys. L.A. and New York thrive on drama, let them enjoy the spectacle.

 

[bajaden]

Sadly, Artest see's things as he wants them to be, and not as they are. A childs vision. He see's himself as a good guy, but doesn't always act the part. He wants to be a King forever, probably beleives it when he say's it, and in the next breath wouldn't mind be traded to the Knicks.

As a teammate, I would think it hard to play with someone as scattered as Artest. Who knows? He may remain an eternal child, or perhaps, reach adulthood when his playing days are over. He needs a tough coach, a father figure, someone he respects. If he remains with the KIngs this year, lets hope we have one....

 

[nbrans]

So basically, Marty is saying we're trying to win now and that that's a good thing?

When do Marty's sessions begin again?

 

[Kingster]

"Marty Mac's World: Trading Bibby would miss the point"

Unfortunately, I'm left wondering what McNeil's point actually is...

I guess he's all in favor for fighting for that all-important 8th playoff spot, hugh?

 

[kingsfan101]

So basically, Marty is saying we're trying to win now and that that's a good thing?

When do Marty's sessions begin again?

I think what he is saying is that the organization is trying to win, and at least not throwing the season. If so, trading Bibby without getting a decent PG back is pointless.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I think what he is saying is that the organization is trying to win, and at least not throwing the season. If so, trading Bibby without getting a decent PG back is pointless.

Maybe they're not trying to win now and they just had a temporary lapse of insanity with the Moore signing.

 

[bibbinator]

I for one will be very disappointed if they don't intend to win at least some games.

If they don't make at least 15 wins next season I'm done.

 

[LPKingsFan]

So basically, Marty is saying we're trying to win now and that that's a good thing?

When do Marty's sessions begin again?

"Marty Mac's World: Trading Bibby would miss the point"

Unfortunately, I'm left wondering what McNeil's point actually is...

I guess he's all in favor for fighting for that all-important 8th playoff spot, hugh?

Agree here. What's with the Bee lovefest lately? Pretty soon Breton will be saying how great the Maloofs are too. OK, maybe not that far...

 

[CruzDude]

Message here is: Kings need a starting NBA point guard IF there is no Bibby.

But if there is a Bibby come November 1st, can there also be a Ron Ron?? That is the real tough question. I think not.

If no Ron Ron then who generates steals, disrupts offenses, pesters the other leading scorers into doing what they don't want and hustles his butt off? Nobody we've seen play last year on the Kings.

Can Cisco get there? Probably. But when? Next year maybe. KMart? Nope, he is the main offense at the 2 guard. Not John Salmons. Who then? hmmm.

Granted Artest was not a rebounding SF. In fact he plays more like a short PF (but we have 2 more of those already!! oh yeah....). But then we didn't have a rebounding anybody last year (or two). Mikki Moore does that you say? But he plays Brad's position and Brad, at $13M is not on anybodys radar.

Our new Big JWill? A rebounding fool, hustles his butt off but whose offense is 98% within 6 ft of the basket.

SAR and KT I'm afraid have no role on the new Team Theus. But gotta be careful, KT has a New Mexico connection..........

So, with a GOOD point guard who can play 32 min/game, get 8-10 assists and 10-15 points with still get 2-4 steals a game, that guy makes the others better.

And if somebody can cut down on 50% to 75% of the layup drills the other teams have with the Kings d (little "D"), well...... good things will happen sooner than later. Defense creates steals and turnovers which creates the up and down game it sounds like TT wants.