Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
An interesting sidelight to the playoffs this year if you are a Kings fan has been watching various teams suffer disappointments which may very well put them in the market for the sort of veteran junk that I hope to god we are peddling this offseason. Always easiest to deal with a disappointed team looking to make moves:
My list:
1) Lakers -- Kobe is sqawking very loudly about how he wants to win NOW, wants them to build a contender NOW, and while dealing with the Lakers, in particular to give them the tools to win NOW is always tricky, they have a draft pick, Bynum, Farmar and a handful of other young guys that mayeb just maybe could be ont eh market for veteran help.
2) Rockets -- clearly need a PG and a PF, and just as clearly have no use for a raw young guy. They are going to want in their prime vets, as they did last year when they nabbed Battier. Unfortunately our PFs suck, but you never know, the Rockets are maybe one of two or theree teams in even worse shape there than us. And given their style of play, maybe you could convicne them that Brad would complete the slowest lineup in the league as a PF. And at PG, well, defense aside, Rafer <<<< Bibby. They have a low pick, various middling young OGs, and not much else.
3) Miami -- the question in Miami will be whether Riles thinks the Wade/Shaq core has another run in it with the right surrounding players. The real interesting thing is that they may have already had some interest in two or three of our major players (Bibby, Artest, Reef) and happen to have holes opening up on their roster at precisely SF and PG. They have a middle pick and an interesting kid at SF (Dorell Wright).
4) Washington -- well, their season was scuttled by injury of course. But this looks like the offseason where they clearly finally have to clean up that brawling center duo of Etan Thomas and Haywood. Supposedly Haywood's nameplate was gone from his locker almost as soon as the season ended.
5) Mavs -- you never know down in Cuban land. He says he's going tokeep it together, but its hard to imagine them passing up on an extra guy to strengthen/freshen the squad after that debacle.
6) Nuggets -- are entering salary hell now and may be looking to shed salaries. Unfortunately whatever shot there was at Nene appears gone now with him blossoming, and they effectively might become a competitor of ours by trying to shed various veteran contracts (Najera, Evans, maybe Camby) themselves.
7) Suns -- are also due to enter salary hell next season with big extensions for Diaw and Barbossa kicking in. Figure something has to give there, win or lose for them. Might be a chance at a deal, maybe, if we can take back a little more salary than we give up.
8) Magic -- actually the biggest change in Magicland may be their coach. But they have openings at both OG and SF, and may even be looking to upgrade the PG spot. Of course they are still young, and would be unlikely to take our stodgy old vets in return. In fact the most likely Kings guy who might end up there might be Rick Adelman, who could be the ideal coach to take that squad to the next level.
9) Timberwolves -- and of course this all depends on what they plan to do with KG. Reports vary of course. The owner saying no, now Mo Evans, a friend of KGs, apparently parroting for him and saying he wants out. But if they ARE going to keep him, and have any chance at it being a happy marriage, you would think they would just HAVE to make moves to win now, as in right now, while KG still has some gas left. They have a good pick, Randy Foye, and more bad contracts than you could shake your hat at. Bibby or Brad could be possibilities.
10) Clippers -- disappointed, and pissed off Brand in the process, who made remarks about only wanting people who were going to leave it on the floor out there next year. Again, both Ron and Mike have been linked there in the past. Unfortunately Livingston is no longer a consideration of course, Kaman is a ? Do have a late lottery pick. Also still have a cheap owner, so who knows.
My list:
1) Lakers -- Kobe is sqawking very loudly about how he wants to win NOW, wants them to build a contender NOW, and while dealing with the Lakers, in particular to give them the tools to win NOW is always tricky, they have a draft pick, Bynum, Farmar and a handful of other young guys that mayeb just maybe could be ont eh market for veteran help.
2) Rockets -- clearly need a PG and a PF, and just as clearly have no use for a raw young guy. They are going to want in their prime vets, as they did last year when they nabbed Battier. Unfortunately our PFs suck, but you never know, the Rockets are maybe one of two or theree teams in even worse shape there than us. And given their style of play, maybe you could convicne them that Brad would complete the slowest lineup in the league as a PF. And at PG, well, defense aside, Rafer <<<< Bibby. They have a low pick, various middling young OGs, and not much else.
3) Miami -- the question in Miami will be whether Riles thinks the Wade/Shaq core has another run in it with the right surrounding players. The real interesting thing is that they may have already had some interest in two or three of our major players (Bibby, Artest, Reef) and happen to have holes opening up on their roster at precisely SF and PG. They have a middle pick and an interesting kid at SF (Dorell Wright).
4) Washington -- well, their season was scuttled by injury of course. But this looks like the offseason where they clearly finally have to clean up that brawling center duo of Etan Thomas and Haywood. Supposedly Haywood's nameplate was gone from his locker almost as soon as the season ended.
5) Mavs -- you never know down in Cuban land. He says he's going tokeep it together, but its hard to imagine them passing up on an extra guy to strengthen/freshen the squad after that debacle.
6) Nuggets -- are entering salary hell now and may be looking to shed salaries. Unfortunately whatever shot there was at Nene appears gone now with him blossoming, and they effectively might become a competitor of ours by trying to shed various veteran contracts (Najera, Evans, maybe Camby) themselves.
7) Suns -- are also due to enter salary hell next season with big extensions for Diaw and Barbossa kicking in. Figure something has to give there, win or lose for them. Might be a chance at a deal, maybe, if we can take back a little more salary than we give up.
8) Magic -- actually the biggest change in Magicland may be their coach. But they have openings at both OG and SF, and may even be looking to upgrade the PG spot. Of course they are still young, and would be unlikely to take our stodgy old vets in return. In fact the most likely Kings guy who might end up there might be Rick Adelman, who could be the ideal coach to take that squad to the next level.
9) Timberwolves -- and of course this all depends on what they plan to do with KG. Reports vary of course. The owner saying no, now Mo Evans, a friend of KGs, apparently parroting for him and saying he wants out. But if they ARE going to keep him, and have any chance at it being a happy marriage, you would think they would just HAVE to make moves to win now, as in right now, while KG still has some gas left. They have a good pick, Randy Foye, and more bad contracts than you could shake your hat at. Bibby or Brad could be possibilities.
10) Clippers -- disappointed, and pissed off Brand in the process, who made remarks about only wanting people who were going to leave it on the floor out there next year. Again, both Ron and Mike have been linked there in the past. Unfortunately Livingston is no longer a consideration of course, Kaman is a ? Do have a late lottery pick. Also still have a cheap owner, so who knows.
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