LPKingsFan
All-Star
Author's note: sorry this is so long, but it's been kicking around in my mind for a couple weeks now.
2010. Go to nearly any team out there not currently contending, and the summer of 2010 is thrown out there as the magic moment when things will get better. Don't get me wrong, the free agent class of 2010 could be one of the best ever. LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Amare, Dirk, Pierce, Manu, Johnson... I could go on, but you know the list already.
Now, the problem is, every team is gunning for 2010. And when you're going up against the major markets like New York or destinations like Miami, Sacramento is not going to win. Not to mention that home town teams can offer more $$/years. Maybe Nash and Jermaine will age sooner rather than later, and Amare and Bosh will look for greener pastures. Maybe.
No, Sacramento will in all likelihood not land one of the big names three years from now. The sooner we realize that, the better. But, cap space is always useful for other things--notice how the Clips got Camby for free, and the Sonics got three first rounders for being the dumpee, then dumper, of Kurt Thomas. Cap space is handy.
But I think we could and should get a head start on the competition. Through just a few moves, a few of which have already been discussed at length, we could get under the cap NEXT summer and spend then if the right guys are available, before half the league has cap space and is competing with us. So here's the plan:
1. Trade Artest and Thomas for Odom. Now I know this isn't a "true rebuilding move" but I still say it's the right one. It's good value for Artest, which, Lord knows, isn't easy to come by. Lamar's an expiring at worst, and a deadline-deal for picks, prospects and other expirings at best. You never know.
2. Deal Miller as soon as possible. Start Hawes while Miller's suspended, and see how he does. In all likelihood, he'll be close enough, and if not, you can start Moore at the 5 and Odom at the 4. But there should be a decent number of teams--New Jersey (apparently interested in Camby?), Orlando, Utah, Chicago, Washington, to name a few--who could be interested in Miller and have some expirings to work with. If we can get picks and prospects, even better.
3. Politely ask SAR to retire. Or if he doesn't, and proves he can play, ship him somewhere for an expiring. I feel like either way we can win here.
Here's your main lineup, minus any expirings or prospects picked up along the way:
Hawes/Moore
Odom/Thompson/Williams
Salmons/Garcia
Martin/Douby
Beno/Singletary
Fast forward to next summer. Let's say we have two 1st rounders (one high and one mid/late). That's about $5 million. Add that to the salaries of Martin, Beno, Salmons, Hawes, and Thompson, and you're sitting at around $30 million. Want to retain Cisco, Douby and Sheldon? Sheldon's a team option at a little over $4 million, Douby at $2, and I wouldn't offer Cisco much more than a deal starting at $4 million/year. Then you're at $40 million. Hopefully you've also ditched Moore for expirings, but if not, you can waive him and he only counts for $2.5 million or so, right?
So there you are. Assuming the cap is about the same as this year, that's some $16-18 million in cap space. Now, who to use it on?
There are a number of scenarios that could pop up. Boozer could opt out. Kobe too
Josh Smith, Okafor and Deng could all sign the one year qualifiying offer this summer if they're unhappy with the offers they get while restricted. And, in all likelihood, the market might not be much better than this summer, so we could be major players. Or, if nothing works out, we could settle for a more minor deal, sit on the cap room, and make a play in 2010 too.
All in all, I think making a play for 2009 makes sense. There will be less competition for free agents, and dealing these contracts hastens the rebuilding. Finally, it's a very Petrie like thing to do: aim for one thing, then swoop in for another.
2010. Go to nearly any team out there not currently contending, and the summer of 2010 is thrown out there as the magic moment when things will get better. Don't get me wrong, the free agent class of 2010 could be one of the best ever. LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Amare, Dirk, Pierce, Manu, Johnson... I could go on, but you know the list already.
Now, the problem is, every team is gunning for 2010. And when you're going up against the major markets like New York or destinations like Miami, Sacramento is not going to win. Not to mention that home town teams can offer more $$/years. Maybe Nash and Jermaine will age sooner rather than later, and Amare and Bosh will look for greener pastures. Maybe.
No, Sacramento will in all likelihood not land one of the big names three years from now. The sooner we realize that, the better. But, cap space is always useful for other things--notice how the Clips got Camby for free, and the Sonics got three first rounders for being the dumpee, then dumper, of Kurt Thomas. Cap space is handy.
But I think we could and should get a head start on the competition. Through just a few moves, a few of which have already been discussed at length, we could get under the cap NEXT summer and spend then if the right guys are available, before half the league has cap space and is competing with us. So here's the plan:
1. Trade Artest and Thomas for Odom. Now I know this isn't a "true rebuilding move" but I still say it's the right one. It's good value for Artest, which, Lord knows, isn't easy to come by. Lamar's an expiring at worst, and a deadline-deal for picks, prospects and other expirings at best. You never know.
2. Deal Miller as soon as possible. Start Hawes while Miller's suspended, and see how he does. In all likelihood, he'll be close enough, and if not, you can start Moore at the 5 and Odom at the 4. But there should be a decent number of teams--New Jersey (apparently interested in Camby?), Orlando, Utah, Chicago, Washington, to name a few--who could be interested in Miller and have some expirings to work with. If we can get picks and prospects, even better.
3. Politely ask SAR to retire. Or if he doesn't, and proves he can play, ship him somewhere for an expiring. I feel like either way we can win here.
Here's your main lineup, minus any expirings or prospects picked up along the way:
Hawes/Moore
Odom/Thompson/Williams
Salmons/Garcia
Martin/Douby
Beno/Singletary
Fast forward to next summer. Let's say we have two 1st rounders (one high and one mid/late). That's about $5 million. Add that to the salaries of Martin, Beno, Salmons, Hawes, and Thompson, and you're sitting at around $30 million. Want to retain Cisco, Douby and Sheldon? Sheldon's a team option at a little over $4 million, Douby at $2, and I wouldn't offer Cisco much more than a deal starting at $4 million/year. Then you're at $40 million. Hopefully you've also ditched Moore for expirings, but if not, you can waive him and he only counts for $2.5 million or so, right?
So there you are. Assuming the cap is about the same as this year, that's some $16-18 million in cap space. Now, who to use it on?
There are a number of scenarios that could pop up. Boozer could opt out. Kobe too
Josh Smith, Okafor and Deng could all sign the one year qualifiying offer this summer if they're unhappy with the offers they get while restricted. And, in all likelihood, the market might not be much better than this summer, so we could be major players. Or, if nothing works out, we could settle for a more minor deal, sit on the cap room, and make a play in 2010 too. All in all, I think making a play for 2009 makes sense. There will be less competition for free agents, and dealing these contracts hastens the rebuilding. Finally, it's a very Petrie like thing to do: aim for one thing, then swoop in for another.
