Geoff Petrie got into the trade game in a really big way today, clearing cap space and making it more than abundantly clear that we're not a team in decline any longer.
Gone are Brad Miller, John Salmons, Quincy Douby, Mikki Moore, Shelden Williams, Bobby Brown and Sam Cassell. (Oh Sam, we hardly knew ye.)
Coming into town are Calvin Booth, Drew Gooden, Cedric Simmons, Ike Diogu, Andres Nocioni, Rashad McCants and Will Solomon.
Bricklayer has done a great job of summarizing the day's activities in his
official thread.
For a long time, people have bemoaned our lack of activity in the trade arena. They've wailed and cried about our lack of aggressiveness in getting rid of bloated contracts and aging players. They've demanded more minutes for the kids and criticized guys like Mikki Moore for taking away precious playing time.
That all changed today...
It's like 1998 again. Geoff Petrie has reloaded and he's ready to start hunting. I'm not sure who he's got his sights set on, but I'm pretty sure he's not coming back empty-handed.
After April 16, we'll have 8 players committed to the roster for 2010. That means we'll be able to look at the draft, free agency and summer league - along with guys like Brad Miller who slipped through the cracks of the draft.
It all just got a lot more interesting.
Were the trades the do all to end all? Of course not. But it was a beginning and a pretty interesting one at that. Yes, there may have been rumors of offers we might have liked better but rumors are just that - rumors. Sometimes started by players, sometimes by agents, and sometimes by teams themselves, a lot of times rumors are just feelers to gauge public reaction and other times they're merely wishful thinking.
I offer one piece of advice - if you get the chance, go check out this young team. Support them and help them find their niche. Be the Kings fans we all are capable of being. They aren't going to win a lot of games but they're capable of energy and hustle and heart - and that should be enough for the next couple of months.
All in all, today was a good day to be a Kings fan. A thanks to all those players who left today and best wishes to each of them for success with their new teams.
And yes, as before, now and always - I LOVE THIS TEAM!
