Update on the Ike situation...

[Showtime]

The Kings haven't had any conversations with free-agent forward Ike Diogu since they declined his qualifying offer of $3.9 million.

Diogu told the Sacramento Bee that "about 10 teams" have shown interest in him, including Atlanta, New Orleans, Boston, Dallas, Charlotte, Toronto, Denver and Washington.

Sacramento still has $6 million in cap space and are believed to be looking for a front court player.

"I haven't had any conversations with them (since the offer was declined)," agent Thaddeus Foucher said. "With the way they finished up, I thought we could've got something done really quick, but obviously they went in a different direction and that's their prerogative. (But) if you look at the team and what they need, I think he'd be a perfect fit."

Diogu appears disappointed that the Kings haven't shown any interest in bringing him back.

"I was disappointed (the Kings declined the offer), because I felt that I handled myself extremely well in a very tough situation last year," he said. "I felt I could've helped the team a lot earlier than I was given the chance to, and I felt like they knew what they were getting."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60586/20090715/diogu_unlikely_to_return_to_sacramento/

It's obvious that the Kings need a reserve big. It's also obvious that Ike can come cheap, considering the kings can afford as much as the teams that are interested. I honestly wanted something along the lines of two years (second year an option) at around 4-5 mil total. IDK why the Kings don't offer him that, considering their frontcourt depth issues. Brockman and KT won't cut it as backups to JT and Spencer.

 

[Entity]

I am just guessing here. but maybe the kings are showing no interenst in the hopes that they can get him for a lower price tag. nice poker face by GP. and if it doesn't work out and miss out on him well we just get another. Its a nice situation where Ike can help but not enough that we have to offer him the world.

 

[Showtime]

I am just guessing here. but maybe the kings are showing no interenst in the hopes that they can get him for a lower price tag. nice poker face by GP. and if it doesn't work out and miss out on him well we just get another. Its a nice situation where Ike can help but not enough that we have to offer him the world.

Since when is discussing a contract that is less than 4 mil a year "the world"? They declined the option. They obviously aren't paying that much for him. But they also haven't even talked about a new contract, so there's no reason to have a poker face when declining the option was clear enough. They aren't paying him that much, so if they were really interested, they would have talked. No, this is no hardball. Kings just aren't interested in his services, and I don't see why.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/60586/20090715/diogu_unlikely_to_return_to_sacramento/

It's obvious that the Kings need a reserve big. It's also obvious that Ike can come cheap, considering the kings can afford as much as the teams that are interested. I honestly wanted something along the lines of two years (second year an option) at around 4-5 mil total. IDK why the Kings don't offer him that, considering their frontcourt depth issues. Brockman and KT won't cut it as backups to JT and Spencer.

don't we already have a undersized banger in brockman? i'm fine w/ that spence, JT and brockman rotation for the time being. 4-5 mil for a back up scrub? even at 1-2 years thats throwing around "beno" $$$ again.

we're rebuilding now and if ike isn't in our future plans why pay him all that jack for 1-2 years? it doesn't make sense. what if he brings in a few extra wins? that is a detriment to our positioning chances in the lottery which we will be in again.

 

[SacTownKid]

I am just guessing here. but maybe the kings are showing no interenst in the hopes that they can get him for a lower price tag. nice poker face by GP. and if it doesn't work out and miss out on him well we just get another. Its a nice situation where Ike can help but not enough that we have to offer him the world.

Nope, seems to me like Geoff is just pulling another one of those questionable moves that doesn't make any sense. I mean, I've given a lot of leeway to the guy but he hasn't done anything lately that really jumps off the page as a great move, or even a move that makes any sense really. He did eventually rebuild, of course, that was after years of trying to scrap together a mediocre team. I am starting to realize, there is no greater plan, there is no concrete reason behind a lot of the moves he makes. Mikki Moore? Had to be the contract right, big expiring in two years, yet he had a partial guarantee that didn't really make him an expiring. Oh well, we'll get something for him right? Wrong, they waived him... OK, well we'll get some extra space and a nice piece for 2010 in a Brad Miller deal right? Wrong, took on EXTRA long term salary and dealt Salmons away in the same deal. Oh well, we got a pretty good swap player to player Miller/Salmons isn't too much better than Nocioni/Gooden. WRONG, waived Gooden a couple days after he put up numbers we need out of the PF spot.

However this right here, is just plain ridiculous. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN CONTACTED DIOGU!?!?!? Wow, no reason for that. He's probably the highest potential big on the market (I know not saying much) who showed a ton of promise towards the end of last season and THEY HAVEN'T EVEN CONTACTED DIOGU!?!?!? Bravo Geoff! Another one of your clueless moves. Aha! But I won't be fooled this time, it isn't some great plan in the grand scheme of things, no, it's just plain foolishness on your part. Diogu would at least fit in the pick and pop with Evans, there are many ways he fits in with this team, never mind the cohesion he started to show with both Hawes and Thompson. I really don't think Geoff even knows how to build a complimentary roster anymore, I really don't. And Geoff can't pull the old "doesn't fit our vision" line out this time, I'm on to you Geoff, there is no "vision".

 

[Kingster]

I am just guessing here. but maybe the kings are showing no interenst in the hopes that they can get him for a lower price tag. nice poker face by GP. and if it doesn't work out and miss out on him well we just get another. Its a nice situation where Ike can help but not enough that we have to offer him the world.

Exactly. My understanding is that these lower tiered FAs will end up getting chump change because of the economy and the financial pressure on these NBA teams.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

THEY HAVEN'T EVEN CONTACTED DIOGU!?!?!? Bravo Geoff! Another one of your clueless moves.

Sorry to ruin a good rant, but hold on just a second here. It's a whole two weeks into free agency, it's not like training camp starts tomorrow. Also remember that we're talking about Ike Diogu and a backup roster slot here.

This is Ike Diogu, the undersized, not super-athletic, something-like-two-good-games-in-his-career PF. Shoot, I think he'd be a decent fit in a backup role, but if we don't pick him up, it's not the end of the world. And it's not like we can't possibly pick him up (as he's apparently in such great demand that he has contract offers from 0% of the remaining 29 teams in the NBA) later.

Maybe, just maybe, we're looking at all of our options before throwing small money at Diogu. We've apparently worked out May, so it's not like we aren't considering what to do. Maybe we're more interested in May. Maybe we're looking at some other free agents. Maybe we're trying to get a trade in the works, perhaps even for a much more prominent player like a Boozer or a Chandler.

It's one thing if it's September 20th, our big man rotation is Hawes/Thompson/Brockman/??? and Diogu is asking why we haven't even talked to him. It's July 15th. A little patience is all I ask.

 

[Showtime]

don't we already have a undersized banger in brockman?

A guy with limited offensive skill who hasn't proven to be able to rebound in the NBA yet? At least we know Ike can score and rebound against legit competition.

i'm fine w/ that spence, JT and brockman rotation for the time being. 4-5 mil for a back up scrub? even at 1-2 years thats throwing around "beno" $$$ again.

I said 4-5 TOTAL for the two years, meaning 2-2.5 per year.

we're rebuilding now and if ike isn't in our future plans why pay him all that jack for 1-2 years? it doesn't make sense. what if he brings in a few extra wins? that is a detriment to our positioning chances in the lottery which we will be in again.

Once again: 2 mil a year is NOT that much money in NBA salary terms, especially for a backup big that is needed. Lottery bound or not, you can't put all the pressure on two players for an entire front court.

 

[Showtime]

Exactly. My understanding is that these lower tiered FAs will end up getting chump change because of the economy and the financial pressure on these NBA teams.

But if GP wants Ike at a low price (below the QO), then THERE'S NO NEED to have a poker face about it because he already sent that message when he declined the option. So there's no point in not contacting his agent with offers as a way to get him cheap when he already took that step. If he was truly interested, he would have contacted and started negotiating right after he declined the QO. He didn't, which shows this is NOT a poker face, but rather GP just not interested in retaining Ike's services. And it's not like there aren't teams out there who can afford a couple mil to get him.

 

[bajaden]

Nope, seems to me like Geoff is just pulling another one of those questionable moves that doesn't make any sense. I mean, I've given a lot of leeway to the guy but he hasn't done anything lately that really jumps off the page as a great move, or even a move that makes any sense really. He did eventually rebuild, of course, that was after years of trying to scrap together a mediocre team. I am starting to realize, there is no greater plan, there is no concrete reason behind a lot of the moves he makes. Mikki Moore? Had to be the contract right, big expiring in two years, yet he had a partial guarantee that didn't really make him an expiring. Oh well, we'll get something for him right? Wrong, they waived him... OK, well we'll get some extra space and a nice piece for 2010 in a Brad Miller deal right? Wrong, took on EXTRA long term salary and dealt Salmons away in the same deal. Oh well, we got a pretty good swap player to player Miller/Salmons isn't too much better than Nocioni/Gooden. WRONG, waived Gooden a couple days after he put up numbers we need out of the PF spot.

However this right here, is just plain ridiculous. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN CONTACTED DIOGU!?!?!? Wow, no reason for that. He's probably the highest potential big on the market (I know not saying much) who showed a ton of promise towards the end of last season and THEY HAVEN'T EVEN CONTACTED DIOGU!?!?!? Bravo Geoff! Another one of your clueless moves. Aha! But I won't be fooled this time, it isn't some great plan in the grand scheme of things, no, it's just plain foolishness on your part. Diogu would at least fit in the pick and pop with Evans, there are many ways he fits in with this team, never mind the cohesion he started to show with both Hawes and Thompson. I really don't think Geoff even knows how to build a complimentary roster anymore, I really don't. And Geoff can't pull the old "doesn't fit our vision" line out this time, I'm on to you Geoff, there is no "vision".

Look, at this point it doesn't matter what Petrie does, your going to find fault with it. I get it. You don't like him. Personally, I tired of rehashing the same old things over and over again. Petrie signed Beno after he had a fairly impressive half of a year, and the result of that is, now he's criticized for the signing. Rightly so! Because he was the one that made the decision. But now because he hesitant to sign Diogu after he had just two games that were outstanding, your criticizing him for that. You would probably be one of the first to criticize him for signing Diogu if he fell flat on his face.

Besides the Kings don't need another PF. They need a backup center, and please don't tell me that Diogu can play center. There are still free agents out there that could help us this next season, so there's no reason to be impatient.

Maybe this will help.. http://www.nba.com/freeagents/2009/

 

[Kingster]

But if GP wants Ike at a low price (below the QO), then THERE'S NO NEED to have a poker face about it because he already sent that message when he declined the option. So there's no point in not contacting his agent with offers as a way to get him cheap when he already took that step. If he was truly interested, he would have contacted and started negotiating right after he declined the QO. He didn't, which shows this is NOT a poker face, but rather GP just not interested in retaining Ike's services. And it's not like there aren't teams out there who can afford a couple mil to get him.

I think what may be happening is that Petrie is assessing the market. He's not going to make an offer until he figures out what the current market value is of Diogu because then he's making an offer blind. He probably is doing his due diligence to see what he really has to pay to get him.

 

[sidney]

we actually do need another PF. AND a backup Center. JT gets injured and now we're starting Brockman or KT? An undersized Donte or Nocioni? Ugh

Give Ike a 2 year/4M deal. That seems to be the market value this summer for guys on that level.

Only reason to wait is if Petrie has some ideas for using all our cap space to do something that will actually have a real impact on the team. If so, by all means wait.

 

[Showtime]

Petrie signed Beno after he had a fairly impressive half of a year, and the result of that is, now he's criticized for the signing.

No. People were upset at the amount and length of the deal, not the signing itself.

But now because he hesitant to sign Diogu after he had just two games that were outstanding, your criticizing him for that.

Once again, you are seeing things in black and white. Why hasn't GP even DISCUSSED a contract situation with Ike's agent? He's not mad that Ike isn't on the roster right now, he's upset that something that could improve the team hasn't even been EXPLORED.

You would probably be one of the first to criticize him for signing Diogu if he fell flat on his face.

Not if he's making close to the minimum and not locked up long term.

Besides the Kings don't need another PF. They need a backup center, and please don't tell me that Diogu can play center. There are still free agents out there that could help us this next season, so there's no reason to be impatient.

Why can't Ike play center off the bench? If Ike can embarrass Nene, why can't he be effective against reserve centers? The state of bigs today aren't exactly at an all time high, and a reserve center is nothing that inspires awe.

And what free agents (who would also be paid a similar amount FYI) would provide what Ike could provide? I just don't see any FA centers who are close to what Ike could do off the bench.

 

[Showtime]

I think what may be happening is that Petrie is assessing the market. He's not going to make an offer until he figures out what the current market value is of Diogu because then he's making an offer blind. He probably is doing his due diligence to see what he really has to pay to get him.

We know, GP knows, and Ike knows the Kings aren't paying 4 mil a year, since that was the QO that was declined. Other teams will be offering him a similar deal probably in the 2-3 mil range. What market value does he have to assess? He knows he's not paying 4, so it's going to be between the minimum and 3. Why not at least contact the agent and try to negotiate a deal when he's already narrowed down the price range he's willing to pay?

 

[hrdboild]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but by declining Diogu's option for next year he becomes an unrestricted free agent right? So we don't have the right to match whatever contract he signs and would need to offer him a contract ourselves to be able to keep him.

 

[Showtime]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but by declining Diogu's option for next year he becomes an unrestricted free agent right? So we don't have the right to match whatever contract he signs and would need to offer him a contract ourselves to be able to keep him.

Yeah, that's right. If a team declines the qualifying offer, he then becomes a UFA and can sign with anybody.

 

[Bricklayer]

Whetehr this is upsetting or not splits pretty directly along Ike Diogu beleiver vs. Ike Diogu non-believer lines. I find it a little surprising, but not terribly distressing because I remain deeply suspsicious of late season contract year heroics. Intrigued enough I would have expected a call, but...

As an aside, unlike many who seem to be convinced that Geoff's big offseason of change involved drafting three rookies and one minor trade, I am not entirely convinced that he may not be trying to get something big put together -- he is always most dangerous when you hear nothing. And to do that we might well need any and all cap room we might have.

 

[SacTownKid]

Sorry to ruin a good rant, but hold on just a second here. It's a whole two weeks into free agency, it's not like training camp starts tomorrow. Also remember that we're talking about Ike Diogu and a backup roster slot here.

This is Ike Diogu, the undersized, not super-athletic, something-like-two-good-games-in-his-career PF. Shoot, I think he'd be a decent fit in a backup role, but if we don't pick him up, it's not the end of the world. And it's not like we can't possibly pick him up (as he's apparently in such great demand that he has contract offers from 0% of the remaining 29 teams in the NBA) later.

Maybe, just maybe, we're looking at all of our options before throwing small money at Diogu. We've apparently worked out May, so it's not like we aren't considering what to do. Maybe we're more interested in May. Maybe we're looking at some other free agents. Maybe we're trying to get a trade in the works, perhaps even for a much more prominent player like a Boozer or a Chandler.

It's one thing if it's September 20th, our big man rotation is Hawes/Thompson/Brockman/??? and Diogu is asking why we haven't even talked to him. It's July 15th. A little patience is all I ask.

Maybe, but by all accounts that isn't the case. They haven't even talked to him, I think that sends a pretty strong message. Now the only question is why haven't they talked to him. I give Petrie some time but I am starting to not trust the guy and even bigger fear of mine is that they go throw a MLE sized deal at whoever this years version of Mikki Moore is.

 

[kennadog]

Yeah, that's right. If a team declines the qualifying offer, he then becomes a UFA and can sign with anybody.

And if somebody else makes him an offer, we'll have a much better idea of his market value than we do now. Then we can offer that or slightly more. Or we may find someone we like better for the same money or even more money. Geez, what's the rush?

If he gets any offer, the agent will find out if the Kings want to do a better deal, unless Diogu actively does not want to come back to the Kings.

 

[Bricklayer]

And if somebody else makes him an offer, we'll have a much better idea of his market value than we do now. Then we can offer that or slightly more. Or we may find someone we like better for the same money or even more money. Geez, what's the rush?

If he gets any offer, the agent will find out if the Kings want to do a better deal, unless Diogu actively does not want to come back to the Kings.

As much as I am not terribly distressed, I doubt this. Unless the agent is lying, we haven't even made a call. And obviously if we wanted to keep a tab on things we would have, even if the call just was "we have some interest, can you give me a ring when you get a hard offer so we have a chance to respond?"

We could still change our mind and develop interest if we strike out in other areas, but no contact at all to this point does not bespeak to me any real interest on our part. I'll figure out how I feel about that when I see who/what we bring in instead.

 

[SacTownKid]

Look, at this point it doesn't matter what Petrie does, your going to find fault with it. I get it. You don't like him. Personally, I tired of rehashing the same old things over and over again. Petrie signed Beno after he had a fairly impressive half of a year, and the result of that is, now he's criticized for the signing. Rightly so! Because he was the one that made the decision. But now because he hesitant to sign Diogu after he had just two games that were outstanding, your criticizing him for that. You would probably be one of the first to criticize him for signing Diogu if he fell flat on his face.

Besides the Kings don't need another PF. They need a backup center, and please don't tell me that Diogu can play center. There are still free agents out there that could help us this next season, so there's no reason to be impatient.

Maybe this will help.. http://www.nba.com/freeagents/2009/

Hey I've been around here awhile now and have been accused of being a "company man" more than a few times, just ask Brick. I've been at times a blind supporter of this franchise with hopes that what they were/are doing makes sense. I gave a chance to all the moves I mentioned in my rant, but it's time to call a spade a spade or at least admit that is might be a spade. I still support Geoff and the Maloofs but it's time to either start making some sense, or get the heck out. I mean seriously, a lot of the moves haven't made the last couple of years, heck the majority of the moves haven't made much sense\. I'll consider this a fresh start and it's new for Petrie, I don't think he's ever built a team from the ground up through the draft so we'll see. The last chapter however was a complete failure.

We're talking about Ike Diogu, not Ike Diogu full MLE multi-year signing. If Ike is demanding that kind of money then by all means march on, but picking up what should be a low cost/high reward player won't get any complaints by me if he falls flat on his face. I have more of a problem with the fact that he has apparently not even discussed bringing Ike back, is this really a GM doing all he can to make his franchise better? He has no problem dropping the MLE on Mikki Moore or Greg Ostertag but he won't consider bringing Ike Diogu back on the cheap? Yeah, I have a problem with that. Geoff's been accused of sitting on his hands the last couple of years, hey trades happen or they don't, but something like this is just unreal to me. There literally is no leg work at all.

Oh yeah, and that list was just stacked with promising young C's. NOT! We need talent, we don't need to stack up on positional need. A border line vet C is going to make about as much difference to our future prospects as a penny being thrown in the ocean makes waves.

 

[Showtime]

And if somebody else makes him an offer, we'll have a much better idea of his market value than we do now. Then we can offer that or slightly more. Or we may find someone we like better for the same money or even more money. Geez, what's the rush?

The point is that this isn't Lamar Odom. There's no 6-11 mil range here. We are talking from the minimum to 3 mil per year. That's a very small window. So, why would he not even contact his agent in the hopes that a team offers him 2 so the Kings can offer 2.5? GP already knows he's paying only so much, so there's no point in assessing market value. As I said, with that small window of what he's willing to offer, there's no market value to asses. One or possibly two million is really inconsequential unless that puts the team over the cap, which it won't.

If he gets any offer, the agent will find out if the Kings want to do a better deal, unless Diogu actively does not want to come back to the Kings.

Another issue aside from specific salary is that if Ike is offered a deal from another team, he may not want to wait around to see what the Kings offer if he thinks Sac has no interest. If they haven't even discussed options with him at this point, and judging by his comments, he may feel like Sac isn't interested at all. You are seeing this from only one angle. If Ike gets an offer he's happy with, and he thinks Sac isn't interested, there's absolutely no motivation to wait for the Kings to make a counter offer.

As I said, with that small of a financial window, I don't see why GP hasn't at least explored possible terms of negotiation, just to see what Ike wants and how far they would be willing to go. The only possible reason would be that GP is not interested at all.

 

[NoBonus]

Oh yeah, and that list was just stacked with promising young C's. NOT! We need talent, we don't need to stack up on positional need. A border line vet C is going to make about as much difference to our future prospects as a penny being thrown in the ocean makes waves.

Good point, but then the question becomes, when Spencer misses games who starts at C? Thompson? The Kings need a backup C of some type or commit to playing small.

 

[jpsls]

Why should the Kings pay $4 million for somebody who showed potential during garbage minutes when the games didn't even count? Yea $4 million may not be a lot, but it is a lot when you consider Ike most likely may end up being a bench warmer. If i was the a multimillionaire owners, i wouldn't want to hand out that much dough to a 12th man in a struggling economy.

 

[Showtime]

Good point, but then the question becomes, when Spencer misses games who starts at C? Thompson? The Kings need a backup C of some type or commit to playing small.

Why do you feel Ike cannot play backup center?

 

[Kings Faithful]

I actually think he can play back up center. His height would tell you otherwise, but if I'm correct doesn't he have a long enough reach to make up for it?

 

[Big Cuz 15]

A guy with limited offensive skill who hasn't proven to be able to rebound in the NBA yet? At least we know Ike can score and rebound against legit competition.

one thing i know about brockman is he's a scrapper. i like those types of players. thats what the kings have been missing the past few years.


I said 4-5 TOTAL for the two years, meaning 2-2.5 per year.

imo, thats already overpaying for some guy who had 2 good games at the END of the year. teams who are in the playoffs or not in the playoffs usually rest their stars to avoid injury in those situations.


Once again: 2 mil a year is NOT that much money in NBA salary terms, especially for a backup big that is needed. Lottery bound or not, you can't put all the pressure on two players for an entire front court.

thats why there's brockman, let the young guys play and develop. we do have a big in nocioni who is tough enough to slide over to the 4 if needed.

again w/ ike, if he isn't in our future plans why pick him up for 2 mil?

 

[Big Cuz 15]

Why do you feel Ike cannot play backup center?

cuz dude is like reke's height LMAO. yeah thats going to strike some fear on lebron coming in the lane for a dunk. let me jump over that tree stump

 

[Warhawk]

As much as I am not terribly distressed, I doubt this. Unless the agent is lying, we haven't even made a call. And obviously if we wanted to keep a tab on things we would have, even if the call just was "we have some interest, can you give me a ring when you get a hard offer so we have a chance to respond?"

We could still change our mind and develop interest if we strike out in other areas, but no contact at all to this point does not bespeak to me any real interest on our part. I'll figure out how I feel about that when I see who/what we bring in instead.

C'mon brick, the lips were moving - he was lying. It is an agent we are talking about, right?

 

[Showtime]

one thing i know about brockman is he's a scrapper. i like those types of players. thats what the kings have been missing the past few years.

Being a scrapper doesn't mean the team will be just fine with him. The Kings need another reserve big no matter how much you like Brockman or how scrappy he might be. Brockman and KT are not adequate to backup JT and Hawes.

imo, thats already overpaying for some guy who had 2 good games at the END of the year. teams who are in the playoffs or not in the playoffs usually rest their stars to avoid injury in those situations.

First off, I'm not basing his salary on those two games. 2 mil a year is not overpaying for a reserve big. Look around the league at reserve bigs, and you will find 2 mil for Ike a good price, not overpaying him. And as far as your resting theory, was Nene not legit competition? I don't care who he played, because 2 mil is NOT overpaying for a reserve big.

thats why there's brockman, let the young guys play and develop. we do have a big in nocioni who is tough enough to slide over to the 4 if needed.

again w/ ike, if he isn't in our future plans why pick him up for 2 mil?

Because Brockman and KT are not an adequate NBA reserve frontcourt. Not just in size, but in ability. There is virtually no frontcourt scorers are it stands (aside from hawes), and the team could use a reserve who can score on the block and won't hurt their pockets.