Sacramento Kings
foxsports
The Kings made a trade Wednesday night which entailed giving away one at least one first-rounder and maybe as many as three (if the 76ers are able to capitalize on pick swaps over the next two years). They did it all so they could open up cap space to sign free agents, namely Monta Ellis, who has since reportedly turned down more money from Sacramento to sign with the Pacers.
Over at SB Nation, Tom Ziller writes that the Kings are building the wrong way:
Click here to read the full article.
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(H/t SB Nation.)
Photo Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Yes, that's right: the Kings are chasing Wes Matthews, Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis. Matthews is an excellent fit as a top-notch defender and deep shooter. He also tore his Achilles tendon in March and is seeking at least $15 million per season. Rondo is reportedly looking for a one-year deal to rehab his value which tells you EXACTLY how his season went. And Ellis ... well, let's just say that an offense featuring Monta Ellis and Rudy Gay might set the analytics movement back a decade, okay?
All three have some problems. Better yet, the Kings aren't even the frontrunner for any of them but Rondo! It's quite possible that the Kings could strike out with Matthews, who wants to win and has talked with the Mavericks and Raptors, and Ellis, who met with the Pacers. Then what? Rondo shouldn't break $10 million (God help us if he wants the max). Do you keep chugging down the free agent list to fill that other $16 million in cap space?
You can't just sit on it. Not after giving up Stauskas, a future first and two pick swaps for it. You can't sit on it given that just about every other team in the NBA will have enough cap space for a max player a year from now when the salary cap rises 30 percent. You can't sit on it because if you do, chances are you're going to continue to be a bad basketball team, and oh look, now you don't even have your own pick every other year.
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