I live in Portland now, but spent many years in Sactown. I loved the Kings when they had Lionel Simmons and Wayman Tisdale and I really loved them with Chris, Peja, and Vlade. What the heck happened down there? Did Petrie lose his touch? I just don't get it.
We traded away Webber for absolute shit, we traded Peja for the now-departed Artest, we traded away Bibby for shit, and we traded Salmons/Miller for shit... yeah.
Some Sac fans tell me that the Maloofs got a little overzealous with making basketball decisions (specficially with choosing coaches) and didn't factor in Petrie's input. Petrie is still an ace though, its just that the Maloofs started freaking out a bit when the team wasn't winning. Petrie has a good core up there though. Kevin Martin, Jason Thompson, and Spencer Hawes are/will be studs. Add to that another top pick, perhaps Griffin or Rubio and you're looking at a very bright future. Unfortunately the Maloofs are now in big time financial trouble so who knows what the hell is going to happen to them as far as spending big money goes.
Any reason they traded Salmons in particular? He looks like a very nice young player did they think they wouldn't be able to afford him?
I think Salmons was a financial move and he was somewhat redundant as Garcia or Martin, forget who their fans insisted he was. Salmons really is a nice role player, but since he was a stud there, his market value was pretty high. It's rebuilding mode for Sacramento and they need a guy with charisma to get the fans back on board. Martin is nice but he's too quiet to be a guy that sells, while Hawes and Jason Thompson don't exactly scream out marketability. Really I would like to see someone like Brandon Jennings or Stephen Curry if they don't get Rubio, maybe Harden if he's still on the table.
All the Kings need at this point is a big man who is a low post scoring threat. Sac has a VERY good backcourt and some nice role players. Either a low post scoring center or slide Jason Thompson over to the Center spot and attain a low post scoring 4. Evans/Martin/Nocioni/?/Jason Thompson. I think the Kings are closer to being competative than people realize.
Thompson and Hawes is a fine combination. Nothing wrong with them. I hate to steal the Portland catch phrase, but 'let it bake'.
