Me-Thinks they are trying to convince Bibs to take less money or risk changing the team into one that has NO hope of stopping Kobe (trading Christie). ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Price of success may mean trading some key personnel Scott Howard-Cooper, Sacramento Bee Sometime at the end of the week, the leaders of the Kings' basketball operations staff -- owners Gavin and Joe Maloof, key members of the front office, coaches and the scouting department -- will meet in Las Vegas. They will review the just-completed 2001-02 season after a suitable, and especially necessary, cooling-off period and plot the course for the offseason ahead. They will discuss options for the June 26 draft, with the last pick in the first round, contemplate the pool of free agents from around the league and analyze the events of the previous months. And they will talk about which prominent player might have to be traded. Because cold reality is not just having to watch the Finals on television. The scenario of re-signing Mike Bibby and keeping the rotation intact remains a possibility. But so does the one in which a King gets tossed overboard in the name of fiscal practicality, which would be a tough call to make but shouldn't come as a surprise if it happens. In a perfect world, they would keep everyone, take another deep breath and start the climb up Mount Lakers anew. In the one they live in, though, the luxury tax carries harsh financial penalties, especially for a small-market club. The Kings don't have the benefit of many suite sales at the arena or a local base with a lucrative TV contract or deep-pocket corporate backing. They don't want to touch the core of the team that finished with the best regular-season record, came within minutes of reaching the championship series and a likely title, and still has a large window of opportunity ahead. But they might have to. No decision will be made during the Las Vegas gathering, but the likelihood is already being considered. After apparently being saved from having to pay the tax this season -- no final determination will come for several weeks, but most owners and league executives don't expect it to kick in -- there is a much stronger possibility the complicated formula will trigger in 2002-03. At that point, the Kings could take a major hit. At issue behind closed doors is the point at which it becomes too much for the Maloofs to swallow hard and accept. They were prepared to pay a couple of million dollars in the tax this season but were also making concessions to lessen the blow. Jon Barry was traded, and the Kings didn't sign a free agent despite having a $4.5 million salary-cap exception available, and then it became apparent no team would be paying. The original projection was that everyone over $53 million in salaries would pay a dollar-for-dollar tax to be divided among the clubs that stayed under. The ceiling was lowered to about $50 million before appearing to be moot because players leaguewide will not be making more than 61.1 percent of the league's basketball-related income. The Kings, after a summer of spending to keep Chris Webber and Doug Christie, had approximately $55 million on the books. That they already have nearly $56 million committed for next season, since no current player comes off the cap and everyone is set for a raise, is a staggering number, considering Bibby still has to get his. And in the aftermath of a starring role in the playoffs, he will have immeasurable leverage in negotiations. Although it's impossible to know the specifics of what Bibby could demand because it will be based on to-be-determined salary-cap figures, the first installment of what could be a seven-year deal will shove the Kings toward the mid-$60 million range in combined salaries for 2002-03. The implications are then compounded because the money that teams pay in tax is divided only among those that stayed under the number, meaning Sacramento would also miss out on that take. "Say we sign Bibby for $7 million, then we're paying $10 million in the tax," Joe Maloof said. "That's a $17 million contract in that sense. There's a certain point where you have to look at it in a business sense. You have to take the basketball hat off and put the business hat on." Or at least have it in your hand while considering the wardrobe change. Deciding who would go is the difficult part. Webber ($14.34 million) and Divac ($11.25 million) have the biggest contracts but are staying. Webber is the best player on the team, and Divac is still among the best centers, and there's some story going around that the team that keeps beating Sacramento in the playoffs has a pretty good center. Christie has $6.25 million coming next season, and Hedo Turkoglu could replace him in the opening lineup, but dealing Christie means losing energy and an elite defender with size. Turkoglu would draw great interest around the league, but his $1.3 million won't save much -- unless the Kings attach Brent Price ($4.05 million) and/or Lawrence Funderburke ($3.33 million) as a condition of the deal. Scot Pollard will make $4.83 million, but depth at center is imperative because of the Shaq Faqtor. Bobby Jackson is a steal at $2.7 million but is also an ideal third guard. Peja Stojakovic is scheduled for $5.63 million as part of a contract that could become the bargain of the NBA in time, but his shooting would be virtually impossible to replace. There is no easy answer. The other challenge is that a deal would have to come with a team under the salary cap or with a third club involved because the Kings want to move salaries without getting a matching amount in return, a difficult proposition. Welcome to their summer. Just when you thought the season itself had been challenging enough.
These national columnist always seem to forget a little thing called the Collective Bargaining Agreement. So, the logic is the Kings need to trade away a player like Christie to get his $ off the cap, but what the distinguished columnist always fail to mention is you have to trade a player for equal value under the CBA, unless, you're able to trade with a team under the cap. Which, at this point, ain't gonna' happen. Great article, cheese nuts! The Maloofs are just going to have to bite the bullet this year to resign Bibby. Next year they will have a little more flexiblility with Brent Price coming off of the cap.
Hallama--what do you call this when it comes to your little thing about columnists forgetting the CBA? Nice, well thought out reply, Cheese nuts!
Hmm- Sacto NEEDS Glen Rice! Maybe next year. But perhaps we could get something for Collier? Who else has a short contract? Dear Kings, We would like to offer you the salary relief you need to resign One Mike Bibby, in the form of one Glen Rice. You may also purchase one Jason Collier. In return, please send one Doug Christie, one Peja Stojakovic. We MAY be persuaded to eat one contract year, ala the Drexler trade. (see previous). Thank you very kindly, and best wishes. Your pals, Houston Rockets.
Sir Charles Fan; I deserved that. LOL. Is there an emoticon for making an ass of yourself? Er, ah, didn't read THAT part of the article. You've got to admit though, what was the point of the article when it is something that can't be done? It is, however, getting tiresome here in Sacramento listening to local radio sport talk shows, and the announcers (ahem, Jim 'Koz' Kozimor) think the Kings can just dump Funderburke, Christie, Price's salary and *poof*, problem solved.
