http://msn.espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/0814/1418009.html Kings get another good player to add to the roster and another guy to go up against Shaq. They have to be the favorites for winning it all next year.
They have to re-sign Mike Bibby first before they can even think about next season. Keon's a good addition in that he's better than Lawrence Funderburke, but is he the difference between a title or not? Probably not; in fact, with his build, he's just another 6 fouls versus Shaq.
I agree. But that might come in handy. I recall when Pollard and Vlade (or was it CWebb?) fouled out, and the Kings had to come with Webber and Funderburke down the stretch. Keon, IMO is a pretty big upgrade over Funderburke, and makes Sacramento very deep on the front line. Resigning Bibby is a must for them, no question.
Given the Luxury Tax implications, isn't this giving away some of Bibby's money or at least making the LT situation worse?
It makes the luxury tax situation worse, but the Kings' owners have decided to forget about the luxury tax and pay whatever it takes to win a ring.
I don't understand this move on several levels - but I guess I have to fess up that I was wrong and Keon is no longer a Raptor. I hope he and his agent didn't jump the gun before the Raptors were able to play their scenario out. What a dumbass though. He's entering the prime of his career and he settled for 6 years / $19 million? That is one of the stupidest things I have seen in recent years. He could play ANYWHERE for the minimum this season and then go on the market next summer when teams have money to spend. He'd get atleast get a multi-year deal starting at the MLE - say 5 years / $35 mil. He just lumped himself in with Sam Cassell who signed long term on the cheap and then whined every single season that he was underpaid. I'm not saying he's on Cassell's level value wise - but he's getting less than half of what he would on the open market which is kind of what Cassell's deal was like. I can't figure out which smilie is better... <img src="http://a256.g.akamai.net/7/256/5527/V001/forums.fanhome.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_clown.gif"> or <img src="http://a256.g.akamai.net/7/256/5527/V001/forums.fanhome.com/images/smilies/icon_smile_dead.gif">
Keon=6 pts 4 boards next year. Pollard is a better backup if you consider that the Kings play in the West. Finesse PFs are virtually useless in the West. Will this mean the Kings won't bother to use their exception next year? If so, then it's even more of an asinine move. Seeing how they might be able to lure a better player next summer.
They will resign Bibby, I dont think they are that stupid. I hope not at least. WIth Keon they will dominate. Thats a hell of a team. The best on paper in a while. Most exciting too. A frontline of Webber, Keon and Divac, and even Pollard. Peja, Bibby, Hedo, Christie, Jackson. Jesus you talk about depth
**Correction on the contract** Keon signed a 1 year deal for the MLE of $4.545 million with an option for a second year. He and his agent aren't that stupid after all - he can cash in next summer when teams have money to spend. Even non-Keon fans realize that he's worth more than guys like Booth, McCulloch and other MLE players who were able to lock themselves in during a weak summer last year.
No, they can still use it next season; unlike the low-cap exception of $1.4 million, the mid-cap exception can be used every seasons. Whether or not they'll use it, though, is another matter. They'll really be fishing in luxury tax land at that rate.
Yeah, at least using the exception will save them $4.5 million in luxury taxes, if they ever have to pay one. Getting Clark for that is a steal any way you look at it. Since when is Clark finesse? He's a great shotblocker who plays F/C. Being skinny doesn't automatically make you finesse. The Kings were fairly set, though... I guess they just plan to rest Vlade more. Chris Webber might shave off a few minutes, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was still playing marathon minutes next year, because Funderburke is plenty good, and Adelman never played him.
The Kings needed a bigger guy to go up against Shaq. Vlade only gets 6 fouls and Pollard and Funderburke are (should be) PFs. Clark is too small to play center against Shaq. Cato would have suited them and he is still obtainable. Seriously, I think J.James would have been a good pickup but he re-signed with Seattle. The Kings let him go a season or 2 ago...too bad.
Funderburke is a PF, and is listed as such. The only reason he played center against the Lakers was because both Vlade and Pollard fouled out on those breathing fouls. As for Pollard, he's 6'11", 260. That's a center. As for Clark, he's too small to play C against Shaq, but then... everyone is. Clark is capable of defending many centers quite well, despite his lack of muscle. He's just so damn athletic.
He won't get it, at least not next season. Good move for the Kings though. They're the best team in the league outside of LA and they just widened the lead between themselves and those other 27 teams.
"too small to go up against Shaq" Everyone except Sabonis about ten years ago is too small to go up against Shaq. The available selection of guys bigger than Clark and at least as talented is pretty slim.
