Well first off look at Sham Sports for some reference to what I'm talking about. With today's signing of Bobby Brown, who by some accounts, including from Marc Stein's point of view, with Stein having this to say:

I certainly had nothing to do with his progress, but I am naturally loving it, seeing Brown increasingly learn how to get his teammates involved and make decisions on the fly and under control to complement his athleticism and scoring ability. Though he's not a pure point and frequently has to be reminded by coaches to be more vocal, Brown has become an NBA player. And that's according to numerous expert witnesses in Vegas as opposed to a shameless rooter like me.

There have been a handful of breakout performances from little-known players like Brown since the games began at UNLV on July 11. Anthony Roberson quickly earned a guaranteed contract from the Knicks. One Eastern Conference executive is convinced that Anthony Tolliver will make San Antonio's roster as a "shooting 4-man." Some recent second-round picks have been eye-catching as well: P.J. Tucker as an undersized (but rugged) power forward on the Grizzlies' squad and Nathan Jawai, Toronto's so-called Australian Shaq, just to name two.

But this isn't about Marc Stein's point of view of Bobby Brown, or my opinion of Marc Stein, which does range wildly I admit. This is about the salary starting July of 2009. So let's take a look.

Let's assume that the following players will be under contract and with the Kings next season: Kevin Martin, Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson, and Beno Udrih for starters. Martin makes almost 9.7 million dollars next season, with Udrih coming in at 6.03, Shawes at 2.332 million (assuming his option gets picked up--a fairly likely assumption yes?), and Justin Thompson at 2.035 million himself. For simplicity purposes you have 20.1 million tied up in those 4 alone. That's also a total third of your active roster.

Then there are players that will probably be here barring an unexpected move that brings in a superior player without touching the top 4. That player is Francisco Garcia. Garcia's number is unknown, but given he isn't as successful as Josh Childress, but Sacramento ownership isn't as stupid as Hawks management, this will make for some interesting negotiations. I personally think Garcia is worth an extension around the current mid level for the next 4 seasons myself. That would seemingly determine whatever baseline value he has. So let's say he starts out at a salary of 5.5 million next season. Your roster is now at 26.6 million. (And that's assuming he doesn't cost more.)

Then you have players like John Salmons, Shelden Williams, and Quincy Douby. Douby being Douby, and assuming the Kings are impressed by him, it stands to reason that they would pick up his 4th year option at 2.197 million putting the at roughly 28.2 million. Salmons makes 5.456 million next season, and assuming the Kings don't trade him in a deal that will almost certainly bring alot more money back in a deal, you're now looking at a team salary of 33.7 million in salary, and that's for 7 players. Shelden Williams makes, during the 2008-09 season, 3.395 million this season. The Kings in all likelihood will consider this a one year audition for Shelden, and would likely consider a 3 year 10 million contract for him next off-season provided he gives them things they're looking for. Or something like that. So assuming they do that, and this is just an assumption for shits & giggles so don't get your panties in a twist, I'd say you're looking at a team salary of 37 million for 9 total players. Keeping up so far?

This leaves Sean Singletary, Bobby Brown, and Patrick Ewing Jr all making the same amount, and assuming all 3 are on the roster next season for whatever reason, you're looking at an additional 2.3 million essentially for all 3 on the roster. That's 12 total players. That's now at 39.3 million.

Now, this doesn't include any calculations for the draft pick since we don't know where the Kings will draft. Let's hold off on that for now.

You have left Ron Artest who will be a Free Agent assuming he stays all season (a poor assumption at this point), Mikki Moore, Brad Miller, Shareef Abdur Rahim, and Kenny Thomas. Rahim is rather simple I think. Either Shareef excepts medical retirement, or he sits on the bench and waits for his ETO next summer to go to a team he thinks can win. Either way, I think it's safe to say the Kings will see the last of Reef come April of 09. I'm good with that. Thomas, if the Kings trade Artest, almost certainly will be attached to any outgoing trade, but if he isn't, a possibility I suppose, then he makes 8.775 million. I won't include him in any team salary for next year since Petrie is so deadset upon trading he and Artest together.

Brad Miller and Mikki Moore are the only 2 that will I think have a chance of starting on the roster next season. Mikki, of course that is, has a buyout I believe for about 3 million if I remember right (it's somewhere around there), and can be waived by July 1st I believe for that amount. The Kings may do that, or trade him earlier I suspect, to open up a roster spot or cap room. Either or works for me. I would be just as happy to see him in a trade for Brian Cook and JJ Redick. Cook has a player option for next season, and Redick's player option for his 4th season can be denied before October 31st by the Kings if they pick him up before then.

I think if Moore doesn't leave the team, a possibility, and Miller doesn't leave the team, it leaves the team in a minutes crunch as Kfan said a few days ago. I also think Moore is the more feasible option to move, and Miller will be more difficult to move as he isn't a true shot blocking/rebounding/defensive force in the middle.

So I'm going to out on the limb and say that Moore leaves, and Miller doesn't. I'm going to say that Reef's salary is no longer part of the team, either ETO or medical retirement, and that Thomas's salary no longer keeps him part of the team's roster. That's nearly 22 million of total salary assuming you pay Moore for the whole year, or 19 million if you waive him at the beginning. So essentially, you're looking at the 39 million I blocked for the 12 guys already figured in, plus the 1st round pick, and Brad Miller at 12 1/4 mil, and you're looking at roughly somewhere in the neighborhood of 54-55 million next season assuming my money projections on Garcia and Williams hold up. For those who do not know I will enlighten you on another aspect of the salary cap age. The Mid Level exception counts against any Projected cap space you would have. So let's assume for a moment that the Kings bring over Brian Cook, and now you've added 3 million to that 54-55 million total. The cap was around 58.5 million this season. See my point?

I don't care what anybody says. Unless this team dumps Artest, Thomas, Moore, Miller, and Salmons this team won't have any cap space in 2009. If it doesn't dump Thomas and Artest there is a strong chance this team will be paying luxury tax in 2010. That isn't necessarily a good thing either. So, my point in this exercise is simple. Just because you're dumping salary doesn't mean you're getting flexibility for the Free Agent Market in either 2009 or 2010. You're just aiming at gaining roster flexibility of young and cheaper players on the overall roster to gain asset's to make a move in a trade. And for those who don't think that is Petrie's end game, I suggest you take your own look at the roster. Because that is the only real suggestion at this point I can make given the contract and young talent on this team. Either the Kings make a run at an outside Free Agent in 2009 via sign & trade, or they simply stay pat with the young talent and build around the edges with fringe Mid Level signings.

To recap, though, here are the salaries I have listed for every player in 2009 that has a good, or strong possibility in being in Sacramento.

Kevin Martin--9,680,170

Brad Miller--12,250,000

Beno Udrih--6,031,800

John Salmons--5,456,000

Shelden Williams--(Preferred salary around 3 to 3.5 Million)

Spencer Hawes--2,232,800

Jason Thompson-- 2,035,920

Quincy Douby-- 2,197,642

Mike Singletary-- 736,420

Patrick Ewing Jr-- 736,420

Bobby Brown-- 736,420

Francisco Garcia-- (Preferred salary around 5.5 to 6 million)

1st round draft pick (With salary from 1.5 to 3 million)

Brian Cook (For shyts & giggles--He has a player option for 3.3 million next season he would likely exercise)

Total Salary? Without the draft pick it's just under 55 million at 54,968,372 dollars. You add that draft pick, plus the Mid Level Exception and you're basically looking at no cap room. Even with any projected raises to the salary cap. It's just not happening no matter how you play with the numbers unless you take more than Artest, Thomas, Abdur Rahim and a chunk of Moore's salary off the books. And that's just the way the cookie crumbles kiddies.