Recently, Mark Cuban pointed out the the salary cap wasn’t fair to small market teams. Without sky boxes, corporate sponsership, and celebs willing to pay $2k for front row seats, the smaller markets need to fill every seat to make enough money to pay the cap. So if the Kings continue to lose both games and attendance, don’t be surprised if the Maloofs don’t cut off GP’s money supply. Casino owners seldom gamble. That’s why they’re owners, they know the odds are with the house.

As far as a new stadium goes, with northern cal being one of the hardest hit real estate areas in the country and the economy in the dumps, it may be hard to find a developer willing to build a $500M stadium with profits from real estate built on the Cal Expo site. I just hope that the Maloofs are patient and can wait until the economy turns.

In the mean time, Theus needs to win. The Kings need to fill the stadium again and bring back the communities excitement over the team.

is whether or not we move any of our vets for other pieces, or simply let them expire and get nothing in return. Brad certainly has some value, and will likely be even more attractive to teams as the year progresses (and his contract shortens). Even if we were able to cut down our salary to be in contention for any of those players, mathematically, we still don’t compete in terms of the real economic package they could get elsewhere. From a team like Miami, they wouldn’t be paying the same taxes they pay here, and from larger markets, they would almost certainly see more endorsements (or larger payouts for their existing relationships).

I think it’s much more likely that we’ll be a player in 2009 (or even 2011) – just not enough young players available in 2010 and there will be far too much competition.

If you trade Miller what will you get in return?? Some once promising player at the end of his rookie contract and a expiring that can’t break into our rotation. (ie the Bibby trade)
And, we already have 15 under contract and 2 1st rounders next year. And, only 2 expiring contracts assuming SAR retires. So, where are you going to put the expirings needed to match Miller’s $12M contract. Which of are players would you dump to make room for the expirings that won’t break into the rotation and won’t be around but for 1 yr

Plus where are you going to get another center to back up Hawes?

We could always try to improve on the center position by trading for another younger center but then your going to have to add one of young guns and maybe a draft choice. So who do we go for? And, who do we give up? Cisco, Greene’, JT It’s a tough decision.

The simplest solution is let Miller become a free agent alone with K9. Their total salary is over $20M. The projected max FA offer is 30% of the salary cap or around $19.5M. Based on our needs in twenty 10 we can make a max offer to the FA of our choice. NO need to pick up any unwanted contract or give away any prospects.

Between now and then we can hopefully trade for a prospect at the 5 using Moore % Doubly & BJax’s expiring. And we still have Miller around for one more year to mentor the new guy and Hawes. That way we can concentrate of a PG with our 2 1st rounders.

On the first part: If your saying don’t exercise our options on Brown Douby and Williams then your giving away 3 players with no return just to make room for expiring contracts that your dumping after 1 year. And, your still not going to get a great player in exchange for Miller who will be 33.

If your talking of trading Miller along with Williams and/or Moore your talking between $17M & $24M in contracts. Who are you going to get with salaries to match that. It better be 2 or more bigs because your only left with Hawes & JT.

On a trade your not going to get a star, but let Miller & Thomas’ contracts expire and you have $20M in cap space to go after a Super Star.

  A while back I also crunched numbers and did some assumptions as to where our current contracts will be going. I think that extra 5 mil of cap (after signing a LBJ) shouldn’t be used on free agents or what have you.

  We have the possibility of drafting our future franchise (or 6th man) PG in the next draft (deep PG draft in 2009). The added PG, plus a superstar along with the team we currently have would make a playoff contender.

  However, I believe it’s in the best interest for the Kings not to allow their nucleus of talent to walk out. After signing a superstar, we’re eventually going to need to re-sign Thompson, Greené, Hawes, and the 2009 picks, along with future picks. I just don’t want the Kings pulling another Gerald Wallace in 4 years.

  Unless we have the possibility for trading our picks, plus some cap for Rubio in next year’s draft, I’d say save it for the future. Every penny counts.