Ricky Rubio vs Blake Griffin vs immortality (and my ego being swollen cuz I'm always right)

They suck. See there? That's the shortest fanpost I've ever written. Easiest too. I suppose the whole point of this is to notice some things, about current, and future, aspects of the team. So here goes....

Once Was A Man Who Consumed His Place And Time... He Thought Nothing Could Touch Him... But Here And Now It's A Different Storyline... Like The Straw He Is Clutching

Why Has The Sky Turned Grey... Hard To My Face And Cold On My Shoulder... And Why Has My Life Gone Astray... Scarred By Disgrace, I Know That Its Over

Because I'm Falling Down... With People Standing Round... But Before I Hit The Ground... Is There Time... Could I Find Someone Out There To Help Me?

The obligatory money matters part of my long winded worthless fanpost

What can this team do? Where can it go? How can it accomplish anything? First, monetary shit needs to be accomplished.

According to ShamSports, (Feel free to use the DX site as well--here is the link to the Sacbee Salary page) Sacramento has 53,231,690 committed to the following players: Brad Miller, Kevin Martin, Kenny Thomas, Beno Udrih, John Salmons, Francisco Garcia, Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson, and Donte Greene. Additionally, you also have the player option of Bobby Brown (accounting for 736,420), the roughly 3 million (which is higher than what I believe his buyout to be, but for my purposes works fine) estimate that would be owed Mikki Moore if you cut him before a certain date, like June 20th or sometime in there, and of course, I've been working under the assumption the Kings are no longer paying for Reef's salary as he will be medically retired. (On that note, I'm still wondering if the paperwork has been filed, and if so when?) So, with all that being added, you're looking at a rough estimate of 56,968,110 dollars in salary next season. Now, I'm going to assume 2 things here: Bobby Brown might not opt out, and that the buyout is somewhere between 2 & 3 million dollars, even though Amick has reported multiple times the buyout is 2 million if Moore is cut by June 20th) and I'd rather not falsely give the Kings cap room they don't have.)

The reason I bring all that up, is that the only way this team can actually improve it's roster is 3 ways: Trades, Draft Picks, and Free Agent signings. That's it. I bring it up, because sometimes I think the process gets so complicated, that we tend to forget there is so many things a team can do. A change, for the sake of change, is not always the way to go. That part I get. But, for this team, I disagree. To that end, though, I did propose this almost a couple weeks ago on Blog a Bull. Now, I'm not saying this is something the Kings should automatically do, but it's something you'd have to consider. It doesn't help you net cap space long term, especially before 2010, but it gives you a quality PG in Hinrich who plays defense, and will do what is asked of him by Natt (or whoever is coaching here next year & beyond). I would prefer a 3 way deal that included New York, and netted the Kings Starbury and Hinrich, so the Kings could get cap space, and Hinrich long term. But, and I repeat But, this doesn't work if you're likely to take a PG in the upcoming draft in 2009, as well as having Beno Udrih still locked up long term to a contract.

By that token, I think a trade deadline deal, or two, will be done by Petrie. He will do everything he can to get the most he can for Brad Miller, which includes cap space and a prospect, but it's likely he'll only get one or the other. If I had a choice, I'd prefer cap space. Petrie has an ability to get quality talent through the draft, but with Hawes, Greene, 2 potential draft picks under 21 next season, this team is going to have a lot of youth. This team doesn't need to stockpile it to become successful. What Petrie needs to do over time is get this team's cap cleared up, so taking less for a deal, like Bibby, doesn't become something that's acceptable. Because, even though the Bibby deal did distance the Kings from luxury tax, it was important to do because Bibby no longer had a real role for the Kings anyway. It made sense, and the package worked. However, this team is not going to be over the tax, unless they take substantially more money on in any deal they take on in a trade.

The bottom line with a trade, is that the Kings need to take care of their cap long term, and short term, and they need to put themselves in a position, among other things, where money is not affecting a long term move, such as a trade that can be made with cap space, or simply signing a Free Agent. They must do one of two things with a Brad Miller trade: bring back a player who can contribute in the short term, and enough cap space by 2010 to make worth dumping Brad Baby7 foot pile of dung, or outright dump his salary so you have cap space to make a supplemental move by the summer of 2009.

Where I talk about the draft like I'm an expert, but you can never forget I'll never watch any of these guys play live, therefore I'm just another fat stupid dork spouting bullshit like everybody else on here whose initials aren't TZ....

I'm a lone ranger on several fronts. I don't want Blake Griffin, or at least I'm not of the belief he's a can't miss prospect, but yet, I'm of the opinion this team clearly needs something else other than JT & Shawes up front. (What that is, is up to debate.)

First, I think it's too early to pigeonhole exactly what needs the Kings have, and Second, it's too early to properly evaluate all young players at this point. What teams do at this stage, are just simply collecting data. That's all they can do. What they can't do in May, is collect the data and thoughts of scouts in January watching a game live. Drafting a player is not an exact science, and as such, teams want to prepare themselves. They aren't making decisions, although I'm sure they have opinions, and there's always the chance factor of it all. Just look at Brandon Roy, was he on your radar screen as a top 10 pick in 2004? No, of course not. The point, if nothing else folks, is that the draft is a basis for opinions. Was Jason Thompson a great mistake? I don't think he is, but only time can tell. Right now, though, it's not looking like he was much of a reach considering he was selected at 12th overall, and much of the guys "out performing" him, were taken higher, or in drafts prior to 2008.

Let me point out 2 guys. The first, is Corliss Williamson, and the 2nd, is Blake Griffin. Now, I realize, you're gonna say, when you look at the stats of Griffin vs Big Nasty, you're going to say of course Griffin is better. I beg to differ. Williamson played less minutes overall, in part because Arkansas was a pressing team (I did actually watch college hoop then), and, because Corliss rarely played 35 mins. This was a guy who played for a team that made 2 national championship games in a row, and he was by far the best player of dem Razorbacks. Yet, he didn't even average 30 mins a night. That's the point. (He was, also, the lone player of that group to make it professionally. It's worth remembering that several other college teams of that era, notably Duke and Kentucky, each had at least 4 players play 5 years or longer in the NBA. Yet Arkansas for that short period of time was a college power. Worth remembering.)

First the Blake Griffin "Dunk" Mix:

Now, it will be believed by many around here that the Kings need a big PF inside as they don't currently have a great player up front. It will take great convincing me, again, that Blake Griffin solves the Kings problems even if they have the first overall pick. Which is why, yet again, I think the Kings need to take Ricky Rubio.

To highlight a point that TZ mentioned earlier today, he pointed out that the Webber trade, Jason Williams being drafted, Peja coming over from Greece, and Vlade Divac all happened from the end of the 97-98 season, and before the 1999 season. Why not do the same thing again? Is anybody going to tell me that Griffin putting up 22 & 12 in college basketball means more than Rubio's abilities penetrating, getting teammates involved, and, getting fans excited? Have you seen any of those clips he's in? Dude honestly reminds me of J-Will, but without the White Boy tendencies he mouthed off about now & again.

If you ask me, this team needs a personality transplant, and the fans need to want to come to the 'Ole Gas Pump again. Hell, we need excitement. Most power rankings have the KIngs as the worst, or one of the 2 or 3 worst, teams in the NBA. And they've earned it. It's time that this team move on from the past, and create a fresh place in history. By doing so that requires taking risks. Blake Griffin is the safe, easy, fan choice pick. Ricky Rubio, particularly if the Kings get to choose between the two, will not be. And, that, among other things, will be a mistake.

The part where I separate myself from you, and why I'm a genius, and you are not, part

Okay, so maybe that isn't what you want to hear, but, I don't care. I really don't care if you think I'm this guy, even if it's out of season.

This team isn't missing Carlos Boozer, or Chris Webber. It's missing a personality, a belief in itself, and ultimately, the right mix. It can't happen as long as Brad Miller is here. Mikki Moore, who is no longer in the rotation (something I think that's pleasing management), and with the amount of young talent here, there is a chance to build a serious core that could start competing next season. Taking the right players out of the mix (namely Miller and Salmons) may be the most important step to re-building this team long term. But how to do that isn't just a matter of opinion, right? There's a way to make this mix right, and there's a way not to. I fail to see how a low post player, barring he's of Tim Duncan's caliber, is worth skipping the best PG prospect, perhaps since Derrick Rose himself,or maybe Deron Williams/Chris Paul?

If you believe that Blake Griffin makes the Kings better, than go for it. I don't see it. I think what this team needs, among other things, is a vocal leader, and unless Griffin turns into that guy, his abilities down low won't make a difference. Watching the Nuggets-Kings game last night, you watched an important aspect of post play. Bobby Jackson had Spencer Hawes down low, and couldn't get him the ball. It's great to have post play, but having guys who can feed him the ball, that's a pretty important play too. Right now Shock & Hawes can't get the ball consistently in the rhythm of the offense. Some of that is Spencer's own flaws, as well as JT's, but at the same time, what difference does it make if they're open?

My last point. (In 2 parts/3 paragrahs. It wouldn't be me if it was long winded right?) For those of us who remember the team prior to 1999, you remember a certain young PG out of Charleston. He didn't really set the world on fire, and couldn't really create his own shot. His name? Anthony Johnson. Now, the Kings aren't as bad off as the 98 crew. The only difference is, like then, the big dud in the middle is providing the team with real issue's, and Brad Miller, while not quite on the level of Olden Polynice dumb, he does do his best match to the Opey Dope for levels of ridiculousness. This team needs a heart transplant, or actually, a simple playmaker who can bring this team together. Telling me that Donte Greene is not a part of this team's future is pretty arrogant. It's pretty obvious the team considers him a part of the future. If they hadn't, they wouldn't have set him down to Reno. Isn't it obvious JT has abilities, and is still scratching the surface? Is it smart to say Spencer Hawes can't improve by at least a leap & a bound at some point? The guy is only 20 for chrissakes! What this team needs, is a penetrating, mouthy, arrogant, young, piss ant Spaniard who don't give a fuck about you me or anybody else, but wants to go out and fuck your roll up. Blake Griffin may be the best PF in College Basketball, which is what it is, but that doesn't mean he's the best player for the Kings, tomorrow, and 10 years from now. Regardless of how you feel about Griffin's domination, it's a much easier sell, to me, that Ricky Rubio is an answer to what currently ails the Kings, provided the mix that includes Salmons and Miller no longer exists.

This is why I want Ricky Rubio instead of Blake Griffin. Watch some of those clips. Doesn't it remind you of the good teams with J-Will (didn't see many of those--I was living Pensacola in 99, and it's not like the fever pitch had hit national TV that year) any? The behind the back passes, the up tempo interest, hell the just all around fun Rubio has on the court? That's what this team badly needs. I would argue that more teams in the draft badly need post players, teams like les Boulez, or the Thunder, but the Kings are not one of those teams. If Griffin was, for certain, a Tim Duncan, then I'd believe it. Blake Griffin is not Tim Duncan. If he was, and NBA execs, I guarantee you the "bird with the word" would have intimated that Chicago got it's perfect post player, and that Miami got the PG it really wanted. Or something to that tune. Griffin, is not Duncan. He's Blake Griffin, whose posting eye opening stats for a top college program, that has seen 2 forwards who were top 2 picks in the last 2 drafts do similar things with those type's of numbers. The difference? I think Blake Griffin's ability may be similar to that of Kenyon Martin with New Jersey, provided he doesn't have knee problems (which is one area of concern). This is not to say that Ricky Rubio is guaranteed to be better than Derrick Rose, let alone Deron Williams or Chris Paul. It's not.

What I'm saying is, that this team needs a marketable face, a reason to play up tempo, hell a player who can do a lot of things with the ball, and who is young, and can eventually become that stud at the PG we all know the Kings need. Personally, I hope the Kings get the 1st overall pick, and I hope they shock the world with a Rubio selection. Because, after all, attendance is down, fans are down on the team, and the franchise, as many around here and elsewhere are putting it, needs to hit a home run here. There couldn't be a finer example of hitting a home run on a young Spaniard kid whom many are questioning will come over because of his contract status. The Kings need Rubio, and more importantly, the surrounding community does too. When you think out of the box, it takes people by surprise, and their first reaction is usually anger/fear/arrogance. The real question, if Kings fans give Rubio a couple years, is will they be tripping over themselves to say they were always behind that kind of selection. Which is why, if the Kings do pick Rubio, on June 25th, I will simply sit back and smile. Not because I'm right because there is, as I've said, no guarantee. I'll simply wonder how high the roller coaster goes, and hope that for 10 years it just keeps going up. That's why, when you rebuild, you need the top pick. That's why, if nothing else, there's a lottery. That's why, among other things, I'm still a Kings fan. Because I have hope, and belief, if not for Petrie, then circumstances. I know one thing. It might be an unpopular selection, and, it's going to be one hell of a ride. Saddle up minions. Turbulence is your Sacramento Kings for the next several years. And she just rode into a storm of Wizardy Thunder.