The Four Best Words in Sacramento
by Exhibit G on Jun 29, 2009 9:00 PM PDT
in Free Agency/Trades
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Right now I think the 4 best words out there are "Kenny Thomas' Expiring Contract". Congrats Kenny! You've moved into the lexicon with legends such as P.J. Brown, Penny Hardaway and Raef LaFrentz!
Kenny Thomas is slated to make a little over $8.7 million this season. A staggering number considering his production. But he might be the best asset on the team this season. He either provides us cap relief towards next summer's storied free agent class of 2010, or he could be traded to a team looking for cap relief. Either way, we'll be in a better situation.
I've always wondered what it would feel like to be known only for the fact that I represented upcoming cap space. The idea that you are so worthless and overpaid that someone would trade for you simply because they wouldn't have you around the following season. It astounds me. As a professional athlete, one would think that you'd have a certain level of pride. Players are derailed for a variety of reasons, obviously. Hardaway and LaFrentz were betrayed by their bodies, P.J. was just getting old. Hell, Brown was still a valuable asset beyond just his expiring contract.
That brings me back to the case of Kenny Thomas. His downfall in Sacramento has been due to not meshing with the coaching staff(s), not trying, or both. Since he's been in Sacramento through several coaches, it probably is not a reach to assume that his downfall is due more to a lack of effort than a coaching style clash.
But imagine if he cared again. There was a time when Thomas was a serviceable player, and a pretty good rebounder. How tempting might he be to a team seeking cap relief next summer, and also seeing Thomas as a guy who needs a change of scenery? I don't know that anyone is out there who might think that. There's little evidence to support such an idea. But how about this, what if someone wants to capitalize on a player who once showed some ability, represents cap space in the summer of 2010, and is in a contract year and has shown motivation only when working towards a new contract? Suddenly, Kenny Thomas could be very appealing.
And even if the Kings don't get any quality players in a trade, they can hold Thomas for another season and have cap space next summer. After all we've been through, what's one more season with Kenny Thomas on the bench?
For once, having Thomas on the roster is a win-win situation.
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I can't wait to buy my number 9 "Expiring Contract" Kings jersey,
it’ll go right next to my Falcons number 7 “Ron Mexico” jersey in my closet.
smell the ashes
by iamstern'skippah! on Jun 29, 2009 9:10 PM PDT reply actions 8 recs
Oh man, would that be classic
A Kings jersey, #9 on the back, and the words “Expiring Contract” in place of the name up top. I bet that thing would sell like Krispy Kremes.
With the 4th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select Tyreke Evans, STUD out of Memphis.
I'd buy it!
"It would be my honor to be your new stepfather."
by PhutureKings on Jun 29, 2009 11:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Great points all around
I almost feel bad for him. Almost. I remember when he came here in the Webber trade. Webber just wasn’t the same and we needed to trade him. I remember the first time I saw K9 play and thought “well, maybe this won’t be too terrible. He’s not Chris Webber, but C-Webb wasn’t even himself.” Then Kenny kind of stopped giving a damn. He didn’t play as well coming off the bench behind Shareef, who was obviously the better player. If I remember correctly Shareef was even gracious enough to come off the bench. But Kenny still underproduced and just didn’t try. Because of that, I almost feel bad for him. Had he put some effort forth and played poorly, I’d actually give a damn.
Right now my dream scenario involves us landing Chris Bosh somehow. I hope that it comes via trade this year and Kenny is involved. It’ll make me like him a little, even, because then, and only then, will he have done something useful to this team.
www.mancancook.net
Or KTEC9
The Kings’ accounting weapon.
by ttylerbballcamper on Jun 30, 2009 9:30 AM PDT up reply actions
EC(anine)
Woof!
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on Jun 29, 2009 9:26 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Leave Penny
out of this. It’s not his fault his knee fell off. (Much like Webber.) He was always before the injury.
Can you imagine what one-hundred percent healthy careers would've looked like for
Grant Hill
Penny and
McDyess?
Those three guys without injuries would’ve been unreal.
"It would be my honor to be your new stepfather."
by PhutureKings on Jun 29, 2009 11:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Grant Hill would have most likely won a championship with Orlando.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement.
Kenny Thomas' expiring contract
a prime example of why the CBA will change. He is the by-product of a system that doesn’t work – the guaranteed contract.
We accept this and shake our heads. If I awoke tomorrow and had the money to be an owner of an NBA team – this type of thing would have me moved to the padded room in short time. I understand it, but if ever a taste could be more sour, I know not what it it is.
oh, and rec'd ExG. You are on a nice roll right now.
You are a rec’d-ing machine.
by betweentheeyes on Jun 29, 2009 9:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Kenny Thomas?
Are you talking about the guy that was on our team a couple of years ago?
by ElRonToro on Jun 29, 2009 9:56 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Amen to that
Agreed! The sad part is how productive Kenny USED to be. He hit a steep hill and tumbled all the way down. I hope we can do something with this contract, assuming the team moves him.
by kingsforever23 on Jun 29, 2009 10:44 PM PDT reply actions
Still...
I can’t WAIT for the day that pile of manure is off the team. Wadda JERK. If every coaching staff from Adelman (known players coach) to Natt saw k9 as a cancer…guess what? He’s probably a cancer! Any team looking at that waste of oxygen knows full well what they would be getting! He has NO VALUE as a basketball player AT ALL! Whatever low effort he would provide a team would be canceled out by his attitude. Don’t know if they would even let him in the gym! Just trade for him and waive him before he causes any damage to your team. He is obviously caustic, because numerous coaching staffs wanted NOTHING to do with him. He probably told them he wasn’t going to give any effort if they played him so don’t bother. Can’t WAIT till that pile of shite is dumped. And as he leaves with his loot like a thief, I’ll scream GOOD RIDDANCE !!
Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!
Stll never heard anyone close to the team refer to him that way
By all accounts, Thomas works hard in practices, and is a good teammate. I saw an interview with the locker room manager a couple years back, just a fluff piece about what he did to help the team, and he was asked who his favorite player was, and it shocked the hell out of me.
“Kenny Thomas. He’s been very kind, and always treated me like part of the team and a friend.”
Furthermore, Thomas got exactly TWO chances to play more than 8 minutes last season. TWO.
Jan 6 – NJ – 24:00 (1-1 FG) 2pts, 1 block, 4 steals, 8 boards
Jan 9 – Miami – 8:12 (2-3 FG) 4 pts, 2 boards, 1 assist
Sounds like the motherfucker was hustling when he got the chance to play. Not sure how many guys can get 3 minutes every ten days and be consistent producers, but I’m not mad at him.
I’ll be the first to say I’m glad his contract is up, he’s obviously not a part of the future, and hasn’t been for awhile. I’m glad for us, and I’m glad for him. I hope he gets the chance to play a role elsewhere.
Everyone who acts like he fooled us into signing him as a free agent should put a sock in it. Petrie took him in the Webber deal to get out from under a contract that was three times as bad as Thomas. Like it’s his fault the tickets cost too much, parking fees are a mild ass rape, and a beer is 9 bucks. Grow the fuck up. He hasn’t vetoed any trades, he has not been what’s the matter with the team, and he sure as shit didn’t miss all of those free throws in 2002, or smash C-Webb’s knee.
Thomas is here because a man we all respect thought he was worth it. And all things considered, the team is better off now for having lost Webber then, instead of carrying that giant contract until 12 months ago.
Every one of you would have signed the deal Thomas signed with Philly, and I suppose most of you would have bitched and moaned about your lack of playing time. Well, I’d say for the most part, he’s been a professional in Sacramento, both on and off the court.
Be glad he’s gone soon, sure, I get it. But you don’t have to make it personal, and you don’t need to call him names or wish him ill.
I love it, but at the end of the day, it’s only basketball. What the hell is wrong with you?
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.
by andy sims on Jun 30, 2009 12:18 AM PDT up reply actions 10 recs
Andy, I remember the New Jersey game
Kenny Natt had made some statements in the media that K9 was his best post defender in practice, and also made the usual statements about giving playing time to guys who showed hustle and effort.
So K9 plays extremely well in that New Jersey game – and what does he get the next night in Chicago? No minutes…zero, zip, zilch…nada. It was at that point I knew Kenny Natt was not long for the job.
And that’s not to make K9 out to be completely innocent. His dispute with management has festered enough to be felt in the locker room and amongst the fan base. But he’s clearly not be the villain in the black hat we make him out to be. The level of vitriol is pretty undeserved, I agree.
I’ll still say that the trade was a mistake by Petrie, as he was unable to move the separate parts in a timely manner (that was the whole point really). Webber may have expired last season, but we could have done what Philly did earlier in the deal and bought him out, or C-Webb’s expiring contract may have had more value in the last year of his deal.
But you are spot on with everything else.
With the 4th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select Tyreke Evans, STUD out of Memphis.
by otis29 on Jun 30, 2009 5:25 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Well put, Andy and Otis
I hope my article did not convey a sense that I felt he is/was a lockerroom cancer or anything of the sort. I agree with that both of you said. But even if Kenny is a great guy, I think we’ll all be happy when this contract and chapter is finished.
Never forget: I am a complete idiot
Something just don't add up
The team has been floundering, an obvious deficit is rebounding and yet K9 remains bench bound. Through 3 coaches.
As fans we react, rightyly or wrongly to what we see. We see a team in need and a player than remains without playing time. It is not a coincidence. Rift with managment is too vague an answer for me. There is something else there, it is deep seated and I don’t expect I will ever know.
So, K9 remains an expiring contract asset. He won’t see playing time with Thompson, Nocioni, Greene, Casspi, Brockman and possibly Diogu in front of him. His situation can remain enigmatic but for all intents and purposes, the Kings roster will be improved by his absence.
by betweentheeyes on Jun 30, 2009 7:32 AM PDT up reply actions
I remember the next day after the Jersey game
ESPN.com’s NBA front page had a huge pic of K9 with the title: “Oh My God! They Played Kenny!”
"It would be my honor to be your new stepfather."
by PhutureKings on Jun 30, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Where was that effort when he was getting meaningful minutes off the bench behind Shareef?
Where was that effort when he was bitching and moaning about not being a starter? You don’t get paid millions to bitch and moan when you don’t get to start over the obviously better player. You earn that money no matter what your role is. That will always leave a bad taste in my mouth, period.
www.mancancook.net
Damn.
That was pretty good.
Rec’d.
"It would be my honor to be your new stepfather."
by PhutureKings on Jun 30, 2009 12:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Good Riddance NOT EVEN
BAD RIDDANCE! If there is one. I just wanna throw some hot coffee on Kenny Thomas. Okay maybe just slash his tires. What a terrible horrible contract. Never Again Maloofs….NEVER AGAIN!
by kingsforever23 on Jun 29, 2009 11:00 PM PDT reply actions
Are you not paying attention to this post?
Maloofs had nothing to do with K9’s contract except approving the trade that took it off Philly’s hands in exchange for the albatross that C-Webb had become. The Sixers, not the Maloofs, gave Kenny that contract. It was a terrible contract, but C-Webb (post-injury) was far, FAR worse. If you want to groan about anything, groan about that.
People need to start checking their facts before going all postal against K9 and the Maloofs.
(Hmm. K9 and the Maloofs. Great name for the Arco Arena house band.)
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Jun 30, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions
I say play the year out
It may not be the sexy thing to do opposed to trading for a stud but I would rather have the money off the cap. With the team in rebuilding the stud free agents of ’10 are not going to pay attention but it means the team can retain the good things it has. One of the greatest problems with rebuilding is you stockpile new talent but you worry about how you can afford them when they put it together.
Given the financial problems right now it cant hurt to cut some salary out instead of adding someone else that does not want to be here. I will not be mad at K9 becuae he may be a good person in a situation we dont understand. It is not his fault he got the contract that size, he just was happy to be offered it. I am going to choose to look towards the future instead of getting mad at someone for a contract all of us would be thrilled to have.
Finding positives in a 65 loss season since 2009
I'd feel pretty good
with 9 mil in my bank account.
Honestly though, I told my friends 2 years ago I am having a party when he is gone from the team. I’m going to get a cake and everything, pin the tail on the Thomas, and a pinata with his face glued to it. And when you hit it, money comes out.
Can’t wait.
Phil Jackson, after treatment for a kidney stone "When the anesthesiologist leaned over me, he said "We named your kidney stone Kobe because it's not passing."
play?
I think we tried that this past season and the numbers dont lie. From what i understand he wasn’t injured and i know he barely played but those numbers the past two years are atrocious. Kenny was awesome back in the day but we need some more scoring.
by kingsforever23 on Jun 29, 2009 11:17 PM PDT reply actions
He only got more than 7 minutes one time
And in that game, he played extremely well, especially on the defensive end. If K9 was, as Coach Natt mentioned, the best post defender on a team with exceptionally weak post defense, why didn’t he play more often? Did they not feel that our young guys could learn something from him?
The team was awful last year…and in limited minutes K9 gave effort and played defense. That should be worth a few minutes of playing time per game.
With the 4th pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select Tyreke Evans, STUD out of Memphis.
As a Kings fan this is not the thing i look up to the most next year
Sure we have to look up to the future with the ‘10 free agency and all, but I’m excited to see Tyreke Evans blow past defenders, Sergio dishing out (dare i say it) Rubio-like assists, and Casspi making Arco Arena go nuts after a sick nasty dunk.
K-9 is a bum, we all know that but I just want to see the youth develop so we become competitive again. I’m excited to watch Donté, K-Mart, Rodriguez, Casspi, JT, Hawes, Garcia, Even Brockman.
Saying K9’s contract is the most valuable element of this team is retrogressive, I see the team’s young nucleus leading us to the playoffs in three years max.
Read it again, Slaaam
I never said it was the most valuable element of this team. I was simply pointing out what K-9’s contract means to the team right now. Part of his expiring contract is looking to the future either in terms of acquiring another player helping us toward rebuilding, or by freeing cap space to continue rebuilding.
Never forget: I am a complete idiot
Next 4 best words...
Beno Udrih’s Expiring Contract
Without being personal...
… He has been overpaid to be just a body at practices. He absolutely is our best asset as far as trades are concerned, plus there is no rush to offload him, because we’re clearing the decks for 2010 too.
The problem has been his relationship with management/ownership. i wouldn’t be surprised if Natt got a call after the Nets game from a Maloof to tell him to leave KTEC on the bench. He didn’t play again after that game…
Adleman started him, so he didn’t piss off every coach. He really fell out of favour with Musselman and never came back from it. Moore, Hawes (for a while) and now Thompson all got the nod before him. I bet Brockman will be off the bench before him too, if he’s still with us by then. Management have made it clear to him that he isn’t in the franchise’s future.
I’ll bet there are some (New York) 2010-focused teams (New York) out there that wouldn’t say no to him (New York). Not to mention any names (New York), but we might be able to get some nice pieces for him, either via sign and trade, or conventional trade…
Here’s hoping!
Don't Feel Bad
Players’ pride got traded in with another two words: Guaranteed contracts.
When you guys start selling the Expiring Contract jerseys, I’d also lke to sell my ‘Salary’ Caps.
I wonder how much cap room Shelden Williams has?
I wonder sometimes how Ricky Berry would've turned out
Not as much as Barry Bonds
that guy needed a special cap. That is one big melon on his neck.
by betweentheeyes on Jun 30, 2009 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions
The most astonishing thing
is that K9 ever got that contract in the first place. He put up halfway decent numbers for half a season with Philly after coming over mid-season from Houston in early 2003. So what does Billy King do? He signs the guy to a ridiculous 7-year contract. A year and a half later, they unload the guy like a bad habit on the Kings in the deal for the smoldering, budget-crushing wreckage otherwise known as post-injury C-Webb.
Even with that trade, the Kings came out ahead, which just goes to show how onerous C-Webb’s contract really was. Here’s a quote from Wikipedia:
On January 11, 2007 Sixers GM Billy King announced that the Sixers and Webber had agreed to a reported $25 million contract buyout on the remaining two years left on his contract, in effect paying him not to play.
Credit Petrie where credit is due. Even though he gets a fair amount of blame for the existence of Webber’s max contract, he made the best of a truly horrendous financial situation. And now the end is FINALLY in sight.
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Jun 30, 2009 4:27 PM PDT reply actions
What is the real deal with this guy?
There was an article by the Bee last winter about Kenny waiting and trying to be in shape to play, and it seemed to start telling a story, but never actually went anywhere. Why can’t Ailene V actually pick up the phone and get the story on this, and find out who said what and when and what the deal is? Why do we have to get some article on how the Kings actually picked players in the draft, or ‘the Kings need to win NOW’ type articles? Can anyone actually answer me that question?
Kenny Thomas may be a good dude. Kenny Thomas may be a bad dude. Who the heck actually knows?
The bottom line is, at this point it doesn’t really matter, but it would be a good story to find out more because it could be a link to finding the answers to other questions inside the organization. You know, like, why the team signed Beno for five years, or why they can’t get more production out of Miller while he was here, etc….
Anyway, just my two cents…. Personally, I would have tried to play him, to get the other players on notice that they better perform or sit on the bench, because last year, the Kings stank so bad and so much of it was just pure lack of effort, every game. Seriously.
Ricardo from Cherry Valley
"Any day you get to play the game of basketball in an honorable way is a good day" -Charlie Rosen, from the Beyond Basketball workshop at Omega Institute, Summer 1997
by NewYorkKingsFan on Jun 30, 2009 5:32 PM PDT reply actions
The real four best words in Sacramento
Kayte Wet T-shirt Contest
by AnotherStupidSN on Jul 1, 2009 10:23 PM PDT reply actions
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