I remember reading an article a few years ago that showed how superstars changed teams. Majority of the time it was through trade. Rarely does a superstar change teams during free agency. Honestly I can only think of a handful of superstars over the last few years that have changed teams.

However, looking at the list you presented, I would love to after either Amare, Gay, Boozer, Aldridge, Ty Thomas, and maybe Rondo. I also think none of those players deserve a max contract and may be hard to get without offering a lot of money.

Something I could see the Kings doing next year especially for restricted free agents is front loading the contract so a team that holds their rights does not have a chance to go after them.

I think your trade of Noci for Boozer would be a great one. It would add even more money coming off next season. I almost think a team that can add 2 of the superstars like Bosh, Wade, or Leborn has a better shot then a team that has only enough for one.

But way to be a downer. Just kidding.

As you say, it doesn’t appear likely that we’ll be able to “fix” our team next summer just because we’ll have a bunch of money, and there’s probably more potential to hurt our team long-term by playing loose with the money than to actually build a long-term contender. The good news is, we still have Petrie calling the shots and I feel pretty good that he won’t do anything too reckless. I suppose the worst-case scenario with him is that he’ll find 6 mediocre players to sign to 5 year MLE deals.

One thing to remember is that, assuming they continue on their current learning curves, our current young studs are eventually going to have to get paid. Possibly throw this year’s and next year’s picks into that mix as well. Meaning, if we play it cool and these young guys start to gel and develop together, we won’t ever need to make a “big splash” in free agency, just pay to keep our guys together and have enough money in a couple of years to sign one or two guys that could put us over the top (the Portland model?). I think I like that scenario a lot better than overpaying now for someone that we think we want long-term just because we have the money to do so.

I think the Kings should stay away from the FA’s of 2010 (with the only exception being Joe Johnson because I don’t think it will require a max contract to get him and I like his overall game).

I would much rather see the Kings follow the model that Portland has been using. Make quality draft picks and reasonable trades to keep your salary cap/luxury tax managable. Petrie has been doing pretty well in the draft the last couple of years with Hawes/Thompson/Evans talent wise. Keep the trend going.

As for trades, the Kings only have one thing to offer besides their young talent which would be stupid to give away now. That is the fact that they are under the salary cap and several teams are going to be looking for salary cap relief this year. Teams are going to be looking for us to take on “bad” contracts because we are one of the few teams that actually can.

Now, the question is do the Kings trade away this cap relief during the summer or wait until close to the trade deadline?

Personally, I believe that the Kings will get some really nice offers closer to the trade deadline than this summer. Why? Unless I am off point, NBA teams are not charged luxury tax for their rosters at the end of the season. So technically, the can have some one say like Carlos Boozer play for the Utah Jazz up to the trade deadline, move him to a team that is under the cap and not have to take back as much $$$$ in contracts back. In this scenario, we might be even to hold a gun to the Jazz’s head and get a Kenny Thomas for Carlos Boozer straight up deal. Since both are expiring contracts, it saves Utah nearly $4 million in salary ($8 million in luxury tax?) and gives us frees up an additional $4 million in 2010 for the Kings when Boozer walks away. And what talent have we lost here? NONE.

Maintaining that salary cap is going to be a real key for the Kings in the near future because we are going to have to be able to resign our own rookies in the next couple of years as well.

Singing Gay, or Roy. Though i think we have a better chance to get Gay than Roy. I think Evans, K$, Gay, JT, Hawes that’s a nice line up! But we’d have to over pay for Gay, which i’m not 100% sure if i’m ok with that but i’m loving the lineups

It’s a downside of a small-time city.

We traded Salmons & Miller to get Nocioni and $6M in cap space. Now, we’re supposed to trade Noc & $6M to get Boozer for 5 months. So, we trade an expiring $12M contract Miller’s, Salmons, and $6M in cash to end up with Boozers expiring $12M contract. Wow, I want to due business with people that think like than. I’ll be retired in a yr.

Cap Space isn’t just for FA’s. Cap Space is money and money is power. You don’t use cap space to overpay for ageing stars. You use cap space to rid your team of bad contracts and to pick up valueable assets in trades. Think Gasol & Camby. Think young prospect and draft choices. Save for a rainy day, and when opportunities become available, you’ll be the one ready to take advantage.

Unless we’re getting a long term asset, the Maloof’s aren’t going to spend their money on a short term bandaid. Renting a Star for one season won’t help us get to our goal of a championship. Best case, adding a Star for one yr increases the win total & fan enjoyment, But, the following year when he leaves the team ends up back to where they were before he arrived. Unless you want to extend the rebuild additional years, forget about one year rentals.

1st trade: Nocioni for Boozer. There are several reasons that Utah would do this trade. One of them obviously is to alleviate their cap room. Also, they wouldn’t have to resign Korver after this year because Noce brings the same necessity Korver does, 3pt shooting. Excluding the his 1st year in the league, Noce’s career 3pt attempts and % are on par with Korver’s, and besides he is a better rebounder and better defender. I would rather take Noce’s contract instead of handing Korver a new one.
Also, with Noce starting at the 3, Utah would have the convenience of starting Brewer at the 2 and he is a beast at shooting guard. The Jazz’s last year starting shooting guard, CJ Miles, is an adequate backup.
2st trade: K9/Donte Greene for Gerald Wallace. Wallace misses an average of 16 games a season, which means the Bobcats give him almost 2 millions every year for nothing. Maybe they are sick and tired of that and perhaps they want to take another risk at another young, full of potential, and much cheaper small forward in Donte. This trade also gives them cap flexibility for a star next summer, maybe Joe Johnson.
A line up of Tyreke Evans, Kevin Martin, Gerald Wallace, Carlos Boozer, and Spencer Hawes is very formidable.

The Kings should absolutely be hoping to cash in on 2010, but the key will be to get a guy that feels scorned by the rest of the league and whose value has dropped because he is just outside of the top of the market.

Remember what turned this franchise around last time was dealing for a disgruntled star that two franchises had given up on and signing Vlade somewhat under the radar. They need to try to duplicate a move like that again. They won’t get the premium FA types, but it would be great if they got a quality guy or two and were somehow able to take that big gamble.

And nobody is going to be looking to trade expiring contracts now either, so just stop the Boozer talk. The Jazz will be better off keeping him unless they get a huge offer so that it clears room for them come next season. Noc won’t get it done. Nobody is looking to take on contracts at this point, but shed them.

There will be so many guys looking to cash in next year in that FA class that the best hope for the Kings is to latch on to one of them and really convince him that he should come to Sacramento. They aren’t going to get any stars, but maybe a guy like Mehmet Okur or Tyson Chandler would be a good under the radar fit. Unfortunately, I don’t see too many PG’s and that may still be a position of need if Tyreke shows to be more of a two than a one.