Surprise, surprise. Potapenko hasn't passed the conditioning test.

by Tom Ziller on Oct 12, 2006 7:55 AM PDT in News

Right now, I can't think of anything that would surprise me less:

Vitaly Potapenko has logged 10 NBA seasons and can safely say he's never run this much.

Like his teammates, the veteran center is in his first training camp directed by first-year coach Eric Musselman, and he feels it every morning. A conditioning test required of all the Kings has been a trudging-uphill exercise in futility. He's the only one yet to pass.

Is there a single Kings fan out there who would rather see this guy stay in town come November instead of keeping Justin Williams? Potapenko is owed $3.6 million, for the record. And I doubt he could get a 6th round NFL draft pick in return at this point.

It's the Maloofs' money, not ours. And it's Geoff Petrie's trade deadline piece or expiring contract, not ours.

But still. This dude doesn't belong.

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Re: Surprise, surprise. Potapenko hasn't passed th

Can we trade him for Brian Skinner?

by Carl on Oct 12, 2006 11:25 AM PDT reply actions

Re: Surprise, surprise. Potapenko hasn't passed th

Ha ha. And maybe Sergei Monia, who's somewhere in Russia?

by Tom Ziller on Oct 12, 2006 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Surprise, Potapenko hasn't passed test.

Potapenko has little value for the Kings and this isn't just because of his inability to pass the conditioning test as you suggested.

Geoff Petrie may be able to negotiate a trade--I don't think Isiah would bite, but he could give Kevin McHale a call, Ha, Ha.

We are approximately at the salary cap threshold so it would not be practical, financially, to buy out Potapenko's contract. (Potapenko's salary, the luxury tax, and the salary for Williams would amount to roughly $8 Mil.)

Unless someone can come up with a better solution, Potapenko may just have to ride the pine for the year.

by aspen on Oct 12, 2006 1:45 PM PDT reply actions

Re: Surprise, Potapenko hasn't passed test.

How do you figure?

The team's still barely below the luxury tax threshold of $65 million. (I think they're at $64M - maybe slightly more or less.)

Buying out Potapenko wouldn't change anything from that standpoint, unless he agreed to take less. (Doubtful.) And Williams would get the minimum rookie free agent amount, which is less than $1M. In fact, he's already getting some of that money because the team paid him to lock him up for their camp.

Right now, waiving Potapenko would cost the same $3.6M he's getting anyways. And the Williams money would be negligible.

by Tom Ziller on Oct 12, 2006 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Re: Surprise, Potapenko hasn't passed test.

And I may be mistaken, but aren't expiring contracts more attractive if they are somewhat larger? 3.6 million isn't a big deal in the NBA, unless Petrie can package his with another.

River City Squawkbox

by otis29 on Oct 12, 2006 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions