Weekend Footnotes

by Tom Ziller on Dec 9, 2007 11:06 AM PST in Links

Geoff Petrie talks about adding a cheap swingman. It's so late most of the serviceable free agents have signed on with European clubs. So we're talking D-League level additions. Nik Caner-Medley's playing well for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, in case you're wondering. The problem: Teams can't offer those useful 10-day contracts until January. If you sign Caner-Medley or another D-League product, you're signing him for the season. Of course, you could sign him, keep him with Sacramento while you need him, and option him out to your own D-League affiliate (the Bakersfield Jam, in our case) when Kevin Martin returns. Which would be weird for the Skyforce, who made Nik a top draft pick in the NBDL draft.
section214 passes on this Peter Vescey rumor explosion. He says the Kings offered Mike Bibby and Kenny Thomas for Anderson Varejao and a couple small, bad Cavs contracts (something like Damon Jones and Ira Newble, I'd imagine). I like Varejao, especially standing next to Spencer Hawes... a young Mikki Moore with defense and funnier hair. But a long-term contract above the mid-level for such a player strains you a bit, especially if any of the contracts coming back were as long as K-9's. Nevertheless, Vescey insists Bibby's gone by the trade deadline. Take that for what it's worth.
SI.com's Ian Thomsen puts Beno Udrih at #3 in his Most Improved race. I think I'd place Rudy Gay higher -- maybe even #1, battling with LaMarcus Aldridge -- and Louis Williams deserves a place at the table. But Beno has been a surprise. Played well last night, too.
I didn't get to post this earlier in the week, and I am sorry. But everyone reads TrueHoop, so I doubt you missed it. David Thorpe on what Kevin Martin will do during his injury time-out: "We're going to turn this negative into a positive. That's the only way you can look at it. If you start thinking that you have options, that's when you lose. There are always challenges in life, and people who answer those challenges end up so much better down the road. So we're going to make it into a positive, by using this time to watch a ton of tape, to hire a personal chef to get him eating healthier than ever, to work on some lifting to get his upper body stronger, and as soon as he is allowed to stand underneath the basket he'll work on left-hand finishes." He's in good hands, that Kevin.
Sam Amico of HOOPSWORLD thinks the Kings are an interesting team to watch. I don't disagree; this season has already been more intriguing than all of last year.
section214 pointed this out in a recent comment thread, but it deserves more attention: Listen for the last lines of this trailer and tell me Speed Racer isn't the perfect moniker for Kevin Martin.
(For those who can't watch it, the line is: "He's going to be very good. No, he's going to be the best... if they don't destroy him first." I got goosebumps.)

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Re: Weekend Footnotes

So if The Kings get an exception for 'Reef they could sign NCM to the minimum with no luxury tax implications. Why not?

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 9, 2007 11:50 AM PST reply actions

Re: Weekend Footnotes

Becuz it's STOOOOOO-pid.

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 9, 2007 1:01 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Weekend Footnotes

They'd still be liable for luxury tax payments if they went over the threshold. I believe they are fairly safe, though, unlike last year where they sat within $500,000 of the line all year.

by Tom Ziller on Dec 9, 2007 1:38 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Weekend Footnotes

What can NCM do that Salmons/Garcia can't do? Yeah, that's not the problem with the Kings. The problem is the front court.

by KingsFan on Dec 9, 2007 1:40 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Weekend Footnotes

And the available frontcourt help would be...

Take Artest out of the mix due to trade or family matters and suddenly we are not nearly as deep at the swing positions.

As I used to tell my sales force, if you don't like my solution then let's hear one of yours. So, who would you add to the roster? The Kings are down to 11 healthy bodies at the moment, 10 if Artest needs to take a leave.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Dec 9, 2007 3:13 PM PST up reply actions

Re: Weekend Footnotes

anyone else m=wondering if sam amico is sam amick's italian alter-ego?

Proud to be TZ's hero. http://crescendaofmediocrity.blogspot.com

by MILKSHAKE on Dec 9, 2007 12:25 PM PST reply actions

Re: Weekend Footnotes

Nice links TZ thanks. As far as Amico I do agree this is team is very compelling (which it certainly wasn't a year ago.) Now I guess the question is can the Kings become more than just compelling, now or in the future?

I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Dec 9, 2007 1:01 PM PST reply actions