Tradewinds Installment 2: The Kings Deals May Not Be Huge, But At Least They’re Something

When the Kings make two trades in as many days, making them by far the most active team in a trade season thus far marred by overwrought speculation, they deserve a post. So hats off to you, Sacramento Kings.↵
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↵Yesterday, you more or less swapped Brad Miller and John Salmons for Andres Nocioni and Drew Gooden. I can’t say I entirely get this one, from either a basketball or financial standpoint. Miller is a valuable big man who, while seemingly on the downside of his career, is still a well above-average passer and decent at the other stuff. His contract expires in 2010, which as you know, makes it important -- but these days, every dollar counts now.↵↵But the Kings have youngster Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson knocking at the door, and Hawes especially looks like the future. During his time in Sacramento, Salmons has been more productive than anyone anticipated, and doesn’t make much. But I know he was on the block, largely because he provided incentive for someone to take Miller’s contract, and Petrie knows I really want to see Francisco Garcia starting and Donte Greene come into his own.↵
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↵So the Kings not only get rid of Miller, but in Gooden, get a serviceable PF whose $7 million contract comes off the books this summer. Talk about immediate savings. The downside is that they’re stuck with Andres Nocioni forever. Though he’s the kind of all-purpose vet who won’t get in the way of a young team coming along, or Kevin Martin ruling the world. He’s come off the bench. He’s been in airplane crashes and eaten human flesh. Plus, did you know Sacramento still has Shareef Abdur-Rahim under contract? Yeah, I think Nocioni will eventually fade into the background -- and he has one of those nifty contracts that decrease each year. Say what you will about Paxson in Chicago, but every player he signed has a really strangely structured contract.↵
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↵Today, our intrepid monarchs traded Shelden Williams and Bobby Brown for the T-Wolves’ Rashad McCants and Calvin Booth. My only reaction to this is that I’m still convinced McCants can contribute if given a regular spot in the rotation, but mostly I think this has to do with both Williams and McCants coming off of anyone’s cap this summer. Whatever, just go read Sam Amick on this. ↵

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