| Calm Interrupted By A Storm Authored by Bob Souza - July 23, 2005 - 1:38 am
The off-season had been cancelled due to a lack of interest -- at least where the Kings were concerned. We were all ready to jump it up at center court, for real. No need to waste any more time. Or so we thought.
If you happen to be a fan of Sacramento’s professional basketball men’s team, and you were eagerly awaiting some electrifying news – you know, the kind of stuff that hikes your enthusiasm to some dangerous level – you had been seriously hung out to dry. Played for a fool. Disappointed to the max.
Sure, maybe it was just the peaceful lull before the magnificent tempest. Like we were all lowered into the eye of the hurricane, and any minute we would experience the full and explosive fury of change. A major shakeup of epic proportions.
When would it come? Would there be a warning?
An occasional table scrap had been tossed to the floor, and we pounced on it with fervent anticipation. Abdur-Rahim could be coming our way, bringing his velvety style to the capital city. Yay. Now we were getting somewhere.
No wait. Forget it. He’s decided on New Jersey.
Bonzi Wells rumors abounded, but aren’t there plenty of problems here already without loading in a guy known for a troublesome attitude. Well, if he can shoot and play some D… hey, let’s go bro. Let’s see what you’ve got.
Antoine Walker – did we really want HIM? Earl Watson – we’ve already got a point guard, and a damn good one. Dale Davis – isn’t he about sixty years old?
The sickening truth of the situation is that the Kings are over the salary cap, and landing a quality free agent was going to be almost impossible. Their best bet would be through trades. They had hoped to sign and deal Cuttino Mobley, but that plan fizzled. He’s headed for the bright lights and choking smog of Clipperland. Lucky guy.
And what exactly could they use for bait? They had already gone on record as saying the core players of Brad Miller, Mike Bibby, Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson would be retained. Who does that leave?
Kenny Thomas has some value, but he is a player the Kings can use. Unless he were to be packaged with say, Brian Skinner or Kevin Martin for a burly power forward, or a dynamic shooting guard. Did Ray Allen sign yet? Darn.
Francisco Garcia may be a year or two away. Best not to rush him. Besides, he struggled in the summer league – could be awhile before he can take it strong to the big boys. Apparently Maurice Evans may not be back and, if so, that hurts.
The finalization of the new collective bargaining agreement has been delayed, so that can certainly be used as an excuse for a lack of any action. Okay. If you want.
But then it happened: Bonzi for Bobby. Jackson, that is. Oh, and Greg Ostertag gets off-loaded as a bonus.
The silence had been shattered. Annihilated. Reduced to nothing.
Geoff Petrie has a history of making shrewd moves, and of keeping everyone in the dark about them. That is probably the only thing that helped retain any optimism. But he has squeezed the trigger once again, and squeezed it hard.
Another fan favorite gone. Adios amigo. Jackson follows in the steps of Vlade and Doug Christie. The bitter reality claims another victim. It will be interesting to see how the city reacts to this latest one. Bobby was dearly loved.
The extremely athletic Wells is a career 46.4 percent shooter, with a 12.7 points per game average. The 28 year-old will adjust quite nicely to the Kings run and gun style of play. And the formerly disgruntled Grizzly must be thrilled to be escaping Memphis, and should find Rick Adelman’s approach quite to his liking.
So it’s quiet no more. The hush no longer golden.
The biggest for-sure news had been about the youth camp put on in Folsom by Vlade Divac and Stojakovic, and whether Vlade will play this year with the Lakers. And of course, how different things are this year without Peja grousing about leaving.
Even all the talk of a new arena had gone away. A total non-story. And that is a far scarier development than any contemplation of next season’s roster.
But now here comes the Bonz, and the beginning of a new era. Somewhere, Jerry West is having a good laugh.
Maybe there’s a last laugh to this story. |
