In case you missed it:

i wrote:

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2009 NBA Free Agency Primer

Last year the NBA's salary cap was set at $58.68 million. The cap threshold has typically increased by a few million each season since its inception, but the slumping economy has adversely affected the NBA as well. While the salary cap for the 2009-2010 season won't officially be determined until later in July, there have been strong indications that the cap might actually decrease from the previous year for the first time since 2002; possibly settling in at $57.3 million. For our purposes, let's assume it stays relatively stable - in the $57-58 million range.

So, which teams are currently positioned to bid the most on the 2009 free-agent crop? After examining each team's salary commitments it is clear there are very few teams with much of cap space available this summer. And once you factor in guaranteed money owed to 2009 draft picks and minimum cap holds, you are essentially looking at only six teams with significant cap-room to make a run at a free agent. Here are the teams, along with their approximate cap space in parentheses: Detroit Pistons ($18 million), Memphis Grizzlies ($20 million), OKC Thunder ($15 million), Portland Trail Blazers ($8 million), Sacramento Kings ($12 million), and Atlanta Hawks ($9 million).

However, this certainly doesn't mean that all these teams will use the cap space afforded to them. If history is any indicator, franchises such as the Grizzlies and Thunder are in no hurry to spend their entire allowance and bump up against the cap. (Last season, the Grizz had the lowest payroll in the League). As far as Sacramento is concerned, the Kings owners, the Maloof brothers, have been hit hard by the economic downturn. And the Kings - while they have some nice young pieces on the roster - are certainly not going to compete for the title next season; so don't expect them to break the bank for top-notch, expensive talent. In addition, Atlanta's trade for Jamal Crawford will certainly eat into their expected maneuverability.

I am reposting this link and quote, because I think free agency may be something the Kings may have to consider, even during this rebuilding phase. Beyond the quote (above), there is some information that might be worth perusing (such as):

Which brings up to another topic to discuss, it becomes a real avenue of opportunity in the weeks ahead: 'Sign-and-trade' transactions. CBA expert Larry Coon explains the benefits of the sign-and-trade to each party thusly: "Teams benefit because it allows them to get something in return for players they would otherwise lose to free agency. Players benefit because they can get a richer contract, and/or play for a team that is over the salary cap and otherwise wouldn't be able to afford them. Unlike the new team, the player's original team can use the various Bird exceptions (as long as the player qualifies) to sign the player without regard to the cap. Also, if the player's original team has full Bird rights, they can offer the player larger raises (10.5%, as opposed to 8%) and more seasons (six, as opposed to five -- see question number 46 for more information). So sign-and-trade is a useful tool for teams that are capped-out and unable to offer players large contracts."

And with so many teams over the cap, we may see far more sign-and-trades than usual this offseason. (Please note, teams can only begin entertaining S&T scenarios on July 9th, after the seven-day moratorium has been lifted.)

One last factor to keep in mind is the mid-level exception. "This exception allows a team to sign any free agent to a contract equal to the average salary, even if they are over the cap. This exception may be split and given to multiple players. It may be used for contracts of up to five years in length, and raises are limited to 8% of the salary in the first year of the contract. Signing a player to a multi-year contract does not affect a team's ability to use this exception every year. For example, a team can sign a player to a five-year contract using this exception and still use the exception the following year to sign another player. If the player is a restricted free agent with one or two years of service and receives an offer sheet from a new team, the player's prior team may use the Mid-Level exception to match the offer sheet."

And...

Nate Robinson (Restricted) - Despite being just 5'9", Nate should probably be listed as a shooting guard. (And when you have been in the league four years and still don't have a defined position - that is usually not a good thing.) It's safe to assume Nate has played his last game for the Knicks. Expect New York to move him in a sign-and-trade rather than ink him to a long-term deal, especially after the Knicks drafted FSU sparkplug Toney Douglas with the first-round pick they bought from the Lakers. The Knicks would love to use Robinson as the bait to get a team to take on Jared Jefferies' egregious contract. Donnie Walsh had serious discussions with the Kings at last season's trade deadline where the Knicks would have sent Nate and Jeffries to the Kings in exchange for Kenny Thomas' expiring contract

Hedo Turkoglu (ETO) - It was widely assumed that the Magic would do whatever they had to do in order to bring back Turk, who was an integral part of their Eastern Conference championship-winning puzzle. But after Otis Smith brought in Vince Carter via a blockbuster deal with Orlando, all bets are off. Hedo is most definitely in play. Rumors intimate that the Pistons are interested and will definitely kick the tires a bit.

Drew Gooden (U) - A big forward who can bang, board, and score on the box. He'll go fishing for some mid-level money.

Chris Andersen (U) - The colorful "Birdman" lead the league in blocked shots per minute last season, and is one of the better help-defenders on the market. Plenty of clubs would love to bring his energy and defense off the bench, but any club is going to have to out-bid Denver, who badly wants to bring him back.

And more...

Ailene Voisin: New King carries hopes of a nation

Kings' top pick OK with questions about past

Mehmet Okur is "leaning toward opting out" of his contract with the Jazz and could make the decision official as soon as today, Okur's agent, Marc Fleisher, said Sunday. Salt Lake Tribune

Back in May, Okur commented on his Web site that he would be willing to take $3 million to $5 million less in a new contract to stay in Utah. Okur also said he considered himself one of the eight to 10 best centers in the NBA in that same interview. "I'm not sure whether [the Jazz] misread it or didn't misread it," Fleisher said. "Memo's going to do what's best for him and his family." Salt Lake Tribune

The Jazz face opt-out decisions ahead of a Tuesday deadline from Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver and Okur. All indications Sunday continued to be that Boozer and Okur would opt out while Korver would not. "I think he's looking to do what will make sense going forward for him," Fleisher said of Okur, "and whether that's with the Jazz or not, it's undecided at this point. We're going to look at all the options before he makes his decision." Although he would be heading into an uncertain free-agent market, Okur has the advantage of being a national hero in his native Turkey, where he could return home and likely command a salary equal to or in excess of what he would make in the NBA. Salt Lake Tribune

Mitch Lawrence in Sunday's Daily News reported that the Wolves turned down a deal with the Houston Rockets that would have resulted in Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier - starters on a very good playoff team (who could have beaten the Lakers if Yao Ming was not injured) - headed to Minnesota for Rubio.

Hi, Doc.

I hear what you are saying.

However, not "overachieving" to have a shot at lottery picks is not something that fans who buy game or season ticket packages would be thrilled about enduring much further.

The Kings will have to make games FUN and start WINNING while REBUILDING. Worried and stressed fans will want a diversion, something to take their minds off their serious problems periodically. The Kings' owners are in financial trouble and want to turn around their fortunes and may evacuate Sacramento if they do not see more fans in the seats, more ancillary sales, and a new arena agreed upon and financed by someone other than the Kings' owners.

California's imploding economy is a huge factor. The entire U.S. is in dire trouble; but California is in the most trouble.

The temptation to relocate to someplace not quite so economically distressed will be a temptation for the owners.

That is why I wanted Ricky Rubio so much; because he, even if he struggled (though I am not convinced that would have been as big a problem as speculated) a bit at first, he would make watching games FUN, would make the other players BETTER, defend well and key and command a running offense, and put fans' butts in the arena seats and NEW Kings' brand caps, t-shirts and so forth on their bodies.

Even if Tyreke Evans proves to be the unstoppable "stud" he is being hyped up as, he is going to have to LEARN to be a point guard in the NBA, for the Kings, and being something of a ball hog (not unlike John Salmons and Ron Artest) he will have to change that tendency and look for open players more. He will defend and drive to the hole, which is good; but, Tyreke is a shooting guard with some point skills, so the Kings will have to somehow transform him or utilize his strengths while finding ways to overcome his weaknesses. Being portrayed as the Kings' savior is unfair to the kid.

I get the idea that Geoff thought he handled the Spanish point guard with flashy passing skills interest with Sergio Rodriguez (but Sergio, though an impressive passer, is a poor man's Ricky Rubio).

As to bigs, waiting for Derrick Favors is about as valid as counting on the top 2 picks in this last draft. If he is not injured, and as as good as advertised, he will go in the top 3, and getting there is about as winnable as a crap shoot against someone with his own loaded dice.

Sure, John Wall (who is a point guard with spectacular potential) and Derrick Favors (a WOW big) look like as close to sure bets as draft prospects get; but counting on getting them is a sucker's bet.

Then again, next year's draft may prove to be as full of potentially good bigs as this year's draft was for point guards. So...

I can appreciate looking to the next draft for bigs.

However, if you look over the Kings current roster, they have some gaps to fill for THIS season, to even fill the NBA minimum.

Thanks, Doc. And I agree that the Kings can BOTH improve their record this coming season AND acquire a quality big in the next draft.

Unloading Udrih's and Nocioni's contracts will not be easy, especially Udrih's. And they will have to play, and play well enough, to become attractive to teams not adverse to unwieldy contracts to fill a need. Will that happen? I do not know. If the Clippers do not want Udrih, then I am hard pressed to find a suitor. Nocioni? I like the guy and how the team improved once he arrived and played regularly. But there might be a team out there for him, which would free up the Kings to play Omri Casspi (if they do not stash him overseas this season).

As I have said before, I think the Kings could get something worthwhile for Kenny Thomas' expiring contract.

My concerns are not whether or not the Kings can or will improve over the next few years (with the Tyreke Evans pick and so forth) but whether or not they will do that in Sacramento (which would have been more likely with Ricky Rubio).

Even if I have to move (to survive), I do not wish to see the Kings relocated. (Maybe Tyreke was the right pick for the owners and Geoff; but NOT for Sacramento.) Folks in Sacramento and surrounding areas deserve to have major league sports, arts and entertainment.

That said, I do think there are quality players out there that the Kings might be able to get on the cheap who can make the team better, whether it be via trade, free agency, the undrafted or future drafts. That is why I suggest some possibilities.

And I too hope Paul Westphal proves to be a keeper.

Thanks for dialoguing. I appreciate it.

I am sure the Kings' TEAM can survive another year of bungling and learning and hopefully improving.

What I am concerned about is whether the Kings tenure in Sacramento can survive it.

Without Ricky, and with Tyreke, John Wall as a King next year is an attractive notion to me, I admit; but, quite frankly, if the Kings do not stay in Sacramento after next season, I will not care one iota what they do or who they put on their roster.

If at all possible, I want the Kings to continue in Sacramento (even if I do not).