Sacramento Kings: Why acquiring Ryan Anderson would be a mistake
By Tyler Watts
The Houston Rockets want to trade Ryan Anderson to create cap space. This article details why taking him on would be a mistake for the Sacramento Kings.
The Houston Rockets have agreed to acquire Chris Paul from the LA Clippers. This blockbuster trade pairs up Paul and James Harden to form the best backcourt in the NBA. It also leaves Houston with questions to answer.
The biggest of these issues is how to absorb Paul’s $24.6 million salary for next season and build a championship contending roster around the two superstars. The easiest answer for the Rockets involves shedding itself of Ryan Anderson and his hefty contract. That is where the Kings come in.
Why Sacramento
The easy answer is the Sacramento Kings have a plethora of cap space and limited roster spots to fill. The Kings are going to have money left on the table to take on a salary dump if they wish.
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Why Anderson is a huge mistake for the Kings
Here are three reasons why taking on Ryan Anderson’s contract is a huge mistake.
1. Ryan Anderson is scheduled to make $61.2 million over the next three seasons. That is a huge overpay.
2. Anderson is a very limited player. Sure, he is a great shooter and floor spacer, but Anderson is a bad rebounder and defender. The Kings struggle enough on defense and adding Anderson would further exacerbate that problem.
3. The three years left on Anderson’s contract would limit Sacramento’s cap flexibility in future seasons. The Kings are currently a rebuilding team and can afford a salary dump, but go for a rental or two years of a bad contract. I am hopeful that Sacramento is competitive in three years, but those dreams get dashed if Anderson is an anchor to your financial flexibility.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, why I think taking on Ryan Anderson’s contract is a huge mistake for the Sacramento Kings. I will go as far as to say there is no way the Kings should do it. If Houston attaches draft picks to the deal, those picks figure to be late first rounders. In other words, lottery tickets that they turn into meaningful rotation pieces. Do not fall into this trap Sacramento. Stay clear of Ryan Anderson and his hefty contract.
Next: 5 potential targets in free agency for the Kings
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