Kings Won’t Get Robin Lopez in Proposed Deal, Trade Tyreke for Vasquez

Welcome Greivis Vasquez to Sacramento?

The latest report from Sam Amick says that the Kings would not be obtaining the services of Robin Lopez in the Tyreke Evans sign-and-trade deal. Lopez would go to Portland, Greivis Vasquez would be a Sacramento King. This would still mean the end of the Tyreke Evans era in Sacramento. After withdrawing their surprisingly high offer to Andre Iguodala and declining to match Evans’ offer sheet, Pete D’alessandro and the Kings have many Kings fans scratching their heads. However, Kings fans frustrated with the events from the last few days, we can take solace in several things.

*Keep in mind nothing can be finalized til July 10th, so we will keep you up to date on everything that happens in the next few days.

1) The 52 Million for Iguodala deal might have actually been a horrible decision.

While it was certainly exciting for the Kings to be described in reports as a “frontrunner” to sign the best small forward on the market, Iguodala isn’t necessarily the kind of player the Kings might want to pay big money for for the next four years. I would like to see that money go towards an extension for a behaviorally-reformed DeMarcus Cousins next year. While Iguodala might have helped the team compete for a playoff spot next year, it’s likely that an 8th seed would have been that team’s ceiling, and Iguodala’s deal would have made it much less difficult to improve the roster. Additionally, with the best draft in years coming up in 2014, an 8th seed next year might be the worst thing for the team in the long run. I always think back to 2009, which was a weak free agent class, and Detroit broke the bank to sign some of the best talent available in Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. They clearly overpaid and the moves crippled the team for years. I would not want that to happen to the Kings. Y! Sports Kelly Dwyer explains why the demise of the Iguodala deal might have been in the best interest of both sides. However, the Evans trade allows the Kings to maintain the cap space to perhaps make Iguodala another offer, hopefully one that would be more reasonable (say, 44 million over four years?).

2) Robin Lopez is not coming to Sacramento.

I’ve never been a fan of Robin Lopez’s game, and I certainly wouldn’t want him on the books for over 5 million next year if I’m the Kings front office. If Portland absorbs his contract, as has been reported, the Kings will maintain flexibility to make more acquisitions in the coming weeks.

3) More moves to come!

The Kings still have way too many guards. With Evans gone, the Kings will likely start Vasquez at point, with Isaiah Thomas as the reserve, Marcus Thornton at shooting guard, with Ben McLemore as the reserve (although I could see these roles reverse midway through the season). The team still has Jimmer Fredette, Ray McCollum, John Salmons and no small forward. Well, no small forward other than Travis Outlaw. Clearly this depth chart cannot be the end game. Since Greivis Vasquez only makes 2.15 million, the Kings maintain flexibility to either sign a quality player or two take on more salary in a trade to shore up the small forward position.

The most important thing is for Kings fans to remember to be patient. Building a team takes time, and it’s clear that Vivek Ranadive and Pete D’Alessandro plan to operate differently than the Maloofs. Tyreke Evans has been the face of the Kings during the worst of the Maloof years and perhaps a “change of scenery” is best for both sides at this point. I wish Tyreke the best of luck in New Orleans and I hope he can finally become the All-Star we in Sacramento know he can be.

Thanks for the memories!