Fansided

NBA Offseason: 5 biggest blunders

By Seth Partnow

Aug 26, 2014; Independence, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers player Kevin Love talks to the media at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 2014; Independence, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers player Kevin Love talks to the media at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 29, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Darren Collison (2) drives in against Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Darren Collison (2) drives in against Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas (22) during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

A Step Back In Sacramento

The free agent value of the offseason was Phoenix getting Isaiah Thomas for a mere $7 million per seasons. (By comparison that’s only a few hundred thousand more per year than Meeks got from Detroit). Though this was technically a sign-and-trade, Sacramento received basically nothing in return (actually a trade exception and the draft rights to a very marginal propect Alex Oriakhi).

The Kings decided they would rather have Darren Collison as their starting point guard for a small savings (paying Collison an average of $1.9 million less over the three years of his deal). What’s not to like? Well, Thomas was one of the more underrated point guards in the league, whereas Collison has been at best a competent backup. This is a gap worth well more than $1.9 million per season.

For a team which had finally been trending upward under new ownership after years of mismanagement, this move (combined with a rather embarrassing look at the team’s attempt to crowdsource its draft process) rightly has fans wondering if it’s the same old Kings.

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