Nothing is official yet, but so much for the theory that the Kings would not make any trades while the Maloofs attempt to sell their majority interest to a group that intends to move the franchise to Seattle. While awaiting word that the deal has been finalized - sending rookied Thomas Robinson, Francisco Garcia and Tyler Honeycutt to the Houston Rockets for Patrick Patterson, Cole Aldrich and Toney Douglas, it's clear that Kings basketball officials decided they erred in drafting the undersized Robinson with the No.5 pick last summer and wanted to cut their losses. While this looks like a pure salary dump, as our Bee writer Jason Jones notes in Thursday's print editions, the 6-foot-9 Robinson - as he is listed - has been a major disappointment. While the former Kansas standout is athletic, has quick feet and pursues rebounds, he has terrible hands and doesn't finish around the basket. (Another ex-Jayhawk and one-time Kings backup center Scot Pollard cautioned accordingly while everyone was celebrating the fact Robinson dropped to the Kings at No.5).
While a lot of scouts really like Patterson, who is also an undersized 6-foot-9 power forward who can shoot, any enthusiasm for this deal is tempered by two things: the fact that Cisco was a great teammate and a calming influence in the locker room and Rocktes' general manager Daryl Morey's recent history of fleecing his colleagues. Morey is too much of an analytics guys for my taste, but he seems to have a feel for assembling players with complementary skills and personalities -- the personalities being huge here. I really like his recent additions of James Harden, Jeremy Lin, Omer Asik, and role players like Chandler Parsons and now Garcia and Robinson.
Obviously, much more to come.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.