This past trade deadline will prove to be a watershed moment for this team,,,

[buzz]

Likely gonna be a lockout in a year anyways.

We should come out of that with only Rondo and our next two draft picks on the books.

[FallGuy]

Likely gonna be a lockout in a year anyways.

We should come out of that with only Rondo and our next two draft picks on the books.

Exactly. Although PP's expiring next year might prove useful in acquiring some go-forward talent. Like your CP3 idea.

[rav123]

As much as the losing out on Oden/Durant was which resulted in Ray and KG and #17....as much as losing out on Duncan and getting Billups and Mercer into the hands of Pitino was (Ugh!).....as much as losing Reggie Lewis and Len Bias was as much as getting LBird in another Auerbach coup was...

And the impact is this year and for at least the next two years until KG expires....and probably beyond....

It was obvious from the prolonged swoon after the Christmas day win over Orlando....THIS TEAM NEEDED A CHANGE... It needed to be shaken up, if for no other reason than to make a statement to players that what's been going on is NOT acceptable. But more importantly than change for changes sake for this year (which so many on this board riled against, but was and is obviously needed, because the status quo is NOT acceptable), if Wyc was willing to let Danny take on salary (e.g Hinrich, Salmons, Thomas {expiring} or Jamison with Butler) it would have kept us as contenders until at least KG's contract was done.

Wyc was not willing to let Danny do this, as evidenced by Danny's (really Wyc's) hardline position that we would only give up Ray for a young player and expirings. Who the hell was gonna give us a young stud without making us take on an unattractive contract? No one. Danny couldn't make a deal because Wyc tied his hands with unrealistic conditions for a deal. Wyc obviously decided he got one championship, that was enough money spent. We'll just ride this crew into the ground and not use our big trade chip (Ray's expiring) and try to get Ray on the cheap next year.

This trade deadline was our chance to infuse new, talented blood into this team for this year and for the next two. Wyc wouldn't let Danny do it. If he won't spend any more money on this team, why should we. This is on Wyc almost as much as it's on the players. He figures the fans will keep coming, no matter what the product. Maybe he's right. There's a lot of blind loyalty out there. But I'm having a hard time respecting this team and caring about them, given that they obviously don't care about giving the only thing that fans can really ask for: effort. They and Wyc need to be sent a message.

Well, Ray has played well since the deadline passed. If we find out we are not contenders this year, we can shop Pierce next year, and KG the year after that in a similar fashion (as they will be expiring in those years). Or, we could resign Ray for 2 this off-season, Pierce for 1 the next and have the Big 3 expire in the summer of 2012, giving us about $20 million cap space (assuming Rondo at $11 mil, Perk at $9 Mil, two late first round picks and two MLE guys.

[rickyfan3.0...]

I AGREE!!

The trade deadline was our last chance to get young.

[lon3lytoaster]

I AGREE!!

The trade deadline was our last chance to get young.

There was no one out there who wanted us to get young. Iggy by all means was pulled off the table shortly after he was placed there. He wasn't moving unless it was for Amare. Amare wasn't moving period, and the only other "young" player that got moved was Kevin Martin. While I would have loved to get Martin, the Rockets really put together a good package for the Kings.

It probably was our last chance to add for a title though. I don't think we'll get past the second round this year, unless of course everything we've seen over the last like two months has been some kind of crazy mirage/facade. I doubt it, but regardless we're in for a loooonngg off season.

Caron Butler and Jamison would have been amazing. I don't know what everyone who says it would have been bad is thinking. Conider the fact that Ray likely could have been bought out and returned, we'd be looking a lot better right now if that deal went through. Jamison is better than Wallace and Caron would have been a good fit, as well.