If you are Kings basketball president Geoff Petrie, what the heck do you do between now and the NBA trading deadline Feb. 21?
Think, buddy boy, think. If timing, indeed, is everything, figure out when you're going to trade Mike Bibby and Ron Artest, because whether it's now or this summer or whenever, that's what you're going to do.
The Kings entered the season in an unknown state, and two months in, they remain there because of injuries.
Let's say Petrie decides it is time to trade Bibby and/or Artest. Bibby still is looking for his first action of the regular season after tearing a ligament in his left thumb. The Kings hope Bibby will return in the middle of this month.
Artest had surgery on his right (shooting) elbow Wednesday and likely will be out until mid-February.
Certainly, NBA teams are aware of these players' talents. However, clubs interested in either or both of these guys likely seek an immediate boost. Therefore, to receive maximum trade value, Bibby and Artest must prove they are healthy.
The market will determine whether it's time to trade Bibby, who people here often seem to forget is one of the league's best point guards. He makes few mistakes. He's one of the league's best clutch shooters and is a sound ballhandler. His weakness is defense.
Bibby's outside shooting, particularly in the clutch, should make him truly valuable to any team believing it is one shotmaker away from big things. He'll make $14.5 million next season in the final year of his contract.
Petrie ultimately must decide if Bibby, who will turn 30 on May 13, will be around to make shots for the Kings when they really mean something to this organization. Unless that happens this or next season, Bibby will become a free agent capable of leaving without the Kings receiving anything in return. That's one scenario the team does not want to envision.
The situation with Artest is different. He can become a free agent this summer and sign with another team, and again the Kings get nothing. Yet to make the most money, Artest (who'll make $8.45 million next season should he not opt out) would need to do a sign-and-trade with the Kings because, as his current club, they could sign him to one more year than another squad.
The Kings must decide if they are going to hitch their wagon to Artest for the next six or seven seasons. Honestly, the Kings acquired Artest for Peja Stojakovic before I expected. Undoubtedly, Artest is an excellent two-way player who, like most, only will be better around improved talent.
Yet Petrie has said the game plan is to get under the salary cap at the end of the 2008-09 season. Unless that has changed, that does not include a long-term commitment to Artest.
Ideally, the Kings would have remained healthy this season so we could have seen them whole. That has not been the case, so Petrie must operate with the future in mind.
Clemens on '60 Minutes' on Sunday
Boy, I can't wait to see and hear Roger Clemens on "60 Minutes" on Sunday. Clemens seems to have been preparing for this appearance for weeks. Although, if he never has used performance-enhancing drugs, as has been his position, for what is there to prepare?
