Sacramento Kings: Rumors, Free Agents, Cap Space And More

The Sacramento Kings have been waiting for the free agent period of 2011 for ages. This is the Kings' moment!

Has anyone seen the Kings? We are still looking for the Kings. We were told they would be here.

CAP SPACE

Here's a look at the Kings' salary cap levels over the past six seasons.

 

Is "plummet" the right word?

Heading into free agency, the Kings have a cap figure of $30 million with the leaguewide team salary cap set at $58 million and the luxury tax line at $70 million. No team has more space under the cap than Sacramento.

FREE AGENTS

The Kings' free agents are:

• Marcus Thornton (restricted)
• Samuel Dalembert
• Pooh Jeter (signed in Europe)
• Darnell Jackson (signed in Europe)
• Marquis Daniels

Marcus Thornton seems like a strong bet to stay in Sacramento. Dalembert, however, is not, especially given the apparent offer the Kings made to big man Chuck Hayes. That gives Sacramento four rotation big men: Hayes, J.J. Hickson, DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson. Jeter and Jackson wouldn't be in Sacramento's plan even if they hadn't jumped to Europe, and Daniels never suited up for the Kings.

RUMORS

The offer to Hayes is said to be worth $20 million over four seasons; assuming that Thornton soaks up no more than $7 million, the Kings have to spend something like another $6 million just to reach the payroll floor. So expect the team to pop up in rumors for other mid-rung free agents, especially at the small forward and point guard positions.

Geoff Petrie is also a big fan of team-building through trades; the Kings could, if nothing else, be a valuable "third team" in a big deal.

For more on the Kings, visit SB Nation's Sactown Royalty.