Without being privy to teams’ inner projections of where they think the luxury line will be and their own bottom lines, it is hard to exercise rational action theory; however, since the Kings have other picks later in the draft they may be just as happy swapping the #4 for our #8 without insisting on Lee and Thomas being involved. If they were going to move Kenny Thomas it had to be at the February deadline. Now it is too late. They can’t take his $ amount off of the luxury cap. Sure, they’d prefer to turn his useless body into a usable one at the same price, but would they want to extend Lee for five years and end up paying the taxes the whole time? Do they like him THAT much?

Washington, Golden State, and Millwaukee are three other teams that are on the luxury threshold with lottery picks. Washington doesn’t even really need a pick. All the top prospects at #5 are PGs and they have tons of money invested in their PG already.

Then there are, of course, the Hornets, who not only can sell their pick, they absolutely have to. (Somebody here mentioned last week the Nuggets may sell their pick, but they already owe it to the Bulls).

Basically, we may be able to get some pretty good stuff on June 25th without having to give up much (which is good, since we ain’t got much!)

I don’t think Sacto is in love with Rubio and it sounds like they are more into Holliday and Flynn… in fact, the whole buyout with Rubio is a mess that only a major market with big $ would want to handle.
The problem is, Sacto is pretty much in the driver’s seat with the #4 (they should have at least 3 suitors if Rubio is still available there.)
I think they would want something more like Lee + #8 for #4, Thomas and Udrih, which is not appealing. Something more like Lee +8 for 4 + Thomas + cash considerations + 2nd rounder/late 1st would be a compromise. I’m still not sure I’d do that, since we will probably buy a 1st rounder/2nd rounder anyway.
Also, if Memphis is for real about drafting Harden and moving OJ to the point, they will probably look to move Conley. Conley, Warrick and a late 1st for Lee and Duhon? Of course, Lee would have to ok the Memphis signing.
If Flynn is there at 8, I’m starting to think we should take him just because so many other teams are in love with him (raises the stakes for post-draft trades.)

I’d do the suggested Sacto trade to get Rubio, but not those other guys. Would the Kings? Depends how much they like Rubio, vs. whoever they think is available at 8.

I’m pretty sure Rubio would prefer NYC, but he’s saying good things about Sacramento because it sure beats Memphis and OKC!

The questionable attitude/work ethic and shot selection/shooting probably cross him off the list at #8, but some mocks have him falling to the 20s… He’s someone I would definitely buy, say, NOs pick to take. Also someone I would consider trading Duhon for (with a contract to match) if a PG is taken #8.

If the handshake deal worked out then I could see it working for both sides. Only hitch I see is that everything I’m reading seems to be that Rubio wants to play in Sacto (maybe he’s not dying to, but seems very willing). It might take him demanding NY or someone out-bidding the Kings for #2/#3 to get Rubio for the Kings to do it.

“Q & Chandler for Crawford and Randolph/Wright or #7…”

Tough call. Doubt GS is looking to move Randolph, just seems like their dream player. Could be wrong though. I like Wright a lot (most underrated young player in league???) or if the Knicks love 2 guys at #8 maybe they just take 2 shots to increase their odds of hitting… 2010 cap space is just so attractive, though. Wright is probably not much more than a solid starter/ borderline All-Star at best, and that’s about what I’d expect at #7. Amare seems to have already bought a ticket to NYC, Bosh is shopping for a one way ticket out of Toronto, and then their are the really big fish.

Lee + the #8 for Thompson, the #4 and Kenny Thomas

Of course it would be after the draft selections were made. So the Kings would choose for us at 4 (Thabeet, Harden, or Rubio) and we would choose for them (Holliday or Jennings.) It would be complicated, but it could be good for both teams depending on how much you like Jason Thompson.

Always the risk of losing a shot at LeBron, but if you see a real way to improve the team in the meantime, I’d rather have the bird in hand.

Personally, I’d love to have him but even better would be finding a way to smash LeBron AND the Cavs… beat him instead of join him.

Zach Randolph is on the block too! (Jeffries and Harrington for Randolph and Eric Gordon) Ha!!

Seriously, though, if you can sell another year of patience to Knick fans, that is a really, really good plan. With everyone else trying to shed for 2010 we could stockpile some strong building blocks, give them an extra year to develop, then sign 2011 free agents (like LeBron when he doesn’t opt out). We are more than a year away in our rebuilding anyway, so foregoing 2010 is less myopic and would theoretically lead to a brighter future.

Problem is, what if LeBron does opt out and signs with Miami, or Phoenix, or Chicago. Then we really look stupid.