The Kings' fortunes are obviously tied to the draft lottery. If Sacramento is lucky enough to land the top pick, are they obligated to select Blake Griffin — even with Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes already forming the presumed frontcourt of the future — or would it make more sense to fill the point guard void with Ricky Rubio?
I don't think the Kings would feel obligated to draft any which way. Look at the Thompson pick. Or the Peja Stojakovic, Jason Williams and Hedo Turkoglu picks. Geoff Petrie has his own drummer. I think Griffin and Rubio could help the Kings in vastly different ways, and at this point (pre-measurements, pre-workouts) it's almost personal preference.
Presuming the Kings get one of the top two picks, how quickly will the team be back the playoff picture? How do those prospects change if they end up drafting third or fourth?
The draft isn't any sort of sole deciding factor in terms of the quality of the team: it needs help up and down the roster. Next year is out of the question barring a trade for an All-Star level player. 2010-11 is a dream, 2011-12 more realistic.
The Kings have now retired three players' numbers in the Sacramento era: Mitch Richmond, Chris Webber, and Vlade Divac. Which of those players, if any, stands the best chance of getting into the Hall of Fame and why?
Webber should be in the Hall. He helped redefine the power forward position, and happened to be pretty damn good in the meantime. Richmond could get in, but Vlade's route would have to be based more on his extra-basketball activities, completely triumphant in their own rite.
Do you look back on the team's glory years (1999-2004) with sense of pride and accomplishment or more bitterness and disappointment?
Not so much pride as nostalgic happiness. That run was incredible, but more so it was incredibly fun. I long for the days of watching Webber&Divac&Peja&Bibby&Christie.
What is the one thing you will take away from the Ron Artest experience? Would you make the same trade [Peja Stojakovic for Artest] again?
The only regret from the Ron era is that the immediate success after the trade (getting to the playoffs, taking the Spurs to six) masked the bleeding wounds. The team probably should have traded Bibby and Miller back then, and begun the rebuilding process. But man, Ron is the most competitive player in the league, I think. A joy to watch, when he had it going.
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