Kings: Thomas Robinson Trade Is Another Classic Maloof Move

December 1, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe (12) guards Sacramento Kings power forward Thomas Robinson (0) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE

The Sacramento Kings have made these types of trades before. They’ve let players like this go before and seen them develope into competative NBA players on other teams.

Gerald Wallace, Hedo Turkoglo, Matt Barnes, Mike Bibby, Kevin Martin, Ron Artest, and even Spencer Hawes are all players who were either let go, or traded away with the Kings recieving less than their value.

After the Kings traded away rookie Thomas Robinson for Patrick Patterson, Toney Douglas and Cole Aldrich, the Kings have added to list of questionable trades in the last ten years. The only valuable player that under the age of 30 the Kings have recieved in a trade was Brad Miller; who came to the Kings in the trade involving Hedo Turkoglo. Miller had only a few good years with the Kings and even though he developed into a better passer and outside shotter, most around the league would agree that he also became a softer player who lost his defensive intensity.

The Kings have followed a unusual and entirely disconcerting trend of trading away players with large contracts for players of lesser value who have rarely panned out.

The Kings’ most recent trade has raised several eyebrows around the league and inside the Kings orginization.

The Maloofs  have tried to deny having any involvement in the trade; however, General Manager Geoff Petrie has suggested otherwise multiple times since the trade. Petrie has clearly had his hands tied by the Maloofs who have played major roles in the selcetion of the last five Kings head coaches. The Maloofs have put a strangle hold on Petrie as they have slowly cut salaries to have the NBA’s lowest team payroll.

Thomas Robinson’s departure will immediately save the Maloof’s almost $2 million, and another $3 million if Patrick Patterson accepts an offer from another team as he will become a restricted free agent during the offseason. The Kings will not have to worry about the money saving ways of the Maloofs as they will no longer be the owners of the team after this summer regardless of whether or not the team stays in Sacramento.

Robinson has tremendous talent and potential. However, he had been said to have a negative attitude, and was unhappy with his teammates after he was traded. With the uncertainty of the Kings future in Sacramento coupled with the losing season, Robinson’s frustrations are a little easier to understand.

While Patterson has yet to be able to make his impact on the team, he will certainly add to the Kings and make them better right away. However, the Kings may have traded away a player who will mature and grow into a valuable NBA player.

The Kings decision to trade away Thomas Robinson was clearly fueled by the Maloofs and their attempts to save money any way they can.

While Patterson showed in Houston that he is a valuable player who is capable of providing offense and hard work,  Robinson clearly has a tremendous upside.

If Robinson matures, and continues to find ways to improve his inside scoring touch, the Kings may have made another poor decision to let go a talented young player who hadn’t yet reached their potential.