For the second time in a week, a free agent has decided against signing with the Sacramento Kings in favor of the Dallas Mavericks. Last time, it was Jose Calderon, the 31-year-old former Toronto Raptors point guard. This time, according to multiple reports, Monta Ellis has turned down the opportunity to play for the Kings.
We probably won’t ever know if the Kings offer was up to snuff or not. We may never even know if the Kings had a real offer on the table for the 27-year-old Ellis, but I’m not sure it matters.
While the former Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors guard is a talent, he is also a high-volume shooter and plays the same position that first round pick Ben McLemore plays. In our latest poll, almost 1300 Cowbell Kingdom readers chimed in, voting 63 percent in favor of not signing Ellis. He is a talented, but polarizing player.
In order to sign Ellis, the Kings would have had to clear substantial cap room, either by trade or by amnestying small forward John Salmons. With the roster guard and big man heavy, losing Salmons may not be the best answer for balancing the team. Sacramento has until July 17 to make a final decision on Salmons’ fate.
With Ellis off the market and the free agent crop dwindling, the Kings will have to go back to the drawing board in an attempt to balance the roster.
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