Sacramento Kings won’t replicate the Chris Webber era anytime soon

I remember when the Sacramento Kings were the toast of the NBA.

Their free-flowing, high-scoring style entertained the masses and inspired Phoenix and Golden State’s offensive systems. Their owners, Jeff and Gavin Maloof, spent wildly on building a winner. And they won the hearts of all those opposed to Laker-nation because they battled Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal.

This was only a few years ago, but seems like much longer, especially when examining the current state of the franchise.

The problems began in the owner’s booth. Years before the economic downturn, the Maloofs were no longer spending like past seasons. Much of this was connected to the club’s inability to generate revenue from the outdated Arco Arena.

Without no new stadium on the horizon, the Kings can’t afford to be players in ‘The Great Free Agent Chase of 2010‘. That cap space they’ve been hoarding is irrelevant. And the charm of small town Sacramento won’t lure in a saviour like LeBron James or Dwyane Wade.

Another area of concern is on the sideline. The club has never replaced veteran coach Rick Adelman, who was let go for clashing with the Maloofs. Eric Musselman and Reggie Theus were both hired and then prematurely fired. Now Paul Westphal is expected to right the ship, even though he’s been out of the coaching racket for years.

Westphal will hold his own, but Sacramento should have brought-in a teacher. They needed a Larry Brown type to work with a roster that has twelve players with five years or less experience. After all, the future lies in developing Tyreke Evans, Francisco Garcia, and Kevin Martin.

Fans should remember the Webber era in Sacramento. That type of success won’t be replicated for years.

Get at us in the comment box below with your thoughts on the Kings. Follow Oly’s work on HoopsVibe and Twitter. Photo courtesy of RMTip21.