And With That, We Quietly Say Goodbye

It has been so hard to vigorously keep up with the Kings. Particularly because they are awful. In fact, using the word "awful" to describe the Kings actually does a disservice to the word.

Well, we all knew this was coming, and they actually pulled off a decent trade, all things considered. This team has been shaken up so much in the last 4 years, it's scary.

And with that, we say goodbye to Brad Miller (and John Salmons, who wasn't really part of the winning-era). Rebuilding is going full-time now. Sam Amick has the coverage:

According to numerous league sources, a trade sending Kings players Brad Miller and John Salmons to Chicago in exchange for Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Michael Ruffin and Cedric Simmons has been agreed upon and is pending league approval.

In a separate deal with Portland, fourth-year forward Ike Diogu comes to the Kings for Ruffin. The Kings are also expected to receive approximately $1 million in the trade with Portland.

The Kings are not only a bad team, but an expensive bad team that had a payroll of $69 million before this deal. At a time when they desperately need to improve their salary cap situation for the future, the Chicago trade saves them approximately $10.2 million in salary cap room for next season. It could potentially make them more relevant in the free agent market this summer or allow the payroll flexibility to be more active on the trade front after this season. Beyond next season, though, Nocioni's contract will add $6.9 million to payroll in 2010-11 and $6.7 million in 2011-12. Gooden, Ruffin and Simmons all have expiring contracts worth $7.1 million, $1.1 million, and $1.7 million respectively.

Diogu's contract is worth $2.9 million this season, and he will be a restricted free agent this summer. He was drafted ninth overall in 2005 and will follow in the footsteps of Shelden Williams as the latest frontline prospect the Kings hope experiences a revival while on their roster.

This stings. I mean, it needed to happen, but I don't know...I guess I wasn't really ready to say goodbye. Then again, I never am. And that is that. The end of the era. Miller was the last remnant of when we even had a semblance of being a competitive team. Gone are Webber, Divac, Christie, Bibby, etc., etc. And Miller is the last to go. So, with that, I bid you adieu. Thank you so much for the memories Brad. It was fun. Hopefully returning where your career started will do you some good (and you're closer to your home in Indiana).

Peace.

Source: Sac Bee