On the night of Feb. 19, Mitch Richmond was too busy thinking
about the next day's game against Miami to focus on the fact
that the trade deadline had come and gone and he was still
wearing a Sacramento uniform. He's had ample time since then to
dwell on his status. When the Kings completed a winless
five-game Eastern swing last week, losing by an average of 15.8
points, reality smacked Richmond in the face. He will finish the
season—his 10th in the league and seventh in Sacramento—with a
team on the fringe of the postseason picture, instead of with a
contender like the Hawks, the Heat or the Lakers, all of whom
tried to land him. But Sacramento's 11th-hour deal with Atlanta
for guard Steve Smith fell through, Miami coach Pat Riley's
attempts to get Richmond in a three-way swap involving the
Celtics proved fruitless, and L.A.'s decision not to acquire
Richmond for swingman Eddie Jones was sealed more than a month
ago. Sources say Lakers owner Jerry Buss wouldn't pull the
trigger because he didn't want to ante up for a player who will
be 34 when his contract expires after next season. Why should he
reward Richmond for years of loyal service with another club?
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A loyal King for seven years, Richmond wonders why his club won't pay him royally.
(Rocky Widner)
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That sentiment, privately echoed by other teams, has led
Richmond to a somewhat belated realization: The team that
could—and should—pay him is Sacramento. Richmond told SI last
week that despite his standing request to be traded, he would
consider staying in Sacramento if the Kings were willing to rip
up his current deal, a seven-year contract that will pay him
$3.1 million this season and $2.8 million next, and grant him an
extension. Sacramento will be under the salary cap (possibly by
as much as $13 million) on July 1 and thus, under NBA rules,
will be able to renegotiate Richmond's contract. But Sacramento
has not yet agreed to do that.
"I've driven myself crazy wondering, Am I in the Kings' plans?"
Richmond said. "They say the ball is in my court, but I say it's
in theirs. You're asking me if I would stay if they gave me a
new contract, but that's never been presented to me. You get to
the point where you wonder what else you can do for this
organization. People say, 'Hey, you signed the deal, you've got
to live with it,' but the rules have changed. We were supposed
to have an escape clause, but the league wouldn't allow it. You
wonder why [the Kings] haven't said, 'Mitch, you're underpaid,
we'll take care of you.' The only thing they've ever said is,
'We'll see.'"
Asked if Sacramento would be willing to sign its six-time
All-Star to a new deal, Geoff Petrie, vice president for
basketball operations, replied, "All the various issues and
scenarios have been discussed many times over the past two years."
Sources say that Kings owner Jim Thomas discussed a new contract
with Richmond as recently as last fall but that specifics have
never been addressed, in part because Sacramento is not under
the cap this season. Richmond would like a three- or four-year
extension averaging around $8 million a year. That would leave
the Kings ample funds to sign free agents, including their
third-year forward Corliss Williamson, who is having a solid
season.
Williamson will be a free agent on July 1 and is monitoring
Richmond's situation closely. The same is true of two rookie
surprises, center Michael Stewart and point guard Anthony
Johnson, who could walk this summer. As one Sacramento veteran
said, "These young guys are saying to themselves, If the Kings
don't take care of Mitch, who will they take care of?"
Aside from a brief stretch in the preseason, when Richmond's
frustrations clearly affected his attitude and his performance,
he has handled his uncertain status admirably. "Those negative
thoughts are creeping in again," admitted Richmond. "Even so,
I've never blasted ownership. I never said, 'Get me the hell out
of here.' And I still won't. I want this to work out."
So does Sacramento coach Eddie Jordan. He's acutely aware how
difficult it would be for his young club if its leader, top
scorer (23.8-point average through Sunday, third highest in the
league) and main symbol of respectability were shipped
elsewhere. "We would struggle," concedes Jordan, whose team was
24-35 at week's end. "It's not a stretch to say Mitch could
account for a difference of 20 wins. Would we end up being a
Dallas or a Denver? Hopefully not that bad, but it's possible."
Issue date: March 9, 1998
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