2015 Offseason To-Dos

#93
I caught a bit of Grant's show yesterday (I think it was yesterday) as I was leaving work and he was talking about the possibility of trading DeMarcus Cousins and about what a huge, mega, super important summer this was for the Kings. That the team needed a major shake up etc etc. And I had to laugh.

Last summer was supposedly a huge, mega, super important summer for the Kings.

And we drafted Stauskas, signed Collison, let Thomas walk, signed Casspi, Sessions and Moreland, traded Quincy Acy and Travis Outlaw to the Knicks for Wayne Ellington and Jeremy Tyler and traded Jason Terry and two future 2nd round picks for Alonzo Gee and Scotty Hopson.

I wasn't fully on board with the Nik pick and I wish the Kings didn't give away 2nd rounders like party favors, especially just to gift Jason Terry to Houston but otherwise I don't really have any issues with any of those moves. In fact I liked swapping Collison for Thomas and bringing Omri back but I didn't expect them to pay dividends to the degree they have. But really none of them were big moves. What evidence is there that this summer will be any different? The Kings don't have the ammunition (picks, cap room, talent) to pull off big trades. Unlike the Petrie years we hear that the Kings are in the mix for pretty much any possible rumor and yet have not landed any of those players outside of Gay who Toronto was offering at firesale prices. My takeaway from that (reinforced by what PDA said that morning at 1140) is that D'Alessandro thinks he has more talent on this roster than he does and makes trade offers that overvalue his assets which is why the Kings haven't pulled off a big trade and why they are nearly at the luxury tax threshold despite being a 25 win team.

Absolutely I'd love to see a "big" summer that revamps this team. But I'm not holding my breath.
I'm hoping with vlade in charge and the PR fiasco of the Malone firing, there is no way in heck that Vivek would trade DMC.

If he thought that the fans revolted on the Malone firing. If DMC was traded, he might as well change the new arena to a 100 seat stadium, because that is about as many people that would attend games if DMC got traded.

If I were to guess, I think vlade now has vivek's ear, instead of PDA and mully, thanks goodness.

I can see vlade wanting to assemble a team like the early 2000's kings team. DMC is the new cwebb, gay is peja, Darren can be the new bibby. Hopefully Ben can grow into a Christie role and play some solid d.

The kings will need a new startin power forward/ center this summer. We can dream of getting a top 3 pick to get okafor or towns.
 

CruzDude

Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
#94
More than even a star PF, Kings need a bench that can win some games, shoot 3's, shoot 3's, shoot 3's, run and defend a bit. A group to keep from losing games, like the old "bench squad" of Bobby Jackson's era. Assuming Evans, Hollins and one of DWill or Casspi are gone, Moreland has the inside track at the PF bench role, maybe a big step up. JT is quite serviceable and has shown the past few games he is capable of 10 and 10 and really good PF defense against some of the leagues better PF. Any rookie is going to take 1-2 years to earn the starting spot. And who knows how much progress Sim is going to make over the summer and into training camp to begin to be a decent backup off the bench for Cuz. And if Karl's kid can shoot and make the 3's maybe we see him on the bench.
 

Kingster

Hall of Famer
#95
It's pretty simple. We just need a lot more talent! We need to have guys who both shoot 3s and defend against the 3. Guys who have the athleticism, quickness in particular, to get 50-50 loose balls. (With the NBA going more and more to 3 point shooting, there are more long rebounds, making quickness to the ball even more important). Guys who can pass on the move. Guys who can defend on the weak side. And having a closer wouldn't hurt either. With all due respect to Gay and Cousins, this team doesn't have a closer, a guy who can get a shot when he wants and makes the bigtime shot when it counts. So if they can find a guy who makes the 3, defends the 3, has the quickness to get loose balls, high BBIQ who can pass on the move, and can be a closer, they would have a little magic bullet for many of the ills of this team. Should be a piece of cake.:p
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
#96
Get a 3 man who can start in the NBA and move Rudy to the 4

Wilson Chandler should be available next year he's a expiring deal plus Karl loves him and he loves Karl
Jeff Green (I think can opt out) would also be interesting but doubtful)

I would throw a very decent amount of money @ DeMarr Carroll who is a unrestricted free agent dude is a above average defender, scraps like Reggie and shots 40% from the 3 and cuts as well as any wingman in the NBA a almost DREAM fit. Caroll is also 28 years old without much mileage and entering his NBA prime.

These type of players is what I would be looking for.
 
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#97
Get a 3 man who can start in the NBA and move Rudy to the 4

Wilson Chandler should be available next year he's a expiring deal plus Karl loves him and he loves Karl
Jeff Green (I think can opt out) would also be interesting but doubtful)

I would throw a very decent amount of money @ DeMarr Carroll who is a unrestricted free agent dude is a above average defender, scraps like Reggie and shots 40% from the 3 and cuts as well as any wingman in the NBA a almost DREAM fit. Caroll is also 28 years old without much mileage and entering his NBA prime.

These type of players is what I would be looking for.
I would love Carroll but, I find it hard to believe Atlanta would just let him walk. They will want to keep that team together.
 
#98
Kings will probably draft 6-9, so I'd consider these three scenarios I really like:

1) draft wcs
sign vet sg and resign casspi, miller, evans
trade ben/nik + ray + landry/jt for lawson
(-> favorite scenario, roster really balanced and versatile)

2) draft winlow/johnson
sign vet sg and resign casspi, miller, evans
trade ben/nik + ray + landry/jt for lawson
(-> PF problem still not solved)

3) draft player for 76ers
sign vet sg and resign casspi, miller, evans
trade pick + ben/nik for noel
(-> PF problem solved, but giving up a lot for Noel)

vet sgs I'd look at: D. Green, Afflalo, Belinelli, Dudley, Henderson, Neal (in this order)

I really like scenario 1 .. The team looks really balanced, has a good combination of vets and young talent and seems really in line with the direction the FO wants to go: draft "nba ready" and give Karl players he already knows who like playing his style (like Miller), hence signing/trading for Afflalo and Lawson.
I chose Afflalo because he played for Karl, is a good charakter guy, can shoot, gives us a second ballhandler and can defend a bit (though he seems to have regressed quite a bit). More important I think he's the most realistic good vet sg that would sign here (in opposite to lets say D. Green) for the amount of money we can afford .. His stats are similiar to Bens but nevertheless I think he fits the needs we have for our starting two guard more.

roster example:
Cousins | Thompson
WCS | Evans | Moreland
Gay | Casspi
Afflalo | Mclemore/Stauskas
Lawson | Collison | Miller

style of play: (note: most of this applies to scenario 2 and 3 as well)
why this roster fits Karl's style of play really well:
offense:
- dribble drive -> 4 out 1 in: 4 players who can handle the ball and attack .. hard to double Cousins, good movement
- example: A horns set Kentucky ran last year:
- Cousins can play as a 4 (here: Randle), wcs as the 5 who waits under the basket for a dish, sets screens or can cut to the rim if his man cheats off of him to double cuz
- Lawson and Afflalo fit the dribble drive better than Collison and Mclemore because they are better at breaking down the defense
- frontcourt: flexible: can go small with gay or casspi at the 4 or spacing without giving up too much size on the defensive end for 15-20 minutes a game.
WCS as the rim runner Karl often talks about
- backcourt: can go small and quick with Lawson and Collison or "big" with Afflao at the 2 and gay at 3 the posting up smaller guards
defense:
- switching -> versatile players, can guard more than one position, WCS excellent at switching pick and rolls
- kings can go small or big, against bruising big man -> use JT
 
#99
I don't understand, how bringing Lawson, whose specialty is transition/drive&kick/bad defense, meshes well with Boogie/Rudy or improves this team overall?
Kings never run true Princeton offense in the early 2000s - Adelman incorporated some of the sets to enhance the value of big men he had, and to do it properly Coachie was asked to join in.
Why do people assume Kings are going to run pure dribble-drive 100% of the time? Cousins and Rudy have driving as part of their offensive arsenal, so it makes sense to better utilize their handles/passing ability with the help of Wahlberg.
Anyway with Rudy and Boogie as leading ball handlers there's certainly a place for a guy, who can either pop, coming off a screen into mid-range, or move off the ball into the corner for 3, which actually resolves the awkwardness of Collison having to initiate from the top of the arc, while being a mediocre shooting threat from there.
 
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I don't understand, how bringing Lawson, whose specialty is transition/drive&kick/bad defense, meshes well with Boogie/Rudy or improves this team overall?
Kings never run true Princeton offense in the early 2000s - Adelman incorporated some of the sets to enhance the value of big men he had, and to do it properly Coachie was asked to join in.
Why do people assume Kings are going to run pure dribble-drive 100% of the time? Cousins and Rudy have driving as part of their offensive arsenal, so it makes sense to better utilize their handles/passing ability with the help of Wahlberg.
Anyway with Rudy and Boogie as leading ball handlers there's certanly a place for a guy, who can either pop, coming off a screen into mid-range, or move off the ball into the corner for 3, which actually resolves the awkwardness of Collison having to initiate from the top of the arc, while being a mediocre shooting threat from there.
Getting lawson doesn't improve us that much but I'm already prepared for that unnecessary move.
 
Interesting that Carmichael Dave doesn't believe Collison will be back next season.

In no damn sane world am I giving up Collison AND a 2015 top 7 pick for Ty Lawson. Nope, nope, and nope.

Here's the pieces I'd put available for Lawson:
Collison, Ben, Nik, JT, Landry, Ray, and future 2nd rounders(I think those are the only ones we can trade..unless it's a random 2022 1st rounder..)

OR
2015 1st rounder+Ben+JT+Landry+Ray

Or you can interchange Ben with Nik, no way am I putting both.


Collison and our 2015 pick this year is a lot to give up for a guy who's not even one of the best at his position.

Looking around at Denvestiffs, they wanted multiple 1st round picks for Lawson. They are damn crazy. Lawson isn't even a top 10 PG in the NBA. No way are you going to offer multiple 1st rounders for a 5'11 undersized PG who doesn't play defense.



I'd rather us use our 2015 1st round pick, trade back, and draft a PG+ another young player. I'd rather have Collison+Dunn+____ or Collison+Jerian Grant+________ or Collison+Cameron Payne+_____ or Collison+Delon Wright+ ________ or Collison+ Tyus Jones+ ______ compared to just Ty Lawson+Ray Mac.


His DRPM is -2.03!!! Tied for 60th best among PGs! Yay! Fun fact, Sessions is a better defender than Lawson. Fun fact, Andre Miller is a better defender than Lawson.



I hope we don't overpay for Lawson. I'm scared that we will. I like Lawson, but he's not worth the potential of WCS, Winslow, or Johnson at the expense of Collison too.

I'd rather see us go after Holiday truth be told. No to Lawson if the asking price is too high.
 
Yep, point guard and small forward are the two positions where we actually have some semblance of depth, which makes all this Lawson talk so frustrating.
Also why I wouldn't give up Ben/Nik for lawson. Why give up assets for a position you don't need to upgrade it would be like the clippers giving up assets to get Westbrook no point. Use those 2 to improve at SG/PF definetly after reading what 206Fan wrote about his defense down right pathetic. Karl needs to let that go hopefully the Rockets out bid us and offer Jones/NO 1st
 
Lawson would do wonders for this team, an elite penetrator who can hit the outside shot. I like Collison but he is just a jack of all trades master of none PG. Hes kind of like John Salmons(first stint). I think this team needs a guy that can break down a defense, easier baskets for Cousins and Gay, more open shots for Mclemore or any other wings we play. Plus Lawson himself will be a terror with so much attention going to Cuz and Gay. Dont forget he has made his name playing with a bunch of mid tier players, he always being the best. Id like to see him playing alongside better players, his game will shine even more.
 
Lawson would do wonders for this team, an elite penetrator who can hit the outside shot. I like Collison but he is just a jack of all trades master of none PG. Hes kind of like John Salmons(first stint). I think this team needs a guy that can break down a defense, easier baskets for Cousins and Gay, more open shots for Mclemore or any other wings we play. Plus Lawson himself will be a terror with so much attention going to Cuz and Gay. Dont forget he has made his name playing with a bunch of mid tier players, he always being the best. Id like to see him playing alongside better players, his game will shine even more.
Lawson will get more open shots for Mclemore or any other wings we play. OTOH Boogie and Rudy are not C&S guys (guys, who catch and dunk are lumped in this category). Less than fifth of their offense for each comes from finishing (under Karl). And when Lawson creates shots for Mclemore or any other wings we play, Cousins/Gay are supposed to just stand somewhere and space the floor, I guess. Collison works well next to both, because he doesn't need to go all the way to the basket to score, where he would likely run into a lot of guys crowding Boogie, and Darren can give up the ball and go stand in the corner being ready to hoist a 3, which he does very well.
Anyway offense is not a problem for this team, defense is, and bringing one of the worst defenders among starting PGs won't help much either.
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
Lawson would do wonders for this team, an elite penetrator who can hit the outside shot. I like Collison but he is just a jack of all trades master of none PG. Hes kind of like John Salmons(first stint). I think this team needs a guy that can break down a defense, easier baskets for Cousins and Gay, more open shots for Mclemore or any other wings we play. Plus Lawson himself will be a terror with so much attention going to Cuz and Gay. Dont forget he has made his name playing with a bunch of mid tier players, he always being the best. Id like to see him playing alongside better players, his game will shine even more.
I agree people are sleeping on Ty Lawson he was the best player on a 57 win team 2 years ago, but I do think the Nuggets would want to much for him. I just don't really see anyway of getting him unless we gave up way to much this would not be like the Rudy Gay deal where the Raptors wanted to get rid of him for role players, the Nuggets want a lot of talent in return. At the right price yeah bring him in but the price won''t be right.
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
I was also thinking there's 1 name no one has bought up and that's Monta Ellis (who had some interest in signing here before a couple years back). Monta said he will opt out of his current Mavs deal and who know's the Mavericks imo are in decline (Dirk ain't Dirk anymore) while we should somewhat be on the rise eventually. If we were to offer Monta 12-13 million per year (similar to what Rudy makes) and trade Rudy for some good pieces or even package Rudy and Ben for some really nice player/players I don't think that would be bad at all.

Monta has shed his title as a ballhog and the dude loves to play he played last year's playoffs with a torn hamstring the dude is as tough as they come in that regard. He's a hawk in the lane and while undersized will play defense and the dude shows up to play and plays well as long as Rondo is not the starting PG. Darren and Monta imo works well, if Karl loves to play fast good luck catching those 2 once Cousins pulls in a rebound if they leak out.
 
Lawson might have been the best player on 12/13 team, but he was first among equals with Iggy, Gallo and Faried all being major cogs, and that Denver team was very deep, even if some of that depth was affected by injuries. Oh, and they played defense, where Lawson's impact is limited at best, due to a full-sized lineup with two long rim-protectors.
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
Lawson might have been the best player on 12/13 team, but he was first among equals with Iggy, Gallo and Faried all being major cogs, and that Denver team was very deep, even if some of that depth was affected by injuries. Oh, and they played defense, where Lawson's impact is limited at best, due to a full-sized lineup with two long rim-protectors.
They had 2 guys that played D and that was Koufus and Iggy (McGee blocked shots but he's a moron), and Lawson impact was far greater than any of those guys you said (Iggy was underwhelming impact wise for most of that season until the 1st round series. Faried a major cog are you kidding? Getting spoon feed for open dunks makes you important? The Nuggets were a team that tried to outscore you not grind you out with D.


Koufus and McGee (he played mostly with Miller) never played together so your lying , Wilson Chandler/Gallo played the 4 a lot behind Faried. Lawson's impact was not limited at best I don't understand why people that didn't watch those Denver teams keep making stuff up.
Playing those guys at the 4 makes it a undersized line up not a full sized line up as well as playing Ty and Miller together made them even smaller.

I literally watched nearly all those Denver games since Dre was on that team if you didn't watch them than you obviously would not know how important Ty was to that team. It was Ty Lawson leading the way followed by Gallo up until his injury (which killed them in the playoffs), Ty was the driving force behind that teams success and his impact was never "limited"due to any line up.
 
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They had 2 guys that played D and that was Koufus and Iggy (McGee blocked shots but he's a moron), and Lawson impact was far greater than any of those guys you said (Iggy was underwhelming impact wise for most of that season until the 1st round series. Faried a major cog are you kidding? Getting spoon feed for open dunks makes you important? The Nuggets were a team that tried to outscore you not grind you out with D.


Koufus and McGee (he played mostly with Miller) never played together so your lying , Wilson Chandler/Gallo played the 4 a lot behind Faried. Lawson's impact was not limited at best I don't understand why people that didn't watch those Denver teams keep making stuff up.
Playing those guys at the 4 makes it a undersized line up not a full sized line up as well as playing Ty and Miller together made them even smaller.

I literally watched nearly all those Denver games since Dre was on that team if you didn't watch them than you obviously would not know how important Ty was to that team. It was Ty Lawson leading the way followed by Gallo up until his injury (which killed them in the playoffs), Ty was the driving force behind that teams success and his impact was never "limited"due to any line up.
Reading comprehension is not your friend, I guess:
  • at no point was I mentioning the fact that Koufus and McGee played together. My comment was about the fact, that they had a rim protector on the floor all the time
  • limited impact of Lawson was in reference to defense
  • playing long SFs as PFs with your bench units are not a reason to call team undersized, especially when you put SFs at SG half the time. That's actually close to what GSW is doing this season. And Miller at SG gives up some length, but is absolutely adequate in strength.
  • Iggy averaged above 5 assists as SG and produced his own offense with decent efficiency - he was not underwhelming
 
Decided to watch last few games of Lawson to see, what kind of shots he creates (just scrolled through assists)
vs Dallas (18 assists)
  • (1, 2) first two assists Ty was awarded were for giving the ball to a guy, who was behind the arc and then drove all the way to the basket,
  • (3) Lawson lost ball driving to the basket, it bounced to Faried, who then laid it up - probably was a dump-off in the mind of scorekeeper
  • (4) Gallinari gets the ball in the corner with Richard Jefferson on him, fakes a drive and then pulls up
  • (5) then Foye pulls up with a hand in his face
  • (6) run P&R with Gallinari and gave him the ball, when Felton decided to switch, and Gallo just shoots over him.
  • (7) hits Foye for a wide open three after Devin Harris went to help into the paint without any chance to actually provide help on Lawson's drive.
  • (8) dump off to Hickson after driving into the paint
  • (9) Ty stands at the top of the arc and hits Foye on the wing to his left, who was just given room by his defender.
  • (10) Ty turns drive on Felton into postup and then hits cutting Hickson, who was completely lost by Nowitzki, for a dunk.
  • (11) broken play, where only Barea was left in the paint vs Hickson and Nurkic. Hickson gets a pass for a dunk.
  • (12) dump off to Faried after driving into the paint
  • (13) Lawson stands at the top of the arc, and Nowitzki totally loses WChandler, who gets an allez-oop
  • (14) Dallas doesn't get back on D and Faried gets an allez-oop pass
  • (15) jumper for WChandler left open by Dirk after P&P play - TChandler was actually containing the penetration, so another clear mistake by Dirk or at least miscommunication
  • (16) Devin Harris fell, guarding Ty's drive near the paint, so TChandler had to come over and contest Lawson's shot, which resulted in easy dunk for Faried
  • (17) Jefferson loses Gallinari to help, but doesn't recover, when help is no longer needed. Gallinari gets the ball and makes lightly contested 3.
  • (18) Barea switches on Gallo at the top of the arc, and Gallinari gets the ball and shoots a 3 over him
Felton and Harris didn't even need screens to get past Lawson.

vs Lakers (8 assists)

(1) Lawson pushes the ball in transition, gets past Clarkson and forces Jabari Brown to rotate - Foye hits open 3
(2) Foye gets open pushing off Brown and hits 3
(3) Tarik Black leaves Gallo open for no reason - open 3
(4) Brown just leaves Foye all to himself - open 3
(5) Ed Davis just leaves Gallo open for no reason - open 3
(6) Gary Harris receives a ball from Lawson coming off a screen and drives, dribbling twice, to settle for step-back jumper in the end - shouldn't be an assist
(7) P&R with Hickson, who gets a wide open dunk
(8) P&R with Hickson on the next play, though this time Sacre is contesting competently, but Hickson hits difficult running jumper anyway

Clarkson and Buycks easily beat Lawson every time using screens

@ Spurs (7 assists)

(1) Kawhi actually falls asleep, giving Foye a couple of seconds to find open space and knock down open 3
(2) Parker doesn't run back on D, and Lawson forces rotation and finds now open Faried in transition
(3) Parker leaves Foye open, and Randy knocks down open 3
(4) Lawson gets by Danny Green using Faried's screen, gives the ball to Kenneth, who hits very hard shot with Duncan contesting
(5) Lawson gives Chandler the ball for a dunk in transition
(6) dump-off to Faried for a layup after P&R
(7) Parker switches on Gallo in P&R, Lawson gives the ball to Danilo, who shoot over Tony

At no point did Parker, Mills and Joseph felt any pressure from Lawson, though they probably got 4 more assists, than they should've had - Spurs have a generous scorekeeper.

leaving out pretty bad game in Utah
vs Utah (9 assists)

(1) Favors leave Gallo wide open for a very long 3
(2) finds Chandler in transition
(3) Chandler hits a jumper with a hand in his face
(4) Gallo gets Burke switched on him via P&R and just shoots over Trey
(5) transition drive sucks in Elijah Millsap, getting Foye an open 3
(6) transition dunk for Hickson
(7) gives the ball to Faried 20 feet from the basket, who then drives and scores against Gobert - shouldn't be an assist
(8) Booker loses Chandler, who gets the ball from Lawson 4 feet from the basket, but Wilson has to put it on the floor to get around Cooley
(9) Lawson steals inbound pass and finds wide open Barton for a 3.

Exum and Burke are secondary ballhandlers, but a few times Burke was actually acting playmaker screens left Lawson behind.

In short most of Lawson's shot creating is
  • P&R to get into the paint and either score or dump to Faried or Hickson/kick out for open or semi-contested 3
  • giving the ball to Gallinari off P&R in case of a switch
  • giving the ball to teammates, who find open space in what is basically 0.5-4.5 or 1-4 out scheme

Denver played Gallo/Chandler at 4 to create space for Lawson's driving game, so Rudy will have to be at 4, I guess. Few times, when bigs were positioned for post ups or drives from high post, there just wasn't any space for Lawson to drive into.
 
Lawson will get more open shots for Mclemore or any other wings we play. OTOH Boogie and Rudy are not C&S guys (guys, who catch and dunk are lumped in this category). Less than fifth of their offense for each comes from finishing (under Karl). And when Lawson creates shots for Mclemore or any other wings we play, Cousins/Gay are supposed to just stand somewhere and space the floor, I guess. Collison works well next to both, because he doesn't need to go all the way to the basket to score, where he would likely run into a lot of guys crowding Boogie, and Darren can give up the ball and go stand in the corner being ready to hoist a 3, which he does very well.
Anyway offense is not a problem for this team, defense is, and bringing one of the worst defenders among starting PGs won't help much either.
How many games have Cuz and Gay missed this year? You're not always going to have those guys on the floor in a 82 game season. We need someone that can break down a defense from the perimeter. Otherwise we are solely reliant on Cuz and Gay ISO's to create offense. Also do you think Carl would just have Cuz and Gay standing around? That is an insult, he will get the most out of his players that's for sure.
 
K

KingMilz

Guest
Reading comprehension is not your friend, I guess:
  • at no point was I mentioning the fact that Koufus and McGee played together. My comment was about the fact, that they had a rim protector on the floor all the time
  • limited impact of Lawson was in reference to defense
  • playing long SFs as PFs with your bench units are not a reason to call team undersized, especially when you put SFs at SG half the time. That's actually close to what GSW is doing this season. And Miller at SG gives up some length, but is absolutely adequate in strength.
  • Iggy averaged above 5 assists as SG and produced his own offense with decent efficiency - he was not underwhelming
They were a completely undersized team in particular when they played there best line up which was Lawson@PG, Miller @SG and one of /Faired/Chandler/Gallo @ PF along with Iggy at SF with only 1 big man on the floor, that is small ball that's not a "full sized"line up a full sized line up is what Memphis/Detroit/Jazz currently have and what we had under Malone with Cousins/Thompson/Gay.

Again if you actually watched games Iggy was not that great up until the first round of the playoffs (after Gallo went down) but since I don't believe you watched that team I wouldn't expect you to know that. At no point did Denver ever play a "full sized"line up.
 
I don't see the pressing need for a player like Lawson. Why did we dump IT for nothing, when we trade for an undersized and defensively challenged PG like Lawson the next year?
DC can get a mid range pull up at will. All he really lacks is a decent floater. Lawson may be the superior playmaker, but right now Cousins is showing, that he can do some playmaking on his own. Question is, if we really need a playmaking PG, that handles the ball for extended periods of time. Of course having such a PG wouldn't hurt, but I don't know if this is the most pressing need.
First of all I would prefer a willing defender as the starting PG. Someone who really takes pride in chasing his man around the perimeter and who can apply some serious ball pressure.
Lawson is not the type of player that comes to mind first in this case.

Maybe pipedreams, but for next years Kings I would take Smart or Schröder over Lawson.
While I am a supporter of a free flowing offense with Cousins as a versatile centerpiece - success will only come, when we fix our defense first.
Plus defender should be the label of every single player, the Kings aquire during the off season.
 
Found excellent write-up on Kings contract/cap situation with the right amounts. Even though the article is dated 01/07/2014, it was clearly updated lately and holds all the relevant information: http://www.basketballinsiders.com/sacramento-kings-team-salary/.

Amir Johnson had a good game vs Wizards: contested quite a few shots, forcing a few misses from Wall; got to loose balls, picked up rebounds, when he didn't have to rotate, so he was in position; scored off of P&R, driving to the basket, when Wizards weren't willing to rotate - nothing spectacular, but a good roleplaying game, filling the cracks and doing all the little things.
 
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So looks like we have about 7 million with the cap at 63 if you factor in the 3MM cap hold for 6th pick. If it goes to 67mm like we think, then we have 11mm which could actually get us a player.
 
I believe, NBA announced expectation of $67.1, $89 and $108 million caps for next 3 years. Playoffs might change the number, but I assime we won't hear updated number till July, 1st.
P.S. Interestingly the estimate for 17/18 drops down - tactical move for CBA negotiations?