Kings free agency, part 3
- Thread starter Darth Divac
- Start date
We'll have to see what the money is to ultimately decide if it was a good signing, but he is the type of player we want.
PG - Rondo/Collison/Stockton
SG - McLemore/Belinelli/Anderson
SF - Gay/Casspi/Butler
PF - Cousins/Moreland
C - Koufos/Cauley-Stein
Bring Andre Miller back and bring in a PF in case Moreland/Cauley-Stein are not able to contribute much. We desperately need to have some insurance at PF (Cousins and Koufos already cover us at C), but Cousins and Gay (both playing out of position in my opinion) is not the insurance I want at PF. I'm fine with J. Smith, Arthur, or Boozer.
PG - Rondo/Collison/Stockton
SG - McLemore/Belinelli/Anderson
SF - Gay/Casspi/Butler
PF - Cousins/Moreland
C - Koufos/Cauley-Stein
Bring Andre Miller back and bring in a PF in case Moreland/Cauley-Stein are not able to contribute much. We desperately need to have some insurance at PF (Cousins and Koufos already cover us at C), but Cousins and Gay (both playing out of position in my opinion) is not the insurance I want at PF. I'm fine with J. Smith, Arthur, or Boozer.
As much as I hated to see Nik go, I love what Vlade has done. We went from a 35-40 win team to one that could potentially push for the playoffs.
If Rondo is Boston Rondo and Rudy and Cuz do their things, this is a dangerous veteran team with solid depth. Others see us differently, but the talent is there.
If Rondo is Boston Rondo and Rudy and Cuz do their things, this is a dangerous veteran team with solid depth. Others see us differently, but the talent is there.
That's yet another good move. Forgot he was still out there. Butler is in steep decline, if we were relying on him for anything it wouldn't be such a great move. But yet another heavily experienced vet who knows how to play and an extra shooter who can really hit those corner threes. A guy fitting that description was precisely needed. And add another 65 playoff games of experience to the till.
Yeah, I fear in the end that perimeter defender is going to be the one last thing we just weren't able to pull in in all this haul, and really a question of no room with all our other pieces as much as no money. But very few first time playoff type teams are perfect right off the bat. Be something to further add in the future if we can just get this ball rolling.
The Clippers got away with Reddick, Barnes, Crawford as their only wings. I think between Ben, Gay, Butler, Casspi, Anderson? We have different bodies to throw at the top wings, most of these guys can hold their own on most NBA nights. Plus we potentially have an elite level defensive frontline between Cuz, Koufos, WCS. Something that couldn't be said last season.
Really solid move IMO. I didn't even have him on my list of available wings because I didn't realize the Bucks waived him after the Ilyasova trade.
Report is that it's 2 years/$3 million with a player option for next year.
This means the Kings have around $3 million and still need one more big and a 3rd PG. Likely one of those will be signed for the veterans minimum and the other for the remaning capspace. Josh Smith would still be an option if he's okay with that dollar amount.
EDIT: If it really is $3 million/2 years that would imply the veterans minimum. That would leave the Kings with $4.5 to $5 million to finish up the roster assuming Casspi is signed with the room exception. If that's the case then wow. Still some money to play with to finish up the roster strong.
Butler is a slight downgrade from the guy I really wanted in that role which was Dorell Wright but he actually shot a slightly better 3Pt% last year and is another really solid veteran which helps. He shot especially well from the corners and from the left arc. His defense has eroded over the years but for 10-15 minutes a game either due to injury to Gay or Casspi or because Gay is playing a lot of PF I think he's a great pickup.
Report is that it's 2 years/$3 million with a player option for next year.
This means the Kings have around $3 million and still need one more big and a 3rd PG. Likely one of those will be signed for the veterans minimum and the other for the remaning capspace. Josh Smith would still be an option if he's okay with that dollar amount.
EDIT: If it really is $3 million/2 years that would imply the veterans minimum. That would leave the Kings with $4.5 to $5 million to finish up the roster assuming Casspi is signed with the room exception. If that's the case then wow. Still some money to play with to finish up the roster strong.
Butler is a slight downgrade from the guy I really wanted in that role which was Dorell Wright but he actually shot a slightly better 3Pt% last year and is another really solid veteran which helps. He shot especially well from the corners and from the left arc. His defense has eroded over the years but for 10-15 minutes a game either due to injury to Gay or Casspi or because Gay is playing a lot of PF I think he's a great pickup.
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I would be okay with even waiving Stockton depending on who we bring back. Obviously, if we waive Stockton, you need to bring back a PG, but if we waive Stockton and sign A. Miller, J. Smith, & Aldrich, I would be very happy.
PG - Rondo/Collison/Miller
SG - McLemore/Belinelli/Anderson
SF - Gay/Casspi/Butler
PF - Cousins/Smith/Moreland
C - Koufos/Cauley-Stein/Aldrich
OR
PG - Rondo/Collison/Miller
SG - McLemore/Belinelli
SF - Casspi/Butler/Anderson
PF - Gay/Smith/Cauley-Stein/Moreland
C - Cousins/Koufos/Aldrich
The latter being if Karl is not budging on the "Gay at PF" idea.
EDIT: or if we really want to be daring, we start Smith:
PG - Rondo/Collison/Miller
SG - McLemore/Belinelli/Anderson
SF - Gay/Casspi/Butler
PF - Smith/Cauley-Stein/Moreland
C - Cousins/Koufos/Aldrich
Personally, I'd go with the first rotation.
PG - Rondo/Collison/Miller
SG - McLemore/Belinelli/Anderson
SF - Gay/Casspi/Butler
PF - Cousins/Smith/Moreland
C - Koufos/Cauley-Stein/Aldrich
OR
PG - Rondo/Collison/Miller
SG - McLemore/Belinelli
SF - Casspi/Butler/Anderson
PF - Gay/Smith/Cauley-Stein/Moreland
C - Cousins/Koufos/Aldrich
The latter being if Karl is not budging on the "Gay at PF" idea.
EDIT: or if we really want to be daring, we start Smith:
PG - Rondo/Collison/Miller
SG - McLemore/Belinelli/Anderson
SF - Gay/Casspi/Butler
PF - Smith/Cauley-Stein/Moreland
C - Cousins/Koufos/Aldrich
Personally, I'd go with the first rotation.
Let's take a look at Vlade's work on our playoff experience:
Returning (thus far)
Cousins 0gms
Gay 7gms
Collison 29gms
McLemore 0gms
Casspi 0gms
OUT
Thompson 0gms
Landry 37gms
Stauskas 0gms
McCallum 0gms
Williams 0gms
IN
Rondo 94gms
Koufos 37gms
Belinelli 48gms
Butler 65gms
Anderson 10gms
Cauley Stein 0gms
Still in play
Miller 63gms
Evans 45gms
Hollins 36gms
Moreland 0gms
Smith 69gms (if his money wasn't just used up)
That is how you vet up. Last year when we talked playoffs there was virtually nobody on the team who really knew what that meant, at least amongst the rotation players. This year when guys talk about it they are going to mean it, understand it, know what it takes.
Returning (thus far)
Cousins 0gms
Gay 7gms
Collison 29gms
McLemore 0gms
Casspi 0gms
OUT
Thompson 0gms
Landry 37gms
Stauskas 0gms
McCallum 0gms
Williams 0gms
IN
Rondo 94gms
Koufos 37gms
Belinelli 48gms
Butler 65gms
Anderson 10gms
Cauley Stein 0gms
Still in play
Miller 63gms
Evans 45gms
Hollins 36gms
Moreland 0gms
Smith 69gms (if his money wasn't just used up)
That is how you vet up. Last year when we talked playoffs there was virtually nobody on the team who really knew what that meant, at least amongst the rotation players. This year when guys talk about it they are going to mean it, understand it, know what it takes.
Vlade Divac took over a team that was looked at as a national joke. A chaotic, dysfunctional tire fire of a franchise. Wacky owner, three coaches in a season with the current one at odds with the star player, lottery bound for a decade, etc. and he's put together a roster that is deep, versatile, balanced and that now has added quite a few players with playoff experience.
If this season goes as well as a I hope/expect then I think Vlade will win Executive of the Year by a healthy margin.
I had hoped Divac would be a good GM but he is far surpassing my expectations already.
If this season goes as well as a I hope/expect then I think Vlade will win Executive of the Year by a healthy margin.
I had hoped Divac would be a good GM but he is far surpassing my expectations already.
