Kings reach agreement w/Bjelica 3yrs/$20.5M

[biltalent]

I think we are doing pretty good as far as age of the players is concerned. Our 3 oldest players have only 1 year left on thier contracts:

Zach Randolph 37
Kosta Koufos 29
Iman Shumpert 28
Bogdan Bogdanovic 25
Ben McLemore 25
JaKarr Sampson 25
Willie Cauley-Stein 24
Buddy Hield 24
Frank Mason III 24
Nigel Hayes 23
Justin Jackson 23
Skal Labissiere 22
Deyonta Davis 21
De'Aaron Fox 20
Harry Giles 20
Marvin Bagley III 19

Exactly. The way the CBA works the path seems clear: this roster at least has the upside to develop into a really good playoff team in a few years. Fox, Giles and Bagley are probably the core. Until these guys hit retricted free agency, sign small contracts with veterans that fit well and help develop these guys (Bjelica would be a great start). Use the rest of cap space to take on lots of draft picks from 2021-2025. Thats the time when the core is established and gets paid and the only way to improve is via the draft. Make smart picks and add them to your core.

 

[NYKingsfan]

What is taking so long with the Bjelica signing? With each passing day it would seem his signing is less likely.

 

[John Galt]

What is taking so long with the Bjelica signing? With each passing day it would seem his signing is less likely.

will out KANGZ the KANGZ ... be the most KANGZ of all time - if he somehow kisses and makes up with Philly. Ultimate shot in the nuts. Please God no!!!

 

[SLAB]

Hmmm. Wondering if this deal is going to happen.

It's just the usual. But instead of a higher end guy using the Kings to get major star money, he's a solid yet unspectacular bench hand using the them for an extra year and a few mil from a team that "matters."

 

[Agent23]

Sounds like Vlade

Sounds like Luka Doncic

 

[Telemachus]

Bjlecia isn't quick enough to guard the Durant's, James, Butlers in the Western Conference. I'm not sure Bagley can either but I am sure Beli isn't getting any quicker at 30.

I guess it is a good thing there is a lot more to defence than just quickness.

 

[bajaden]

Bjlecia isn't quick enough to guard the Durant's, James, Butlers in the Western Conference. I'm not sure Bagley can either but I am sure Beli isn't getting any quicker at 30.

I have a news flash for you. The reason that Durant and James are who they are, is that no one can guard them. I wouldn't spend too much time agonizing over that, unless we make the playoffs, and have to play them in a best of seven series. That was not a prediction by the way!

 

[Tetsujin]

Bjlecia isn't quick enough to guard the Durant's, James, Butlers in the Western Conference. I'm not sure Bagley can either but I am sure Beli isn't getting any quicker at 30.

The best defender in Sacramento Kings history gave up 24 pts to Lebron in his debut game so I don't know if not being able to guard the greatest player in NBA history is much of a mark against Bjelica

 

[Tetsujin]

I guess it is a good thing there is a lot more to defence than just quickness.

Kings fans: (watch Bogie be a good team defender last season despite being an average athlete playing on torn meniscus). Bjelica is still too slow to be a good defender.

 

[Hansel]

Why don't we sign Usain Bolt? Ok, he's just 6'5, but he's quick enough I guess.

 

[Gguod]

You dont even have to squint to see this is what Vlade has been doing since a year ago. But Kings fans are impatient. Albeit deservedly so. This franchise has been set back, and ser back, and set back into mediocrity for over a decade.

Its finally being done right but it's just so late right now the newer fan base is up in arms. The "old timers" have been thru this song and dance before and what Vlade is doing is eerily reminiscent of what Petrie did.

Im squiting but I'm still not seeing how we have used our cap space to get extra draft picks.

Edit: Regarding Bjelica, he is an average defender at best but he'll be fine. I think the reason some people are worried here is that if he is forced to play a lot of 3, we (still) wont have any above average wing defenders to take on the toughest opposing matchup. Lineups with Buddy/Bogdan-Bjelica-Bagley will probably be bad defensively.

Thats one reason I personally would like to see him play 4 a lot more than 3. Also I would've liked to gamble on guys like Glenn Robinson or Treveon Graham. Cheap low risk lottery tickets to find that defensive wing. The offense also would be better with him playing 4. More space for Fox and pick n rolls with spaced floor, easier matchup for Bjelica and overall more room for everyone to operate.

 

[sactowndog]

Kings fans: (watch Bogie be a good team defender last season despite being an average athlete playing on torn meniscus). Bjelica is still too slow to be a good defender.

Not entirely a fair comment. Bjelica is considered a 4 and guards other 4’s quite well. Nobody has said he can’t guard 4’s well. The problem is we have
Bigs: WCS, Skal, ZBo, KK, Giles, Davis, Bagley and possibly Beli on the roster. Someone has to flex to 3.

One side is looking at Bagley’s quickness and Vlade’s comments he can play the three and are proposing Bagley. (On Defense)

Others are looking at Beli filling in for Butler at Minnesota and are proposing Beli.

There is no optimal answer unless you believe Bagley is truely destined to be a three because your fighting Vlade’s roster construction. The NBA people I know are laughing because in their view the only position you can have too many of them is Bigs and Vlade has 8 of them.

 

[sactowndog]

The best defender in Sacramento Kings history gave up 24 pts to Lebron in his debut game so I don't know if not being able to guard the greatest player in NBA history is much of a mark against Bjelica

The point is the west if filled with big quick 3’s. I don’t think Beli is our best match-up

 

[sactowndog]

I have a news flash for you. The reason that Durant and James are who they are, is that no one can guard them. I wouldn't spend too much time agonizing over that, unless we make the playoffs, and have to play them in a best of seven series. That was not a prediction by the way!

I get that guys.... the question is who would guard them best not who would guard them well. I find it interesting the same people defending Vlade in other threads don’t seem to buy into his view of Bagley at 3.

 

[sactowndog]

This. I hate how the benchmark is always the best players at that position. It should be the average player at that position.

Whose using them as a benchmark? 14% of our season is defending those guys. Better have an idea who is going to play them defensively.

 

[Tetsujin]

Whose using them as a benchmark? 14% of our season is defending those guys. Better have an idea who is going to play them defensively.

Anyone you throw at those guys is going to get obliterated so the idea that we need to determine who is going to get minutes at the SF position based on who can best guard the unguardable seems a moot point.

 

[NYKingsfan]

I see a little Joe Ingles in Bjelica Yes, Ingles is a better shooter, but Bjelica can shoot. Each are excellent passers and rebounders. Each are considered too slow to play effective defense yet make up for their lack of quickness to be effective defenders in a team scheme.

 

[sactowndog]

Anyone you throw at those guys is going to get obliterated so the idea that we need to determine who is going to get minutes at the SF position based on who can best guard the unguardable seems a moot point.

It’s not like we have any great options. I’m going with Vlade’s supposed thoughts and throwing Bagley out there. Your free to have your opinion but I don’t think we have any obvious answers here.

 

[ESP47]

It wasn't his skills it was his back.

That's right. I forgot all about that.

 

[biltalent]

Im squiting but I'm still not seeing how we have used our cap space to get extra draft picks.

Edit: Regarding Bjelica, he is an average defender at best but he'll be fine. I think the reason some people are worried here is that if he is forced to play a lot of 3, we (still) wont have any above average wing defenders to take on the toughest opposing matchup. Lineups with Buddy/Bogdan-Bjelica-Bagley will probably be bad defensively.

Thats one reason I personally would like to see him play 4 a lot more than 3. Also I would've liked to gamble on guys like Glenn Robinson or Treveon Graham. Cheap low risk lottery tickets to find that defensive wing. The offense also would be better with him playing 4. More space for Fox and pick n rolls with spaced floor, easier matchup for Bjelica and overall more room for everyone to operate.

Yeah I would have targeted Graham or GRIII. I'm still hoping for Zipser.

 

[The Effort Police]

Everyone is talking about age, but Bjelica isn't that great anyway.

I'm failing to understand how this is any different than signing Hill, Zbo (besides hopefully not overpaying them), Koufos, or Temple. Unspectacular vets that we don't really need at a position we have a logjam at.

 

[Double-K]

Everyone is talking about age, but Bjelica isn't that great anyway.

I'm failing to understand how this is any different than signing Hill, Zbo (besides hopefully not overpaying them), Koufos, or Temple. Unspectacular vets that we don't really need at a position we have a logjam at.

Nice for you for finally join the chat. Wanna maybe go through what everyone has been talking about before just jumping in?

 

[kingsboi]

The best defender in Sacramento Kings history gave up 24 pts to Lebron in his debut game so I don't know if not being able to guard the greatest player in NBA history is much of a mark against Bjelica

how much did Artest give up to James during his Kings tenure?

 

[biltalent]

Everyone is talking about age, but Bjelica isn't that great anyway.

I'm failing to understand how this is any different than signing Hill, Zbo (besides hopefully not overpaying them), Koufos, or Temple. Unspectacular vets that we don't really need at a position we have a logjam at.

Bjelica is the only one on this list that fits the rebuild. He will accelerate the development of the young guys. The Kings need a true stretch 4 so badly. They had the worst spacing of any team in the league. Always two bigs in the league blocking drving lanes for Fox. I'd play Bjelica 35+ minutes next to Bagley and Giles (and Willie) before I'd even take a look at Zbo or Koufos.

 

[206Fan]

Bjelica is the only one on this list that fits the rebuild. He will accelerate the development of the young guys. The Kings need a true stretch 4 so badly. They had the worst spacing of any team in the league. Always two bigs in the league blocking drving lanes for Fox. I'd play Bjelica 35+ minutes next to Bagley and Giles (and Willie) before I'd even take a look at Zbo or Koufos.

Joerger wouldn't even play Buddy 30mpg, why in the world would he play Bjelica 35mpg? lol

I think we desperately need more shooters. I don't think Bjelica is a SF, but he'd have to do for now until JJ stops being soft.

 

[Kingster]

How difficult is it to sign a role playing free agent to the Kings' roster? He should have been signed by now. It's not like there is a league-wide bidding war for his services. Get on it, Kings!

 

[steelevt]

Yeah I would have targeted Graham or GRIII. I'm still hoping for Zipser.

Another III you say? How did we miss that

 

[Gguod]

Bjelica is the only one on this list that fits the rebuild. He will accelerate the development of the young guys. The Kings need a true stretch 4 so badly. They had the worst spacing of any team in the league. Always two bigs in the league blocking drving lanes for Fox. I'd play Bjelica 35+ minutes next to Bagley and Giles (and Willie) before I'd even take a look at Zbo or Koufos.

You're right. Need to get better spacing so Fox and Bagley can be successfull. Unless signing Bjelica means we cant take on bad salary for future picks. Future picks + minimum salary shooting 4 >> Bjelica for two years and no picks.

 

[bajaden]

I get that guys.... the question is who would guard them best not who would guard them well. I find it interesting the same people defending Vlade in other threads don’t seem to buy into his view of Bagley at 3.

I can't speak for the others, but I'm a results guy, and I reserve my comments on Bagley as a three until I can see some results. I could go down the list of attributes he has that would lend themselves to his playing the three, but it's all hypothetical at this point. That means I have no idea whether he can or can't, and therefore I have no opinion at this time. I could make one up if you want!

 

[bajaden]

It’s not like we have any great options. I’m going with Vlade’s supposed thoughts and throwing Bagley out there. Your free to have your opinion but I don’t think we have any obvious answers here.

I thought someone had a very simple answer. You play Bjelica and Bagley together with Willie. On offense it doesn't matter what you call them, and on defense Bagley defends the three and Bjelica defends the four. Not that complicated.