Kings' Luke Walton wants competition, Buddy Hield not guaranteed to start

[NBC Sports BayArea]

With camp opening later this week, Luke Walton said starting jobs are up for grabs.

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[SacTownKid]

Keep your impressions at a minimum coach. We know where the talent lies, if you don't, start packing now.

 

[24 rick barry]

For a multitude of reasons, Buddy will start.

 

[funkykingston]

For a multitude of reasons, Buddy will start.

Or else, for one simple reason, Walton will go.

 

[dude12]

Walton is bad

 

[KainLear]

After listening, my gut feeling is Luke has already been moved on. Said he had zero time with his team, I can't say anything because I don't know how they run things plus how COVID affect this but it just doesn't sound like he still got full support from the team.

Again, more than likely I'm completely wrong on my assumption and I am more than happy to be proven wrong for the sake of Kings' success.

But right now I don't envy him as it feels like his seat is going to start to get hot...

 

[Groovygreg]

In his most recent presser, Luke didn’t commit to playing an uptempo style. He said changes to the offense would be “subtle”. McNair has portrayed things differently, so it will be interesting to see where things go as the season progresses.

 

[Sluggah]

In his most recent presser, Luke didn’t commit to playing an uptempo style. He said changes to the offense would be “subtle”. McNair has portrayed things differently, so it will be interesting to see where things go as the season progresses.

Not thrilled about this.

 

[KingsCitizen]

Luke knows this roster is primed for a D'Antonni run, gun, and shoot 3s in 7 seconds. Mike D won't be assisting Brooklyn for a long time if Luke shows resistance to McNair's assembled roster.

 

[Tetsujin]

Luke knows this roster is primed for a D'Antonni run, gun, and shoot 3s in 7 seconds. Mike D won't be assisting Brooklyn for a long time if Luke shows resistance to McNair's assembled roster.

Luke doesn't even have to look to Brooklyn. Alvin Gentry is almost as adept at running that system as D'Antoni and already on the Kings bench.

 

[kb02]

Not much of a stretch to think Haliburton can be the ROY and Buddy can be the 6th man of the year. But, of course, Buddy Love won't accept that. Seek and destroy, Buddy Love!

 

[mac]

Not much of a stretch to think Haliburton can be the ROY and Buddy can be the 6th man of the year. But, of course, Buddy Love won't accept that. Seek and destroy, Buddy Love!

Fun fact: in the past 20 years (I didn't bother to go further than that), the 6th man of the year's team has had an average win% of 65%, and every single one of those teams made the playoffs except for the 2017-18 Clippers with Lou Williams (and they were above .500 mind you).

I guess what I'm trying to say is, thinking Buddy can be 6th man of the year on this season's Sacramento Kings is "much of a stretch".

Year Player Team Wins Losses Win % Made Playoffs?
2019-20 Montrezl Harrell LAC 49 23 68.1% Y
2018-19 Lou Williams LAC 48 34 58.5% Y
2017-18 Lou Williams LAC 42 40 51.2% N
2016-17 Eric Gordon HOU 55 27 67.1% Y
2015-16 Jamal Crawford LAC 53 29 64.6% Y
2014-15 Lou Williams TOR 49 33 59.8% Y
2013-14 Jamal Crawford LAC 57 25 69.5% Y
2012-13 J.R. Smith NYK 54 28 65.9% Y
2011-12 James Harden OKC 47 19 71.2% Y
2010-11 Lamar Odom LAL 57 25 69.5% Y
2009-10 Jamal Crawford ATL 53 29 64.6% Y
2008-09 Jason Terry DAL 50 32 61.0% Y
2007-08 Manu Ginóbili SAS 56 26 68.3% Y
2006-07 Leandro Barbosa PHO 61 21 74.4% Y
2005-06 Mike Miller MEM 49 33 59.8% Y
2004-05 Ben Gordon CHI 47 35 57.3% Y
2003-04 Antawn Jamison DAL 52 30 63.4% Y
2002-03 Bobby Jackson SAC 59 23 72.0% Y
2001-02 Corliss Williamson DET 50 32 61.0% Y
2000-01 Aaron McKie PHI 56 26 68.3% Y
1999-00 Rodney Rogers PHO 53 29 64.6% Y

 

[mac]

In his most recent presser, Luke didn’t commit to playing an uptempo style. He said changes to the offense would be “subtle”. McNair has portrayed things differently, so it will be interesting to see where things go as the season progresses.

Yeah I was scratching my head at that. Like he literally made it sound as if you would need to squint to see a difference in playstyle from last season.

 

[Livinthedream]

This whole thing about "earning minutes" or a starting spot is for media and fan consumption. These players compete everyday for a living. Coach doesn't have to tell them that. All Walton is doing is trying to assert that this is his team and he's in control of the lineups, "system", etc. If you have to tell people you're the leader, then you're not.

With Bogi gone, there is no competition for the starting SG spot and pretending that there is is going to cost credibility with the players. Haliburton will have had no training camp, no summer league, an abbreviated preseason. He won't be ready. If down the road, Haliburton is killing it, then everyone will know it and Haliburton will get what he deserves.

 

[iowamcnabb]

This whole thing about "earning minutes" or a starting spot is for media and fan consumption. These players compete everyday for a living. Coach doesn't have to tell them that. All Walton is doing is trying to assert that this is his team and he's in control of the lineups, "system", etc. If you have to tell people you're the leader, then you're not.

With Bogi gone, there is no competition for the starting SG spot and pretending that there is is going to cost credibility with the players. Haliburton will have had no training camp, no summer league, an abbreviated preseason. He won't be ready. If down the road, Haliburton is killing it, then everyone will know it and Haliburton will get what he deserves.

It might not be as deep as that, it’s Walton after all. It could be just one of those canned coaches answers that mean nothing. I bet he would say the same thing about every position other than Fox and maybe Barnes. I’m sure he knows Buddy is the starter for the reasons you mentioned.

 

[funkykingston]

I can only view Walton's comment about the change in the offense being "subtle" in two ways.

1. The team will play more uptempo as McNair suggested but Luke wants to have the illusion of full control and will attribute the changes to "small tweaks"

2. He really isn't going to change much. If so, you do you Tank Commander Walton. Good luck in your next job.

 

[KainLear]

This feels almost identical to when Magic and Pelinka came to town in LA to greet Walton a couple years ago...

Use the force, Luke, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

 

[Insomniacal Fan]

Does it seem like Walton is incentivized to get himself fired? He'd get to sit on the 3 remaining years of his contract, and avoid the hit to his coaching record from being a tank commander; Then he could try to avoid blame by blaming the organization culture.

Why should Walton even try?

 

[EIM86]

Luke doesn't even have to look to Brooklyn. Alvin Gentry is almost as adept at running that system as D'Antoni and already on the Kings bench.

I'd rather have D'Antoni at the helm. He's got a better track record and has made guards into studs. However, with Gentry as assistant coach we would have really good coaches for once in forever.

 

[whozit]

Does it seem like Walton is incentivized to get himself fired? He'd get to sit on the 3 remaining years of his contract, and avoid the hit to his coaching record from being a tank commander; Then he could try to avoid blame by blaming the organization culture.

Why should Walton even try?

If I thought that was the case, I would be an ass and put him behind a desk in a non-climate controlled warehouse and let him bide out his time. Isn't there a tunnel to nowhere in old Arco?

 

[Tetsujin]

I'd rather have D'Antoni at the helm. He's got a better track record and has made guards into studs. However, with Gentry as assistant coach we would have really good coaches for once in forever.

By no means was I advocating making Gentry the permanent head coach. Just that if the D’antoni offense is what we’re looking for, we don’t even need to go that far to find it.

 

[TaxMan]

Does it seem like Walton is incentivized to get himself fired? He'd get to sit on the 3 remaining years of his contract, and avoid the hit to his coaching record from being a tank commander; Then he could try to avoid blame by blaming the organization culture.

Why should Walton even try?

I don't think he gets another head coaching gig if he doesn't "succeed" here. Success for him doesn't necessarily mean he's our long term coach for the next 10 years, but at least demonstrate the perception that he's not a strong X's and O's coach is unfounded. Even then, I feel like he may be headed to a lifetime as an assistant with his network of head coaching buddies.

 

[24 rick barry]

Fun fact: in the past 20 years (I didn't bother to go further than that), the 6th man of the year's team has had an average win% of 65%, and every single one of those teams made the playoffs except for the 2017-18 Clippers with Lou Williams (and they were above .500 mind you).

I guess what I'm trying to say is, thinking Buddy can be 6th man of the year on this season's Sacramento Kings is "much of a stretch".

Year Player Team Wins Losses Win % Made Playoffs?
2019-20 Montrezl Harrell LAC 49 23 68.1% Y
2018-19 Lou Williams LAC 48 34 58.5% Y
2017-18 Lou Williams LAC 42 40 51.2% N
2016-17 Eric Gordon HOU 55 27 67.1% Y
2015-16 Jamal Crawford LAC 53 29 64.6% Y
2014-15 Lou Williams TOR 49 33 59.8% Y
2013-14 Jamal Crawford LAC 57 25 69.5% Y
2012-13 J.R. Smith NYK 54 28 65.9% Y
2011-12 James Harden OKC 47 19 71.2% Y
2010-11 Lamar Odom LAL 57 25 69.5% Y
2009-10 Jamal Crawford ATL 53 29 64.6% Y
2008-09 Jason Terry DAL 50 32 61.0% Y
2007-08 Manu Ginóbili SAS 56 26 68.3% Y
2006-07 Leandro Barbosa PHO 61 21 74.4% Y
2005-06 Mike Miller MEM 49 33 59.8% Y
2004-05 Ben Gordon CHI 47 35 57.3% Y
2003-04 Antawn Jamison DAL 52 30 63.4% Y
2002-03 Bobby Jackson SAC 59 23 72.0% Y
2001-02 Corliss Williamson DET 50 32 61.0% Y
2000-01 Aaron McKie PHI 56 26 68.3% Y
1999-00 Rodney Rogers PHO 53 29 64.6% Y

Another Fun Fact
Name a team in the NBA that has their highest paid player not be a starter?

It would be ludicrous to not start Buddy after all that has taken place.

 

[King Baller]

Walton can say what he wants. When the games start he better have Buddy in the starting lineup. Otherwise I expect He will be unemployed, but still getting paid.

 

[Noble]

I would just roll with Gentry and get this over with

 

[upinsmoke]

Walton can say what he wants. When the games start he better have Buddy in the starting lineup. Otherwise I expect He will be unemployed, but still getting paid.

Vivek is the most generous owner of them all.

 

[dude12]

Luke Walton is going to pee all over the new good vibes again isn’t he?

 

[dude12]

Harrison Barnes said on Twitter to not run and take advantage of DeAaron’s speed and the roster built around him would be criminal.

Luke Walton, your team is going to be fast paced or else.

 

[kb02]

Fun fact: in the past 20 years (I didn't bother to go further than that), the 6th man of the year's team has had an average win% of 65%, and every single one of those teams made the playoffs except for the 2017-18 Clippers with Lou Williams (and they were above .500 mind you).

I guess what I'm trying to say is, thinking Buddy can be 6th man of the year on this season's Sacramento Kings is "much of a stretch".

Year Player Team Wins Losses Win % Made Playoffs?
2019-20 Montrezl Harrell LAC 49 23 68.1% Y
2018-19 Lou Williams LAC 48 34 58.5% Y
2017-18 Lou Williams LAC 42 40 51.2% N
2016-17 Eric Gordon HOU 55 27 67.1% Y
2015-16 Jamal Crawford LAC 53 29 64.6% Y
2014-15 Lou Williams TOR 49 33 59.8% Y
2013-14 Jamal Crawford LAC 57 25 69.5% Y
2012-13 J.R. Smith NYK 54 28 65.9% Y
2011-12 James Harden OKC 47 19 71.2% Y
2010-11 Lamar Odom LAL 57 25 69.5% Y
2009-10 Jamal Crawford ATL 53 29 64.6% Y
2008-09 Jason Terry DAL 50 32 61.0% Y
2007-08 Manu Ginóbili SAS 56 26 68.3% Y
2006-07 Leandro Barbosa PHO 61 21 74.4% Y
2005-06 Mike Miller MEM 49 33 59.8% Y
2004-05 Ben Gordon CHI 47 35 57.3% Y
2003-04 Antawn Jamison DAL 52 30 63.4% Y
2002-03 Bobby Jackson SAC 59 23 72.0% Y
2001-02 Corliss Williamson DET 50 32 61.0% Y
2000-01 Aaron McKie PHI 56 26 68.3% Y
1999-00 Rodney Rogers PHO 53 29 64.6% Y

Let's revisit this after a half season of seeing Haliburton out playing Buddy.

 

[SacTownKid]

I would just roll with Gentry and get this over with

This is one of those out of touch things from Vivek. Give a shot, fine, but the first sign of teetering they have to pull the trigger because he's clearly already created the fall back scenario right in Waltons face. All Walton has to do is play to the strengths of his players and use his talent, not his mind as the bridge. If he does that he has a shot of sticking in the league as one of the perennial coaching candidate types. If not, this is his swansong.