[Game] Kings vs. Grizzlies, 12/26/2021 3pm Pacific 6pm Eastern

[sactowndog]

He'd be the best player on a dreadful team... So no change.

Depends on what Monte would have gotten for Fox in the preseason. I suspect a Fox for Simmons straight up trade would have made us a better team.

 

[kingsfan101]

Gotta give them credit for creating a culture, developing a type, and acquiring them. Robert Pera doesn't get enough credit for being a culture builder.

The Kings don't have a type. They could, if Monte/Vivek commited to it. Build around connectors. You got an offensive and a defensive connector already on the team. Get rid of the black holes and go get more connectors. You don't need a superstar ISO scorer when your connectors are creating easy buckets by moving the opposing defense all over the place. You don't need a defensive savior when your defensive connectors are collectively lowering the efficiency of the opposing offense.

Below are their first round picks since 2014
2014: Jordan Adams (22)
2015: Jarell Martin (25)
2016: Wade Baldwin (17)
2017: No pick
2018: Jaren Jackson Jr (4)
2019: Ja Morant (2)
2020: No pick
2021: Trey Murphy (17)

So, they dipped in the lottery only twice in the last 8 years, and had a top 3 pick only once. Ja is the closest thing they have to a superstar, but he too hasn't made an all-star team yet, though I think he is likely to make one before Fox. Jackson might still prove to be a good pick if he can stay healthy.

By contrast, two players who have recently played very well, and helped carry the team in Ja's absence are
Dillon Brooks (45)
Desmond Bane (30)

Throwing it out there to reiterate the point I have been trying to make over the past several weeks, suggesting that tanking is not a solution.

Any time this argument is made, people say that it's our best chance to get a superstar. I don't think ANYONE argues against that. The question is, does trying to win, even at the cost of a few picks is better for the team overall, in terms of player and culture development. As mentioned earlier, apart from rare instances like Holmes, we have been equally inept at developing vets as we have in developing youngsters. So, it's not just a case of bad drafting (which too we have done a lot).

Unless we develop a strong culture, we will continue to see wasted high picks.

That said, I do believe that Vivek and Monte need to get on the same page and define the priority as trying to win with the youth, instead of winning to make the playoffs if possible. No idea if they are currently on separate tracks. Just saying out my wish list.

Buddy is having too inconsistent a season. Given that we've already tried to trade him twice, he knows that he will be shopped around, and I wouldn't blame him for losing some focus. Barnes is good and plays smart, but needs to get more aggressive. We can hopefully salvage some assets for them, and open up more time for Metu/Bagley/TD. Will likely result in few more losses, but those will be good losses. I honestly don't think we have a shot at the post season, unless the trade deadline somehow shakes things for us dramatically. While I don't like to tank the season, I (we all do) want to see the team play hard, and see players develop.

 

[kb02]

Below are their first round picks since 2014
2014: Jordan Adams (22)
2015: Jarell Martin (25)
2016: Wade Baldwin (17)
2017: No pick
2018: Jaren Jackson Jr (4)
2019: Ja Morant (2)
2020: No pick
2021: Trey Murphy (17)

So, they dipped in the lottery only twice in the last 8 years, and had a top 3 pick only once. Ja is the closest thing they have to a superstar, but he too hasn't made an all-star team yet, though I think he is likely to make one before Fox. Jackson might still prove to be a good pick if he can stay healthy.

By contrast, two players who have recently played very well, and helped carry the team in Ja's absence are
Dillon Brooks (45)
Desmond Bane (30)

Throwing it out there to reiterate the point I have been trying to make over the past several weeks, suggesting that tanking is not a solution.

Any time this argument is made, people say that it's our best chance to get a superstar. I don't think ANYONE argues against that. The question is, does trying to win, even at the cost of a few picks is better for the team overall, in terms of player and culture development. As mentioned earlier, apart from rare instances like Holmes, we have been equally inept at developing vets as we have in developing youngsters. So, it's not just a case of bad drafting (which too we have done a lot).

Unless we develop a strong culture, we will continue to see wasted high picks.

That said, I do believe that Vivek and Monte need to get on the same page and define the priority as trying to win with the youth, instead of winning to make the playoffs if possible. No idea if they are currently on separate tracks. Just saying out my wish list.

Buddy is having too inconsistent a season. Given that we've already tried to trade him twice, he knows that he will be shopped around, and I wouldn't blame him for losing some focus. Barnes is good and plays smart, but needs to get more aggressive. We can hopefully salvage some assets for them, and open up more time for Metu/Bagley/TD. Will likely result in few more losses, but those will be good losses. I honestly don't think we have a shot at the post season, unless the trade deadline somehow shakes things for us dramatically. While I don't like to tank the season, I (we all do) want to see the team play hard, and see players develop.

Grizzlies tanked to get Jackson and Ja. They traded their core to do so. Tanking is a strategy that they did right.

 

[EIM86]

He'd be the best player on a dreadful team... So no change.

literally this lol. Best move imo is to trade all the good players except one and get a draft pick to lure in a coach

 

[miltonap]

Below are their first round picks since 2014
2014: Jordan Adams (22)
2015: Jarell Martin (25)
2016: Wade Baldwin (17)
2017: No pick
2018: Jaren Jackson Jr (4)
2019: Ja Morant (2)
2020: No pick
2021: Trey Murphy (17)

So, they dipped in the lottery only twice in the last 8 years, and had a top 3 pick only once. Ja is the closest thing they have to a superstar, but he too hasn't made an all-star team yet, though I think he is likely to make one before Fox. Jackson might still prove to be a good pick if he can stay healthy.

By contrast, two players who have recently played very well, and helped carry the team in Ja's absence are
Dillon Brooks (45)
Desmond Bane (30)

Throwing it out there to reiterate the point I have been trying to make over the past several weeks, suggesting that tanking is not a solution.

Any time this argument is made, people say that it's our best chance to get a superstar. I don't think ANYONE argues against that. The question is, does trying to win, even at the cost of a few picks is better for the team overall, in terms of player and culture development. As mentioned earlier, apart from rare instances like Holmes, we have been equally inept at developing vets as we have in developing youngsters. So, it's not just a case of bad drafting (which too we have done a lot).

Unless we develop a strong culture, we will continue to see wasted high picks.

That said, I do believe that Vivek and Monte need to get on the same page and define the priority as trying to win with the youth, instead of winning to make the playoffs if possible. No idea if they are currently on separate tracks. Just saying out my wish list.

Buddy is having too inconsistent a season. Given that we've already tried to trade him twice, he knows that he will be shopped around, and I wouldn't blame him for losing some focus. Barnes is good and plays smart, but needs to get more aggressive. We can hopefully salvage some assets for them, and open up more time for Metu/Bagley/TD. Will likely result in few more losses, but those will be good losses. I honestly don't think we have a shot at the post season, unless the trade deadline somehow shakes things for us dramatically. While I don't like to tank the season, I (we all do) want to see the team play hard, and see players develop.

I think most on this forum would be content if there were a semblance of direction and if the team played hard.

Like Toronto or Memphis Grizzlies style.

 

[gunks]

I think most on this forum would be content if there were a semblance of direction and if the team played hard.

Like Toronto or Memphis Grizzlies style.

Sad but true. Such a low bar and this team can’t even hit that.

 

[SacTownKid]

Grizzlies tanked to get Jackson and Ja. They traded their core to do so. Tanking is a strategy that they did right.

And the Grizz will still be a team in the end wondering how, oh how, they can get a legit star to push them over the top. Getting a little too good, too early is a lot of teams undoing.

 

[kb02]

And the Grizz will still be a team in the end wondering how, oh how, they can get a legit star to push them over the top. Getting a little too good, too early is a lot of teams undoing.

Better than sucking for 15 yrs though.