Sasha Watch 2022-2023
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
If he’s worth bringing over at all, it will eventually be more than 10-15 minutes. He’s in his late 20’s. He’ll be expected to be an immediate contributor and chances are his projected salary would suggest he plays a bigger role than say Trey Lyles does as a 10-15 minutes player on average.
personally, I think everybody is too committed to HB long term that it’s clouding the outlook. I realize he’ll likely re-sign unless he takes a major dump over the next couple of months but I like Sasha as a potential starter next to Domas if his game translates. That’s not meant as a slight on HB who I think is important to this years group, but business wise.
If the Kings are to take the next step. They’ll obviously need to balance their bench, but also add another high level starter at one of the SG, SF or PF positions. They are all currently good guys there but the Kings will eventually need to upgrade one of them since we think Keegan will make some leap, perhaps that allows him to provide what HB does going to the rim. I think the Kings are hopeful Vezenkov could potentially be that guy. I’m not sure they’ll bring him over if they view him as a backup because he should be playing with the playmakers with his off the ball style.
personally, I think everybody is too committed to HB long term that it’s clouding the outlook. I realize he’ll likely re-sign unless he takes a major dump over the next couple of months but I like Sasha as a potential starter next to Domas if his game translates. That’s not meant as a slight on HB who I think is important to this years group, but business wise.
If the Kings are to take the next step. They’ll obviously need to balance their bench, but also add another high level starter at one of the SG, SF or PF positions. They are all currently good guys there but the Kings will eventually need to upgrade one of them since we think Keegan will make some leap, perhaps that allows him to provide what HB does going to the rim. I think the Kings are hopeful Vezenkov could potentially be that guy. I’m not sure they’ll bring him over if they view him as a backup because he should be playing with the playmakers with his off the ball style.
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My question is if Lyles can be had for say 3 years 15 and Sasha can get the mid level, what direction do we go? He looks like a pure shooter, moves well and is smart but he likely can’t defend or play small ball 5 and may or may not be able to create his own shot. I’m torn whether the lethal shooting is enough to overcome our lack of length and defense at the 4/5.
In my eyes, it's quite likely that either the money or the minutes just aren't there. More likely the minutes.
Lyles has played himself into a bigger contract this year as he can now be seen as a legitimate floor-spacing threat; I also think he looks like he's in better shape than he was last year. LIke @iowamcnabb suggested, it looks to me like he should get something like 3/$15M, or maybe more in terms of dollars. And he's going to want to get floor time. I don't think he can demand a starting spot, but he's clearly worth rotation minutes. If we sign Sasha, he'll probably feel squeezed and elect to sign elsewhere. The same would apply in the opposite direction - if we sign Lyles, Sasha may have quite a bit less incentive to leave Olympiacos, because even though our MLE will be able to give him a raise, in Europe he's an MVP, and he'd potentially be in danger of falling out of the rotation here. I don't think that would happen, but is it worth the risk?
The way a "both" scenario works, I would guess, would be the Kings moving (or stretching) Richaun and committing to Lyles as our backup C, leaving a slot open in the F rotation for Sasha (i.e. Barnes, Murray, Sasha). Of course, I'm assuming we bring Barnes back, but that seems like at least a decent bet right now.
Lyles has played himself into a bigger contract this year as he can now be seen as a legitimate floor-spacing threat; I also think he looks like he's in better shape than he was last year. LIke @iowamcnabb suggested, it looks to me like he should get something like 3/$15M, or maybe more in terms of dollars. And he's going to want to get floor time. I don't think he can demand a starting spot, but he's clearly worth rotation minutes. If we sign Sasha, he'll probably feel squeezed and elect to sign elsewhere. The same would apply in the opposite direction - if we sign Lyles, Sasha may have quite a bit less incentive to leave Olympiacos, because even though our MLE will be able to give him a raise, in Europe he's an MVP, and he'd potentially be in danger of falling out of the rotation here. I don't think that would happen, but is it worth the risk?
The way a "both" scenario works, I would guess, would be the Kings moving (or stretching) Richaun and committing to Lyles as our backup C, leaving a slot open in the F rotation for Sasha (i.e. Barnes, Murray, Sasha). Of course, I'm assuming we bring Barnes back, but that seems like at least a decent bet right now.
He looks talented.
I don't see the 'fit' as other do though.
We need a big that can rebound and defend.
We need some athleticism on the wing.
We need some perimeter defense that isn't fringe NBA talent.
I wonder what it would take to get Robert Covington (Ro Co) from Clips. He makes the same as Holmes but they are playing Plumlee in the backup 5 spot.
I'd throw Barnes' money at Jerami Grant the minute free agency starts. He fits imho so much better than Sasha. Grant brings length, athleticism, defense, and shooting and is the tyoe of player that fits into that starting 5 perfectly.
Sabonis/Giant endless void/Holmes
Grant/Sasha
Keegs/Kessler
Huerter/Monk
Fox/Davion
Our 1st, our 2nd, and Pacers 2nd to fill out the rest.
I don't see the 'fit' as other do though.
We need a big that can rebound and defend.
We need some athleticism on the wing.
We need some perimeter defense that isn't fringe NBA talent.
I wonder what it would take to get Robert Covington (Ro Co) from Clips. He makes the same as Holmes but they are playing Plumlee in the backup 5 spot.
I'd throw Barnes' money at Jerami Grant the minute free agency starts. He fits imho so much better than Sasha. Grant brings length, athleticism, defense, and shooting and is the tyoe of player that fits into that starting 5 perfectly.
Sabonis/Giant endless void/Holmes
Grant/Sasha
Keegs/Kessler
Huerter/Monk
Fox/Davion
Our 1st, our 2nd, and Pacers 2nd to fill out the rest.
Vezenkov has legit guard skills and if Lyles had that kind of stroke, this wouldn't even be a conversation but Lyles does not. Lyles is a skilled PF in a league where those don't always have a ton of value. No decision this summer should be made on the basis of keeping Lyles at all costs. Only a Bonzi level playoff run would make that a consideration IMO and even then you can't deny his role player like history.
He's likely not the answer to that upper rotation firepower need but he totally fits. He looks like a 6'9" Kevin Huerter with a lightning fast release. Also, with what Grant wants I'm fairly sure the Kings can't sign Grant, keep their first, and sign Sasha without a full dump of Holmes' contract at the very least.
We could be. Depending on how the bench is dealt with and how well Sasha translates to the NBA. I think he’s a perfect modern 4. I think Sasha would immediately provide better three point shooting, rebounding, and assists. Defense is a question mark only because I legitimately don’t know…but I’m not going to assume he’s a bad defender just because he’s a EuroLeague guy. I just don’t know how he will be on that end in the NBA.
I actually expect that both HB and Sasha will be on the roster next season. I also don’t mind if HB is brought back.
I just don’t think keeping Barnes should come with the commitment that he’s basically our starting forward for the length of his deal and they certainly shouldn’t overpay to keep him. I have no clue what Barnes value is around the league.
the reason I even brought it up in this thread is I’m noticing fans sort of falling in love with the team as is. Fair enough. They’re having a good season. They probably haven’t reached their peak as currently constructed, but they’re probably close.
but people are talking about re-signing Lyles too and wondering how Sasha fits in with Lyles getting minutes. We’re already committed to HB eating 35 minutes and also a hefty portion of the salary cap and already deciding their might not be minutes for a guy that looks like a match made in heaven for this team.
it’s not specifically about Sasha replacing anybody that I brought it up…I was just getting some Washington Wizards vibes from the outlooks I was seeing. The Wizards have never seen a 45 win team that they didn’t want to go all in keeping together 1-8. They’ve done it about 3-4 times over the last 25 years.
I don’t want the Domas and Fox core to hit a wall because the Kings settled at the first sign of success.
if they believe Sasha’s game will translate the NBA, they should definitely get him over here with the expectation he’s going to play significant minutes with Domas and Fox.
If there is a question to Monte and the coaching staff on whether he can beat out Trey Lyles then they probably shouldn’t bother to bring him over at all. Unless he takes a smaller deal than most of us expect him to take.
I actually expect that both HB and Sasha will be on the roster next season. I also don’t mind if HB is brought back.
I just don’t think keeping Barnes should come with the commitment that he’s basically our starting forward for the length of his deal and they certainly shouldn’t overpay to keep him. I have no clue what Barnes value is around the league.
the reason I even brought it up in this thread is I’m noticing fans sort of falling in love with the team as is. Fair enough. They’re having a good season. They probably haven’t reached their peak as currently constructed, but they’re probably close.
but people are talking about re-signing Lyles too and wondering how Sasha fits in with Lyles getting minutes. We’re already committed to HB eating 35 minutes and also a hefty portion of the salary cap and already deciding their might not be minutes for a guy that looks like a match made in heaven for this team.
it’s not specifically about Sasha replacing anybody that I brought it up…I was just getting some Washington Wizards vibes from the outlooks I was seeing. The Wizards have never seen a 45 win team that they didn’t want to go all in keeping together 1-8. They’ve done it about 3-4 times over the last 25 years.
I don’t want the Domas and Fox core to hit a wall because the Kings settled at the first sign of success.
if they believe Sasha’s game will translate the NBA, they should definitely get him over here with the expectation he’s going to play significant minutes with Domas and Fox.
If there is a question to Monte and the coaching staff on whether he can beat out Trey Lyles then they probably shouldn’t bother to bring him over at all. Unless he takes a smaller deal than most of us expect him to take.
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