Potential Free agent/trade/sign tracker
- Thread starter iowamcnabb
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See, to me, this is the wrong read on Kuzma. If we're signing him, we want him to be a 2nd/3rd scoring option type that's capable of creating his own offense and playmaking for others. And just by virtue of playing in the Kings system, his efficiency and shot quality would hopefully skyrocket. The Kings had one of the best regular season offenses of all time, but their system crumbled in the playoffs; there's a variety of reasons for that, but when the cards fell, only Fox and Monk were able to create something out of nothing. The hope is Kuzma doesn't fade in that situation.
He's just a confusing player. Surface stats say he's bad, but impact stats/very smart people think he's near elite. I'd be okay with like $20mil/season. Anything higher than that gets real iffy.
He's just a confusing player. Surface stats say he's bad, but impact stats/very smart people think he's near elite. I'd be okay with like $20mil/season. Anything higher than that gets real iffy.
have to wonder where the shots are going to come from though. Barnes averaged 15 a game last year and he got to the line a bunch. If Kuzma is going to average around 18, who is taking the hit? It would be pretty disappointing if Keegan averages 12 points a game this year. I suppose Domas could have a reduction in shots but considering how efficient he is, not sure that makes us better.
I prefer to overpay Josh Hart (20-22 M) to beat the Knicks offer than pay Kyle Kuzma or Jerami Grant (25-30 M).
And we could keep a little cap space to bring a true backup center, maybe Plumlee or Eubanks.
We have a good attack, now we have to improve our defence and rebounding without hurting the offensive part of our game to much.
And we could keep a little cap space to bring a true backup center, maybe Plumlee or Eubanks.
We have a good attack, now we have to improve our defence and rebounding without hurting the offensive part of our game to much.
USG really isn't a problem on our team. Fox obviously gets his, Monk and TD were gunslingers off the bench, but then the rest of the rotation were all like 16-20%. That's the beauty of the Domas offensive engine; if you're rolling, he's not going to take the ball out of your hands. He's going to keep feeding you over and over.
But we also have to kind of pick a lane in terms of what we want the FA acquisition to do. No one fixes all our problem. Improved defense/low USG guy that makes sure Keegan is in a bigger offensive role? Go after PJW/Grant Williams/Josh Hart. Want a 2nd/3rd scorer? Kuzma/Grant. Want younger HB? Cam Johnson. Want to run it back? HB.
But we also have to kind of pick a lane in terms of what we want the FA acquisition to do. No one fixes all our problem. Improved defense/low USG guy that makes sure Keegan is in a bigger offensive role? Go after PJW/Grant Williams/Josh Hart. Want a 2nd/3rd scorer? Kuzma/Grant. Want younger HB? Cam Johnson. Want to run it back? HB.
And how are you going to do that in the Western Conference with its large teams, when playing Josh Hart or Grant Williams at SF? 
Guys like KD, MPJ and Paul George will just rise up and shoot over them all day long...
Guys like KD, MPJ and Paul George will just rise up and shoot over them all day long...
First, Naz Reid would get cooked by every Western Conference wing because he's too slow.
Now Grant Williams and Josh Hart would get cooked by every Western Conference wing because they're too small.
MAKE UP YOUR MINDS, SOMEONE HAS TO PLAY
Agreed, we'd want him to be a consistent offensive threat, but I'd also be curious to see what a coach like Mike Brown could do for his defense. Kuzma has always been an inconsistent defensive player. He played no defense when he came into the league. Then when the Lakers brought in Lebron and Frank Vogel his role shifted into more of a 3 and D player and his defense was actually really solid. Then when he went to Washington his defense reverted back to slightly below average. The sample size isn't big, but when pushed to defend at a high level Kuzma has shown the ability to do that well. The thought of getting Washington scoring Kuzma with Frank Vogel Lakers defensive Kuzma makes me buy into his contract a lot easier but who knows if that's what we would get. If any coach has a chance to get that out of him it's Mike Brown.
I'm a little perplexed by this as well. He's sortof like Matisse Thybulle but he still has the new car smell I suppose? Only a few of us want the Kings to sign Thybulle and we just drafted two guys who fill a similar role. I think he's just in that sweet spot career-wise where we can still dream about his potential growth as a scorer but he's also a proven commodity as a defender. He splits the difference between Thybulle and Anunoby. I don't think New Orleans will make him available.
Thybulle is a good comparison (and cautionary tale) for Jones. Herb Jones was someone I really wanted in the second round of the 2021 draft but he went four spots before we took Queta.
Both he and Thybulle are career 33% shooters from 3 who make their living on defense. But Jones is more of a strong man defender who can play the passing lanes vs Matisse as more of a free safety defender. Jones also provides more positional versatility as he's a bit bigger/longer, though both can be muscled by stronger wings.
Jones has had more opportunities to start and have a significant role with New Orleans than Thybulle got in Philly, but Matisse got more chances once he was traded to the Blazers.
Both guys are going to improve defense but hurt spacing overall.
But maybe the biggest parallel with Thybulle is that Jones now will likely cost more to acquire than his actual on court production will provide. Part of that was just Morey being Morey, but I wouldn't want to pay the asking price for Herb Jones.
Both he and Thybulle are career 33% shooters from 3 who make their living on defense. But Jones is more of a strong man defender who can play the passing lanes vs Matisse as more of a free safety defender. Jones also provides more positional versatility as he's a bit bigger/longer, though both can be muscled by stronger wings.
Jones has had more opportunities to start and have a significant role with New Orleans than Thybulle got in Philly, but Matisse got more chances once he was traded to the Blazers.
Both guys are going to improve defense but hurt spacing overall.
But maybe the biggest parallel with Thybulle is that Jones now will likely cost more to acquire than his actual on court production will provide. Part of that was just Morey being Morey, but I wouldn't want to pay the asking price for Herb Jones.
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It's going to be hard not to look at some of that Kuz defense in LA as situational though. He was allowed to gamble quite a bit plus in the contender years he was mostly a 6th man. I mean, that team was built completely different than this one and had a pretty decent eraser behind everyone to allow players like him to gamble.
I still think he's basically Buddy Hield at the PF spot for this team. Which is something I still think they miss, but if there are better, more efficient options go that route.
I still think he's basically Buddy Hield at the PF spot for this team. Which is something I still think they miss, but if there are better, more efficient options go that route.
If people are comparing Herb Jones to Matisse Thybulle, especially when looking at this roster, you probably should take everything else they say henceforth with a grain of salt.
Thybulle is a great defender too but there are levels to this, like with everything. Herb is 6'8", Thybulle is 6'5". Herb can legitimately guard 1-4. Thybulle can guard 1-3 but not the larger SFs like Luka, KD, Tatum, etc for too long. That extra length and ability to guard PFs (even Giannis on occasions) is something I consider quite valuable, and a missing component on this roster. Herb has also shown to be better on offense than Thybulle thus far.
Anyway, the way I see it, a lead defender on the best opposing big wings and forwards is the major thing this team is missing, so why not go for the best? Herbert can provide the same sort of impact that Andrew Wiggins did during GSW run to the title in 2021-22.
Giannis:
Luka:
An older video but a nice watch anyway... the end of it talks about how he contributes on offense as a connector.
You can also watch every play he makes in games on this lovely website: https://thehighlow.io
https://thehighlow.io/video/player/...make3p,dmake3pa,foul,dreb?ordsq=&shotFilters=
Not Keegan. I'd give up Davion plus a future pick (or picks if they are not too far out) to get it done because I feel there is a real good window of opportunity to win a title now if this FO can get both Cam Johnson and Herb Jones. Dennis Smith Jr can be a close enough replacement for Davion. This Denver team is looking really strong, if they can keep everyone healthy for the end of playoffs. The Celtics will continue to get stronger. If Luka finally gets a loaded roster too, there's no telling what he might do, he could go on a threepeat for all we know. The time to go for it is now... can't just be making marginal improvements (like adding Josh Hart or Grant Williams). The goal is to win that elusive first title and not just make the playoffs again, right?
Thybulle is a great defender too but there are levels to this, like with everything. Herb is 6'8", Thybulle is 6'5". Herb can legitimately guard 1-4. Thybulle can guard 1-3 but not the larger SFs like Luka, KD, Tatum, etc for too long. That extra length and ability to guard PFs (even Giannis on occasions) is something I consider quite valuable, and a missing component on this roster. Herb has also shown to be better on offense than Thybulle thus far.
Anyway, the way I see it, a lead defender on the best opposing big wings and forwards is the major thing this team is missing, so why not go for the best? Herbert can provide the same sort of impact that Andrew Wiggins did during GSW run to the title in 2021-22.
Giannis:
Luka:
An older video but a nice watch anyway... the end of it talks about how he contributes on offense as a connector.
You can also watch every play he makes in games on this lovely website: https://thehighlow.io
https://thehighlow.io/video/player/...make3p,dmake3pa,foul,dreb?ordsq=&shotFilters=
Not Keegan. I'd give up Davion plus a future pick (or picks if they are not too far out) to get it done because I feel there is a real good window of opportunity to win a title now if this FO can get both Cam Johnson and Herb Jones. Dennis Smith Jr can be a close enough replacement for Davion. This Denver team is looking really strong, if they can keep everyone healthy for the end of playoffs. The Celtics will continue to get stronger. If Luka finally gets a loaded roster too, there's no telling what he might do, he could go on a threepeat for all we know. The time to go for it is now... can't just be making marginal improvements (like adding Josh Hart or Grant Williams). The goal is to win that elusive first title and not just make the playoffs again, right?
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It was an over-simplification to make a point. Both guys are mediocre shooters but excellent defenders. Obviously they're also very different players and have different body types but I continue to believe that height difference is way overblown when comparing NBA players. It matters far less than people seem to think it does. Herb Jones is an inch taller according to draft measurements but they have the same size wingspan. Thybulle has better block and steal numbers per36 than Herb Jones but Jones has a slightly higher TS% and is much better from the free throw line.
You're also very wrong about Thybulle not being able to guard the 4 position. He has defended Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, Paul George, and Jayson Tatum better than most players in the league because his agility and anticipation allow him force them into taking tough shots. You're not blocking those guys on the perimeter anyway -- the goal is to make them alter their release point and then grab the rebound.
You're also very wrong about Thybulle not being able to guard the 4 position. He has defended Kevin Durant, Luka Doncic, Paul George, and Jayson Tatum better than most players in the league because his agility and anticipation allow him force them into taking tough shots. You're not blocking those guys on the perimeter anyway -- the goal is to make them alter their release point and then grab the rebound.
I can't believe actual NBA GMs would be willing to trade for the Hawks' dirty laundry and bail them out from their absolutely disastrous spending habits but they already managed to move John Collins for cap space so I guess somebody desperate is probably going to talk themselves into Clint Capela or De'Andre Hunter being a missing piece for their playoff team. There goes my dream of stealing Okongwu next summer.
I can't believe actual NBA GMs would be willing to trade for the Hawks' dirty laundry and bail them out from their absolutely disastrous spending habits but they already managed to move John Collins for cap space so I guess somebody desperate is probably going to talk themselves into Clint Capela or De'Andre Hunter being a missing piece for their playoff team. There goes my dream of stealing Okongwu next summer.
I’m struggling with this myself, it’s hard to imagine investing in a top 5 pick and then slotting him in as your 4th offensive option. I almost wonder if Monte sees Sabonis sliding into the 4th role and having him double down as a super hub. Like 16 12 and 9 type of numbers. Letting Fox, Keegan and free agent player x handle the scoring load.