The Kings being a different defensive team since Keon starting is the best intel Monte could ever have. His quest for another big piece is well warranted. Keon/Keegan being the defensive backbone make this one move from as good as it gets.
It absolute makes a Kuzma move more palatable than before we found out Keon is a starter-level role player, that’s for sure. We no longer need to search for a guy who is both a plus defender and good enough at offense and can just look for best player available period.
Not that I would mind trading for Mikal or DFS
Not that I would mind trading for Mikal or DFS
- We’ve been a great defensive team lately with a Fox-Ellis-Murray-Barnes-Sabonis starting lineup. I don’t think swapping Barnes for Markkanen craters that defense. In fact, it could be better considering his size, rebounding, and ability to contest some shots at the rim. Then you still have guys like Mitchell, Jones, Edwards, Lyles, & Len off the bench that can help bolster the defense.
- I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Sabonis is best in a facilitator/secondary scorer role. We eventually need another high end scorer that can take the pressure off of Fox while at the same time not be a ball dominant player (allowing Sabonis to still play that facilitator role). We’re hopeful that Murray can become that player one day, but as of now, Markkanen is averaging 25.3 PTS (per36) with a .631 TS% and only has a .252 USG%.
- Markkanen is not only a great scorer but he allows us to continue to utilize a lot of DHO action with Sabonis. Markkanen has the ability to hit those 3s off the screen/handoff (vs. if you put a guy like Finney-Smith out there at PF). That type of movement shooting will stretch the defense that much more and open the lane up for Fox and Sabonis.
- Considering Markkanen’s usage is not crazy high (.252 USG%) and Sabonis’ natural instinct is to pass first/defer, I still think it allows Murray some space to continue to grow his offensive role as a scorer.
- Markkanen is only 26 years old and is on the same timeline as the rest of our core.
In general, swapping out Barnes for Markkanen in the starting lineup would seem to give us a plethora of offensive upgrades while keeping the defense relatively the same (if not a bit better). If we’re moving on from Huerter & Barnes and continue to play defensive guys like Ellis, Mitchell, Jones, Edwards, Lyles, & Len in their place, adding a guy like Markkanen may make some sense.