Welcome Devin Carter

[KingsFanSince85]

DLo and KC trash him every chance they get.

I hardly ever listen to AM radio anymore, but happened to hear them for a few minutes today on my way to an appointment and they were discussing various KINGS personnel decisions over the past few years and declared drafting Devin Carter as a loss.

Ridiculous.

I was quickly reminded why I stopped listing to Sports 1140 a long while ago.

That take is as bad as the instant gratification crowd here at KF that tends to write players of after the first Summer League game.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Looking at the way FA played out, the talk of the market not as being as robust for Monk looks right. The Pistons and Magic went right to the guys they were rumored to be after.

Monk wasn’t even available how would we know they wouldn’t have gone after him especially Orlando

 

[fansinceday1]

I hardly ever listen to AM radio anymore, but happened to hear them for a few minutes today on my way to an appointment and they were discussing various KINGS personnel decisions over the past few years and declared drafting Devin Carter as a loss.

Ridiculous.

I was quickly reminded why I stopped listing to Sports 1140 a long while ago.

That take is as bad as the instant gratification crowd here at KF that tends to write players of after the first Summer League game.

he was taken 13th and he doesn’t play much. As it stands today he’s a bust. Maybe it’ll change, maybe it won’t, who knows, but today he’s a bust. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying that.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

he was taken 13th and he doesn’t play much. As it stands today he’s a bust. Maybe it’ll change, maybe it won’t, who knows, but today he’s a bust. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying that.

You are going out on a limb, because 18 games and 168 minutes played in no way qualifies any player as “bust”. That’s just silly talk, which is the entire point.

We seemingly go through this crap every single year yet many never learn. Why can’t we just allow players time to develop? How many players are coveted by this forum nowadays that weren’t impactful during their first season or two (or more)? The list is quite long.

Isn’t our own Malik Monk a prime example?

In Devin’s case, there was a season-altering injury that prevented him from participating in Summer League and camp which are super important things wrt early development.

He’s also on a team that is extremely guard heavy. Fox, Huerter, Monk, Lavine, Ellis are all experienced names that were/are ahead of him. Even Ellis has found it difficult at times to get PT on this team despite his top tier defense and excellent 3-pt shooting. How the hell do you expect a rookie that missed all of Summer and several months into the season to be playing much, especially given the names already on the roster?

Regardless, making a determination on any player after only one season is straight up short-sighted, one-dimensional thinking — let alone one that missed SL, camp, and has only played 168 minutes in total.

Nothing personal toward you, but labeling “bust” given what I just outlined above is the typical thought process shared by the impatient, instant gratification crowd who lack wisdom and experience. I don’t recall you ever fitting in with that crowd before.

In closing, I’ll say one last thing. “Bust” essentially means that a player has proven they can’t play or are a poor fit. Devin has neither proved nor disproved himself at this point. Not even close.

 

[The_Jamal]

he was taken 13th and he doesn’t play much. As it stands today he’s a bust. Maybe it’ll change, maybe it won’t, who knows, but today he’s a bust. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying that.

Yes you are lol. That's exactly what you're doing

 

[The_Jamal]

You are going out on a limb, because 18 games and 168 minutes played in no way qualifies any player as “bust”. That’s just silly talk, which is the entire point.

We seemingly go through this crap every single year yet many never learn. Why can’t we just allow players time to develop? How many players are coveted by this forum nowadays that weren’t impactful during their first season or two (or more)? The list is quite long.

Isn’t our own Malik Monk a prime example?

In Devin’s case, there was a season-altering injury that prevented him from participating in Summer League and camp which are super important things wrt early development.

He’s also on a team that is extremely guard heavy. Fox, Huerter, Monk, Lavine, Ellis are all experienced names that were/are ahead of him. Even Ellis has found it difficult at times to get PT on this team despite his top tier defense and excellent 3-pt shooting. How the hell do you expect a rookie that missed all of Summer and several months into the season to be playing much, especially given the names already on the roster?

Regardless, making a determination on any player after only one season is straight up short-sighted, one-dimensional thinking — let alone one that missed SL, camp, and has only played 168 minutes in total.

Nothing personal toward you, but labeling “bust” given what I just outlined above is the typical thought process shared by the impatient, instant gratification crowd who lack wisdom and experience. I don’t recall you ever fitting in with that crowd before.

In closing, I’ll say one last thing. “Bust” essentially means that a player has proven they can’t play or are a poor fit. Devin has neither proved nor disproved himself at this point. Not even close.

It's like people can't understand context. We fully drafted Carter, knowing he's a long-term play and that we wouldn't get much from him his rookie year. That's the only reason he was available at 13 in the first place;because he was getting surgery.

 

[SLAB]

he was taken 13th and he doesn’t play much. As it stands today he’s a bust. Maybe it’ll change, maybe it won’t, who knows, but today he’s a bust. I don’t think I’m going out on a limb by saying that.

Calling a guy who was picked injured and is yet to get up to speed a bust after less than one season is absolutely going out on a limb.

More of the same next year? Bust city. It’s way too early.

 

[Jc121]

My decision hasn’t been made and I will have a better idea what we have in Carter after training camp next year. At this point in the season and now with a solid bench the only reason to give him some run with the big team is to make sure that he doesn’t lose any confidence.
He is doing fine right where he is right now. With the rest of the season in Stockton learning the way we run our sets will make his transition next year easier for him.

 

[fansinceday1]

You are going out on a limb, because 18 games and 168 minutes played in no way qualifies any player as “bust”. That’s just silly talk, which is the entire point.

We seemingly go through this crap every single year yet many never learn. Why can’t we just allow players time to develop? How many players are coveted by this forum nowadays that weren’t impactful during their first season or two (or more)? The list is quite long.

Isn’t our own Malik Monk a prime example?

In Devin’s case, there was a season-altering injury that prevented him from participating in Summer League and camp which are super important things wrt early development.

He’s also on a team that is extremely guard heavy. Fox, Huerter, Monk, Lavine, Ellis are all experienced names that were/are ahead of him. Even Ellis has found it difficult at times to get PT on this team despite his top tier defense and excellent 3-pt shooting. How the hell do you expect a rookie that missed all of Summer and several months into the season to be playing much, especially given the names already on the roster?

Regardless, making a determination on any player after only one season is straight up short-sighted, one-dimensional thinking — let alone one that missed SL, camp, and has only played 168 minutes in total.

Nothing personal toward you, but labeling “bust” given what I just outlined above is the typical thought process shared by the impatient, instant gratification crowd who lack wisdom and experience. I don’t recall you ever fitting in with that crowd before.

In closing, I’ll say one last thing. “Bust” essentially means that a player has proven they can’t play or are a poor fit. Devin has neither proved nor disproved himself at this point. Not even close.

You can’t be a kings fan and be impatient at the same time!! That’s just not possible!

I’m not impatient. This is the kings. They aren’t the Celtics or the Thunder who are good enough to draft an injured player and let him sit as he gets better. The kings needed a lottery pick to come in and contribute and that simply not the case. I’ll change my wording. The player isn’t a bust but the pick is. It was another wasted pick.

 

[SLAB]

You can’t be a kings fan and be impatient at the same time!! That’s just not possible!

I’m not impatient. This is the kings. They aren’t the Celtics or the Thunder who are good enough to draft an injured player and let him sit as he gets better. The kings needed a lottery pick to come in and contribute and that simply not the case. I’ll change my wording. The player isn’t a bust but the pick is. It was another wasted pick.

If you’re looking super short term and only at only this season, sure a wasted pick. And ya, there were immediately three players afterwards in Knecht, DaSilva, and Ware that would have fit this roster better.

This is the long game though. This team wasn’t ever competing for a title this season so you go BPA instead of best fit. If an almost red-shirt rookie year leads to him being the best player in this pick range down the line? Not a waste. We’ll see.

 

[The_Jamal]

You can’t be a kings fan and be impatient at the same time!! That’s just not possible!

I’m not impatient. This is the kings. They aren’t the Celtics or the Thunder who are good enough to draft an injured player and let him sit as he gets better. The kings needed a lottery pick to come in and contribute and that simply not the case. I’ll change my wording. The player isn’t a bust but the pick is. It was another wasted pick.

You're and sactowndog would get along, I can just feel that

 

[ESP47]

You can’t be a kings fan and be impatient at the same time!! That’s just not possible!

I’m not impatient. This is the kings. They aren’t the Celtics or the Thunder who are good enough to draft an injured player and let him sit as he gets better. The kings needed a lottery pick to come in and contribute and that simply not the case. I’ll change my wording. The player isn’t a bust but the pick is. It was another wasted pick.

Lottery picks rarely come in and are anything other than net negative players as rookies.

Look at the 2021 draft. Cade, Jalen Green, Suggs, Kuminga and Giddey all played losing basketball as rookies. Mobley, Barnes and Wagner played average or above average. The rest of the guys in the top 13 are either fringe league players or out of the league right now. Only the 3rd, 4th and 8th picks that year would have contributed to winning basketball. You don't count on that when drafting.

Expecting our 13th pick to come in and contribute as a rookie just isn't realistic. It's nice when it happens but it's not a good way to decide if a player is a bust or not.

 

[The_Jamal]

If you’re looking super short term and only at only this season, sure a wasted pick. And ya, there were immediately three players afterwards in Knecht, DaSilva, and Ware that would have fit this roster better.

This is the long game though. This team wasn’t ever competing for a title this season so you go BPA instead of best fit. If an almost red-shirt rookie year leads to him being the best player in this pick range down the line? Not a waste. We’ll see.

Let's go Slab, BPA.

And people were crying about how he didn't feel a "need" because of all the guards... welp, did anyone expect for Fox to be off this team 50 games later? Now, its a damn good thing we have a quality guard prospect on the roster because we certainly need upside at the position

 

[Tetsujin]

If you’re looking super short term and only at only this season, sure a wasted pick. And ya, there were immediately three players afterwards in Knecht, DaSilva, and Ware that would have fit this roster better.

This is the long game though. This team wasn’t ever competing for a title this season so you go BPA instead of best fit. If an almost red-shirt rookie year leads to him being the best player in this pick range down the line? Not a waste. We’ll see.

Should be noted that Knecht and DaSilva only wound up in their respective teams’s rotations due to the other guys in the rotation ahead of them getting injured (also Knecht had a full two month stretch where he pulled a Kevin Huerter and essentially forgot how to play basketball and wound up getting traded for a dude who was apparently so injured that his team changed its mind). Also I know the only image we have of TDS is from that one game where the Magic randomly turned into the 2017 death lineup Warriors and ran us out of the gym but the dude’s not been particularly great overall this season and would absolutely be in a similar situation to Devin behind LaRavia, Keegan, Lyles, and Deebo if we had picked him instead.

 

[The_Jamal]

Should be noted that Knecht and DaSilva only wound up in their respective teams’s rotations due to the other guys in the rotation ahead of them getting injured (also Knecht had a full two month stretch where he pulled a Kevin Huerter and essentially forgot how to play basketball and wound up getting traded for a dude who was apparently so injured that his team changed its mind). Also I know the only image we have of TDS is from that one game where the Magic randomly turned into the 2017 death lineup Warriors and ran us out of the gym but the dude’s not been particularly great overall this season and would absolutely be in a similar situation to Devin behind LaRavia, Keegan, Lyles, and Deebo if we had picked him instead.

Yeah Knecht has been downright awful the last few months. He started great, but he's pretty easily been one of the worst rotation players on basketball impact wise since

But that also doesn't mean he's dust either. To me, I give everyone 3 years to show me something and if they still haven't popped by that 4th year, it's probably not going to happen

 

[iowamcnabb]

The issue with Devin’s development is he may or may not get a real chance this or next season. If we end the season say 44-38 or 43-39 I’d imagine we bring the core back and see what a full season looks like under Doug and with more chemistry developed. If that happens, Devin could probably be penciled in for Fultz’s minutes next season which is 5-12 minutes.

 

[Turgenev]

I didn't follow him in college but the glimpses I've seen of him as a pro have been pretty reasonable. And quickly looking at his g league stats - he's averaging 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and a block in the g league - sure it's the g league but that's not nothing.

 

[fansinceday1]

You're and sactowndog would get along, I can just feel that

I don’t have the passion that sactowndog has.
I have my opinions and how I see things and if others don’t see it, so be it. And if I am right what’s that gonna get me? I can say I was right, whooopdeedoo. I hope SLAB and everyone who likes the Carter pick is right. Personally I don’t see it.
We shall see……..

 

[Jdbraver137]

I don’t have the passion that sactowndog has.
I have my opinions and how I see things and if others don’t see it, so be it. And if I am right what’s that gonna get me? I can say I was right, whooopdeedoo. I hope SLAB and everyone who likes the Carter pick is right. Personally I don’t see it.
We shall see……..

Well you don’t see it because you probably don’t watch him play. I suggest watching a few g-league games. Because if you didn’t know there is a guy named Ellis that played very much like Devin In the G. I wonder what happened to him?

 

[dude12]

Dude didn’t even have a training camp, his head coach got replaced, he doesn’t have the luxury of working thru mistakes because the Kings are in a fight for their playoff lives……this is not an ordinary beginning for a rookie. I think he’s going to be fine.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Let's go Slab, BPA.

And people were crying about how he didn't feel a "need" because of all the guards... welp, did anyone expect for Fox to be off this team 50 games later? Now, its a damn good thing we have a quality guard prospect on the roster because we certainly need upside at the position

So much speculation around "done deals" for players on the Nets orJazz, this pick being traded and then untraded when Devin became available, blah blah.

I do wonder that the team had to know Fox was one foot out the door and if he wouldn't sign the extension they saw Devin as a potential replacement whereas the other "good" players drafted shortly after would have been expected to be "now" players. I'm really only sold on Ware in that group after half a season, and he's been hot and cold.

Now back to Fox and Devin, I know they aren't the same, nobody really is. But currently we have Monk as lead guard and so I can see a world where Devin is too. So maybe they saw him as a top 5, top 8 player this draft, fills a long term potential need, would still be value even with Fox, and made the call.

We've all seen the team add size once Fox and Brown went away so I just don't think Monte was the issue in that department.

It sucks that Carter has been hurt, and he really hasn't found his game legs yet. But we know he will be able to play 30+ mpg in the future and I do know that people a lot smarter than me who aren't Kings affiliated all loved this pick. So I'm prepared to give him 3 years before making any judgement. But hell we see with players like Keegan they are "great and awesome" in Y1 and then because they took a step back, had their usage changed, developed other areas of their game, etc. they suddenly suck and we blew it not trading them. LOL. Fans can be so fickle.

 

[SacTownKid]

Monk wasn’t even available how would we know they wouldn’t have gone after him especially Orlando

There were rumors that they were going after other targets already. Could have been bull, but it would be likely there was intel about what the teams were considering at that point. It was already very clearly a tough market considering so few teams had actual space.

 

[SacTownKid]

It's like people can't understand context. We fully drafted Carter, knowing he's a long-term play and that we wouldn't get much from him his rookie year. That's the only reason he was available at 13 in the first place;because he was getting surgery.

Exactly, I mean the dude clearly isn't even comfortable dunking with two hands and hanging on the rim yet, lol. A legit summer league, offseason conditioning program, and preseason is a pretty necessary thing. The good news is he's showing his skills in the G league, not just numbers. Players put up 40 point all the time in the G league, it's all about how they are doing it. Looking at it, no holes are to be found most nights. He's even discovering a little mid range game which he didn't have much of in college.

​

 

[iowamcnabb]

Exactly, I mean the dude clearly isn't even comfortable dunking with two hands and hanging on the rim yet, lol. A legit summer league, offseason conditioning program, and preseason is a pretty necessary thing. The good news is he's showing his skills in the G league, not just numbers. Players put up 40 point all the time in the G league, it's all about how they are doing it. Looking at it, no holes are to be found most nights. He's even discovering a little mid range game which he didn't have much of in college.

Rebounding, team defense, getting to the foul line and taking charges/getting fouled on screens are all things he has shown he can do right now, even at the nba level. Those things lead to winning. Now it’s just a matter of refining the rest of his game and getting him consistent minutes

 

[SacTownKid]

So much speculation around "done deals" for players on the Nets orJazz, this pick being traded and then untraded when Devin became available, blah blah.

I do wonder that the team had to know Fox was one foot out the door and if he wouldn't sign the extension they saw Devin as a potential replacement whereas the other "good" players drafted shortly after would have been expected to be "now" players. I'm really only sold on Ware in that group after half a season, and he's been hot and cold.

Now back to Fox and Devin, I know they aren't the same, nobody really is. But currently we have Monk as lead guard and so I can see a world where Devin is too. So maybe they saw him as a top 5, top 8 player this draft, fills a long term potential need, would still be value even with Fox, and made the call.

We've all seen the team add size once Fox and Brown went away so I just don't think Monte was the issue in that department.

It sucks that Carter has been hurt, and he really hasn't found his game legs yet. But we know he will be able to play 30+ mpg in the future and I do know that people a lot smarter than me who aren't Kings affiliated all loved this pick. So I'm prepared to give him 3 years before making any judgement. But hell we see with players like Keegan they are "great and awesome" in Y1 and then because they took a step back, had their usage changed, developed other areas of their game, etc. they suddenly suck and we blew it not trading them. LOL. Fans can be so fickle.

On paper a Devin Carter looks like a seamless fit next to players like LaVine, Keon, or Monk. If true, it'll work itself out. The Kings are obviously taking it slow with all the rookies. Even Jones who is like already 25 is paying dues. Even when he's played better than some of his competition. If there is sense to any of this, instead of like previous seasons where they stuck a player with legit potential into a tiny box that included a tiny role, and potentially hindering their potential in the process, they're letting them develop and prove those skills in the G league. Keon did the same thing. This is what development looks like if you are trying to win now. It took Keon until the age of 25 to be given a real chance with the big club.

 

[datamanwes]

I expect Devin will be a very good player in the league hopefully with the Kings. I am also very high on Fultz. I always liked him but he has had his share of issues . I hope he reaches his potential with the Kings. I am also happy with the Kings front office. They made some really good moves after trading Fox. Love LaVine, and Jonas. Go Kings oh and remove the interim title from Doug

 

[Joshyjosh31]

There were rumors that they were going after other targets already. Could have been bull, but it would be likely there was intel about what the teams were considering at that point. It was already very clearly a tough market considering so few teams had actual space.

I think they’d go after monk over KCP though! He’s younger not the shooter but they would like his playmaking ability over KCP considering the roster they have

 

[SacTownKid]

I think they’d go after monk over KCP though! He’s younger not the shooter but they would like his playmaking ability over KCP considering the roster they have

Maybe, but it might have still literally left like one team with lots of money and a clear spot for him besides Sac. There was talk about Harris going to Detroit before last season even ended. When he went there immediately it was like, oh, yeah, crappy market for most FA's that year. I remember Bonzi Wells' agent pitting the Kings against an empty market and both sides suffered big time. If Monk had one other realistic scenario to boost his market that's 1 team turning away from a collapse of that market. Monk in the end is on a good contract, but realistically he's not on a deal far less than his value for what he is. In the end the Magic likely F'd up overpaying a role playing 3 and D guy. Most teams regret it sooner than later if they don't bring W's. Those guys should always have ceiling on cost because they simply don't usually produce at a super high level and if you aren't winning at a high level they come back to bite teams. Bruce Brown did the same thing to the Pacers. Monk obviously doesn't bring the defense but if a team is paying 20 million + a year to someone they better put up some type of numbers and he does that at least.

 

[Tetsujin]

I think they’d go after monk over KCP though! He’s younger not the shooter but they would like his playmaking ability over KCP considering the roster they have

Acquiring as many long defense first guys at the expense of pretty much anything else has always been the Magic’s MO though. Paolo is pretty much the only guy they’ve picked in the last decade who was a better scorer than defender in college (aside from Jett, who sorta sucks). KCP is hypothetically the perfect Magic player except this season he’s mostly given them neither 3-or-D.

 

[kingsfan101]

Maybe, but it might have still literally left like one team with lots of money and a clear spot for him besides Sac. There was talk about Harris going to Detroit before last season even ended. When he went there immediately it was like, oh, yeah, crappy market for most FA's that year. I remember Bonzi Wells' agent pitting the Kings against an empty market and both sides suffered big time. If Monk had one other realistic scenario to boost his market that's 1 team turning away from a collapse of that market. Monk in the end is on a good contract, but realistically he's not on a deal far less than his value for what he is. In the end the Magic likely F'd up overpaying a role playing 3 and D guy. Most teams regret it sooner than later if they don't bring W's. Those guys should always have ceiling on cost because they simply don't usually produce at a super high level and if you aren't winning at a high level they come back to bite teams. Bruce Brown did the same thing to the Pacers. Monk obviously doesn't bring the defense but if a team is paying 20 million + a year to someone they better put up some type of numbers and he does that at least.

I'm not so sure Kings suffered from Bonzi's agent's shenanigans. Bonzi clearly had All-Star (maybe even all-NBA) talent. He, more than even Ron, was responsible for our strong showing against the Spurs, despite our loss. But given his history, he did that only to try and earn a big contract. Likely, he would reverted to his uninspired play once he got paid.

Irrelevant now though.