Kings sign Desmond Mason (merged)
- Thread starter Big Cuz 15
- Start date
But here's two scenarios where it begins to make sense
I had the same WTF response when I first read about the Desmond Mason signing. But here's two scenarios where it begins to make sense:
1) If they intend to trade Nocioni or Garcia (without necessarily getting another wing in return); and
2) If Westphal plans on playing small-ball with Nocioni at power forward.
I agree that Greene and Casspi need to get minutes this year for their development and for the Kings long-term development, but I think having veterans for depth is smart until/unless it translates to an insecure coach using mediocre vets and not giving the rookies any minutes to develop. (Sound familiar?) So now we'll see if Westphal is the development-oriented coach that he thinks he is.
I had the same WTF response when I first read about the Desmond Mason signing. But here's two scenarios where it begins to make sense:
1) If they intend to trade Nocioni or Garcia (without necessarily getting another wing in return); and
2) If Westphal plans on playing small-ball with Nocioni at power forward.
I agree that Greene and Casspi need to get minutes this year for their development and for the Kings long-term development, but I think having veterans for depth is smart until/unless it translates to an insecure coach using mediocre vets and not giving the rookies any minutes to develop. (Sound familiar?) So now we'll see if Westphal is the development-oriented coach that he thinks he is.
Unless a quality back up center is added to the squad the Kings starting PF becomes the back up center. So from what I have seen the best move when its time for the second unit to play is going to be to go small send either Hawes or JT to the bench. Move Noc to PF. So the second unit will be one of the starting bigs (Hawes or JT), Noc at PF, pick a 3 (Probably Cisco), Cisco or DM at the 2 and Tyreke at the 1 (Evans plays 40 minutes a night so he is on both the first and second units).
JT, Noc, Cisco, DM and Tyreke is about the best get after it defensive second unit the Kings can put on the floor. If Brockman shows a NBA game he maybe gets on this unit. I don't see Sean May as a hard nosed defensive guy.
If the Kings are going to run they must get defensive stops and rebounds. The 5 I have mentioned above can do it.
KB
JT, Noc, Cisco, DM and Tyreke is about the best get after it defensive second unit the Kings can put on the floor. If Brockman shows a NBA game he maybe gets on this unit. I don't see Sean May as a hard nosed defensive guy.
If the Kings are going to run they must get defensive stops and rebounds. The 5 I have mentioned above can do it.
KB
Here is my prospective; an NBA outsider:
1. GP tends to only want guys who can pass, dribble, and shoot. Of the crop of available backup centers I doubt any of them met this standard. I am sure they reviewed the bigs available, but none of them is likely skilled enough to run and gun or be an impactful defensive stopper.
2. The Kings need a positive veteran presence, they already have project/potential guys.
3. The Kings perimeter defense was terrible last year; slow bigs cannot help much there. So why not get another wing? The wings the Kings have clearly were not doing it last year. If they blow up the wing position, so what? Cannot get much worse.
4. Vets stealing PT from rookies is a funny thing. Fans hate it, but fans will overlook it if the team is getting wins; fans hate losing more.
5. The FA crop was not great this year; especially for bargain guys. Would the Kings have preferred a big? Sure. But who? DM is likely the best player/value willing to play in Sac right now.
1. GP tends to only want guys who can pass, dribble, and shoot. Of the crop of available backup centers I doubt any of them met this standard. I am sure they reviewed the bigs available, but none of them is likely skilled enough to run and gun or be an impactful defensive stopper.
2. The Kings need a positive veteran presence, they already have project/potential guys.
3. The Kings perimeter defense was terrible last year; slow bigs cannot help much there. So why not get another wing? The wings the Kings have clearly were not doing it last year. If they blow up the wing position, so what? Cannot get much worse.
4. Vets stealing PT from rookies is a funny thing. Fans hate it, but fans will overlook it if the team is getting wins; fans hate losing more.
5. The FA crop was not great this year; especially for bargain guys. Would the Kings have preferred a big? Sure. But who? DM is likely the best player/value willing to play in Sac right now.
Thing is no way Desmond Mason at this point in his career can take minutes form any of the perpetrators of said bad defense. If he could, he would have signed with a team with more than 17 wins, and would have signed for guaranteed money. The only guys he can really steal minutes from are the kids, of whom onty Donte had even the smallest thing to do with the defense last year.
Not for the 1-3 wins you might see by playing a Desmond Mason over the prospects. Rules have not changed -- if our prospects do not play and improve to lead us out of this mess, we NEVER get better. We can be awful forever signing washed up vets every year.
If we were not already overstocked at the position, then no big problem. But when you already have something approaching the full 96 SG/SFminutes covered by three vets (Kevin 36+, Noc 25-32, Cisco 20-28), adding a 4th vet can easily complete the rotation and lock the kids entirely out. And for what? 15 minutes a night of a 31 year old journeyman on aminimum contract? Where does that get you? Its not even "win now". Its just a waste.
As an aside, a few years ago I liked our attempt to get a younger Desmond Mason for KT -- we were still semi-competitive, and he was still a semi-productive guy in his prime only a year or two off his career year. But times change, as do needs. We got worse, so did he, and we're trying to rebuild here wiht youth, not squeeze an extra game or two out of what is almost surely another lottery year.
Not for the 1-3 wins you might see by playing a Desmond Mason over the prospects. Rules have not changed -- if our prospects do not play and improve to lead us out of this mess, we NEVER get better. We can be awful forever signing washed up vets every year.
If we were not already overstocked at the position, then no big problem. But when you already have something approaching the full 96 SG/SFminutes covered by three vets (Kevin 36+, Noc 25-32, Cisco 20-28), adding a 4th vet can easily complete the rotation and lock the kids entirely out. And for what? 15 minutes a night of a 31 year old journeyman on aminimum contract? Where does that get you? Its not even "win now". Its just a waste.
As an aside, a few years ago I liked our attempt to get a younger Desmond Mason for KT -- we were still semi-competitive, and he was still a semi-productive guy in his prime only a year or two off his career year. But times change, as do needs. We got worse, so did he, and we're trying to rebuild here wiht youth, not squeeze an extra game or two out of what is almost surely another lottery year.
I can't add much to this signing. It doesn't make a lot of sense unless there's another deal in the works. I won't loose any sleep over it. The money amounts to little, so the risk is null. Just don't see the point, but hey, is something to talk about..
Sorry guys. But I just can't hold on my comments anymore.
I think it's more of Petrie not exerting his utmost effort to improve this team. He just signs whoever is easy to sign, then let the apologists of the boards ( who thinks Petrie is a genius ) take care of making brilliant reasons/excuses for his dumb moves. I agree with you though that Petrie has nothing to lose. It will all be the Maloofs' loss.
I think it's more of Petrie not exerting his utmost effort to improve this team. He just signs whoever is easy to sign, then let the apologists of the boards ( who thinks Petrie is a genius ) take care of making brilliant reasons/excuses for his dumb moves. I agree with you though that Petrie has nothing to lose. It will all be the Maloofs' loss.
Not totally accurate since at least some of his salary will still count against the cap. If he stays it's 1.18 million, that's 1.18 million less that Petrie can offer in pure cap savings. A huge move that could have been made at the deadline involving pure cap space and potential tax savings are looking a lot less possible these days.
The scary thing is the Kings have a history of playing vets over young guys. If Desmond Mason is here past that January deadline, you have to assume he'll be getting some minutes ( we wouldnt throw away that money if he wouldnt get some time ). THAT is frustrating. Like Bricklayer said, IF Mason is a better option that Greene or Casspi ( deffinetly not a sure thing ) what happens then? 1 more win? that does nothing for us.
The more I think about this move, the more I say wow, this is so what the Kings do. Right up there alley. Whats worse is that Amick said this was a Westphal move, he wanted him because he had him when he coached the Sonics. Give me a break. Im sick of history, im sick of looking out for players your comortable with .. we need to do this thing right and Im getting tired of these 'detours' we keep taking. I dont care about Nocioni's 'toughness'. The guy has a long contract and he's old. Its that simple. Veteran leadership is so overrated. Im still waiting for that rebuild..
The more I think about this move, the more I say wow, this is so what the Kings do. Right up there alley. Whats worse is that Amick said this was a Westphal move, he wanted him because he had him when he coached the Sonics. Give me a break. Im sick of history, im sick of looking out for players your comortable with .. we need to do this thing right and Im getting tired of these 'detours' we keep taking. I dont care about Nocioni's 'toughness'. The guy has a long contract and he's old. Its that simple. Veteran leadership is so overrated. Im still waiting for that rebuild..
A
Sorry guys. But I just can't hold on my comments anymore.
I think it's more of Petrie not exerting his utmost effort to improve this team. He just signs whoever is easy to sign, then let the apologists of the boards ( who thinks Petrie is a genius ) take care of making brilliant reasons/excuses for his dumb moves. I agree with you though that Petrie has nothing to lose. It will all be the Maloofs' loss.
I think it's more of Petrie not exerting his utmost effort to improve this team. He just signs whoever is easy to sign, then let the apologists of the boards ( who thinks Petrie is a genius ) take care of making brilliant reasons/excuses for his dumb moves. I agree with you though that Petrie has nothing to lose. It will all be the Maloofs' loss.
I completely agree. Plus, our young guys won't mature as players until they get consistent time on the court. Thats part of rebuilding, throwing the young guys out there and letting them learn from there mistakes. Not playing Donte and Omri will put us in this same position next year, continuing to wait for both of them to develop.
