Big Men via Free Agency or Trade
- Thread starter Jespher
- Start date
Honestly I figured JJ was one of the players bajaden left off his list because he was assumed to be untouchable. I'm not really sure why a young team would give up someone with that much potential for so little (unprotected pick would probably have swung the deal in their favor) but I'm not complaining.
I think the Kings have free agent proofed this team. Before last week, I was fearful about several holes on this team at SF, guard, and the front court. There never has been a guarantee Daly would re-sign although i suspect he will when he tests the free market.
Now we have upgraded our guards, filled the hole at the starting SF spot, and gotten a big who could start and not be an embarrassment. Now we can live with the team we have if free agency turns out to be a bust. In fact I think it would be a mistake to go after a SF to put Salmons on the bench. I think most who have followed Salmons know how that would turn out. I'd prefer if Salmons was amenable to team needs but the fact is he has to start. It's not like there is anyone so clearly better than he that we should go out and spend over $10 mil.
If we hit it very lucky, JJ and Whiteside may contribute a lot if Daly doesn't sign. I don't have faith in Whiteside but if we don't sign Daly or Chandler, at the least we get to see what we have in Hassan. I think we need to know and either keep him and develop him or jettison him. Signing Daly means we never find out what Whiteside can do.
Now, I am not saying I don't want Daly. He is the player we need to pursue but the world will not come to an end if he goes elsewhere.
Now we have upgraded our guards, filled the hole at the starting SF spot, and gotten a big who could start and not be an embarrassment. Now we can live with the team we have if free agency turns out to be a bust. In fact I think it would be a mistake to go after a SF to put Salmons on the bench. I think most who have followed Salmons know how that would turn out. I'd prefer if Salmons was amenable to team needs but the fact is he has to start. It's not like there is anyone so clearly better than he that we should go out and spend over $10 mil.
If we hit it very lucky, JJ and Whiteside may contribute a lot if Daly doesn't sign. I don't have faith in Whiteside but if we don't sign Daly or Chandler, at the least we get to see what we have in Hassan. I think we need to know and either keep him and develop him or jettison him. Signing Daly means we never find out what Whiteside can do.
Now, I am not saying I don't want Daly. He is the player we need to pursue but the world will not come to an end if he goes elsewhere.
Some thoughts:
I think Sammy should be a top priority. Nene, a second. The team needs a C who is athletic, can defend the rim, and can be physical. One of the limitations of Cousins is that while he's a big body that can take up space, he doesn't have that much lift, and isn't an above-the-rim player. I think this is one reason why JJ might compliment him on the floor, as he's far more athletic. Dalembert is a long, athletic, mobile shot blocker who can play with Cousins and help on the defensive areas in which Cousins doesn't excel.
Regarding Chandler, I don't think he's a good fit, and here's why: while he's a great above-the-rim offensive player who can finish lobs and grab offensive boards, he's not an above-the-rim defensive player. I've watched a ton of TC with the hornets when he was playing some of his best basketball, and with Dallas this season. He's very mobile (when healthy) for a 7 footer, and is a good pick and roll defender. But when it comes to protecting the rim, he's not in the same class as Dalembert. The one negative about Dally in this regard is that he often tries to help too much, giving up second chance points to his man that he left to challenge another shot around the basket. Also, Dally's offensive game, while limited, is still far superior to TC's.
So, the Kings get the better deal in Dally IMO. He's been more healthy, is better offensively, is the better shot blocker, and I think he fits what the team needs with their frontline rotation. If they don't get him, I would consider Nene before TC.
I think Sammy should be a top priority. Nene, a second. The team needs a C who is athletic, can defend the rim, and can be physical. One of the limitations of Cousins is that while he's a big body that can take up space, he doesn't have that much lift, and isn't an above-the-rim player. I think this is one reason why JJ might compliment him on the floor, as he's far more athletic. Dalembert is a long, athletic, mobile shot blocker who can play with Cousins and help on the defensive areas in which Cousins doesn't excel.
Regarding Chandler, I don't think he's a good fit, and here's why: while he's a great above-the-rim offensive player who can finish lobs and grab offensive boards, he's not an above-the-rim defensive player. I've watched a ton of TC with the hornets when he was playing some of his best basketball, and with Dallas this season. He's very mobile (when healthy) for a 7 footer, and is a good pick and roll defender. But when it comes to protecting the rim, he's not in the same class as Dalembert. The one negative about Dally in this regard is that he often tries to help too much, giving up second chance points to his man that he left to challenge another shot around the basket. Also, Dally's offensive game, while limited, is still far superior to TC's.
So, the Kings get the better deal in Dally IMO. He's been more healthy, is better offensively, is the better shot blocker, and I think he fits what the team needs with their frontline rotation. If they don't get him, I would consider Nene before TC.
I see. With the threat of Dalembert going elsewhere, leaving us with three players under contract (Cousins, Thompson, and Whiteside - he of the 4 NBA minutes) to cover two frontcourt positions, our biggest need was point guard, where we have two players under contract (Evans, Fredette), one player with a team option (Jeter) and the draft rights to another player (Thomas) to cover one position. How dare we trade one of our five small forwards and not get a fifth point guard in return?!?
"Some" may want a player to average 10 assists per game over their career to be considered a PG, but "some" may not realize that by such a criterion there have been two PGs in the history of the NBA. "Some" may be well advised to step back into the real world where we have under contract or control four players that can easily play PG, three of whom cannot reasonably be considered to play any other position at all.
Blazers tendered a qualifying offer to Greg Oden for $8.8 million. Is he worth more than that to the Kings going forward, or is the price too steep weighing the risk of further injury and missed time?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6717753
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6717753
I know it's a schtick around here, but it really is kind of hard to argue against Tyreke as a "proven PG". He's our starter at PG, if you haven't noticed. And we've got three bodies for backups, all covering one position.
Meanwhile we've got two starters on the front line in Cousins and Thompson and one whole body in Whiteside as a backup, to cover two positions.
I guess it shouldn't surprise me to find somebody arguing such a daft position as that we needed to get a fifth PG more desperately than we needed to get a fourth big man. But it does.
Meanwhile we've got two starters on the front line in Cousins and Thompson and one whole body in Whiteside as a backup, to cover two positions.
I guess it shouldn't surprise me to find somebody arguing such a daft position as that we needed to get a fifth PG more desperately than we needed to get a fourth big man. But it does.
You said: "Some say we have none at this point, at least none that are proven to be PG's." The word "none" would imply Evans does not equal "one".
Not when we've already got three someones who can potentially do it, but only one someone who can potentially back up PF/C. What happens when Cousins gets suspended and Thompson gets in foul trouble? A frontline rotation of Whiteside, Greene, and Garcia? I'll take my chances with Jimmer/Jeter/Thomas to back up Tyreke long, long, long before I take my chances with Whiteside/nothing/nothing to back up Cousins and Thompson.
Not when we've already got three someones who can potentially do it, but only one someone who can potentially back up PF/C. What happens when Cousins gets suspended and Thompson gets in foul trouble? A frontline rotation of Whiteside, Greene, and Garcia? I'll take my chances with Jimmer/Jeter/Thomas to back up Tyreke long, long, long before I take my chances with Whiteside/nothing/nothing to back up Cousins and Thompson.
Oh, I can see it now:
Grant: And the Kings are now down 72-49 to the Grizzlies with only 5 minutes gone in the third. What do you think the problem is, Jerry?
Jerry: Well, if I HAD to guess, I'd say the fact that the Kings have been forced to use Greene and Garcia to guard Gasol and Randolph for long stretches might be a wee part of the problem.
Grant: Jerry, it just doesn't look like Garcia can stop Randolph at all.
Jerry: Yeah, I think the rim is bent in seven places!
Grant: Jerry, we talked about it in the offseason, but we knew back then that the Kings had no frontcourt depth and they simply did not do enough to address the problem.
Jerry: No sir, they simply did not do enough.
Grant: And now it seems one injury and a little foul trouble and there's just nobody to step in. Am I wrong, Jerry?
Jerry: Grant, you are very rarely wrong. The good news is that DeMarcus Cousins will probably be available to return by the end of the next homestand.
Grant: Well, on the bright side, at least Raymond Felton has been playing some really great backup point guar-OH MY GOODNESS I THINK ZACH RANDOLPH JUST DECAPITATED FRANCISCO GARCIA!!!
Jerry: Grandma, put the kids to bed - they don't need to see this!
Grant: And the Kings are now down 72-49 to the Grizzlies with only 5 minutes gone in the third. What do you think the problem is, Jerry?
Jerry: Well, if I HAD to guess, I'd say the fact that the Kings have been forced to use Greene and Garcia to guard Gasol and Randolph for long stretches might be a wee part of the problem.
Grant: Jerry, it just doesn't look like Garcia can stop Randolph at all.
Jerry: Yeah, I think the rim is bent in seven places!
Grant: Jerry, we talked about it in the offseason, but we knew back then that the Kings had no frontcourt depth and they simply did not do enough to address the problem.
Jerry: No sir, they simply did not do enough.
Grant: And now it seems one injury and a little foul trouble and there's just nobody to step in. Am I wrong, Jerry?
Jerry: Grant, you are very rarely wrong. The good news is that DeMarcus Cousins will probably be available to return by the end of the next homestand.
Grant: Well, on the bright side, at least Raymond Felton has been playing some really great backup point guar-OH MY GOODNESS I THINK ZACH RANDOLPH JUST DECAPITATED FRANCISCO GARCIA!!!
Jerry: Grandma, put the kids to bed - they don't need to see this!
Strange, the same thing was said about Curry, and he seemed to handle it just fine. Just because you, or some pundit somewhere says Fredette isn't ready to play the point in the NBA, doesn't make it so. Not saying he won't make some mistakes, but he's more than capable from a talent point of view to play point guard in the NBA. And I promise all the non believers on this fourm, that when, he not only proves he can play the point, but also be a star in this league, I will gleefully shove crow down each and everyone's throat that said the opposite. And I will dutifully accept crow if I'm wrong.
Baja, it has nothing to do with Jimmers skills. It's about being a rookie PG. We need someone who already has the experience. I dont care if it was Kidd, Irving, Rose or any other PG coming in right now as a rookie. They all need time to learn and right now this team needs a vet to run things or we are going to have another 24/25 win season.
Not to toot my own horn, but I posted a thread a few days ago saying trading with Cle was a definite possibility. I said Omri + next yrs pick for Varejao, given all their pf's, and all our sf's. Screwed up on the Varejao part though. Guess I am tooting my own horn, just a wee bit.
It doesn't count if you got the wrong player, buddy!
Jimmer is older than several of our players. But, I get your point. If we were on our way to the NBA Finals, I'd be concerned. As it is, I think we can try a few things to let some of our guys get experience. Not to defend Westphal but perhaps his weird use of players had an intentioned or unintentioned result of letting us know exactly who we wanted to keep and who we didn't. They all had their shot in multiple situations including a little insanity.
I don't see any problem with using a rookie PG off the bench as he will be probably working against a bench player or players from the opposition. I also suspect Jimmer is a great leader but that borders on more speculation than I am usually comfortable with. He certainly was a leader at the college level.
Maybe I missed something but I hope no one was saying that Jimmer should be a starter.
I don't see any problem with using a rookie PG off the bench as he will be probably working against a bench player or players from the opposition. I also suspect Jimmer is a great leader but that borders on more speculation than I am usually comfortable with. He certainly was a leader at the college level.
Maybe I missed something but I hope no one was saying that Jimmer should be a starter.