MKG, Barnes, Beal, Robinson all done with working out.

[Spike]

There's something to be said about this particular group of kids that doesn't sit well with me. Many of them didn't participate fully in the combine, and now they don't want to practice for teams? I'm sorry, but that's chicken****. If you're worthy of a top 5 pick, prove it. You want the accolades? Start a name for yourself now. What, are you just going to team up with your best buds three years from now because you're afraid you can't beat them?

I can go on and relate it to the decline of America's youth, but I'll end my rant for now. #crotchetyoldman

 

[Dime Dropper]

Interesting, was watching this post-workout (Wiz) interview of Barnes from a couple days ago, and he says his draft range is anywhere from 2-14. He also says he has to work out for as many teams as possible in the days leading up to the draft. Says he worked out for Cle, Tor and Was and has a few more left.

There it is for anyone that wants to watch.

Could it just be that the original tweet is inaccurate?

By the way, one thing you can't question about Barnes is his strong personality and character. He's very intelligent and exudes confidence. Has the charisma and aura of a star, although I'm not saying he will be one. Still, we could do worse. He's reportedly got a great work ethic, too. I won't be too disappointed if we get him, despite the fact that he's not a perfect fit.

 

[ParniValjak]

There's something to be said about this particular group of kids that doesn't sit well with me. Many of them didn't participate fully in the combine, and now they don't want to practice for teams? I'm sorry, but that's chicken****. If you're worthy of a top 5 pick, prove it. You want the accolades? Start a name for yourself now. What, are you just going to team up with your best buds three years from now because you're afraid you can't beat them?

I can go on and relate it to the decline of America's youth, but I'll end my rant for now. #crotchetyoldman

I don't think it has much to do with that but I think the kinds are getting smarter and realise that it is better to go to the right situation than it is the number you get picked.

I am looking at this with all obvious emotions about the Kings involved. If I was a prospect, the last place I would want to go to is Sacramento. That has nothing to do with me proving myself or having a snobby attitude. I am looking at it from the perspective where I have the best chance to succeed and be given a chance to succeed in the league.

Jumping from college to the NBA is a BIG leap and in a lot of cases, players need to land in the right situation to make it work. That first contract is super important for making yourself into NBA player. If I am going to a team without direction, broke ownership group, uncertainty of where they will play and revolving doors at the head coaching position, that does not give me the best chance to make this NBA thing work.

As a prospect, I would look at Kings and the only positive I would have about the organization is Cousins and Evans. But then everything else, I look at, I am really struggling to find positives. I would look at Tyreke and see a talented beastly guard that is not being used properly despite being clearly the 2nd best player on this team. I would look at the make up of the team and say boy what a mess.

These things a important for making it work. There is no point in making it to the NBA to a team where your chances of developing into NBA player are reduced because of other things. If I was MKG, I would be worried about not seeing court time because the coach loves small balling and going with players that can shoot. Defence is not his strong point and as a defensive glue guy, if I go to Sacramento, I could see myself out of the league in 2-3 years time.

If I was Barnes I would look at Sacramento and see a lot of players that need their shots to be effective (Reke, Thornton, IT, Salmons, Jimmer, Outlaw et al) and I would wonder how much of a chance will I get to do what I am best at (scoring)? By the time Cousins has his, Tyreke, MT, IT et all get theirs, I am reduced to sitting in the corner and hoping for scraps.

As Beal, I look at Sacramento and say HELL NO! I am a scorer and here I have Cousins, MT, Evans, IT et al looking to get theirs. With Evans and MT getting most of the minutes and my inability to play PG, my opportunities are diminished. And that is not even looking into the rest of the scrubs that you have to play in a hope to dump them somewhere as you are paying them big $$ to do **** all.

As Robinson, I am looking to come in to score and rebound. I look at the team and I see Cousins and realise that we just would not complement each other. I am looking to score and he is the main guy there and will be for a decade at least. Then I start looking how our games fit together and realise it is not the best position for me to be in. In fact it is the least attractive of the top 5.

And a lot of that is not even looking into the overall stability of the franchise. If this franchise had stable ownership willing and able to spend and win, a strong coaching staff that is good at developing players, Sacramento would be the pick of the bunch location for the top 5 picks but unfortunately a lot of our issues start and the top and go down all the way to the playing list.

To a lot of these guys, basketball is their career, their way to make a living and for them to be successful and maximise their potential, they need to go to a team that will help them achieve that along the way and unfortunately, in a lot of ways Kings are not that team.

 

[Glenn]

There's something to be said about this particular group of kids that doesn't sit well with me. Many of them didn't participate fully in the combine, and now they don't want to practice for teams? I'm sorry, but that's chicken****. If you're worthy of a top 5 pick, prove it. You want the accolades? Start a name for yourself now. What, are you just going to team up with your best buds three years from now because you're afraid you can't beat them?

I can go on and relate it to the decline of America's youth, but I'll end my rant for now. #crotchetyoldman

I think they are taking their agent's advice.

 

[roasthawg]

Interesting, was watching this post-workout (Wiz) interview of Barnes from a couple days ago, and he says his draft range is anywhere from 2-14. He also says he has to work out for as many teams as possible in the days leading up to the draft. Says he worked out for Cle, Tor and Was and has a few more left.

There it is for anyone that wants to watch.

Could it just be that the original tweet is inaccurate?

By the way, one thing you can't question about Barnes is his strong personality and character. He's very intelligent and exudes confidence. Has the charisma and aura of a star, although I'm not saying he will be one. Still, we could do worse. He's reportedly got a great work ethic, too. I won't be too disappointed if we get him, despite the fact that he's not a perfect fit.

And very athletic to boot. Barnes would be awesome at #5 if he's not already gone.

 

[KingsCitizen]

Incorrect, Barnes worked out with the Raptors.

Maybe we're sending our pick to Toronto for Valanciunas. Not a bad move if it ever comes true.

 

[Dime Dropper]

Maybe we're sending our pick to Toronto for Valanciunas. Not a bad move if it ever comes true.

That would be pretty ideal. Unfortunately, there is absolutely zero chance of them doing that. Toronto will have a nice young core together next year if they get a good player in this draft.

 

[KingsCitizen]

That would be pretty ideal. Unfortunately, there is absolutely zero chance of them doing that. Toronto will have a nice young core together next year if they get a good player in this draft.

If Toronto sees a chance to get Drummond(8th)/Leonard(who might me a less polished but bigger Valanciunas) and Barnes(5th), I could see this coming. They already have Ed Davis and Amir down low too. Barnes is probably one of the better SF to pair with Derozan too. Not to mention Calderon could really dish it to any spot up shooters like Barnes and Bargs.

 

[Bricklayer]

My heart tells me not to draft any of them. Prima Donnas can go pound sand.

"And with the 5th pick, the Sacramento Kings select..."bite me?""

 

[Spike]

"And with the 5th pick, the Sacramento Kings select..."bite me?""

Only if it comes with a crotch grab. You know, for effect.

 

[ElRey]

You've just been Maloofed! If NBA draft rookies are shunning us, imagine NBA free agents! Forget it.

 

[ParniValjak]

You've just been Maloofed! If NBA draft rookies are shunning us, imagine NBA free agents! Forget it.

No free agent will come to Sacramento except of course rubbish ones that we will have to overpay a great deal so that they take their single big pay check in their career. Think the Jerome James type signing.

We have to spend money to stay at minimum of the cap but even that will prove hard as I don't think many good free agents would wan to come to Sacramento. Its a tough place to attract big free agents at the best of times, let alone with so much bad smell and uncertainty around the place.

 

[rainmaker]

Yes, actually a few people have proposed just that. Boogie-havoc said in the OP "So.. what gives? Lillard? Drummond? Trading down?"

You are making a judgment on why these players aren't working out here when you don't know. It is very likely it is simply because they all think they should go in the top 4 and do not want to seem like they are consenting to being the worst in the group by working out below the top 4. They also know the Kings are likely to take whoever is left.

Edit: My god, some of you above me need to calm down a bit. Like I said, you have no idea why they aren't working out for us. Are these same players working out for the team right below us (Portland)? Nope. Should they be throwing a fit about how they are blacklisted and no one wants to come there because they aren't getting some players in for workouts?

Huh? Nothing boogie havoc said implies Petrie cannot draft a player who didn't work out for us, which was your point I was responding to, where you said

You don't have to work out a player to draft him

. He's wondering who we're targeting, as many are, and just how bad our reputation is.

As for players not working out for us in the top 5, there have been stories on ESPN going back a year stating how poor the perception of our franchise is league wide. Then another story came out a month ago saying agents would steer their clients away from Sac as they don't want them playing here. Now we're at the point where no one other than Drummond who would be considered a target a 5 has worked out for us. That's evidence of just how poorly our reputation is league wide. Not saying it's the truth, but I have said it's possible that it is the reality.

If you don't care, fine. Other Kings fans do. Not sure why you're telling other fans they need to calm down and stop throwing fits(which I haven't seen, nor does Por's reputation suffer nearly as much as ours or have the same negative reports our does) when fans who've dedicated time and money to this franchise are concerned about the perceived reputation and how poorly it just might be. I might add you appear to be a little more worked up about the opinions of others, than whoever it is you're telling to calm down.

 

[vikinginferno]

Huh? Nothing boogie havoc said implies Petrie cannot draft a player who didn't work out for us, which was your point I was responding to, where you said

. He's wondering who we're targeting, as many are, and just how bad our reputation is.

As for players not working out for us in the top 5, there have been stories on ESPN going back a year stating how poor the perception of our franchise is league wide. Then another story came out a month ago saying agents would steer their clients away from Sac as they don't want them playing here. Now we're at the point where no one other than Drummond who would be considered a target a 5 has worked out for us. That's evidence of just how poorly our reputation is league wide. Not saying it's the truth, but I have said it's possible that it is the reality.

If you don't care, fine. Other Kings fans do. Not sure why you're telling other fans they need to calm down and stop throwing fits(which I haven't seen, nor does Por's reputation suffer nearly as much as ours or have the same negative reports our does) when fans who've dedicated time and money to this franchise are concerned about the perceived reputation and how poorly it just might be. I might add you appear to be a little more worked up about the opinions of others, than whoever it is you're telling to calm down.

I'm not worked up at all, but thanks for looking out for me.

I never told anyone they need to "stop throwing fits". It would be nice if I could actually say my own words, not have you tell me I have said things that I haven't.

If you don't think saying "So.. what gives? Lillard? Drummond? Trading down?" implies that Petrie likely wouldn't draft someone he didn't work out, then how about the multiple posts by multiple people about Petrie never drafting someone he hasn't worked out?

About Portland, that is EXACTLY the point I am making. There is nothing that says they are a franchise to avoid and yet they haven't gotten any of the "top prospects" to work out. It would be silly for Portland fans to be claiming that everyone is avoiding them at all costs and none of the "top picks" would play for them.

 

[bajaden]

People are going to believe what they want to believe. There are bandwagon posters just like there are bandwagon fans. Find a cause, and jump on! If you oppose that cause, your swimming upstream.. Right now its fashionable to believe that the Kings are the armpit of the world, and of course, no one wants to visit an armpit. And while there is probably some truth to that, I say, who the hell cares? If anyone thinks that Petrie, and his cohorts don't know who the best players are, then I have some swamp land I want to sell you. Whether the player the Kings have at the top of their list comes in for a workout or not, and he's available, guess what? He'll be drafted by the Kings! So, Petrie will get the player he wants regardless of the politics that may have occured prior to the draft.

However, if you all want to sit aroung and ***** slap yourselves over how unpopular a place Sacramento is, have at it. Personally, I find it a little boring, and in the final analysis, irrelevant to the outcome.

 

[KingsCitizen]

Only 3 out of Beal, Barnes, MKG, and T-Rob will be drafted in the top 4.

The agents of these player are such drama queens that I wish whoever will be left when we pick will keep falling until he'll punch his agent's face.

Rashard Lewis, if I remember correctly, once cried in the green room because of broken promises which landed him in the 2nd round.

If we'll go home with Drummond, Lillard, or Henson, I'll be fine.

 

[Prince_XY]

Only 3 out of Beal, Barnes, MKG, and T-Rob will be drafted in the top 4.

The agents of these player are such drama queens that I wish whoever will be left when we pick will keep falling until he'll punch his agent's face.

Rashard Lewis, if I remember correctly, once cried in the green room because of broken promises which landed him in the 2nd round.

If we'll go home with Drummond, Lillard, or Henson, I'll be fine.

I hope it's Drummond.

 

[Uncia03]

I don't think it has much to do with that but I think the kinds are getting smarter and realise that it is better to go to the right situation than it is the number you get picked.

I am looking at this with all obvious emotions about the Kings involved. If I was a prospect, the last place I would want to go to is Sacramento. That has nothing to do with me proving myself or having a snobby attitude. I am looking at it from the perspective where I have the best chance to succeed and be given a chance to succeed in the league.

Jumping from college to the NBA is a BIG leap and in a lot of cases, players need to land in the right situation to make it work. That first contract is super important for making yourself into NBA player. If I am going to a team without direction, broke ownership group, uncertainty of where they will play and revolving doors at the head coaching position, that does not give me the best chance to make this NBA thing work.

First I want to say that I agree with the sentiment of this post.
It does look as if there is a slight shift in the player's perceptions in that if they have a chance to go #3 to a spot which won't allow them to flourish or a chance to go #6 to a place which will allow them to flourish, they would prefer to go #6.

I actually don't believe that we won't select a top 5 guy just because we didn't work them out, provided that we like them.
I also don't believe that any of the top 5 guys would refuse to come to Sacramento, I don't see that at all in their personalities. If I thought that one or two of them were selfish/me-first prima donnas, then perhaps I'd consider it differently, but the top 5 guys are all solid citizens and hard workers, so I don't imagine there to be any problems.

In my opinion it's more about the agents then the players in this case.
The players listen to their agents when it comes to whether or not to participate in the combine and it's their agents who set up the work-outs with the teams.

If the agent doesn't want a player to go to a team for a work-out, the player is going to trust the agent, because that's what they are paying them for.

Do I think that some of these agents feel that it's not in the best interest of their client to land in Sacramento?
I won't discount that such could be the case, but for all intents and purposes, I don't think it will prevent us from drafting the guy we like and getting him to come to Sacramento and play for us.

 

[Uncia03]

Another thought which I have not seen mentioned in this thread.

What if we are the team that offered Dion Waiters the guarantee and had him shut down his work-outs?

To me that's a scary/crazy thought, but it would definitely explain why he shut down his work-outs. And you know that if Petrie was the one to give a kid a promise that the agent knows that Petrie will honor it.

Would mean that we'd have to have some major trades in place and Petrie would have to have supreme confidence in this kid...but it's something to mull/panic over.

 

[mac]

Another thought which I have not seen mentioned in this thread.

What if we are the team that offered Dion Waiters the guarantee and had him shut down his work-outs?

To me that's a scary/crazy thought, but it would definitely explain why he shut down his work-outs. And you know that if Petrie was the one to give a kid a promise that the agent knows that Petrie will honor it.

Would mean that we'd have to have some major trades in place and Petrie would have to have supreme confidence in this kid...but it's something to mull/panic over.

Oh please tell me that you're just trying to scare me, please!!

 

[roasthawg]

Another thought which I have not seen mentioned in this thread.

What if we are the team that offered Dion Waiters the guarantee and had him shut down his work-outs?

To me that's a scary/crazy thought, but it would definitely explain why he shut down his work-outs. And you know that if Petrie was the one to give a kid a promise that the agent knows that Petrie will honor it.

Would mean that we'd have to have some major trades in place and Petrie would have to have supreme confidence in this kid...but it's something to mull/panic over.

I really doubt it based on needs and projected draft position. But I actually love Waiters as a prospect so I'd be excited.

 

[Uncia03]

I really doubt it based on needs and projected draft position. But I actually love Waiters as a prospect so I'd be excited.

I'm just looking at things from a different angle. What if the Kings weren't really pushing for workouts because they already gave a promise to Waiters.

I actually think Waiters is going to be a good pro, and since he is really explosive, could turn out to be a star player, but if we have either MKG or Robinson on the board and select Waiters it'll feel like a punch to the gut.

Now if we do a major draft-day trade and all of a sudden Waiters brings exactly what we need to the team, I could possibly be mollified. But I don't see how we could add Waiters with-out making a major roster change.

Just figured that since no-one is talking about Waiters, and he was climbing the draft boards right before he stopped working out, that it could be our organization that made the promise, which could also explain what we've been seeing in regards to the players we're working out.

 

[beb0p]

Another thought which I have not seen mentioned in this thread.

What if we are the team that offered Dion Waiters the guarantee and had him shut down his work-outs?

I'm 100% certain the Kings did not give Dion Waiters a promise. Not the least because the Kings never worked out Waiters. The signs point to GP drafting a shot blocking big men. Afterall, he worked out every one of those expected to be picked by mid first round.

 

[Uncia03]

I'm 100% certain the Kings did not give Dion Waiters a promise. The signs point to GP drafting a shot blocking big men. Afterall, he worked out every one of those expected to be picked by mid first round.

You're really only talking about 2 players. (Drummond and Henson)
In Drummond's case, he's got a #1 pick body, so you bring him in to see if he can show you something to convince you that his college career was a fluke. My guess is that by watching him play through-out the course of the year Petrie had decided against him, but did a work-out to see if there was anything there.

For Henson, I actually consider him in the same situation as Whiteside. Remember that we brought Whiteside into to workout twice, and there were actually people wanting us to take him with the 5th pick. Whiteside at the time was expected to be a mid-1st round pick.
Well Henson is also a mid-1st round pick, so my guess is we worked him out in the event that he slips to the 2nd round or we pick up another 1st round pick, and I don't think there is any chance that we take him with the 5th pick.

I would be far happier to select Waiters with the 5th pick than Henson, because I just see Henson getting destroyed in the paint for at least the first couple of years until/if he get's enough muscle on that thin frame to compete with other PFs.

 

[Glenn]

First I want to say that I agree with the sentiment of this post.
It does look as if there is a slight shift in the player's perceptions in that if they have a chance to go #3 to a spot which won't allow them to flourish or a chance to go #6 to a place which will allow them to flourish, they would prefer to go #6.

I actually don't believe that we won't select a top 5 guy just because we didn't work them out, provided that we like them.
I also don't believe that any of the top 5 guys would refuse to come to Sacramento, I don't see that at all in their personalities. If I thought that one or two of them were selfish/me-first prima donnas, then perhaps I'd consider it differently, but the top 5 guys are all solid citizens and hard workers, so I don't imagine there to be any problems.

In my opinion it's more about the agents then the players in this case.
The players listen to their agents when it comes to whether or not to participate in the combine and it's their agents who set up the work-outs with the teams.

If the agent doesn't want a player to go to a team for a work-out, the player is going to trust the agent, because that's what they are paying them for.

Do I think that some of these agents feel that it's not in the best interest of their client to land in Sacramento?
I won't discount that such could be the case, but for all intents and purposes, I don't think it will prevent us from drafting the guy we like and getting him to come to Sacramento and play for us.

I agree with all of this. Curiously we worked out the one guy who absolutely needed an up close and personal look and that was Drummond. The player that I think is likely to fall to us is the one that I think was least in need of being seen in a workout and that is MKG. I wouldn't be nervous about drafting him if Davis, Barnes, Robinson, and Beal were picked before us.

If the draft worked as my latter scanario was, it would be a choice between MKG and Drummond or whoever else people think slides up close to that. MKG is NOT going to be a bust, he fills a position of need, and despite his inability to do a media interview, seems to be a bit of a leader. For a team that needs defense and wouldn't complain if they got an infusion of energy into their team, I go for him.

Robinson is an infusion of energy so I wouldn't scream bloody murder if we got him but is not the shot blocker. 'Course, to be fair, MKG is not the three point shooter. I am even warming up to Barnes and I really wish we could have worked him out. The workout was essential.

We'll be OK as I hear Burkle might declare and be available at #5.

 

[JasonThompsonFan]

You all are overreacting. I know some folks up high in the Kings org and those players mentioned were already interviewed while at the Chicago workouts. The Kings watched all their workouts and already know what they can do. They brought in players that they needed a second look at or didn't get to interview in Chicago. So funny how so many of you read way into it and don't know what really is going on. Trust me, they know what they are doing and will get the best player available at their pick.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I agree with all of this. Curiously we worked out the one guy who absolutely needed an up close and personal look and that was Drummond. The player that I think is likely to fall to us is the one that I think was least in need of being seen in a workout and that is MKG. I wouldn't be nervous about drafting him if Davis, Barnes, Robinson, and Beal were picked before us.

If the draft worked as my latter scanario was, it would be a choice between MKG and Drummond or whoever else people think slides up close to that. MKG is NOT going to be a bust, he fills a position of need, and despite his inability to do a media interview, seems to be a bit of a leader. For a team that needs defense and wouldn't complain if they got an infusion of energy into their team, I go for him.

Robinson is an infusion of energy so I wouldn't scream bloody murder if we got him but is not the shot blocker. 'Course, to be fair, MKG is not the three point shooter. I am even warming up to Barnes and I really wish we could have worked him out. The workout was essential.

We'll be OK as I hear Burkle might declare and be available at #5.

Burkle might declare and be available at #5?? Lol

 

[mac]

You all are overreacting. I know some folks up high in the Kings org and those players mentioned were already interviewed while at the Chicago workouts. The Kings watched all their workouts and already know what they can do. They brought in players that they needed a second look at or didn't get to interview in Chicago. So funny how so many of you read way into it and don't know what really is going on. Trust me, they know what they are doing and will get the best player available at their pick.

So how come we even bother working guys out in previous years? So this is the very first year that we suddenly know what all the top 5 players can do? Did we triple our scouting budget or something?

 

[JB_kings]

You all are overreacting. I know some folks up high in the Kings org and those players mentioned were already interviewed while at the Chicago workouts. The Kings watched all their workouts and already know what they can do. They brought in players that they needed a second look at or didn't get to interview in Chicago. So funny how so many of you read way into it and don't know what really is going on. Trust me, they know what they are doing and will get the best player available at their pick.

That isn't the issue. Of course everything you stated is true when it comes to getting a player. But you have to concede that these guys are skipping workouts with the Kings because they are hoping not to end up in a situation where the ownership has created an environment of chaos. The Kings have turned into a place no player probably wants to be thanks to the Maloofs.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Just take who you want whether you've worked them out or not, but if Petrie still has that stupid policy, then I'm all in with Terrence Jones.