Kings trading Evans for Vasquez/Lopez

[Packt]

I don't want to lose Tyreke for nothing but I'd let him go. If we trade for anything we should at least pry a 1st round draft pick and take a flyer on Austin Rivers.

Tyreke had plenty of chances here. Dude had two contract years to put it all together. He just doesn't have the fire in him. This off-season has been a good example of that. The FO hasn't given him an offer and he still hangs around willing to be the nice guy. Cousins came and pushed him aside to become the focus of the team. He conceded the top spot too easily.

People have blamed coaches, his teammates, the system. What they should be looking at is Tyreke himself. He doesn't need to carry scrubs but he should carry himself, especially when his contract was coming up. Good enough has been good enough for too many times since he's been here. If you believe the team and coaches were to blame for his lack of development, those scrubs were also misused. If you blame the team and coaches, why also talk about his development and efficiency the past year. Maybe a no thanks will do him some good.

 

[The_Jamal]

Na, you get mocked all the time. It's not the same.

lol. Mockery is fine with me. Means you don't have any real arguments to resort to and just proceed to bash me as a person.

Do u guys have a secret club where you "mock" people on KF.com? Go out for beers and talk about what a fool that "The_Jamal" guy is?

 

[SacTownKid]

No we're not, we have a $7.5 million dollar Salmons contract we can amnesty and $18 million worth of Thornton/Hayes/Outlaw that comes off the books in two years. That's practically half the salary cap right there. You're justifying, look at this logically. Did we get better from a talent perspective? No. Did we get better offensively? No. Did we get better defensively? Hell no. Vasquez is probably the worst defensive PG in the league which heavily mitigates his ability to pass the ball. We're supposedly building a winning team and this move makes us worse. This is not a great deal for us, this is a move that bad teams make to avoid paying money.

And this teams going to what in the meantime? Nothing? Cousins will be into his max deal by then as well. What about re-signing Thomas or Patterson? Once you start having max contracts and have to reup your youth it's amazing what happens to all that space.

 

[theclash4u5]

As of now this team's talent level is slightly better than last years Hornet roster (thanks to the front court). I eagerly await more info and more moves. I really hope Ellis isn't one of them.

Can't see that happening, we still have a ton of guards, as we are trading one and receiving one back. At least now we have a decent PG that can run the team. Now we just need a defensive SF, too bad we pulled our offer from Iggy because he would look real good on the team now.

 

[Double-K]

The Kings just got one of the league leaders in apg last year, no way is it worse. Talent for talent I'm taking Reke all day but seriously, could be a great deal for the Kings.

You ALWAYS take the better talents and build around them!

Look at the Heat, everyone said Lebron and Dwayne wouldn't work well together. They built the team around them, surround them with shooters and if they would've gotten some better defense/dirty work big guys they wouldn't even have such a hard time winning this year against Pacers/Spurs.

Just like in drafts, you always, ALWAYS, pick the best available and work your way with it.

Plus Evans is ****ing 23 years old with a deadly drive to the basket! With the right coaching staff, he can add on almost any skills you want him to take on! He was the ROY who lost half a step in his 2nd year due to plantar fasciitis and gain steadily in his 3rd year navigating through rough terrain ala organization restructuring. You don't give that type of talents up. You just don't.

If this is indeed true, I will lose A LOT of faith and respect with Vivek & co.

 

[SacTownKid]

If that's the touché moment if the night, it was a slow night.

It's picking up some steam, lets see where it goes.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

Even with Evans and Cousins, we don't have a superstar either. And Paul George is better than either one already.

Of course Demarcus isn't a superstar now, but he likely will become one in the future. Evans could have been the star (not superstar, star) to go along with him.

But speaking of Cousins... if we don't extend him with a max deal, there will be riots.

 

[The_Jamal]

A 1 star team that had an elite passer and an elite shot blocker. We now have a very good passer and a good blocker with one future star.

Again, we have to crawl out of the womb before we can walk.

Lets go win 40 games before worrying about competing for a Conference title.

 

[Mass]

2 months ago we didn't even know if there was going to be Kings basketball again, now it looks like everything less then a conference final will be considered a wasted season.

 

[beb0p]

If true, then this FO has much more guts and vision than I expected. Petrie would have just matched the offer, maybe even add some extra cream on top a la Bibby's offer. Reke is a special talent but he is also one of the most frustrating players to watch. If he returns, good; if he leaves, no problem.

This is Cousins' team now. Let's remember that. Everyone has to play off of Cousins, everyone. And there were many times during the last few seasons when it seemed obvious to me that Reke is one guy who doesn't know how too play off of Cousins.

I think in Reke's role in NO will suit him a lot more - as the #3 guy as a starter or a dynamic Sixth Man. He also has a form fitting PG next to him and big men who compliments his driving ability. He could blow up in NO. In Sac, there would have been much more work to get guys that can both fit Reke and Cousins. Plus, there is also the McLemore situation, as in, he's a special talent to and he needs the mins.

Bottom line is that this team has too much shooting and mediocre in everything else. This trade, if true, will greatly balance the team and make it more competitive. Keep your eyes on the most important thing - winning.

And also, I believe there will be more moves to come. So judge the whole and not just a part.

Would I prefer we get more for Reke? Sure. But letting Reke go, that in and of itself is not a bad move.

 

[SacTownKid]

You ALWAYS take the better talents and build around them!

Look at the Heat, everyone said Lebron and Dwayne wouldn't work well together. They built the team around them, surround them with shooters and if they would've gotten some better defense/dirty work big guys they wouldn't even have such a hard time winning this year against Pacers/Spurs.

Just like in drafts, you always, ALWAYS, pick the best available and work your way with it.

Plus Evans is ****ing 23 years old with a deadly drive to the basket! With the right coaching staff, he can add on almost any skills you want him to take on! He was the ROY who lost half a step in his 2nd year due to plantar fasciitis and gain steadily in his 3rd year navigating through rough terrain ala organization restructuring. You don't give that type of talents up. You just don't.

If this is indeed true, I will lose A LOT of faith and respect with Vivek & co.

Well, the last few years of talent over team that Geoff Petrie put on display disagree with you. That talent has to fit together, if not you have any other team with talent that goes nowhere. For teams building mostly through the draft that's not real anomaly. It's just at some point you have to start making sense of it and shaping it up. Petrie didn't do that and now this new management has to pay the price for it.

 

[Double-K]

And now for the touche moment of the night. What is Tyreke, somebody that declined year after year on one of the WORST teams in the league? Lets be real here people, nobody is dismissing Rekes talent but don't blame anyone that might think it wise to think twice about re-signing him for the sole purpose of not losing out on talent and how that might not be the best way to build a team. That's how you end up with Jason Thompson for the next 4 years.

Only stat he's declining was his minute.

 

[The_Jamal]

You ALWAYS take the better talents and build around them!

Look at the Heat, everyone said Lebron and Dwayne wouldn't work well together. They built the team around them, surround them with shooters and if they would've gotten some better defense/dirty work big guys they wouldn't even have such a hard time winning this year against Pacers/Spurs.

Just like in drafts, you always, ALWAYS, pick the best available and work your way with it.

Plus Evans is ****ing 23 years old with a deadly drive to the basket! With the right coaching staff, he can add on almost any skills you want him to take on! He was the ROY who lost half a step in his 2nd year due to plantar fasciitis and gain steadily in his 3rd year navigating through rough terrain ala organization restructuring. You don't give that type of talents up. You just don't.

If this is indeed true, I will lose A LOT of faith and respect with Vivek & co.

They actually don't work well together. Which is scary because they just won back-back titles, but there are plenty of numbers that show the Heat are better with just one of Bron or Wade on the floor. However, it doesn't matter when you're talking about 2 top 5 players and Bosh as a top 25 player

 

[sdballer]

I think this decision makes it clear that they see Cousins as the cornerstone and are going to fill the team with guys that can make him most successful. And it appears they didnt think Evans could fit into their vision, or at least not at 11mil/year. Remember D'Alessandro is a cap specialist who looks at things 4 and 5 moves in advance. I now a lot of people arent gonna be happy, but try to keep an open mind at the moment and look at the bigger long term picture.

Was my biggest concern with PDA. He's a cap expert who has always worked with great talent evaluators. Now he's got the reigns and the talent piece may or may not be there. So far:

We picked the best available guy in Mac, who played the same position as our second best player.
Drafted another small point guard
Elected not to make an offer to that reke early so that we wouldn't bid against ourselves
Went all in on an older version of Reke
Pulled that offer in less than 24 hours
Traded Reke for another pg and a backup big

We've gotten slightly cheaper for a season. But you could argue that in any basketball skill except for a pass first pg (who still needs to have the ball in his hands to do his thing, which the anti Reke crowd forgets) we aren't really any better and we actually have less valuable pieces with which to trade/rebuild.

 

[SacTownKid]

As of now this team's talent level is slightly better than last years Hornet roster (thanks to the front court). I'm still against this move and feel like it is a Gerald Wallace moment for this front office. I eagerly await more info and more moves. I really hope Ellis isn't one of them.

Certainly need to get that SF spot filled, no question.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

Again, we have to crawl out of the womb before we can walk.

Lets go win 40 games before worrying about competing for a Conference title.

I basically said the EXACT same thing in my last reply to you where I said "Playoffs would be great in the early years, but when Cousins enters his prime, we should look to become a contender (confernece finals)".

 

[hrdboild]

And this teams going to what in the meantime? Nothing? Cousins will be into his max deal by then as well. What about re-signing Thomas or Patterson? Once you start having max contracts and have to reup your youth it's amazing what happens to all that space.

Step back a minute and listen to what you're saying. These guys are bad contracts left over from the previous regime. They are sunk cost. We would still have $10 million to spend this season even after giving Tyreke his $11 million. That's a sizable chunk of space to work with and you've already got your starters locked in at PG, SG, and C and all three of them have All Star potential. If you can trade even one other contract for a valuable rotation player we're in even better shape. Cousins extension kicks in after next season and we have one year of limited roster flexibility and then all those bad contracts are gone and you're left paying your starters and whoever you choose to re-sign. We are not in dire straights financially. And even if we were, you have to pay to keep your talent. Talent is the only thing that matters in the NBA. We pass on Tyreke now and he's gone, that's it. And we're back to hoping we somehow luck into another star player in the draft to replace him. It's moving backwards.

 

[jcwkings]

Yeah because Vasquez will? Oh give me a break...

no, but he will make DMC and McLemore lives much easier, compared to Tyreke. Look I like Tyreke, good dude, good player, if this trade is true i wish him the best, but you guys are banking on him to become a good off the dribble shooter, magically improve his basketball IQ dramatically, all that would have to be at the detriment of the development of DMC. You cant develop 2 stars at the same time when both of them are most effective with the ball in their hands. All your doing is canibalizing both players potential. DMC has a better ceiling than Tyreke, McLemore probably does too, we have to see him in action. Vasquez is the type of pg that will maximize the efectiveness of your offensive weapons.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

im pissed. first the Iguodala contract offer messup and now this. D'Alessandro is raising some questions. this is bull****

 

[Glenn]

It's going to be fun to watch you and the rest of the anti-Reke crowd trying to justifying why we still suck with a pure pg come mid season.

You enjoy seeing people suffer, right? Did you kill little animals as a child?

 

[ParniValjak]

This is bull****! We WILL regret this move! Bookmark it! Tyreke will be an All-Star with the Pelicans while we bask in the glory of a lottery team that does a lot of running and gunning but not actually mattering much at the business end of the season!

 

[Double-K]

Well, the last few years of talent over team that Geoff Petrie put on display disagree with you. That talent has to fit together, if not you have any other team with talent that goes nowhere. For teams building mostly through the draft that's not real anomaly. It's just at some point you have to start making sense of it and shaping it up. Petrie didn't do that and now this new management has to pay the price for it.

We drafted Tyreke in 2009. Cousins in 2010. Jimmer (hardly talent over team) in 2011. Thomas Robinson (not talent over team either) in 2012. I'm not sure who you referring to as talent over team cause before we drafted Evans and Cousins, we didn't have an identity at all. Drafting them gave us an identity.

On top of everything, like it or not Petrie was probably tied down financially by Maloofs in the last few years.

 

[sdballer]

You enjoy seeing people suffer, right? Did you kill little animals as a child?

Seriously?

 

[OnYouLikeGlue]

As of now this team's talent level is slightly better than last years Hornet roster (thanks to the front court). I'm still against this move and feel like it is a Gerald Wallace moment for this front office. I eagerly await more info and more moves. I really hope Ellis isn't one of them.

I doubt it since we drafted McLemore.

 

[kingwin]

I'm saying that you're pretty much banking on a coaching change being the only fixer up needed on this squad if you keep it as is. I rephrase, Smart was terrible, but he wasn't THAT terrible.

he was literally the worst coach in any sport ive ever seen...u couldnt name a worse coach...again i can live with this trade, although im still pissed we didnt keep reke, bt i wanna see what moves we make next and im intrigued to see if cousins can take that next step with him be the clear main focus on offense.

 

[SacTownKid]

We drafted Tyreke in 2009. Cousins in 2010. Jimmer (hardly talent over team) in 2011. Thomas Robinson (not talent over team either) in 2012. I'm not sure who you referring to as talent over team cause before we drafted Evans and Cousins, we didn't have an identity at all. Drafting them gave us an identity.

On top of everything, like it or not Petrie was probably tied down financially by Maloofs in the last few years.

It's the ensuing moves that are the point. Picking up a bunch of guys that are more known for scoring and production. That is absolutely talent and production potential over team. Depth in that area to the point of stupidity. This draft most certainly has a say on why the Kings are moving on as well. Keeping this team as is, while adding another scorer/production player, and Tyreke is supposed to somehow get a bigger piece of the action. I can't see it working without a hitch.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

thanks Pete. now were back in the lottey. awesome. yesterday some people thought we could dream of a Tyreke/McLemore/Iguodala lineup. and now we have Vasquez/McLemore/Salmons. awesome.

 

[sdballer]

no, but he will make DMC and McLemore lives much easier, compared to Tyreke. Look I like Tyreke, good dude, good player, if this trade is true i wish him the best, but you guys are banking on him to become a good off the dribble shooter, magically improve his basketball IQ dramatically, all that would have to be at the detriment of the development of DMC. You cant develop 2 stars at the same time when both of them are most effective with the ball in their hands. All your doing is canibalizing both players potential. DMC has a better ceiling than Tyreke, McLemore probably does too, we have to see him in action. Vasquez is the type of pg that will maximize the efectiveness of your offensive weapons.

Frankly I don't care if he becomes a good off the dribble shooter and its amazing how players iq rises and falls based on the players and systems around them. The concept that everyone else needs to be a role player so dmc can develop is silly and not supported by the success of most teams in the nba.

And for all the talk about how pass first point guards make their teams so much better, there were a lot of assist leaders last year that played for crappy teams, Vasquez included.

 

[Double-K]

This is bull****! We WILL regret this move! Bookmark it! Tyreke will be an All-Star with the Pelicans while we bask in the glory of a lottery team that does a lot of running and gunning but not actually mattering much at the business end of the season!

THIS!

I fear our FO is building us into another run n' gun indulging Warriors...

 

[theclash4u5]

thanks Pete. now were back in the lottey. awesome. yesterday some people thought we could dream of a Tyreke/McLemore/Iguodala lineup. and now we have Vasquez/McLemore/Salmons. awesome.

LOL we were going to end up in the lottery regardless, and it's for the best. 2014 will get us our stud for years to come.