[Game] 29/82: Kings vs. Lakers 21 December 2024 3 pm PT/6 pm ET

[ShastaKingsFan]

On one hand both seem to be highly regarded for raw athleticism, but while Bagley was strictly raw I do believe Carter is regarded to actually be really good at basketball and gets a lot of praise for the angles he plays and turning up on defense where his man wasn't expecting him whereas Bagley looks really good against some chairs.

and yet, a lot of analysts had him as a top 3 pick in a strong draft. That's the luck part, especially if you're someone who is overly swayed by run/jump guys

 

[Tetsujin]

On one hand both seem to be highly regarded for raw athleticism, but while Bagley was strictly raw I do believe Carter is regarded to actually be really good at basketball and gets a lot of praise for the angles he plays and turning up on defense where his man wasn't expecting him whereas Bagley looks really good against some chairs.

the one guy so bad at defense that he made Coach K finally give in and run a zone

 

[SacTownKid]

I remember the Kings being 18-24 before trading for Artest, lost his first two games then somehow ended the season with 44 wins. I wish there could be another move like that on the horizon but i don’t see it

I get what you're saying. The question is what that means. That team happened upon a unique duo in Bonzi and Artest. One without the other, along with Adelman of course, was fart sounds, lol. And it might have still failed in year two, who knows. I personally don't think another scorer or defender that pushes DeRozan out of position makes sense. At some point, Domas and Fox have to start willing this team to victory in the clutch. They aren't.

 

[sactowndog]

Most people thought we got a real one with Carter though. As opposed to the usual "LOLKANGZ" draft. I don't know when the last time a Kings draft was celebrated but it was probably Fox. And then you would have to hit the wayback beyond that.

Haliburton.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

correct. that's what I'm after.

That basically narrows it to Collins or Grant

 

[Joshyjosh31]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1870649869934940409

 

[SacTownKid]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1870649869934940409

Somebody get word to Fox. MJ? Miserable SOB. Miserable.

 

[iowamcnabb]

I get what you're saying. The question is what that means. That team happened upon a unique duo in Bonzi and Artest. One without the other, along with Adelman of course, was fart sounds, lol. And it might have still failed in year two, who knows. I personally don't think another scorer or defender that pushes DeRozan out of position makes sense. At some point, Domas and Fox have to start willing this team to victory in the clutch. They aren't.

I wish we has a 5 man lineup that is essentially a defense death group. 4 guys who string together stop after stop with just Fox providing the offense. Fox+ Keegan, Ellis, Carter and one more person with size. We don’t have a lineup like that that we can turn to build a lead or stop a run. Lot of trading baskets tonight

 

[sactowndog]

So this team now lost the tie breaker with the Lakers. The worst case scenario in my mind is finish 9th or 10th, lose in the play-in, lose our draft pick, lose Fox with no compensation.

sadly at this point the chances of that happening is way too high. I was on the fence about blowing it up. But I’m off now. I start with trading Fox and see what I get.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I wish we has a 5 man lineup that is essentially a defense death group. 4 guys who string together stop after stop with just Fox providing the offense. Fox+ Keegan, Ellis, Carter and one more person with size. We don’t have a lineup like that that we can turn to build a lead or stop a run. Lot of trading baskets tonight

It's great a theory, but you can't really be a dangerous playoff team running a bunch of 1-4 flat, one on one offense in crunch time. Even Michael Jordan had help and options during their contending years.

That said, a more balanced closing lineup that includes someone like Keon, is something that I suspect could produce more wins

 

[iowamcnabb]

So this team now lost the tie breaker with the Lakers. The worst case scenario in my mind is finish 9th or 10th, lose in the play-in, lose our draft pick, lose Fox with no compensation.

sadly at this point the chances of that happening is way too high. I was on the fence about blowing it up. But I’m off now. I start with trading Fox and see what I get.

There is zero chance we lose Fox without compensation. If he asks for a trade it will likely be this summer and we would get a tremendous package in return.

 

[iowamcnabb]

It's great a theory, but you can't really be a dangerous playoff team running a bunch of 1-4 flat, one on one offense in crunch time. Even Michael Jordan had help and options during their contending years.

That said, a more balanced closing lineup that includes someone like Keon, is something that I suspect could produce more wins

im thinking more in spurts, not the whole game or in crunch time. Just 5 guys that are picking up full court, harassing everyone, diving on the floor etc. tone setting lineup thrown in once in awhile to turn the tide

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Haliburton.

Yes and no to that. A lot of folks had him in the top 4 and were shocked he fell but I wouldn't necessarily say the big media remotely cared until we traded him. Nobody thought we had drafted 2023 Tyrese that day even his biggest fans.

 

[SacTownKid]

There is zero chance we lose Fox without compensation. If he asks for a trade it will likely be this summer and we would get a tremendous package in return.

And right now Monte has to start thinking long term but not panic. Depending on what that meeting between Fox and his people and Monte meant, that means potentially moving on. Right now, if Fox is asking Monte to "go all in", trade the future away, move Keegan, Carter, picks? Nope. Get up to 4-6 while creating distance and maybe. Not until then.

 

[ESP47]

Well, the only cards Brown on his own has left to play outside of waiting for this team to play better

These aren’t my preferences but’s it’s either swapping Monk for Keon in the starting lineup, or moving DeMar to the bench.

Moving Keon to the starting lineup would be a different look that could possibly yield good results. He’s also been our most consistent catch and shoot three point shooter as well as well as a reliable defender.

To be clear, I don’t think DeRozan deserves to be moved to the bench. He’s mostly been as advertised but Kings are a mess and that idea is purely in search of a fluidity(and offensive bench boost) that eludes the Kings.

I have no idea who would be an ideal fit in the starting lineup in that scenario. McBuckets doesn’t seem like a serious idea and would likely be viewed as a slap in the face. Huerter certainly hasn’t earned his way back in the starting lineup.

But I’m pretty sure Brown finally deciding to let Monk start was what he considered his break glass button. He is probably right.

The massive offensive underperformance from Keegan and Huerter and the overall team 3 pt shooting completely threw a wrench into the whole concept of what this team is supposed to be…and it’s not getting better…it’s also no longer early to have any hope that it will get meaningfully better.

I don’t see any answers in house.

Monte needs to figure something out.

Dude has been mostly watching strikes float across the plate since his active 2022 offseason.

I’ve slowly lost faith that he has any more ideas left… or even recognizes how fatal the flaws on this team are since his efforts to address them the last two years couldn’t even be described as half hearted.

I’m down on this team.

These guys just ain't it.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

That basically narrows it to Collins or Grant

I would be inclined to roll the dice on Collins for age and cost considerations I just wonder about dealing with Ainge.

Grant's contract makes him harder to put a package around although perhaps in doing so you can ask for draft compensation to get him off the Blazers books, which if we do have to rebuild in a year is interesting.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Yes and no to that. A lot of folks had him in the top 4 and were shocked he fell but I wouldn't necessarily say the big media remotely cared until we traded him. Nobody thought we had drafted 2023 Tyrese that day even his biggest fans.

There was a lot of credit given and excitement, because he was viewed as the steal of the draft. About all you could ask for, outside of guy who was projected to be a top 2 pick in a strong draft.

A lot of us were more excited about Haliburton than we were about Bagley.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I would be inclined to roll the dice on Collins for age and cost considerations I just wonder about dealing with Ainge.

Grant's contract makes him harder to put a package around although perhaps in doing so you can ask for draft compensation to get him off the Blazers books, which if we do have to rebuild in a year is interesting.

My vote is also for Collins. I think he fits real well....and wouldn't be that hard to move, if it doesn't work

 

[pdxKingsFan]

There was a lot of credit given and excitement, because he was viewed as the steal of the draft. About all you could ask for, outside of guy who was projected to be a top 2 pick in a strong draft.

A lot of us were more excited about Haliburton than we were about Bagley.

On this board and in Kings spaces nationally they didn't care until we traded him.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Why didn’t we pick up Naji Marshall or Derrick jones

Monte got asked how he addressed the wing weakness we had during camp and he mentioned Jalen ****ing McDaniels

 

[The_Jamal]

These guys just ain't it.

Lots of words being typed on this forum lately, but yea. Probably the most succinct way to put this team. Put whoever you want into the grouping of "these guys" but for whatever reason, it's not working. I'm not really sure I care that much at this point as to the reason(s) why? Just know it's not.

 

[Tetsujin]

Why didn’t we pick up Naji Marshall or Derrick jones

Monte got asked how he addressed the wing weakness we had during camp and he mentioned Jalen ****ing McDaniels

Guys gotta want to come here to come here

 

[The_Jamal]

And right now Monte has to start thinking long term but not panic. Depending on what that meeting between Fox and his people and Monte meant, that means potentially moving on. Right now, if Fox is asking Monte to "go all in", trade the future away, move Keegan, Carter, picks? Nope. Get up to 4-6 while creating distance and maybe. Not until then.

That's the real problem with making a "fringe" type trade for someone in the vein of a DFS/Jonas or even going a bit bigger with a Cam Johnson. Those are the sort of moves you make when you're secure as a playoff team and you want the extra firepower to put you over the top of a playoff series or two. All those guys absolutely could swing a playoff series and thus, would be worth sacrificing some of your future.

Right now though, the Kings haven't proved they're a play-in team, much less a top 6 seed. Those guys aren't saving a season. They're a cherry on top for an already good team. The Kings are pretty quickly running out of time to show they're a good team.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Guys gotta want to come here to come here

Monte definitely not beyond criticism but in my view it was for not working the draft harder. I find it hard to believe we couldn't have gotten a pick to net us TDS or Ryan Dunn after landing Carter and those guys could help us among others.

 

[SacTownKid]

Monte definitely not beyond criticism but in my view it was for not working the draft harder. I find it hard to believe we couldn't have gotten a pick to net us TDS or Ryan Dunn after landing Carter and those guys could help us among others.

Fox and Domas living up to the hype means relying on any draft pick is not even in the discussion anyway. If a teams stars are implying your draft pick, or non role player addition is the reason that they are one step under mediocre? Yeah, maybe they aren't the star you need. That sounds like the tell tale sign of a second fiddle to me.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Guys gotta want to come here to come here

Same thing we hear about trades it’s always excuses Naji would’ve went where the money was he hasn’t been paid and Dallas stole him for less than the mid level

 

[ESP47]

Lots of words being typed on this forum lately, but yea. Probably the most succinct way to put this team. Put whoever you want into the grouping of "these guys" but for whatever reason, it's not working. I'm not really sure I care that much at this point as to the reason(s) why? Just know it's not.

The only thing that is consistent about this team is their ability to be inconsistent on a regular basis. Constantly out played, out shot, out defended, out focused, out smarted and out efforted (didn't expect that to be a real word) on a night to night basis.

It's getting to the point where I can basically see the writing on the wall in the 3rd quarter when they're "doing their thing". I watch delayed on my DVR to skip commercials so I'll just fast forward it and if I don't see the score close back up tightly, I just fast forward until the end of the game and don't waste my time on it. It's just too predictable at this point.

I think what sucks most of all is seeing Keegan clam up into a shell of his former self offensively. Our future star is looking and playing like a dud on that end of the court and that does not bode well for the future.

 

[Jdbraver137]

We need to start a full rebuild. This team doesn’t have the winning mentality.

 

[serbiangoat]

Collins was a tough fit prior to DDR but now that's a nightmare fit

 

[sactowndog]

There is zero chance we lose Fox without compensation. If he asks for a trade it will likely be this summer and we would get a tremendous package in return.

clearly the chances are not zero.