From the looks of it he's probably had it in him all along, though the sample size is small. I'm glad he's getting his opportunity, sorry it came at the expense of Keon, but perhaps in the end it will all work out.
[Game] 54/82: Kings vs. Cavaliers 07 FEB 2026, 7pm PT/10pm ET
- Thread starter Mr. S£im Citrus
- Start date
ShastaKingsFan
Hall of Famer
Carter deserved to close this game for experience
sactowndog
Hall of Famer
Yeah not sure how this game could have gone better. Carter looked like a point guard. Clifford looked great, and Russ came in for the Lin.
Meanwhile DYBANTSA and Flemings look amazing. Even at 5 we get a great kid.
I don't think he'd admit it if they were losing on purpose, but I also think putting Russ or Zach in is doing just that. Deebo is kind of his own category. He is normally very clutch, he is a ball hog, but he hasn't had it late in games at all this year. That might be why nobody wanted him.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
Cenac is gonna be a steal for someone hopefully not OKC he can defend the perimeter and the rim and has a jumpshot
Agreed. He could’ve spent this entire time developing his skills and body with the player development staff. We don’t know if we was ready to contribute 4-5 months ago.
Regardless I'm grateful he's ready to contribute now. I still don't love the opportunity cost of drafting a guy in a position of non-need who was not going to be able to contribute right away in what turned out to be a make or break year, but if he can continue it will go a long way towards making up for it if we finally get a true superstar here next season.
I would like to know when exactly the team shifted to moving Keon instead of Carter, which did appear to be Perry's initial intention.
MizzouKing
Starter
Russ is a phenomenal athlete, but he's 37 years old... we've been seeing for awhile now that when he gets fatigued he shortrims shots, turns the ball over, and commits fouls. Anyone would, so I would like to have seen Doug pull him when the signs of exhaustion started showing...BEFORE he gave the Cavs the game.
Tanking is only something fans and front offices do. I dont think theres a single player or coaxh that would ever make decisions to purposely lose a game.
Like Doug clearly has a directive now to get the young guys on the floor for as much time as possible. Bur I dont think for a second he is ever making a decision in terms of " well if I make this sub, it'll make us worse on the floor and help us lose"
Top 5 pick
Domas
Monk
Keegan
Hunter
Maxime
Nique
Carter
Cardwell
Theres the 9 man rotation next season. Buy out DDR, pray we get to use LaVines expiring or just tell him to stay home, obviously no Russ resign.
Thats a lot of fun and should be a team thst would actually share the ball and play defense.
I think he knows that Russ and Deebo aren't closing games well and if he doesn't then he's a worse coach than anyone on this board thinks.
Kingz19
Hall of Famer
Phenomenal performance for Nique.
He is a player I think needs to handle the ball quite a bit. Obviously games like this coupled with defense will get him that trust. I don’t think he has an especially high ceiling as a strictly off ball three and D guy as evident by most of the season.
I think the rest of the season should be dedicated to him Nique those feature role reps with Devin Carter being more off ball. I’ve liked their backcourt combination here and in summer league. Along with Cardwell, Max and Keegan when he returns.
Domas, DeMar, Zach, Russ, and Hunter should basically be load management with 20 minutes here and there for the rest of the season
They should buy out DeMar and let him go to a contender. I would say release Russ too but I’d feel bad if nobody picked him up and I like him.if anything he’s helping keep this teams eye on the prize
He is a player I think needs to handle the ball quite a bit. Obviously games like this coupled with defense will get him that trust. I don’t think he has an especially high ceiling as a strictly off ball three and D guy as evident by most of the season.
I think the rest of the season should be dedicated to him Nique those feature role reps with Devin Carter being more off ball. I’ve liked their backcourt combination here and in summer league. Along with Cardwell, Max and Keegan when he returns.
Domas, DeMar, Zach, Russ, and Hunter should basically be load management with 20 minutes here and there for the rest of the season
They should buy out DeMar and let him go to a contender. I would say release Russ too but I’d feel bad if nobody picked him up and I like him.if anything he’s helping keep this teams eye on the prize
For some teams I believe it goes deeper... Markannen wasn't on the floor down the stretch of tonights close Jazz/Magic game for example
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
The young guys are going to be alright. Nique and Devin leading the head of the offense is flat out fun to watch.
ShastaKingsFan
Hall of Famer
and we recently saw the Wizards hold out better players in the 4th quarter against the Kings. Didn't work out, but they were not trying to win with their player subs late
ShastaKingsFan
Hall of Famer
Carter was playing well and should have closed this game. Going back to Westbrook didn't make sense, but it did happen to help the loss
Jdbraver137
Starter
But it didn’t really work out on the business side either. Shroder wasn’t a breakout star. In fact he probably had a lower value than we got him because he played below his contract. I’m ok with a FO and owner that makes mistakes but not with ones that refuse to admit mistakes and change things…like playing Carter over Shroder earlier.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
If he isn’t told he is a top ten, he should stay one more year in college and he probably goes top 5 next year.
Add in Plowden as a deeper reserve. Plays hard. Can knock down a 3. Cheap contract.
Wouldn’t mind if they moved another one of the vets listed in the summer. That group is very watchable…..fans probably get behind the group
Hindsight is so easy but if you play the what if game, what if Schroder and Westbrook were never signed. I’m fairly certain we have the same record or better, still have Keon and hopefully Carter had more time.
The Devin Carter burst is quick. Shooting needs to be better for sure but does so many other things well.
The young guys are fun to watch
sactowndog
Hall of Famer
I think something about DeMar’s contract structure means he doesn’t want a buy-out. I forget the specific details
sactowndog
Hall of Famer
Right which is not the intent. Not sure I would ever say this about a Kings team but they are executing their strategy extremely well!
(Did I really just type that).
Joshyjosh31
Starter
Agreed
When it comes to keeping the bench from floating away, high character guys on cheap contracts are undefeated. Bonus points if they are "homegrown" types.
That was about the best case scenario you could ask for at this point.
Close, exciting game. All the young guys showed out. Entertaining from a fan standpoint and the vet who is not going to be on the team next year commanded the tank at the end. Pretty much a perfect way to wrap up the game if you're looking to get the best odds at a top draft pick while developing the younger guys.
We've all been calling for this for months now. It's crazy how slow/late this franchise is to react to the obvious. Basically our summer league team looks like it can play better team basketball than a bunch of vets who have been around forever. I remember hearing reports that the reserves were beating the starters in scrimmages in camp and I can definitely see why. You can have all the skills in the world but a simple drive, cut and dish for an easy bucket is always going to be more efficient than a hall of famer going 1 on 1.
Close, exciting game. All the young guys showed out. Entertaining from a fan standpoint and the vet who is not going to be on the team next year commanded the tank at the end. Pretty much a perfect way to wrap up the game if you're looking to get the best odds at a top draft pick while developing the younger guys.
We've all been calling for this for months now. It's crazy how slow/late this franchise is to react to the obvious. Basically our summer league team looks like it can play better team basketball than a bunch of vets who have been around forever. I remember hearing reports that the reserves were beating the starters in scrimmages in camp and I can definitely see why. You can have all the skills in the world but a simple drive, cut and dish for an easy bucket is always going to be more efficient than a hall of famer going 1 on 1.