[Game] 72/82: Kings vs. Thunder 25 MAR 2025, 7pm PT/10pm ET

[SacTownKid]

Better long term to just let it convey to the Hawks this year. Kings twitter wants to keep the pick this year and just tank next season to keep ATl from ever getting our pick but it’s just so much easier to let the pick convey this summer and have a clean ledger going forward. (Also depth wise, next year’s draft might be better than this year’s)

Yeah, at this point if the Kings can get into the top 4 great, if not, not so sure about the depth of this years draft. This is one that will come down to scouting so you might find better pros in the 2nd round at this point. This draft is way better up top but not nearly as deep as last years from the looks of it.

 

[Caccia]

So play McDermott. Or so I keep saying.

He has been terribly misused since the trade deadline six weeks ago. You just witnessed what McDermott can do in a hurry.

 

[Tetsujin]

And the reality is even if the Kings decided to tank there's no catching some of the teams that have been firmly entrenched in the Flagg sweepstakes from day 1. There could be multiple teams in the 60+ loss category at the end of this season.

Yeah but drafting (checks big board in the 11th pick range) Jason Richardson’s tiny son and not being able to move our own pick for the next two seasons is better than that!

 

[Caccia]

Was Trey Lyles hurt or something tonight?

No idea.

 

[iowamcnabb]

Better long term to just let it convey to the Hawks this year. Kings twitter wants to keep the pick this year and just tank next season to keep ATl from ever getting our pick but it’s just so much easier to let the pick convey this summer and have a clean ledger going forward. (Also depth wise, next year’s draft might be better than this year’s)

if you told me that the Kings are pulling the plug after this season trading off Sabonis, Deebo and Lavine and are committed to a one year soft tank, sure let’s keep the pick this year and get a top ten pick next season. But if we are going to at least try to compete next year I’d much rather lose the 13th pick in this draft than a 11-14 pick in next years class. And it’s not really that close.

 

[Tetsujin]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1904755830949634411

Kings fans turning on Domas because he converted to Judaism was not on my bingo card to star the season.

 

[King Baller]

was Trey Lyles hurt or something tonight?

After checking the box score I came here to ask, “Where was Trey Lyles?”

 

[SacTownKid]

if you told me that the Kings are pulling the plug after this season trading off Sabonis, Deebo and Lavine and are committed to a one year soft tank, sure let’s keep the pick this year and get a top ten pick next season. But if we are going to at least try to compete next year I’d much rather lose the 13th pick in this draft than a 11-14 pick in next years class. And it’s not really that close.

One would hope that if the Kings do move Domas it might be on something like draft night, or with actual valuable picks/youth coming back. Unless Domas is like "I'm out" this summer, which he may very well want, then the Kings have time. If the Kings keep their pick this season it's because it just worked out that way. The Kings not only changed out half the roster, but have had injuries so it is what it is. If it comes down the last 2-3 games and the Kings were the team that slid then hopefully those last games are for the youngsters.

 

[Tetsujin]

One would hope that if the Kings do move Domas it might be on something like draft night, or with actual valuable picks/youth coming back. Unless Domas is like "I'm out" this summer, which he may very well want, then the Kings have time. If the Kings keep their pick this season it's because it just worked out that way. The Kings not only changed out half the roster, but have had injuries so it is what it is. If it comes down the last 2-3 games and the Kings were the team that slid then hopefully those last games are for the youngsters.

Domas getting moved on draft night would also make losing our pick this season relatively meaningless since we’d probably be getting a pick for this year back in a deal.

 

[iowamcnabb]

I hate the idea of trading Sabonis but if he wants out I could see the following teams interested:

Blazers
Pistons
Raptors
Suns
Spurs haha
Jazz

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Sabonis has 3 games with 17 or more points in his last 16 games. Granted 2 of those were injury shortened but that’s not great

Someone really argued with me that Sabonis can lead a team in the playoffs lol

 

[Joshyjosh31]

I hate the idea of trading Sabonis but if he wants out I could see the following teams interested:

Blazers
Pistons
Raptors
Suns
Spurs haha
Jazz

Blazers: Just drafted Clingan he should be there future at center

Pistons: I would as for Holland/Ivey

Raptors: Dick and picks this years lottery pick is a must

Suns/Spurs: No chance

Brooklyn lead the odds earlier for his next team I’d want Thomas, Claxton, and a first. Can would be that 20ppg guy we need and fits with Carter in the backcourt he’s only 23

 

[iowamcnabb]

Blazers: Just drafted Clingan he should be there future at center

Pistons: I would as for Holland/Ivey

Raptors: Dick and picks this years lottery pick is a must

Suns/Spurs: No chance

Brooklyn lead the odds earlier for his next team I’d want Thomas, Claxton, and a first. Can would be that 20ppg guy we need and fits with Carter in the backcourt he’s only 23

the reason I mentioned the Suns is Durant is gone. They are going to need to retool around Booker. Unless they give in and trade him to the Rockets.

the Spurs with Sabonis/Wemby/Fox and Castle would be insane. Probably not going to happen but just for fun

 

[TaxMan]

I hate the idea of trading Sabonis but if he wants out I could see the following teams interested:

Blazers
Pistons
Raptors
Suns
Spurs haha
Jazz

I think we will be surprised by how little he nets us in a return. I hate to say it but I believe while he is definitely respected around the league, more teams view him in the same light as KOC. Yes he’s been an all nba center, but he’s a very difficult fit on most teams.

 

[iowamcnabb]

I think we will be surprised by how little he nets us in a return. I hate to say it but I believe while he is definitely respected around the league, more teams view him in the same light as KOC. Yes he’s been an all nba center, but he’s a very difficult fit on most teams.

he doesn’t fit on every team for sure but I think he still has high value. His analytics are off the charts. I still hope he is part of our core, I love watching him play. If we get a new GM or he asks out, things get interesting

 

[Folsomkingsfan]

I think we will be surprised by how little he nets us in a return. I hate to say it but I believe while he is definitely respected around the league, more teams view him in the same light as KOC. Yes he’s been an all nba center, but he’s a very difficult fit on most teams.

Probably. Players who are not good shooters or good defenders don't exactly draw war chest offers. Especially ones on contracts like Sabonis has. But Sabonis is also the 2nd best passing big man in the game. I could see his value being somewhere around 2 high quality assets and one decent asset. Like a top 8 pick, a quality young starter, and a late first rounder.

 

[kingsboi]

9 more games until the nightmare is over and we can start the Sabonis & DeMar trade destinations talk, Zach too preferably but with that contract, the team might be stuck with him for now

 

[Joshyjosh31]

the reason I mentioned the Suns is Durant is gone. They are going to need to retool around Booker. Unless they give in and trade him to the Rockets.

the Spurs with Sabonis/Wemby/Fox and Castle would be insane. Probably not going to happen but just for fun

I wouldn’t even entertain trading Sabonis to the spurs honestly

Phoenix if they had competent management should sell KD to San Antonio, Memphis, or OKC and then get a kings ransom for Booker to Houston. But Booker said he’s down to stay so they’ll probably do that instead

9 more games until the nightmare is over and we can start the Sabonis & DeMar trade destinations talk, Zach too preferably but with that contract, the team might be stuck with him for now

Mind boggling to trade for him, if we wanted a win now player we should’ve got in on the GSW/Miami deal and got Wiggins, JJJ, and a pick. I’m pretty sure Miami wouldn’t balk at fox saying he wouldn’t resign if all they were giving up was a pick and butler who actually wasn’t playing for them. But no trade for a non defensive SH with one of the worst contracts in the league. Wiggins/keegan defensively would cause hell for teams even more so then Keon/keegan

 

[serbiangoat]

If Keegan had MPJ offensive mentality along with everything else he has he's making 40mil a year

 

[fansinceday1]

My wife said what I’ve been thinking for quite a while now.
Sabonis doesn’t look himself. It’s not his shot or anything physical. He looks like he’s lost his basketball spirit. Dude needs to get off this team. I hope he asks for a trade this summer. The kings managed to screw this entire thing up.

 

[Jdbraver137]

My wife said what I’ve been thinking for quite a while now.
Sabonis doesn’t look himself. It’s not his shot or anything physical. He looks like he’s lost his basketball spirit. Dude needs to get off this team. I hope he asks for a trade this summer. The kings managed to screw this entire thing up.

He plays hard every game. He plays through injury. He constantly is hit in the head, but just plays on. If he has lost his spirit, everybody else spirit must be grabbing their pitchforks

 

[SLAB]

My wife said what I’ve been thinking for quite a while now.
Sabonis doesn’t look himself. It’s not his shot or anything physical. He looks like he’s lost his basketball spirit. Dude needs to get off this team. I hope he asks for a trade this summer. The kings managed to screw this entire thing up.

The Kings didn’t screw anything up. This is a middling average team that got everyone’s eyes all starry when everything went right that one playoff season.

Great, everyone stayed healthy and had great years and we made the playoffs. But then they didn’t and the real team shined. Sucks that they all had the quitting spirit to quit on the coach to quit on the team to quit on each other.

 

[twslam07]

My wife said what I’ve been thinking for quite a while now.
Sabonis doesn’t look himself. It’s not his shot or anything physical. He looks like he’s lost his basketball spirit. Dude needs to get off this team. I hope he asks for a trade this summer. The kings managed to screw this entire thing up.

I agree. He’s been noticeably more frustrated and agitated lately. He’s not usually this demonstrative on the court.

It could mean something or it could mean nothing. Hard for us to really know without being behind closed doors with him, but it’s been very noticeable to me.

 

[fansinceday1]

Why is lavine here? Because the owner was obsessed with him. The owner was obsessed with this guy that no one else wanted and now the kings have him and they are STUCK with him.
This all starts with the worst owner in the NBA. He’s a basketball moron and nothing will change while hes here. He doesn’t think he’s the problem. Sure we can fire Monty, but no GM worth his salt will come here. You won’t be able to build the team the way you want to cause the owner goes off on these stupid whims. He won’t let you rebuild cause he’s “win now”, which is hilarious by the way! Win now! Hahahahahaha.

 

[whitechocolate]

https://twitter.com/statuses/1904755830949634411

Kings fans turning on Domas because he converted to Judaism was not on my bingo card to star the season.

What is this referring to?

Also welcome to the tribe Sabonis.

 

[Joshyjosh31]

Why is lavine here? Because the owner was obsessed with him. The owner was obsessed with this guy that no one else wanted and now the kings have him and they are STUCK with him.
This all starts with the worst owner in the NBA. He’s a basketball moron and nothing will change while hes here. He doesn’t think he’s the problem. Sure we can fire Monty, but no GM worth his salt will come here. You won’t be able to build the team the way you want to cause the owner goes off on these stupid whims. He won’t let you rebuild cause he’s “win now”, which is hilarious by the way! Win now! Hahahahahaha.

Ya we were linked to him for a while and we took it as a joke even after we got Derozan. I remember days before the fox trade DLo/KC were discussing options and Lavine was brought up and they were like no way we’d want him now right lol then it happened and we had to talk ourselves into it

 

[captain bill]

Why is lavine here? Because the owner was obsessed with him. The owner was obsessed with this guy that no one else wanted and now the kings have him and they are STUCK with him.
This all starts with the worst owner in the NBA. He’s a basketball moron and nothing will change while hes here. He doesn’t think he’s the problem. Sure we can fire Monty, but no GM worth his salt will come here. You won’t be able to build the team the way you want to cause the owner goes off on these stupid whims. He won’t let you rebuild cause he’s “win now”, which is hilarious by the way! Win now! Hahahahahaha.

It’s unfortunate because he really did seem to turn the corner before Mr Meddle reemerged this year

Honestly Anjali may be our only hope. He’s not gonna sell but if he puts her in charge of basketball ops maybe she’s more hands off

Either that or we get the first sexual harassment case by a player against an owner and sink to messy new levels of Kangzdom

 

[SacTownKid]

He plays hard every game. He plays through injury. He constantly is hit in the head, but just plays on. If he has lost his spirit, everybody else spirit must be grabbing their pitchforks

Domas is being a pro, but he looks a bit distant. Could be something else but this started happening right around Amick came out with the Domas wants to talk this summer stuff. The look on his face is reminiscent of Fox towards the end TBH.

 

[SacTownKid]

It’s unfortunate because he really did seem to turn the corner before Mr Meddle reemerged this year

Honestly Anjali may be our only hope. He’s not gonna sell but if he puts her in charge of basketball ops maybe she’s more hands off

Either that or we get the first sexual harassment case by a player against an owner and sink to messy new levels of Kangzdom

Who knows how much Anjali was responsible for when she was involved with the G-league team but that is actually probably the only fully functioning aspect of this organization right now, lol.

 

[The_Jamal]

Chet is just flat out a game changing defender. This dude's going to own more than a few DPOY awards.

Was my favorite prospect in that draft and one of my favorite prospects of the last decade. Had the rail-thin frame but literally everything else about his game is so damn good. Very few guys compete harder than he does defensively and combine that with the freaky length and timing instincts... man. Just such a fluid player.