Arron Afflalo, Marco Belinelli, Trade, or Stay Put?

[twslam07]

Let's be realistic about this offseason, everyone. We're more than likely not going to get one of the top free agent SGs this year:

1. Jimmy Butler (No way - restricted & maxed)
2. Danny Green (Very little chance - I keep him if I'm the Spurs FO)
3. Kawhi Leonard (No way - restricted & maxed. not really a SG, but would you not want him starting next to Gay?)
4. Wesley Matthews (Very little chance - big part of Portland, coming off major injury. probably takes a 1 year deal with Portland to prove he's healthy and cash in on cap rising)
5. Khris Middleton (No way - restricted & likely maxed)
6. Iman Shumpert (Very little chance - CLE is high on him and knows he's the type of player you want next to guys like Irving and Lebron)

Then there are two free agent SGs that could be available and decent fits:

1. Arron Afflalo (Indications point to him opting out. With Matthews on the team, Afflalo has obviously been delegated to bench duties. Perhaps he is still looking for a starting gig, and perhaps he wants to play for his old coach, George Karl)
2. Marco Belinelli (The Spurs have some cap issues with Green, Leonard, Duncan, Ginobli, Joseph, & Baynes all being free agents. A decent offer could cause San Antonio to cut ties)

With that being said, what do you if you're the Kings? Do you go out and sign Afflalo or Belinelli to give us a veteran presence at SG? Do you try and make a trade for another veteran SG that's available? Or do you stay put with McLemore and Stauskas at SGs to start the season?


Assumptions:

1. We will keep at least one of McLemore and Stauskas as I find it hard to believe that the FO would trade their only two lottery picks this quickly after they have been drafted.
2. We will not draft our 3rd SG in a row this year.

If you select "Trade for Vet SG," feel free to comment on who you have in mind.

 

[pshn80]

Didn't check any choice. Want us to acquire a journeyman starting quality SG, whatever it takes. Personally, I 'd rather keep Stauscas than Ben.

 

[206Fan]

I don't know if I want to go in another year hoping our young guys have improved. I think we should bring in a vet and trade one of our SGs. If we weren't trying to compete for the playoff next year, I would've said keep both, but if we're serious about the playoffs, one of them has to go. Unless both become capable starters over night, or Nik can be our 6th man.

 

[sdballer]

Not even sure afflalo or belinelli are better than Ben now so with no upside and probably twice the cost, we better be getting a significant return on a trade. As a vet presence to help while the youngsters develop, no problem.

 

[upinsmoke]

The investment that has been made in Ben will pay off as for Stauskas I really am lost for words.

 

[sdballer]

Per 36 stats:

Arron Afflalo- 29 years old
14.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.1 bpg, (42%, 35%, 84%)

Marco Belineli- 28 years old
14.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.1 bpg (42%, 37%, 85%)

Ben McLemore- 21 years old
13.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.3 bpg (44%, 36%, 81%)

 

[jdbraver]

Per 36 stats:

Arron Afflalo- 29 years old
14.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.6 spg, 0.1 bpg, (42%, 35%, 84%)

Marco Belineli- 28 years old
14.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.1 bpg (42%, 37%, 85%)

Ben McLemore- 21 years old
13.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.3 bpg (44%, 36%, 81%)

Can't stand per 36 or 48 mpg stats...just put the actual mpg played and stats pls.

 

[ForlornKing]

What is the MAIN problem we have with our young 2 guards?

Consistency........per game stats aren't even going to show that.

 

[sdballer]

Can't stand per 36 or 48 mpg stats...just put the actual mpg played and stats pls.

I was going to but Belinelli only played 22 mpg last year so it's not balanced.

 

[sdballer]

What is the MAIN problem we have with our young 2 guards?

Consistency........per game stats aren't even going to show that.

Hard to show but you're welcome to check out Afflalo's game log to see that he also had issues with 3-4 good games followed by crap ones.

 

[kingsboi]

I don't see the infatuation with Afflalo. He has lost a step in my opinion and it's evident as day. Green and Belinelli are a product of the system so they wouldn't do much here, Karl or not. Middleton is going to get a big pay day according to executives around the league. Matthews just came off an injury....but we have to keep looking, I don't think we can roll with Ben and Nik as our 2 guard options and expect to compete for a playoff spot.

 

[sdballer]

I think people are too quick to give up on Ben. He's 21. Look at a lot of the better sg in the league at 21. he's doing ok. Yes, we need another vet sg right now but let's not be one of those teams that gives up on a guy too early.

 

[KingMilz]

Ben all day over those two with AA's massive regression and Marco being a guy who is fairly injury prone and can't defend you stay with Ben who will get better where as those two will regress very quickly most likely.

I still think we have to pick either Ben or Nik and trade the other along with some other "'assets" to either get a player with potential in another position or a guy who will actually help us now and in the next 2 or so seasons.

 

[Siranthony]

Who is to say what will happen. If we make a trade, signing or not I think we are ok. Ben's numbers will go up. By how much is hard to say. But let Karl and his new staff work with our guys. We need to stick with what we have. 1st round picks are potential huge assets. I wouldn't give one up unless we where getting equal value in return.

 

[Bricklayer]

Rule #1: you can NOT go into another season planning for playoffs and relying on the shaky shoulders of Ben and Nik. Can NOT. So soembody experienced and dependable has to come in to if nothing else hold down the fort when the kids are too busy having crises of confidence and pooping their diapers.

But these two names?

Afflalo...it depends on your read on him.

2 years ago he was worth 2 Ben's. This past year he was terrible, which is to say he played at about Ben's level, only 8 years older. If he's just going to be an old Ben from here on out then he, like Ben, should be a bencher for somebody, not a solution.

Bellinelli is a marginal guy, but he's the sort of piece you want to add. Smart, been to the championship mountain. He can be no more than a platoon guy, but if you are good enough to platoon for the Spurs, you're good enough to platoon for the Kings. He creates and makes the right play. Can't say that about any of our kids.


I am indifferent as to keeping one or the other kid. I am mostly against keeping both. I am ENTIRELY against keeping both without bringing in an established vet. How that vet is acquired, his identity etc. is largely neutral for me. Half of the above choices work, and more not listed. Sign Bellinelli, keep Ben? Fine. Sign Bellinelli and Afllao, dump Ben for a PF? Fine. Trade Nik and our pick for a real SG? Fine. Trade Ben and...you get the idea. Our young SGs have probably lost 10 games for us in the last 2 years, at least. They've been the worst SGs in the NBA. Having affection for them beyond being nice guys is just stupid. They both have some moderate potential -- still think Nik could be a decent roleplayer down the line. But who knows when it comes home, and we don't have time to wait on maybes and patiently developing roleplayers. You want guys at that level? Fine. Go sign a few and trade for more. They are available. You don't waste time drafting and developing rank and file players, especially not when they aren't even good enough to be rank and file yet.

 

[Iced Espresso]

Woe to hastened long term investment that is not ideal, especially with an increasing cap and youth to develop. No matter what the call ends up being, consider those things and more than 1 year from now.

 

[pdizo916]

Throw our money away for another guard? I don't think it's a smart idea. Unless one of those guards has a contract to what Morrow got last year (3yrs/10 mil) I don't want to invest much money into another SG. We need to sign/draft another big next to Cuz (first priority) and the rest of our money should be allocated to fixing our bench issues. If there's only a way we can get rid of landry's and thompson's contracts.

 

[Gilles]

Not having Nik Stauskas as SG off the bench is fixing bench issues. Hopefully, Miller and Casspi take PG/SF, while JT and WCS are big man pair.

 

[ockingsfan]

I don't think you can guarantee a quality free agent would sign with us.

Arron Aflalo is on the down side of his career and fading fast, not worth a 3 or 4 year deal.

Bellini would be nice, but I doubt he signs with us unless we totally over pay, which would mean something like a 3-4 year deal in 6-8mil/ yr, which seems too much for a potential just back up SG.

We should try to trade with Charlotte for Lance Stephenson for Carl Landry and Ray McCallum.

Why the Kings do it? Lance Stephenson is a stout defensive SG and can play some back up SF. He can handle the ball and avg 4 assist/game last year. Not a good 3 point shooter, but was decent in Indiana, before he lost confidence in Charlotte. A change of scenery may do him good. Stephenson can start until Ben or Nik is ready and can also back up the SF and play the swing SG/SF back role.

Why Charlotte does it? Al Jefferson and Mo Williams are free agents this year. Landry provides offense and a back up insurance policy, incase Jefferson opt-out or they lose Biyambo in Free agency. Charlotte may ask for JT instead of Landry though. Mo Williams is a free agent and will look for a pay day. McCallum gives them a young, cheap backup PG, incase Williams walks. Reports are the Charlotte wants to trade Stephenson pretty bad.

Kings draft WCS to be the starting power forward at #6-7. Resign Andre Miller and Casspi.

Kings new line up:

PF: WCS / JT / Moreland
SF Gay/ Casspi
C: DMC/ JT
SG: Stephenson / Ben/ Nik
PG: Collison / Miller / Stockton

 

[Gilles]

Lance cannot be a starting SG for this team - wants to play on the ball, can't shoot - those combined are fatal flaws.

 

[ockingsfan]

Lance cannot be a starting SG for this team - wants to play on the ball, can't shoot - those combined are fatal flaws.

Yes, he regressed a lot in Charlotte. But the year before, in Indiana, he averaged 13pts/7reb/4.6asst/.491/.352 stat line.

He clearly lost confidence in Charlotte or was trying to hard to justify his new contract.

But if we can rid ourselves of Landry's contract for a useful defensive stopper and someone who can swing between SG/SF, if he were a sixth man type. If Ben or Nik develops some consistency, you can move Stephenson to a sixth man/ defensive stopper off the bench.

Playing on the ball is okay, because with just Collison as a ball handler, the Kings need another ball handler on the floor.

 

[Gilles]

Lance is not just another ballhandler, he's a lead guard. In Indiana Hill was basically C&S guy, whenever he was on the floor next to Lance. In Charlotte Kemba and MKG are not off the ball players, so not surprisingly Lance didn't fit very well next to them.
Only 60% of Boogie's shots are assisted, for Rudy this number is barely above 50%. Kinda feels like a couple of ballhandlers. And then there's also Darren.

 

[ockingsfan]

Lance is not just another ballhandler, he's a lead guard. In Indiana Hill was basically C&S guy, whenever he was on the floor next to Lance. In Charlotte Kemba and MKG are not off the ball players, so not surprisingly Lance didn't fit very well next to them.
Only 60% of Boogie's shots are assisted, for Rudy this number is barely above 50%. Kinda feels like a couple of ballhandlers. And then there's also Darren.

In Karl's offense, he wants his guards handling the ball. That is why he put an emphasis on getting another ball handler in the off season.

Also, Paul George was ball dominant in Indiana and Lance did well with him.

Darren can play off the ball and has shown that he does not need the ball to be effective. Ben is a sub-par ball handler at this point and a liability if Darren gets trapped.

If Lance can get some assist to DMC and Gay, that puts less pressure on DMC and Gay to always try to go one-on-one to get their baskets. Lance is a capable ball handler and a very good defensive player. If Ben develops, you can move Lance to the bench and he could back up SG/SF.

 

[Gilles]

Under Karl DMC and Rudy had more assisted FGs, but the bump was just 2-3%. You can't change the way elite offensive talents play. Coach can help their game evolve, but forcing them to completely overhaul it? Yeah, that would work. IT/Darren change showed, that Kings finally found balance in the starting lineup. No need to destroy that for a suspect gain.

 

[Mike]

Of the two players - Ben and Nik - I would prefer to see us keep hold of Ben. He improved last season, and for me, he still has the higher ceiling. Granted he's still a project, but his defense has improved, and his offensive upside is arguably greater. With good coaching and more time [something he may not have since we want to win now], Ben has the ability to develop into a good starting SG. He might not be the next elite SG, but he could certainly become a borderline top ten SG, whereas Nik seems more likely to find his place as a role player off the bench.

If we are to trade one of our young assets, my choice would be Nik, because he should still have enough value to get us a veteran and/or assets in return. By moving Nik, we can continue to start Ben and sign a veteran to help our rotation when the starters are out [or start a veteran SG and use Ben off the bench]. However, I would be open to moving Ben if we could package him and other players to land a significant upgrade at PF [not sure who is available]. In this scenario, we would still have Nik, could sign a veteran, and even draft a replacement if necessary [eg. Winslow if he falls, or Hezonja]. But of these two scenarios, I would rather keep Ben and try to find a way to turn Nik and other players into an upgrade at PF or veteran help for the bench.

In regards to the two free agent shooting guards mentioned. I am not convinced that Afflalo is an upgrade over Ben. Perhaps under his old coach he might return to his previous form, but even that is not a significant upgrade over Ben. So instead of throwing money at Afflalo, I would rather keep Ben as our starting SG, and use the money to acquire other veteran help. As for Belinelli, if he is willing to come in on fair priced contract, then he would be a decent addition to the rotation, though I suspect to get him here we would need to overpay and he's not the type of player you want to overpay. So I would probably pass on these two free agents and either stick with what we've got, or try to move Nik and other assets to acquire veteran help.

 

[IfAt1st]

I find it hard to fathom how it's difficult to upgrade over "the worst SG tandem in the entire NBA."

Seriously - if Afflalo or Bellinelli isn't a clear upgrade, then why do it?
How can it be so hard to find an improvement over the worst SG's in the NBA?

Either that perception is wrong, or there is much less flexibility in acquiring talent than anyone is letting on....

(Personally, I'd be looking for defensive specialists)

 

[Iced Espresso]

The key with Lance is Landry out.

Stephenson has a team option after next season, Landry has a guaranteed 2 year deal. You could argue trading Landry then telling Lance to hang out at the beach and it would be a good deal.

Depends on what incentive they need if you ask me, what little sweetener as long as Landry packs his bags.

 

[ockingsfan]

The key with Lance is Landry out.

Stephenson has a team option after next season, Landry has a guaranteed 2 year deal. You could argue trading Landry then telling Lance to hang out at the beach and it would be a good deal.

Depends on what incentive they need if you ask me, what little sweetener as long as Landry packs his bags.

Mo Williams may leave in FA, so McCallum gives them a cheap backup point guard that still has some upside.

They were rumored to be interested in Sessions before they got Mo Williams, so I think McCallum is a viable sweetener to move Landry for Stephenson

 

[randymoss1881]

Yes if we trade for Lance he becomes our 6th man role best suited for him.
Nik/Landry should do id even throw in Ray.

 

[sdballer]

Not trading any assets for lance and nik is still young enough to be an asset