Bibby Injury Could Change Everything

[supamari0]

Brooks is not being released. The only thing I can attribute that to is Amick all of a sudden going Sam Smith on us and writing articles about what he would wish will happen, not what will. Houston is rumored to be releasing John Lucas (scrub), Jackie Butler (INTERESTING -- he is a big center who was rumored to be one ofth epices we were trying to get back in the aborted Bibby trade thsi summer), Bobby Sura (essentially retired due to injury), and then they will have to release ONE more guy. I think they still have Novak, and I think Landry around as well. One of those guys will be the victim. Not their own #1 draft pick signed to a guaranteed deal. I mean, come on.

The player coming out of Houston most in danger of making an appearance at Arco might be none other than Steve Francis. Stevie screwed up this summer, blew off teams with real need (and money) to return to Houston, only to find that Rick Adelman has no place for a selfish fool at PG. He might be entierly out of the rotation, and is already grumbling about "something having to be done". Well, its not inconceivable that that something could be just releasing a potential cancer for them out onto the open market again. Clips might call once more, but they may also have moved on with Knight and Dickau. We have no money, but do have an obvious hole which might attract him. After Payton (wanting to come home and use us as a retirement home) and Boykins (still looking for money), Francis might be the biggest name who could hit the market.

It's not even a rumor. Butler and Lucas announced as players to be cut which brings the team down to 17. Sura will be cut which brings it down to 16. And either Justin Reed, Kirk Snyder, or Steve Novak will be cut, bringing the team down to 15.

And I agree totally with Francis. He came into camp out of shape, played poorly, doesn't fit into the offense, and isn't too happy. Sounds like Bonzi Wells part II. (Meanwhile the real bonzi wells is playing great )

 

[KingsCitizen]

I don't think Houston will waive any PG any time soon, especially knowing that one West team(Kings) badly need one. And when they decide to release one that could be January/before the trade deadline, which Bibby should be back. So Theus should think of better plays to unload some pressure on the PG spot. If bringing the ball up is not a strength for Douby/Green, then let Salmon/Martin/Miller do the job. Miller since he always plays the high post and has better court vision should be able to help a lot on this option. Although playing Miller always at high post will cost us some offensive rebounds, having Green at PG and posting him down low over weaker PGs ala Bonzi/Artest plays with Adelman or Douby slashing and getting more with the offense should be an added advantage .

On Offense:
C - Miller(will play high post and help set plays)/Watkins (post up)
PF - Moore(offensive rebound/provide screen) / Reef(post up)
F - Salmon(bring the ball up and slash) / KT (post up weaker SF - jump shots since he said he's got it back )
SG - Martin(main offensive option but should not bring the ball up since it tires him fast)/Cisco (bring the ball up when Salmon's is out - option for three)
PG - Green(post up weaker PG great)/Douby(perimeter/slash against slower PG)

On Defense:
C - Miller(rebound/get back on D first if at high post)/Watkins (defend faster/stronger bigs)
PF - Moore(defend fast bigs) / Reef(defend slower big/same with Miller since not so defensively gifted)
F - Salmon(Perimeter defense) / KT (perimeter defense but should hold on to his man since he should be slower at SF spot)
SG - Martin(perimeter defense)/Cisco (perimeter defense)
PG - Green(perimeter defense)/Douby(perimeter defense)

With Bibby out, were actually improving our defensive stand by putting Green/Douby at PG(both bigger and quicker than Bibby). So Theus' problem would just be on the offensive side. So better make new offensive plays fast.

 

[Rookie]

I'm all for letting young guys develop, but, if you talking about the pt position, there's no one on this team that going to develop into a pt of the future. And, so whats the point. Bringing in an experienced pt at this time isn't going to hinder the growth of anyone on this team, and, if Petrie can pull of a trade for a Brooks or someone of similiar ilk, then maybe we would have the beginning of a new look for the futrue.

You either want to develop the young players or you don't want to. No BUT about it.

I rather give the young guys all the playing time and let them, with their ambitious mind and hunger to compete, battle it out for the position. The coatch will be responsible for their development and skill not the "experienced" player.

8/10 "experienced" player will want their minutes for many reason other than trying to develop the Kings.

Hell even if Kobe want to be here I wouldnt take him. He alone will not get us a ring and in the long run will only train our young guys to pass the ball to HIM!

 

[mcsluggo]

What this means is that MIke Bibby's shot is now going to be screwed up for ANOTHER entire year...... he has just become officially untradble for anything of value.

 

[Smills91]

What this means is that MIke Bibby's shot is now going to be screwed up for ANOTHER entire year...... he has just become officially untradble for anything of value.

The injury is on his LEFT, NON-SHOOTING hand. He can still run, still shoot, still dribble(to his right). It's just he's unable to play to avoid further injury. He's probably out 6 or 7 weeks(Mike tends to come back from injury earlier).
I expect Mike back for Christmas time.

 

[Glenn]

I don't think you go into a season with one of the most important spots on the team not filled. I think we know enough about the players already here to know they are not going to develop into anything with halfway decent NBA quality.

Besides, leadership is one of the important pg roles and no youngster still trying to learn the position is going to be much of a leader. A veteran, whether his skills have eroded or not, is better than anything we have.

I also don't think we play to lose. That is a horrible dishonor to the people who pay big money to go to games. I wouldn't want to pay thousands of dollars on a team that was passively trying to lose to gain a better draft position. I have already paid thousands on a team that set records for futility. After awhile, you begin to wonder if there isn't a better place to invest that money - like the Sacramento Sirens or a good roller derby match.

Any veteran is better than what we have - didn't we once have a concern that we had no tested backup? Now we have nothing.

 

[Glenn]

The injury is on his LEFT, NON-SHOOTING hand. He can still run, still shoot, still dribble(to his right). It's just he's unable to play to avoid further injury. He's probably out 6 or 7 weeks(Mike tends to come back from injury earlier).
I expect Mike back for Christmas time.

As to this, back in ancient history, I had the opportunity to watch Lou Hudson play most of a college season with his right (shooting) hand in a soft cast. He averaged 17 points per game. He described the limitations as being in dribbling and rebounding and also said it would have been more difficult to shoot if it had been his left hand in the cast. Maybe you shooters can understand that 'cause I don't. He was NOT a pg so the dribbling limitation was not as big a deal.

I think I'll go along with the predictions of medical personnel as to when he might return. Bibby is still human.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

I also don't think we play to lose. That is a horrible dishonor to the people who pay big money to go to games. I wouldn't want to pay thousands of dollars on a team that was passively trying to lose to gain a better draft position. I have already paid thousands on a team that set records for futility...

I don't think that you should play to "lose," as such; I just think that you should get rid of all the veteran players that you know you aren't ever going to get anywhere with, and play to win with young and/or unproven talent, see how far it takes you, and try not to be too disappointed in the short term when it doesn't take you very far.

 

[nbrans]

Brooks is not being released. The only thing I can attribute that to is Amick all of a sudden going Sam Smith on us and writing articles about what he would wish will happen, not what will. Houston is rumored to be releasing John Lucas (scrub), Jackie Butler (INTERESTING -- he is a big center who was rumored to be one ofth epices we were trying to get back in the aborted Bibby trade thsi summer), Bobby Sura (essentially retired due to injury), and then they will have to release ONE more guy. I think they still have Novak, and I think Landry around as well. One of those guys will be the victim. Not their own #1 draft pick signed to a guaranteed deal. I mean, come on.

The player coming out of Houston most in danger of making an appearance at Arco might be none other than Steve Francis. Stevie screwed up this summer, blew off teams with real need (and money) to return to Houston, only to find that Rick Adelman has no place for a selfish fool at PG. He might be entierly out of the rotation, and is already grumbling about "something having to be done". Well, its not inconceivable that that something could be just releasing a potential cancer for them out onto the open market again. Clips might call once more, but they may also have moved on with Knight and Dickau. We have no money, but do have an obvious hole which might attract him. After Payton (wanting to come home and use us as a retirement home) and Boykins (still looking for money), Francis might be the biggest name who could hit the market.

Regarding the Butler thing, I initially was intrigued as well, but then I remembered that Butler's best strength is scoring, that he's not particularly athletic, isn't a shotblocker, and thus is pretty much like all the other centers we have. The only other attribute that he has is that he's a big wide body and is able to corral a few more rebounds, but especially given that he bounced out of two pretty decent places to thrive (SA and Houston both had backup center spots he could have grabbed) amid rumors about weight and work ethic, I doubt we're going to see Jackie Butler around these parts.

And I also agree that Brooks isn't going anywhere and the best Rockets castoff we could hope for via free agency is John Lucas III. Yay.

 

[jcassio]

I don't think you go into a season with one of the most important spots on the team not filled. I think we know enough about the players already here to know they are not going to develop into anything with halfway decent NBA quality.

Besides, leadership is one of the important pg roles and no youngster still trying to learn the position is going to be much of a leader. A veteran, whether his skills have eroded or not, is better than anything we have.

Disagree. But, of course, it depends on who the veteran is, doesn't it? If we were able to pick up someone who could give us quality minutes and leadership at PG, I'd have no problem with that. But bringing in a tired or mediocre veteran just because he's a veteran and putting him ahead of Greene & Douby undermines the whole idea of 'earning your minutes' - which then undermines the credibility of our new coach. If we out & out embarrass ourselves in the first 10 games, then I'd be more willing to go the FA route. Until then, I say give Greene & Douby the minutes and let's see what they can do. In the meantime, if you want to bring in Doug Christie as a player-coach, but without instantly putting him ahead of Greene & Douby, go for it. Just make sure Reggie's on board with that plan.

 

[fnordius]

Any veteran is better than what we have - didn't we once have a concern that we had no tested backup? Now we have nothing.

We now have Shakur, who probably won't make it, plus Douby, who seems unable to make any assists, but there's also Orien Greene. And let's face it, the alternatives are little better, if any better at all. If Boykins were willing to play a short contract for minimum, someone would have signed him months ago. Wilks would have been a slight upgrade, but he signed a contract the other day. We could probably get a 39 year old vet who has wound down his career to the 22 minutes, 5 points per game level. His rep in the locker room has been good lately, although he is still remembered as a relentless trash talker, the holder of the NBA's #2 record for the most technical fouls in a career, and for having a Kobe-sized ego. And he, unfortunately, is quite a bit better than the few remaining alternatives, none of whom have any real edge over Greene.

So we can get 4-5 points and 3-4 assists in 20 minutes per game out of Payton, a very unspecial level of contribution, in the hope that he is a good mentor, but... mentor to whom? Greene probably won't be around long, Shakur may not be around next week, and Douby has yet to show that he will ever be a PG; it's hard to see how we'd get much back on that investment. And we'd still be playing Greene + whoever for 25-30 minutes per game. It might make the difference between a 28-win season and a 32-win season, but it's not going to convince ticketholders that they're watching a team that's in contention for anything better than the 8th draft pick.

 

[VF21]

I don't think you go into a season with one of the most important spots on the team not filled. I think we know enough about the players already here to know they are not going to develop into anything with halfway decent NBA quality.

Besides, leadership is one of the important pg roles and no youngster still trying to learn the position is going to be much of a leader. A veteran, whether his skills have eroded or not, is better than anything we have.

I also don't think we play to lose. That is a horrible dishonor to the people who pay big money to go to games. I wouldn't want to pay thousands of dollars on a team that was passively trying to lose to gain a better draft position. I have already paid thousands on a team that set records for futility. After awhile, you begin to wonder if there isn't a better place to invest that money - like the Sacramento Sirens or a good roller derby match.

Any veteran is better than what we have - didn't we once have a concern that we had no tested backup? Now we have nothing.

You and I are on the same page. Unfortunately, I'm fully aware there are others who aren't even reading the same book.

There has to be some kind of way to keep fans coming to the games while trying to retool for the future of the franchise. I just hope someone is able to find it.

 

[Gary]

Why on earth would the Maloofs want to spend more money on a team which is going nowhere this year.

I would (as a fan) rather see the young guys get some time, and see where it goes.

 

[jcassio]

There has to be some kind of way to keep fans coming to the games while trying to retool for the future of the franchise. I just hope someone is able to find it.

For what it's worth, I don't subscribe to the notion of blowing it all up and starting from scratch in order to - someday - be really good. I guess this disagreement just reflects the different natures we see in people. The other extreme seems to be the fans who want to hold onto what they've got - no matter how bad it is. It's not unlike the different approaches we take in personal relationships, eh?

 

[Jerryaki]

Why on earth would the Maloofs want to spend more money on a team which is going nowhere this year.

I would (as a fan) rather see the young guys get some time, and see where it goes.

i would like to see salmons at the point, since i picked him up for my fantasy team in the 14th round.

 

[GoGoGadget]

You and I are on the same page. Unfortunately, I'm fully aware there are others who aren't even reading the same book.

There has to be some kind of way to keep fans coming to the games while trying to retool for the future of the franchise. I just hope someone is able to find it.

I still think it depends on which fans you're trying to appeal to.

Fairweather fans who want to see the team win and don't need real loyalty to the franchise to justify dropping money on tickets and merchandise? Sure. Focus on winning now. But that core group of fans, the ones that are loyal to the franchise for reasons other than proximity and a five-year-old almost championship, are going to reach a point where the quick fixes and and refusal to rebuild gets too tiresome to tolerate. And, as I've said before, those are the fans that don't come back when the winning starts up again.

Yes, I realize that the arena drama is an important consideration, but it can't be the only one. There comes a point where you really have to wonder how important it is to jump through hoops in order to accommodate a fanbase that's so willing to watch you walk away. If everyone in Sacramento, even fans, were really that dedicated to seeing the team stay, something would have been worked out by now.





Disclaimer: I am in no way comparing any posters here to either of the types of fans I mentioned in my post, nor am I suggesting that one type is better or more valuable than the other. I have no interest in revisiting that tiresome conversation.