Can Season be Salvaged?

[QueensFan]

Before I start I just want to be clear: I am asking a serious question here so please don't spoil it for everyone by getting this thread closed with thoughtless trolling.

Earlier in the season, the question was when will a change be made, and will it be made to save this season or to build for next and beyond.

My question is, at this point, is it even possible to make a move that will salvage this season, and even if there is a chance, would we be better off writing this season off as a rebuilding year and making some moves for the future?

In other words, should we try a quick fix, such as firing Adelman or trading for a big unwieldy contract just to get some new blood, or do we start trading for draft picks that can't help save the season but could be more meaningful to revitalizing the franchise.

I suppose this thread is similar to threads about "what should the Kings do" but my underlying question here is "for now or later?" rather than "what do we do?"

 

[Bricklayer]

Can this season be salvaged...

Well...

1) To try to make the playoffs? Rapidly dwindling. And could be all but done a month from now. 13-20? If you are going to try to make the playoffs, you have to make a move in the very near future to turn things around. And not just a little bit. Playing .500 at this point would be turning it around. But doesn't let us sniff the playoffs. We need to turn it WAY around to make the playoffs at this point. We would have to go 32-17 from here on out to even reach 45-37 (the record of the #8 seed last year). That (32-17) is a 54 win pace.

2) to tear it down and rebuild? That of course can be done at our relative leisure. Hardly call that saving the season though. And even if that were the new goal, there are at least two guys (Bonzi + Peja) with ending contracts that must be dealt with before the deadline. If you're tearing it all down, letting guys walk away wihtout getting anything for them is a sore blow, and paying them big $$ to retain them in the summer an even bigger one.

 

[BMiller52]

Yeah, just need some changes and some wins. We have a few easy games coming up so maybe that can buy us time? Realistically it is possible to turn the season around and make the playoffs because the 8 seed(G-state) is 1 game above .500. But petrie has to act NOW and make some GOOD moves.

 

[CruzDude]

The season? tough question. Going 35-17 based on what has happened so far seems nigh on impossible. I think the main problem is Brad Miller. His defensive liability is grown to mountainous proportions as now every team, I mean every team concentrates on driving to the basket on the kings. Look at points in the paint, I think always in favor of the other team.

But the coach does not try a patience alternative, like using Skinner at the 5 and Brad at 4. Or using Skinner hardly at all.

But these are only parts of the overall problem. There are likely no fixes that will or can get 35 more wins for the kings this year. Getting Bonzi back and SAR back will at least present the chance to get on a track, not necessarily "back" on track as that wasn't going anywhere.

I don't think Coach is the issue anymore than Petrie is the issue. I think it is the players themselves and they, and only they, have to face up and be willing to make changes. Maybe Petrie is right, Patience may be better than Poison, it just will drive us nuts for awhile.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Salvage? I don't even know what you mean by that? Win it all? Make the play offs? Get the top draft pick? Trade up for more tallent? Clear room to go after top FAs?

 

[QueensFan]

Salvage? I don't even know what you mean by that? Win it all? Make the play offs? Get the top draft pick? Trade up for more tallent? Clear room to go after top FAs?

I simply mean turn this into a respectable season, whatever that means - to most I think it means making the playoffs. To me it would probably mean finishing above .500.

My feeling at this point is it's time to rebuild. I think Petrie had the right idea trading away Webber but only because I thought that meant the start of a rebuild - virtually everyone assumed that he had something else up his sleave and nothing has happened since...odd. Given what the Kings have done since, the Webber deal seems so uncharacteristic. My vote would be to seriously reconsider the nucleus of the team and start from there. I don't see us doing much with the nucleus that we've got.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Personaly I would much rather see the kings in compleet rebuild mode than see them try to "salvage" this season. The problem of course is that there are on LBJ's or Oakafers in this years draft, and the FA market is not great either so GP has to do what he used to do best... TRADE!

 

[Wuster]

Can this season be salvaged...

Well...

1) To try to make the playoffs? Rapidly dwindling. And could be all but done a month from now. 13-20? If you are going to try to make the playoffs, you have to make a move in the very near future to turn things around. And not just a little bit. Playing .500 at this point would be turning it around. But doesn't let us sniff the playoffs. We need to turn it WAY around to make the playoffs at this point. We would have to go 32-17 from here on out to even reach 45-37 (the record of the #8 seed last year). That (32-17) is a 54 win pace.

2) to tear it down and rebuild? That of course can be done at our relative leisure. Hardly call that saving the season though. And even if that were the new goal, there are at least two guys (Bonzi + Peja) with ending contracts that must be dealt with before the deadline. If you're tearing it all down, letting guys walk away wihtout getting anything for them is a sore blow, and paying them big $$ to retain them in the summer an even bigger one.

Nice assessment. I personally think this team will not make the playoffs and should not proceed with changes that have that as a goal in mind. Even if the team slips into #8 seed, they're a likely first round exit vs. San Antonio or whomever. Forget that. Concentrate long term and do what it takes to rebuild this team... which gets us squarely into Brick's #2 above.

 

[Warhawk]

Personaly I would much rather see the kings in compleet rebuild mode than see them try to "salvage" this season. The problem of course is that there are on LBJ's or Oakafers in this years draft, and the FA market is not great either so GP has to do what he used to do best... TRADE!

Agreed. The run is over. Start from scratch and plan on it being a several-year process, grow some young talent, and see where it goes.

 

[DaMan]

No, just rebuild.

 

[CreeksideBaller]

Think about it, what is the point of making the playoffs at all. Unless we rebuild and suddenly have a great team (which is unlikely), there is no point. We will just get murdered in the 1st round. It's better to begin completely rebuilding and get a good draft pick.

 

[kingsfan916]

rebuild

 

[BawLa]

Clearly we need to rebuild but how is the question. Do we strip down and start with a new foundation, or do we try to renovate.

IMO we start with a new foundation. Not necessarily a new coach, but a new franchise player. If there is a great or really good coach available then I think it should be evaluated but that time is definitely not now.

We need to make a trade for this player. (Someone in Minny is getting restless) Trying to build around a draft pick is a crapshoot unless if you have an obvious LeBron or someone of that nature. And even for that you need a top two first round pick. We are a bad team, but there are worse ones in the east. So our pick should be used in a trade: for a better pick or for a player.

The best thing I like about this team is its tradeability. I honestly think that we have a team and bench of "B" players. There are lots of teams that are going to want to dump major contracts or add talent to their existing squad.

I also think we should keep our younger players because their value in a trade is much less than thier potential.

 

[VF21]

At this point, as much as I would love to see Kevin Garnett on the Kings, I have to wonder...is HE the player any longer that you can build the future of your franchise around?

He's been in the league a long time now. How many good years does he have left? In order to get him, would the Kings have to do the same thing they did with Chris Webber? And would the end result be the same?

I just don't see us snagging a superstar at this point in time. So if we can't find one to build around, then I think we're looking at a long-term project. Unless we could get LeBron James here, of course.

 

[HndsmCelt]

While landing a superstar would of course be the prefered path, the rebuilding could also be done more realistically with a vetran who is a respected leader and the right complimentary players arround him (eg Detroit) The bad news for many "player fans" is that this will also necesitate trading away some beloved palyers and creates a real problem with Mike Bibby. Bibby has declared himself "The Man" and some one willhave to either trade him or tell him otherwise to make room for a leader who will matter.

 

[AriesMar27]

is there anyway we could trade for a underachieving young talent on a bad team.... the raptors have 2 really good bigs who could becom franchise players....

we could trade peja, corliss and bonzi to toronto for bosh, rose and some picks.... draft a real sf and start martin/garcia at sg.... they'll be ready by next year hopefully.... maybe send miller, skinner and peja for bosh, rose and calderon..... if we do that at the deadline we'd free up just as much "cap space" and have bosh.... then we can just draft or trade for whatever else we may need.... a center and small forward unless we resign bonzi and play him there with martin/garcia as the guard.... i dunno....

if we could somehow get rid of peja and miller for someone usefull that'd be nice...

 

[nbrans]

is there anyway we could trade for a underachieving young talent on a bad team.... the raptors have 2 really good bigs who could becom franchise players....

we could trade peja, corliss and bonzi to toronto for bosh, rose and some picks.... draft a real sf and start martin/garcia at sg.... they'll be ready by next year hopefully.... maybe send miller, skinner and peja for bosh, rose and calderon..... if we do that at the deadline we'd free up just as much "cap space" and have bosh.... then we can just draft or trade for whatever else we may need.... a center and small forward unless we resign bonzi and play him there with martin/garcia as the guard.... i dunno....

if we could somehow get rid of peja and miller for someone usefull that'd be nice...

It will be interesting to see how Toronto deals with its two promising power forwards, although I wouldn't give the keys to the franchise to Villanueva just yet. But I don't see any pressing reason for them to trade Bosh or Villanueva.

I think one target of opportunity is Atlanta since they have such a glut of talented small forwards and can't possibly keep them all. For the right price, I'm guessing that one or more of the Joe Johnson, Josh Childress, Josh Smith, Marvin Williams, Donta Smith and Al Harrington group could be had in a trade.

Other possibilities for young guys: Gadzuric, Nene, Watson, Chris Duhon, Ben Gordon, Drew Gooden, Pietrus, Wilcox...

And you have to wonder about Darko.

I won't mention anything specific so I don't get moved to the trade thread, this is just in the name of turning the season around!!

 

[Bricklayer]

I won't mention anything specific so I don't get moved to the trade thread, this is just in the name of turning the season around!!

Well, maybe not so much turning this season around, but turning around the franchise in the long run for future seasons.

 

[nbrans]

Well, maybe not so much truning this season around, but truning aorund the franchise in the long run for future seasons.

Quite right. Turning our morale around at least.

 

[Gary]

Can the season be salvaged? Not to the tune of a 1-6 playoff spot. We could grap 7-8 if we got lucky, but it's doubtful. We would need a change asap, which it does not look like it's going to happed because;

a) Petrie isn't getting what he wants for our fellas
b) Petrie does not want to pull the trigger until teams get desperate at the trade deadline, which is where we can get some expiring contrats, or some young talent.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Can the season be salvaged? Not to the tune of a 1-6 playoff spot. We could grap 7-8 if we got lucky, but it's doubtful. We would need a change asap, which it does not look like it's going to happed because;

a) Petrie isn't getting what he wants for our fellas
b) Petrie does not want to pull the trigger until teams get desperate at the trade deadline, which is where we can get some expiring contrats, or some young talent.

Given the pathetic performances of other WC teams sure a play off birth in the lower end is possible even with out personal changes. Given a solid trade that brings in new energy, it would not even be too surprising... but any trade that does NOT look towrd a compleet retooling could be one step forward and 2 steps back.

 

[kupman]

If by salvage you mean, make the playoffs, then of course the season can be salvaged. We are only a few games out. It is no time for quick moves. This team shows moments and even entire games of being very good. Has any thought that maybe all the pieces are actually here, the team is just very new and still needs to learn to play together well over an extended period? Maybe some moves are in order, but only when the time and move is right.

 

[thedofd]

As Rick Pitino said: "Larry Bird is NOT walking through that door..."

With C-Webb gone and not coming back, the one thing that could salvage the season for me would be the acquisition of an all-star; not a guy who is on the bubble, like Peja or Brad, or someone who everyone seems to think should make the team someday, like Mike, but a legit guy you can pretty much pencil in every year. Those guys are not easy to come by.

The best bet, in my mind, is Paul Pierce. Why? For one thing, he might be gettable. We all lust after Kevin Garnett, but I don't see a combination of Kings players that fetches him. The Celtics aren't close to being a factor in the East, but perhaps could be with additional players. For another, Pierce is a swing guy, and that versatility gives the Kings some room to maneuver, both in terms of how they line up and future/additional moves. I know there are some none-Pierce fans out there, but anyone who recovers from seven stab wounds to play NBA ball has to have some legitimate toughness.

The other thing I'd like to see is the acquisition of some more beef. For my money, Brad Miller is a power forward in a perfect world. If we could somehow acquire a couple of big guys -- they don't have to be stars, just tough and big enough to guard 5s -- the complexion of the defense could change dramatically.

The argument I've heard against that is "They won't fit into the offense." At this point, who gives a rip? Maybe it's time to change the offense, and if not, change the coach. Last night's game aside, I'm just tired of seeing the opposition gets dunks and layups at will.

Of course, to accomplish all that, you're going to have to give something up. I've made a modest proposal in the trade threat. Perhaps it's not exactly the right deal, but I think the Kings are at the point where some creative thinking is needed. At the very least, we can't let Peja walk away for nothing.

 

[Folsom Al]

... definition of SALVAGED = ???

Make the playoffs
Play .500 ball
Play competitively

... I'm sure I could think of a few more, but you get my idea

... too many ways to go, but I'll go with PLAY COMPETITIVELY

... and, I'd answer your question YES .... but, it's ALL UP TO THE KING's

 

[Gargamel]

Can this season be salvaged...

Well...

1) To try to make the playoffs? Rapidly dwindling. And could be all but done a month from now. 13-20?

Lakers of last year didn't go 7 games under .500 until April (73rd game). You're in a tough spot, Brick. I ain't gonna lie.

 

[troosvelt]

Perhaps the question is not can it be saved but should it be saved...

Normally this time of year I start posting my 'how we need to do to make #1' threads, but this year I am preparing the 'how we need to do to even make playoff' thread.

Given that even a great rest of the season would probably not result in more than a 7 or 8 seed, do we want to save the season ??

A low seed like that would likely mean first round exit.

On the other hand, a low season record could result in a good draft pick for next season.

Perhaps it's better to just give up on the season and focus on future ??

 

[ParniValjak]

At this point, as much as I would love to see Kevin Garnett on the Kings, I have to wonder...is HE the player any longer that you can build the future of your franchise around?

He's been in the league a long time now. How many good years does he have left? In order to get him, would the Kings have to do the same thing they did with Chris Webber? And would the end result be the same?

I just don't see us snagging a superstar at this point in time. So if we can't find one to build around, then I think we're looking at a long-term project. Unless we could get LeBron James here, of course.

I vote for Chris Bosh.

The kid is a stud that you can build around.

Chances of that happening: Big fat ZERO

 

[Bricklayer]

Perhaps the question is not can it be saved but should it be saved...

Normally this time of year I start posting my 'how we need to do to make #1' threads, but this year I am preparing the 'how we need to do to even make playoff' thread.

Given that even a great rest of the season would probably not result in more than a 7 or 8 seed, do we want to save the season ??

A low seed like that would likely mean first round exit.

On the other hand, a low season record could result in a good draft pick for next season.

Perhaps it's better to just give up on the season and focus on future ??

That is truly the issue now. "Saving" the season might actually be hurting the franchise. An exercise in petty vanity that keeps us wallowing. I am a season ticket holder. When/if it came time to buy playoff tickets this season, even if we could make it, would I bother? No hope. Just really a waste of everybody's time.

 

[VF21]

Especially if you think about who we'd face in the first round if we limped in at 8th seed.

Sorry, but I'd rather not go to the playoffs at all if the alternative is to face the Spurs. We simply aren't in their class any longer.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Which is maybe why it's a good thing that Petrie's not doing anything. It would only make us win games.

I'm half kidding really. All jokes aside, trading for some youth and letting the Kids play would save this season from worthlessness. Good luck in the lottery would too.