KingsFanSince85
All-Star
I just realized that with the additon of Chris Duarte, the KINGS now have 4 players from the 2021 draft class on their roster.
He can't stop smiling. I wouldn't either if I were him. Dude gets to come in and play his game and be productive while winning. And gets to look forward to a not so white Christmas!
this is what Sam Vecenie had to say about Chris when he was drafted
“Duarte is one of my favorites in this class and is destined to be selected lower than where I have him on my personal board. Everything he does is tailor-made for the next level. He’s a legit 40-plus-percent 3-point shooter who can handle the ball and has good scoring instincts. He’s a terrific team defender, smart and rarely makes poor decisions. He doesn’t necessarily have a ton of star upside because he isn’t quite a true playmaker due to his lack of passing. But what he does successfully is about perfect for slotting into a role early in his NBA career. The league is looking for shooters with wing size who also have ball skills and can defend. Duarte does all of that. I don’t care that he’ll be 24 before he ever plays in an NBA game because he’s going to be able to step in Day 1 and be a contributor in the right role for the right team. It wouldn’t stun me if we look up in a decade and see that Duarte is still around, helping teams win games. Maybe he won’t be the next Bradley Beal, but he has a good shot to make high eight-figures to low nine-figures playing hoops in the next 10 years.” – Vecenie
I’ve always liked Duarte’s game and like the price tag we got him for. He’s got a very well rounded game. I think it just comes down to where the minutes will come from (if they’ll come from anywhere at all)?
We do seem to have a very deep team at the moment, and wondering if we’ll be limiting minutes for some of our main guys to save them even more come playoff time. Wondering if it would shake out to be something like this…
PG - Fox (32) / Mitchell (16)
SG - Huerter (22) / Monk (26)
SF - Murray (26) / Duarte (16) / Huerter (6)
PF - Barnes (28) / Sasha (16) / Murray (4)
C - Sabonis (32) / Lyles (16)
Fox = 32 min
Sabonis = 32 min
Murray = 30 min
Huerter = 28 min
Barnes = 28 min
Monk = 26 min
Mitchell = 16 min
Duarte = 16 min
Sasha = 16 min
Lyles = 16 min
That would seem to save our guys and give them some fresh legs for the playoffs but then you got to weigh that with getting a good enough record in the regular season.
I’ve always liked Duarte’s game and like the price tag we got him for. He’s got a very well rounded game. I think it just comes down to where the minutes will come from (if they’ll come from anywhere at all)?
We do seem to have a very deep team at the moment, and wondering if we’ll be limiting minutes for some of our main guys to save them even more come playoff time. Wondering if it would shake out to be something like this…
PG - Fox (32) / Mitchell (16)
SG - Huerter (22) / Monk (26)
SF - Murray (26) / Duarte (16) / Huerter (6)
PF - Barnes (28) / Sasha (16) / Murray (4)
C - Sabonis (32) / Lyles (16)
Fox = 32 min
Sabonis = 32 min
Murray = 30 min
Huerter = 28 min
Barnes = 28 min
Monk = 26 min
Mitchell = 16 min
Duarte = 16 min
Sasha = 16 min
Lyles = 16 min
That would seem to save our guys and give them some fresh legs for the playoffs but then you got to weigh that with getting a good enough record in the regular season.
I’ve always liked Duarte’s game and like the price tag we got him for. He’s got a very well rounded game. I think it just comes down to where the minutes will come from (if they’ll come from anywhere at all)?
We do seem to have a very deep team at the moment, and wondering if we’ll be limiting minutes for some of our main guys to save them even more come playoff time. Wondering if it would shake out to be something like this…
PG - Fox (32) / Mitchell (16)
SG - Huerter (22) / Monk (26)
SF - Murray (26) / Duarte (16) / Huerter (6)
PF - Barnes (28) / Sasha (16) / Murray (4)
C - Sabonis (32) / Lyles (16)
Fox = 32 min
Sabonis = 32 min
Murray = 30 min
Huerter = 28 min
Barnes = 28 min
Monk = 26 min
Mitchell = 16 min
Duarte = 16 min
Sasha = 16 min
Lyles = 16 min
That would seem to save our guys and give them some fresh legs for the playoffs but then you got to weigh that with getting a good enough record in the regular season.
Last season we had our starting unit out there, then a lineup led by Domas, then a lineup led by Fox. I think it's possible, this year, to have a lineup led by Monk and co, which would afford Domas and Fox a little more rest.
Good breakdown, but I would try to shave a minute or 2 off of Fox and Sabonis (30-31 min/gm each) during the regular season to save them more for the playoffs.
I think the starters are going to be as you listed, but the closers for most games (especially tight ones) will be Fox/Monk/Murray/Sasha/Sabonis.
I think Murray makes the leap next season to bonafide future superstar. Also, Sasha will show ice in his veins and replace HB in the line up in the closing minutes of games. I also think Duarte will surprise and regain his form that he had his rookie year and will be a very valuable swingman in our rotation.
This team will be a legit 10 deep with some situational depth in Len, Edwards and Colby Jones off the bench.
Good breakdown, thanks.
I know we have a culture of anti - "load management", but I really hope that doesn't come at the cost of wearing our guys out. I know the injuries in the playoffs last year were to some extent "freak"... but I definitely noticed Fox dragging a bit towards the end of the season, especially after some big, long games (the Clippers battle for example). We're deep enough to spread minutes widely now - I hope that was part of the goal this offseason.
About the minutes as you've listed them - I think it's accurate as the season starts, but I would not be surprised in the least if the balance between HB and Sasha shifts more towards Sasha as the season progresses... and have it not disturb chemistry in the slightest (this makes Barnes even more valuable). I think Sasha is getting a minimum of 24 minutes a game by the All Star break.
I also see him getting some minutes possibly even at the 5 during some small ball lineups. He can rebound, after all. Very interested to see how he does that at the NBA level. He's not your typical soft Euro. I've been to Bulgaria, trust me. Bulgarians are more like Russian MMA fighters than Spanish matadors.
Both you and ockingsfan touched on this, but Brown needs to find a way to lighten Fox's load during the regular season. But in order to lower his minutes, we'll either need Davion to make a minor leap or for Malik to play more minutes at PG. I'd rather see the former because we know what Mitchell brings defensively. If he can be a more consistent outside shooter and add a bit more playmaking, it would be huge for the team.
I don't know about being too much of a step back, Duarte clearly has a physical advantage being taller and longer than TD. I think TD is officially 6'3"? He might not be a lot better but I think he should at least do an okay job.sounds like a good fit offensively. But with below average length and quickness may be step back from TD defensively.
I don't know about being too much of a step back, Duarte clearly has a physical advantage being taller and longer than TD. I think TD is officially 6'3"? He might not be a lot better but I think he should at least do an okay job.
But honestly, he ain't gonna be a savior so I'm happy if he becomes a regular rotation piece behind Barnes and Murray, we can surely use some capable wings on the bench. Low risk addition I always welcome.
sounds like a good fit offensively. But with below average length and quickness may be step back from TD defensively.
Duarte’s a really solid man-to-man defender who actually held his own guarding up against some forwards during his rookie season. He’s actually surprisingly bad in team defensive concepts.sounds like a good fit offensively. But with below average length and quickness may be step back from TD defensively.
I don't think Monte is looking for a TD replacement. He's looking for a low cost Huerter replacement in a couple years.
If you view the core of this team as Fox, Sabonis, and Murray (and personally I'd add Monk, but let's stick with those three) Fox will be up for a new deal the same year Murray will be a RFA coming off his rookie deal. At that same time Barnes and Huerter are free agents.
So you free up money from HB and K'Von to re-sign De'Aaron and Keegan but now you need lower cost replacements at the other forward and at SG.
I don't think Monte is looking for a TD replacement. He's looking for a low cost Huerter replacement in a couple years.
If you view the core of this team as Fox, Sabonis, and Murray (and personally I'd add Monk, but let's stick with those three) Fox will be up for a new deal the same year Murray will be a RFA coming off his rookie deal. At that same time Barnes and Huerter are free agents.
So you free up money from HB and K'Von to re-sign De'Aaron and Keegan but now you need lower cost replacements at the other forward and at SG.
Duarte’s a really solid man-to-man defender who actually held his own guarding up against some forwards during his rookie season. He’s actually surprisingly bad in team defensive concepts.
They actually said his close outs were kind of bad, and if there is one skill a player can learn at any point in their career, it is how to close out.well he didn’t look it in the scouting video someone posted as he gave up straight line drive after straight line drive. They said the opposite.
Duarte’s a really solid man-to-man defender who actually held his own guarding up against some forwards during his rookie season. He’s actually surprisingly bad in team defensive concepts.
Nope.sounds like a good fit offensively. But with below average length and quickness may be step back from TD defensively.