Constructing a championship team with our current core.

iowamcnabb

iowamcnabb

Hall of Famer
I thought it might be fun to talk about how we can contend for a championship over the next 3-5 years. Sure we aren't even remotely close to being in the conversation now, but lets figure out how to get there. How many pieces do we have in place? One? Two? none? Who do we see being part of a deep playoff run?

There is no exact formula for a title contender of course, but we do have a general guideline. Aside from the Detroit squad, most winners have had a similar make up. Good coach, 2-3 star level players (one or more of which is a top ten player, role players who specialize in shooting, defense, rebounding etc and a solid bench.

Our Super Star

Swipa the Fox
In his second year he is already elite as a leader, playmaker, defender and pace. The areas of improvement are obvious; shooting, scoring, free throws. The only other question for Fox in my opinion is health. Guys who play like he does can end up with little injuries here and there. If he can hit 80 percent from the line, 40 from three and look for his own shot just a tad more he will be one of the top players in the league.

Our Second Star

Bagley
Yeh I'm of those dirty Doncic fans still. But hey, Bagley is a King and he still has the chance to be one of the top two players on this team. He is an elite athlete and has an elite motor. He seems like a nice young man, but he looks like he plans to eat your lunch before touching his own. He enters the game and before you blink he has 15 and 10. He seems to make one spectacular defensive play a game. As his minutes go up and he learns how to play, he has 22 and 12 written all over him.

Our Third Star

Buddy Geriatric Hield
Most of us need to eat several servings of crow. Even supporters like myself never saw this coming. He is the heart and soul of this team. He is already one of the best shooters in the league and he somehow finds a way to improve in all other facets of his game. Are we still stubborn enough to put a cap on his ability? Who knows how far he can go?

Our Coach
I think Dave is an elite coach (top twelve) The guy has a confidence about him as if he knows something we don't. They say he is an x&o magician and has a youthful energy to him

Our complimentary pieces

Bogie
This dude is made for playoff basketball. Straight up baller who has that silent competitive fire. The only concern with him is whether we can afford him when his contract is up. The Spurs would be one of many teams lining up for his services

WCS
Dirty name on this forum but he has improved every year, has a perfect complimentary offense and fits personality wise with the rest of the guys. Can he be re-signed at a reasonable rate?

TBD 3 and d small forward is something you hear over and over again here. JJ could be that guy or we might need a reasonable signing.

Giles is another guy who could be elite. He has a long long ways to go, but the natural ability is there.

Conclusion
If Fox and Bagley reach their potential, we get incremental improvements from our other young guys and we maintain solid depth, I believe we have a chance to win a championship with this core. This has not been true at any other time I've been a fan of the Kings (since the Richmond days) aside from the golden years.
 
the Kings first need to establish that they can make consecutive postseason appearances and hopefully that starts this season. If not, that's okay too but if they go down swinging and fighting and fall short, so be it. Next step is to test the Free Agency market out this summer with a lot of quality free agents up for grabs and the Kings have the money to pay them and if that doesn't become a successful approach, then a trade will have to be made. Maybe in the next season or two a star player becomes available and the Kings have the assets to get it done should the opportunity arise.
 
Make the playoffs for the next 4 postseasons which means Vlade keeps his job and than use Vlade to land Jokic (UFA than) where him/Fox/Bagley will all be entering or in the primes of there career while Buddy will still be running people off the court and Bogie should still have a couple quality seasons in him.
 
If Fox and Bagley reach their potential, that is two max contracts. Buddy is on pace to be a high priced third level star. We won't be able to bring in another 100 million dollar star. I guess maybe that's my point. Do we think a Fox/Bagley/Buddy core has the potential to get us to the top?
 
We have a very good backcourt right now and in two or three years they will be smart enough and experienced enough to take us far.

We also have about 3 players who will make great contributors to that conclusion WCS, Shumpert and Bogdanovic.

Bagley is the unknown as will he be a very good starter or the all star we all hope he becomes?

I believe we really need a all star small forward and not just a good fit player but someone who’s got it.
Also either a bruiser big or a scorer down low.

We all love the running we do and it will win many games but we have witnessed how weak we are inside not only on defense but can we really depend on the centers we have now.

We fix the front court and can pound it down in the paint when we need to the opponents will have no way to go.

Sometimes being all built for speed needs to be evened out.
 
A 3 and D SF who can slide to the 4, probably acquired via trade. JJ is an OK patch with some upside.

A rim protector, hopefully developed from within. Harry or Skal need to make the jump to rotation player.

Yogi is great, but a slight upgrade there would be nice too. Something about having a veteran point guard seems nice on a playoff roster.

Without attracting a big FA, the team still needs another surprise player to make a big jump. Like how BJax came out of nowhere. Maybe Bogi morphs into Manu, Skal has an epiphany, or JJ gets a mean streak.
 
I think if we do win with this core, Bagley will be playing the 3 on offense. I mean he kinda is already at times haha
 
Great post by the OP

Things you need to be a contender

1. True superstar player has to be a 2way player.
-We have that in fox he can lock down nearly every guard in crunch time. Now we just need him to perform in the playoffs which I have no doubt about.

2. 2nd Star this is a must for the next 2-3 year till GSW is finished. If not a 2nd Star than option 2 and 3 should be very good
- I think Buddy is that 2 player with his elite shooting and now not being a defensive liability. He can be in the mood of Klay I don’t think he has the handle to be a Bealbtype player but Buddy s elite.

3. A 3rd option
-I think this is where Bagley will fit in and get his points and have a relentless motor.

4. A good coach
-Dave Joerger is clearly a good coach although I had my doubts last year when we were playing ZBall basketball.

5. A great 6th man
-Bogi will be this for us he’ll be a top 6th man while running the 2nd unit

6. A good bench
-Starting with Bogie I think we have the makings of a good bench. We need JJ/Giles to keep developing than add Bjlecia to the mix.
 
DesertFox said:
A 3 and D SF who can slide to the 4, probably acquired via trade. JJ is an OK patch with some upside.

A rim protector, hopefully developed from within. Harry or Skal need to make the jump to rotation player.

Yogi is great, but a slight upgrade there would be nice too. Something about having a veteran point guard seems nice on a playoff roster.

Without attracting a big FA, the team still needs another surprise player to make a big jump. Like how BJax came out of nowhere. Maybe Bogi morphs into Manu, Skal has an epiphany, or JJ gets a mean streak.
Click to expand...

I'm hoping W. Gabriel can be that guy.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think this team could crack top 3 in the west, which would mean we'd be a championship contender, if we can find an elite 3 and D guy and we were able to see "good" WCS play 70+ games a season and Giles develops into someone that merits 20+ NBA minutes a night.

If all that happens, add 2-3 years of seasoning to Fox, Bogs, Bags, & Buddy and I think this team rivals the best of the early 00's teams.

Only problem is that aside from your superstar max level perennial all stars, those high level 3 and D guys are now the "throw huge money at anyone 6'10 or taller" guys from the olden days and the elite ones get to choose their destinies. I'm not sure how we get one.
 
This is how I see things shaping up, although I could be very wrong of course:

• Superstar

De’Aaron Fox —> Many All-Stars/All-NBA/All-Defensive teams. Top 10 player at his peak

• Perennial All-Star

Marvin Bagley —> Several All-Stars/few All-NBA teams. Top 15-20 player at his peak.

• Key pieces

Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanović —> Maybe 1 or 2 All-Stars. Top 30-40 player their peak.

• Role players

Harry Giles, Justin Jackson, Frank Mason future acquisition(s) —> Solid contributors, play within role. Contribute to winning culture with good attitude, good chemistry with the Fox/Bagley/Buddy/Bogie core.

————————————

Overall a very good position to be in. If I had to guess what the outlook is for that roster, I’d say about equal to or a little better than the early to mid 2010s Grizzlies (7 year Playoff streak, one Conference Finals appearance). Considering our streak of sucking, I’d love to see that.
 
The only guys that are not expendable in my opinion is Bagley, WCS, Fox, and BOGS. I think we could replace Hield and still have a decent team if Bogs moved to his spot and we had a FA or draft pick that could make up for some of Bogs bench production.
 
Bosnian Diehard said:
• Role players

Harry Giles, Justin Jackson, Frank Mason future acquisition(s) —> Solid contributors, play within role. Contribute to winning culture with good attitude, good chemistry with the Fox/Bagley/Buddy/Bogie core.
Click to expand...

I don't think any of those three are really needed on this team as role players. I was never high on Giles, although I would love to see him succeed. This would be the time to get a guy like Patrick Patterson (not him, but someone similar when he was on the Kings). There are better roleplayers than the three listed here.
 
Gary said:
I don't think any of those three are really needed on this team as role players. I was never high on Giles, although I would love to see him succeed. This would be the time to get a guy like Patrick Patterson (not him, but someone similar when he was on the Kings). There are better roleplayers than the three listed here.
Click to expand...

Patrick Patterson or someone like him? Dude... I mean, DUDE! Those players you are so quick to dismiss have been a lot better for the Kings than the coke machine.
 
Fox = Bibby + Christie (he's that good)
Buddy = Peja
Bogi = BoJax
Bagley = CWebb
Giles = Vlade

All this team needs is to find a Pollard and a Hedo and some fillers and they'll be set for the next 5 years
 
Lmaotsetung said:
Fox = Bibby + Christie (he's that good)
Buddy = Peja
Bogi = BoJax
Bagley = CWebb
Giles = Vlade

All this team needs is to find a Pollard and a Hedo and some fillers and they'll be set for the next 5 years
Click to expand...

Buddy>Peja. Better defender already (last few games anyway) and CLUTCH!
 
Gary said:
I don't think any of those three are really needed on this team as role players. I was never high on Giles, although I would love to see him succeed. This would be the time to get a guy like Patrick Patterson (not him, but someone similar when he was on the Kings). There are better roleplayers than the three listed here.
Click to expand...
If healthy, I am still pretty sold on Harry. I think he’s a core rotation guy starting next year (especially if WCS walks) and potentially in the staring 5 with MBIII.
 
Should warriors find s star injured for season, then things will be wide open in the west. If warriors were evened out some, this year would be the most parity in the league I've ever seen I think. Like that thought. That's a world the kings even have an outside shot at
 
Cojc said:
We have a very good backcourt right now and in two or three years they will be smart enough and experienced enough to take us far.

We also have about 3 players who will make great contributors to that conclusion WCS, Shumpert and Bogdanovic.

Bagley is the unknown as will he be a very good starter or the all star we all hope he becomes?

I believe we really need a all star small forward and not just a good fit player but someone who’s got it.
Also either a bruiser big or a scorer down low.

We all love the running we do and it will win many games but we have witnessed how weak we are inside not only on defense but can we really depend on the centers we have now.

We fix the front court and can pound it down in the paint when we need to the opponents will have no way to go.

Sometimes being all built for speed needs to be evened out.
Click to expand...
I hope Marvin will develop into rim protector and low post scorer.
 
Singhisking said:
Buddy>Peja. Better defender already (last few games anyway) and CLUTCH!
Click to expand...
Peja, Dirk stopper, Stojakovic was a way better defender then Buddy. He won Dalas series for the Kings by playing great defense on all their all stars. The only weak defender from that team was Bibby. At the same time he (Bibby) was so clutch. That team was great on offense and defense. The main weakness was that, aside from Bibby and Bobby Jackson to an extent, they were not clutch. That's the reason Bibby was so important.

I digress, Peja was very good defender. Buddy is a lot like Peja and he is improving. Buddy appears to be clutch, while Peja was not.

Actually, I don't like comparing this team with the old one. They are just different, and the style of play is different, game has changed a lot.
 
Its a little early to start talking about championships.
The Kings have managed to make it to a .500 record. That is a huge accomplishment. It makes good players more likely to consider coming here.
Team defense and rebounding need to improve next, expecially at the 4 and 5. Bagley will solve some of it.
 
I would only bank on a core of Fox, Hield and Bagley at this point. Everything is else is up for grabs. I think this team has a long ways to go before it's a finished product and that there will be some surprising trades before all is said and done.
 
We get two bites at the cherry here given the age of our core.

Buddy and Bogdan will be entering their peak shortly. You ride that wave as far as it can take you, if you can acquire a solid SF, with our roster theres no reason why we wouldnt be at the mid to top end of the west standings. We wont be contending but i do not believe we are that far off roster wise from basically being able to beat anyone on any given day. If the Warriors fall apart then id consider us to be a strong suitor to establish ourselves as a top 4 team in the West. People may scoff at that notion but end of the day it is no surprise to me that we are where we are now. I expected a strong upswing this season and a run at the playoffs and that is what we are getting. We are well on track with were we should be given how Vlade has constructed this team, the pieces we have and the systems Dave has instilled.

Wave 2 is the real deal. in 4-5 years when Fox and Bagley peak that is when we should be contending. At this point the most important aspect of this show is cap management and the contracts we have. Ideally you have Hield and Bogdan as contributors or you use them to acquire similar complementary pieces as need be to contend and fit around Bagley and Fox.

We really should be in the hunt for the next 10-15 years given the pieces we have now
 
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