Dalembert Signing...with Houston!!

[KingsCitizen]

We made an offer but Sammy chose Houston....END OF STORY!

Now I wish Cousins would break lose and be the best Center in league.
Now I wish Hickson goes out there every night as a double double machine.
I even wish we bid for Thabeet and with some magic dust Thabeet realizes his potential here.

I'll root for the players we have as long as they play for the Kings because as fan this is all I can offer coz I can't bring the bikinis of Miami to Sacto nor the fame and bright lights of L.A. and N.Y.

We should see one or 2 more guys added to this team though. The roster is down to 13 and we're still under the cap.

 

[king4life89]

sammy said he was gonna sighn with us had fans happy and excited then he sighns w houston he ditchd the kings and there fans!!!!!!!!!personaly i dislike sammy for that hope cuzins or jt dunks on him hard!!!!!

 

[Spok22]

Manipulated and deceived – this is how I feel and what bothers me most about Dalembert during the last 24 hours! Is this what has become accepted as the normal way of doing business for NBA players seeking the best deal? Based on all the supportive comments from those who are saying they do not blame Dalembert for doing whatever was necessary to get the best deal possible in this thread, I have to say manipulation and deception has become accepted as normal. If all the rumors are true and if Dalembert and his agent deliberately manipulated and deceived Sacramento, including us (the fans), so he could gain what he wanted from Houston then I am extremely happy he is not a King! I would rather have much less talented player with integrity, or go without a player, than accept one who is dishonest and of questionable character! Good riddance Mr. Dalembert!

This.

 

[Uncia03]

As for what I would have done? Offered more to Daly. Done it much sooner, if we weren't going to go after a Chandler/Gasol/Nene/Jordan. But we didn't go after any shotblockers, and went after the short Chuck Hayes. I feel bad saying this due to Chucks condition, but I wasn't high on the signing, and even with the signing, didn't think we had shotblocking, or an intimidator inside. I thought all along not going after a taller, athletic defensive presence was a mistake, and I don't think our FO had any desire to go after that. All sign point to them wanting Chuck, and then being very happy with that frontline.

.....

Also what would contribute to us not agreeing, is that I would pay more for defensive center than I think you would. I'd overpay.

I'll start off by saying that I felt retaining a defensive-minded, shot-blocking presence next to Cousins, especially one who could be used to defend the more mobile PFs was the #1 priority of the front office.

At the moment we haven't secured that, and it's going to hurt us this year.

With that said, I now truly don't believe there is anything we could have done.
I was always hopeful that we'd be able to re-sign Dalembert and that re-signing him was our best chance of filling that hole on our team.

However, I think that what has gone on over the last few weeks has made it clear that Dalembert was never an option for us.

The thing is, the Kings FO are far more 'in the know' about what's going on with the players than we as fans are.
It's my guess that Dalembert basically made it clear to the FO that he wasn't interested in returning to the team. I also think that may be why they pulled the trigger on the Hickson trade, because they knew that if they struck out in free-agency, that they'd at least have acquired another big with potential.

I was disappointed when I heard the immediate interest, then the signing of Chuck Hayes, because (as mentioned earlier) I wanted a full pursuit of Dalembert.

But here is where the FO probably found themselves:
1.) Dalembert tells them that he isn't interested in re-signing with the team.
2.) Memphis & Clippers FO indicate that they are going to match any offer for Gasol/Jordan.
3.) Nene & Chandler are the top 2 FA and are planning on asking for 15mil+/year.

So with those things outlined, what are their choices?

They know they need a defensive player in the paint, and so they go hard after someone who is a good defender (though not the team defender we need) who also happens to be a very good passer and is a very hard worker and potential veteran leader and role model for the team and for Cousins.

They believe that Hayes is their absolute best option given the circumstances, and they get him right away. (Can you think of another FA better than Hayes that they could have targeted if the other 5 bigs were off the table? I can't.)

I'm not sure if they could have played it much better. I like the deal they made with Hayes a whole lot more than the Kwame Brown signing for 7mil+ by the Warriors.

I just don't know what other sort of options they realistically had, especially if they went into the off-season having a general idea of what the FA players were going to ask for, as well as having an idea of Dalembert's desire to return.


I agree that we still have a problem and unless Cousins/JT/JJ suddenly morph into great defensive-minded bigs, we are probably going to see a lot of points scored in the paint, and potentially lose a lot of close games that we could have won otherwise.

Maybe we'll pull off a great trade to bring in a guy who can help us. It's clear that the FO felt we needed interior defensive help, which is why they went after Hayes in the first place. So they know there is a need, and hopefully they can either find someone to fill the void, or coach our players up enough so that we can manage.

I'm going to give the FO some time to try and figure this thing out. If we are a bottom-feeding team with one of the worst defenses in the league by the all-star break, and if we make moves which don't help in that regard, then I'll be more inclined to be upset. Until then, I can wait a few months to see how this all is sorted out.

I will say, that I expect us to punish Houston when we play them. Dalembert was a teammate last season, and he basically ditched the team to take less money and go to another team that really isn't going to be that good.
I expect Cousins to really go hard at him, and I hope that he dominates in that match-up, because if I was a teammate, I'd be upset with Dalembert.

 

[Rookie]

I don't understand why people want to overpay Dally. Yeah we need the position filled but the guy doesn't want to be here and even took a little less somewhere else. IMO a guy that is only with the team just for the money isn't worth a dime. I think he will be more of a burden to Cousin's development than improving it...glad he's gone.

I hope our guys punked him when we meet.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

I don't understand why people want to overpay Dally. Yeah we need the position filled but the guy doesn't want to be here and even took a little less somewhere else. IMO a guy that is only with the team just for the money isn't worth a dime. I think he will be more of a burden to Cousin's development than improving it...glad he's gone.

I hope our guys punked him when we meet.

Pretty much echoes my sentiments as well.

I don’t think I can ever recall a time when Kings fans overrated a player more than they have with Dalembert.

I’d honestly would have rather had Chuck Hayes anyways. He was getting along with the team, everyone loved him, he was teaching Cousins, etc. And he actually was excited to be here! That was refreshing.

In contrast Dalembert isn’t a good locker room guy, isn’t a leader or teacher, pouts when he doesn’t get as much PT as he thinks he deserves, doesn’t want to play here anyways, etc. Good by and good riddance as far as I’m concerned. The sun will still rise in Sacramento without him.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Some thoughts on why maybe so many Kings fans think Dalembert was the key to the King's success. I wonder if people are reacting to teams like Boston having Perkins, Dallas having Chandler, etc. and thinking that because those teams won titles with those guys that you can just plug guys like them into any team and presto, you're a contender.

It would be great if it worked like that, but it doesn’t. Guys like Dalembert may put already great teams over the top but they don’t make bad or rebuilding teams suddenly good. The time to bring in a Dalembert type is when you’re winning 50 games, not 25. Paying him 30$ million over the next three years would have been largely a waste of money because the Kings won’t be contending for a championship in that window even with Dalembert.

Better to continue to develop Cousins/Evans/Thornton/Jimmer and let these guys learn how to win on their own. Save the money that would have been used to overpay Dalembert for a trade opportunity or for a free agent next year.

And most important, if you are going to overpay, at least do it for a Chandler or Hayes type who brings toughness and leadership.

 

[Kingster]

Well, he just didn't want to be here. It is interesting to me that the consensus on this board was that he was worth considerably more than $7 million. Apparently, the teams around the league didn't think so. Maybe that should tell us something.

So, now it's Cousins, Hickson, Thompson, Outlaw. Cousins is going to have to grow up in a hurry for this team to compete this year. I'm glad he's in better shape because his minutes on the floor are going to have to go up. He and the team can't afford his ticky-tack fouls. The training wheels are now officially off.

 

[Bricklayer]

Some thoughts on why maybe so many Kings fans think Dalembert was the key to the King's success. I wonder if people are reacting to teams like Boston having Perkins, Dallas having Chandler, etc. and thinking that because those teams won titles with those guys that you can just plug guys like them into any team and presto, you're a contender.

It would be great if it worked like that, but it doesn’t. Guys like Dalembert may put already great teams over the top but they don’t make bad or rebuilding teams suddenly good. The time to bring in a Dalembert type is when you’re winning 50 games, not 25. Paying him 30$ million over the next three years would have been largely a waste of money because the Kings won’t be contending for a championship in that window even with Dalembert.

Better to continue to develop Cousins/Evans/Thornton/Jimmer and let these guys learn how to win on their own. Save the money that would have been used to overpay Dalembert for a trade opportunity or for a free agent next year.

And most important, if you are going to overpay, at least do it for a Chandler or Hayes type who brings toughness and leadership.

You never get to 50 wins without having them in the first place. Last year every single 50+ team in the league had a significant shotblocker/interior roadblock on their team, although Joel Anthony is bad enough at everything else he should barely count. But you had the Bulls (Noah), Miami (Anthony), Boston (old J.O'Neal, Shaq, Perkins half year), Orlando (Dwight), Spurs (Duncan), Mavs (Chandler), Lakers (Bynum), OKC (Ibaka, Perkins half year), Denver (Birdman).

There's like this odd little secret that the Kings, one of the NBA's perennial losingest franchises, have never seemed to grasp. Meanwhile the winners restock on shotblockers decade after decade and kick our little wussy assses all over the gym season after season.

Cousins/Dalembert late last season WORKED. It was flat out potent as hell, even with Cousins tiring. We became a dominant rebounding team down the stretch of last season, our rotation was three 6'11" guys all of whom were rebounding fools and grabbed 27rebs/gm between them. Dalembert himself averaged 11.0pts 11.2rebs after the All Star break. We had it. And then we lost it. And that's a major blow to a young team.

 

[Bricklayer]

I'm glad he's in better shape because his minutes on the floor are going to have to go up. He and the team can't afford his ticky-tack fouls.

One of the huge issues wiht us taking a step back is noiw Cousins is going to be even more exposed to foul trouble. Nobody else but Whiteside, who is not ready, has any chance to block a shot at all, and so Cousins is going to be stuck trying to be that last line of defense, even if its not his natural game.

 

[sidney]

You never get to 50 wins without having them in the first place. Last year every single 50+ team in the league had a significant shotblocker/interior roadblock on their team, although Joel Anthony is bad enough at everything else he should barely count. But you had the Bulls (Noah), Miami (Anthony), Boston (old J.O'Neal, Shaq, Perkins half year), Orlando (Dwight), Spurs (Duncan), Mavs (Chandler), Lakers (Bynum), OKC (Ibaka, Perkins half year), Denver (Birdman).

There's like this odd little secret that the Kings, one of the NBA's perennial losingest franchises, have never seemed to grasp. Meanwhile the winners restock on shotblockers decade after decade our kick our little wussy assses all over the gym season after season.

Cousins/Dalembert late last season WORKED. It was flat out potent as hell, even with Cousins tiring. We became a dominant rebounding team down the stretch of last season, our rotation was three 6'11" guys all of whom were rebounding fools and grabbed 27rebs/gm between them. Dalembert himself averaged 11.0pts 11.2rebs after the All Star break. We had it. And then we lost it. And that's a major blow to young team.

As bad as it is to lose Sam, Petrie did actively trade FOR Dalembert, refused to trade him away despite interest at the deadline last year, made him the highest offer to resign this offseason, and in seeing that it wasn't going to work signed Hayes, a slightly younger defensive oriented big that wouldn't take shots away from Cousins/Evans/Thornton. So despite the bad result, there are signs that Petrie grasps some of what you are referring to and has been at least looking in the right places for complements to our young stars. The Crawford offer was the only real head scratcher during this FA period.

 

[Bricklayer]

As bad as it is to lose Sam, Petrie did actively trade FOR Dalembert, refused to trade him away despite interest at the deadline last year, made him the highest offer to resign this offseason, and in seeing that it wasn't going to work signed Hayes, a slightly younger defensive oriented big that wouldn't take shots away from Cousins/Evans/Thornton. So despite the bad result, there are signs that Petrie grasps some of what you are referring to and has been at least looking in the right places for complements to our young stars. The Crawford offer was the only real head scratcher during this FA period.

Yes, I am not fully onboard with the front office failing theory because of that. Then again, when its been 8 seasons since you were last even in the top half of the NBA in FG defense, when you successfully pcik up a whole swath of extra offensive players in Hickson, Jimmer and Salmons, and where you once again somehow strike out on the other side of the ball...there is a presumption running against you.

 

[TehSwimGuy]

Yeah. I mean, Jimmer, yes. Salmons...yes, but I mean eh. As good for offense as he and Hickson may be, I would have been happier with a strong defensive player/steals player and another defensive player/shotblocker.

Coupled with Evans, Thornton, Cousins, Jimmer? Dirty.

 

[IfAt1st]

Following up on something mentioned earlier (that there are rumors that Sammy might not be in good shape), I wonder -

Isn't it odd that Sammy only got around $7 million, when every other remotely-capable big man was thrown big money at this year?

What if he just let himself go? What if he's going to take a month or 2 to get into playing shape, IF he does?
Maybe the front offices around the league know what he weighs, and didn't offer him big $ because of it?

 

[Superman]

Following up on something mentioned earlier (that there are rumors that Sammy might not be in good shape), I wonder -

Isn't it odd that Sammy only got around $7 million, when every other remotely-capable big man was thrown big money at this year?

What if he just let himself go? What if he's going to take a month or 2 to get into playing shape, IF he does?
Maybe the front offices around the league know what he weighs, and didn't offer him big $ because of it?

I wonder, too. If Brendan Haywood can get five years, $55 million, how come Sammy can't get half of that? I don't get it. I figured we'd have to break the bank for Sam, which is why I figured we'd be shopping him at the deadline. I don't know what happened.

 

[Arkitect]

Simple. No one else had any more money to pay him or did not need interior defense. The reason those guys got so much money was because the team they were on either had to pay to keep them (RFA) or had just won a championship(Chandler). It is not like there was a huge bidding war where the teams under the cap were trying to bid against all the other teams under the cap. All of the big men with the exception of Chandler and now Dally resigned with their own team. The only teams who were ever going to pay for Dally were us and Houston.

 

[Rookie]

You never get to 50 wins without having them in the first place. Last year every single 50+ team in the league had a significant shotblocker/interior roadblock on their team, although Joel Anthony is bad enough at everything else he should barely count. But you had the Bulls (Noah), Miami (Anthony), Boston (old J.O'Neal, Shaq, Perkins half year), Orlando (Dwight), Spurs (Duncan), Mavs (Chandler), Lakers (Bynum), OKC (Ibaka, Perkins half year), Denver (Birdman).

There's like this odd little secret that the Kings, one of the NBA's perennial losingest franchises, have never seemed to grasp. Meanwhile the winners restock on shotblockers decade after decade and kick our little wussy assses all over the gym season after season.

Cousins/Dalembert late last season WORKED. It was flat out potent as hell, even with Cousins tiring. We became a dominant rebounding team down the stretch of last season, our rotation was three 6'11" guys all of whom were rebounding fools and grabbed 27rebs/gm between them. Dalembert himself averaged 11.0pts 11.2rebs after the All Star break. We had it. And then we lost it. And that's a major blow to a young team.

First I don't know if we can compare our situation to theirs. Those teams with/without the center you mentioned would most likely still be a playoff team..except Dwight and maybe Duncan because he is the glue to the team.

I agree that we need a player that you mentioned to compete at a higher level. However I'm not willing to pay for an overprice role player when our star hasn't shine. Unless the role player can be a mentor then it may be worth it but I don't see Dally as the mentoring type. You used the 11/11 Dally to show how well it worked for us but IMO Thornton was a bigger factor on our turn around. The double/double Dally could very well be influenced by a contract year. I doubt the guy can ever do that again but we'll soon see when he plays for Houston.

 

[Telemachus]

Simple. No one else had any more money to pay him or did not need interior defense. The reason those guys got so much money was because the team they were on either had to pay to keep them (RFA) or had just won a championship(Chandler). It is not like there was a huge bidding war where the teams under the cap were trying to bid against all the other teams under the cap. All of the big men with the exception of Chandler and now Dally resigned with their own team. The only teams who were ever going to pay for Dally were us and Houston.

What I noticed is that Sammy wasn't getting those offers when all the other FA big men were still unsigned. Houston was the only team that seemed remotely interested in him, and they didn't want to offer him big money.

 

[Tyndel]

Everyone says wait till your winning to overspend on a shot blocker to "put us over the top" but the problem with that is by the time we are winning we will be over the payroll cap that means we have to trade for one which means we would be taking our winning team breaking it up and trading pieces and then hoping it all still fits. The way the payroll works is its easier to pick up the expensive pieces you need while your stars are still not maxed and then you can go over for your bird players.

I don't think that Dally was the long term solution there but reality is we can't spend for a big man in 3 years we will have to trade for one.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Question for the Dalembert worshipers. If he's so great and such a difference maker, why did his teams in Philly have losing records nearly every year and never get past the first round despite him having guys like Iverson and Iguodala to play with?

 

[sdballer]

Question for the Dalembert worshipers. If he's so great and such a difference maker, why did his teams in Philly have losing records nearly every year and never get past the first round despite him having guys like Iverson and Iguodala to play with?

No one is claiming dally is a superstar. You can find dozens of valuable players that have played on bad teams. The point some of us are trying to make that you seem completely unable to grasp is that it's very difficult to be a good team without an interior presence. It doesn't mean having one triples your wins or turns bad talent into stars, but not having one makes taking that leap much more challenging.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

No one is claiming dally is a superstar. You can find dozens of valuable players that have played on bad teams. The point some of us are trying to make that you seem completely unable to grasp is that it's very difficult to be a good team without an interior presence. It doesn't mean having one triples your wins or turns bad talent into stars, but not having one makes taking that leap much more challenging.

I've said absolutely nothing that would indicate that I don't understand the importance of an interior presence. That's a weak response. And while people might not be saying he's a superstar, some are making it out like we're lottery bound without him and a playoff team with him. One poster went as far as to say that having Dalembert increases our wins by as many as 15, lol.

 

[sdballer]

I've said absolutely nothing that would indicate that I don't understand the importance of an interior presence. That's a weak response. And while people might not be saying he's a superstar, some are making it out like we're lottery bound without him and a playoff team with him. One poster went as far as to say that having Dalembert increases our wins by as many as 15, lol.

Are you f'ng kidding me? You haven't said anything to suggest that you don't understand the importance of an interior presence? I'm officially joining many others on these boards and ignoring you.

 

[RookieOfTheDay]

Are you f'ng kidding me? You haven't said anything to suggest that you don't understand the importance of an interior presence? I'm officially joining many others on these boards and ignoring you.

Gotta love when people tell you they're ignoring you as if it's some kind of punishment, lol. You're doing me a favor as far as I'm concerned...one less clown I gotta deal with.