David Lee

[Iced Espresso]

Some Warrior fans are concerned with the cap next season, and Lee expires.

He has a hefty massive contract, but maybe this is how we can get out of the Landry contract.

Sacramento out Landry & Thompson
In Lee

Warriors out Lee
In Landry, Felton, 2016 2nd from Memphis

Dallas out Felton, 2016 2nd from Memphis
In Thompson

Lee contract $15,493,680
Thompson $6,431,250 $6,825,000
Landry $6,500,000 $6,500,000

So we'd add about 2.5 million next season, but be done with Landry's multi year deal.

I think it would be interesting to see Cousins play with a skilled man like Lee, if it works out, he'd be much cheaper to retain, and if not, lots of spending money to reinvest after next season.

 

[Bricklayer]

After obviously noting he's (probably, if he still has it) a major talent upgrade and the useful salary dumping, we move on to this: slmost a worst case scenario to put between Cousins and Gay. Stuck between 2 20pt scorers, that positions has complimentary roleplayer written all over it.

 

[Gilles]

This deal leaves Kings without cap space, so they will have to do with MLE-level FA. And it's a lottery team from West with wacky management, that is offering MLE - no big is going to take this kind of money, and the best FA you can get is probably someone like Belinelli. You can re-sign Evans, Williams and Hollins, though, right?
Thompson is better than Lee for a team with Cousins, Gay starting anyway. At this point of his career Lee is an off the bench scorer for a team with defensive-minded reserves. Trading for him is a perfect way to sabotage the season, before it begins.

 

[Iced Espresso]

I guess it depends on what you expect next season for starters. I don't expect a great deal. But that's both contracts gone a season later. What has Landry really done anyway? Let me ask you this Gilles, would you feel better a season later without any obligation at all to both Thompson and Landry? I would.

I'd like to hear how you'd better spend the extra 2.5 million instead.

 

[Iced Espresso]

After obviously noting he's (probably, if he still has it) a major talent upgrade and the useful salary dumping, we move on to this: slmost a worst case scenario to put between Cousins and Gay. Stuck between 2 20pt scorers, that positions has complimentary roleplayer written all over it.

I'm not expecting contention next season, so I see this is a gamble on something that could work, while assuring us better flexibility later.

 

[King Baller]

We probably need to look at Lee's shot chart to determine how his spots on the floor fit in with Rudy and DeMarcus. I agree with Brick that as a starting front line there may not be enough shots to go around. On the other hand I am not totally opposed to the idea of trying out Lee and unloading the Landry contract. I do think JT will be sorely missed if his ability to defend the better 4/5's is not replaced.

That said the Kings really need a player like Ibaka or Draymond Green. A top flight defensive stopper to play between Cousins and Gay. This player is what many of us hope Willie Cauley Stein becomes if the Kings can draft him. The Kings also need a wing defender IMO.

Can you imagine a starting five of Collison, Jimmy Butler, Gay, Joakim Noah and Cousins? IMO if you plug in good solid defenders into the 2 and 4 spot the Kings are playing in the Western Conference Finals in two season.

I realize Butler and Noah would be hard to obtain. So the Kings may have to settle for Wes Matthews and WCS or some other pair to shore up the starting five. after that all you need are this era's version of Bobby Jackson and Scot Pollard for the bench. One of McLemore, McCallum or Staukas MIGHT be that guy. I would try to get a Plumlee to play bench Big.

So back to Lee, Meh, probably not. But if you can move Landry you think about it. Maybe use Lee as Sixth man.........HHHmmmmm

 

[Gilles]

I guess it depends on what you expect next season for starters. I don't expect a great deal. But that's both contracts gone a season later. What has Landry really done anyway? Let me ask you this Gilles, would you feel better a season later without any obligation at all to both Thompson and Landry? I would.

I'd like to hear how you'd better spend the extra 2.5 million instead.

You will have to play Lee as your starting forward, and rely either on a rookie or one from current collection of bench bigs to be you third big off the bench, cause this trade kills all your financial flexibility for upcoming season. That rotation of bigs is a certainty to lead to another 30, maybe 35, win season. How would DMC feel about that? That's what makes it a non-starter.

Kings need a starting PF and solid SG on top of what they already have, not instead.

 

[Iced Espresso]

The way I'm looking at it for now, is one more season of development for the younger guys including this pick, and if we want to a season later 10 million or more to invest into a long term solution somewhere after next season.

But like you said Baller if we can get Landry out of here, it is worth investigating IMO.

Lee is also on a contract year, so he'd likely give us everything he has too.

If we end up drafting a 4 or 5, I think this deal makes even more sense as they will likely ideally become the cheaper long term solution and we reorganize our spending power.

Sad that Landry's contract is that bad, but it is. Would have to take a much worse expiring to even entertain moving him.

 

[Iced Espresso]

You will have to play Lee as your starting forward, and rely either on a rookie or one from current collection of bench bigs to be you third big off the bench, cause this trade kills all your financial flexibility for upcoming season. That rotation of bigs is a certainty to lead to another 30, maybe 35, win season. How would DMC feel about that? That's what makes it a non-starter.

Kings need a starting PF and solid SG on top of what they already have, not instead.

Ok so you think we can make some noise then next season?

I'm not so sure, I do not think we will even reach the playoffs. Not just that, but I don't see any potential long term fix with what he have taking our space right now. This is like chemo, a year later we can invest correctly. I mean do you really think we can make a solid push next year with our cap space?

Because if not, I think we'd be a hell of a lot better off 1 season later.

 

[Gilles]

In 2016 there will be a massive amount of free money, so everybody will get paid and still go, where they want. No quality vet is going to sign for a team, that will have to start a rebuilding process in a year.
It's much better to offer to Bulls to remove the rest of the protection on the pick and throw in another pick for Taj and offer Portland Nik to facilitate overpaying to Afflalo than go with Lee trade.

Lee doesn't work next to Boogie and Rudy anyway. He's a skillful scorer around the rim, who can hit shots from outside. It's "can hit", not "shoots well".

 

[Iced Espresso]

I'm not sure how we are rebuilding by eliminating the Thompson/Landry contracts. It looks like you believe somehow magically we can keep both of those guys around and will ourselves into the playoffs or something. Lee could be a corpse that never played a single minute and I at least consider this deal btw.

I'd like to know though how you are going to use the 2.5 million extra next season however to make a push.

I see next to no options, nothing worth long term investment dollars.

Affalo is on the decline, his contract will be inflated after next season, and he'd want at least a three year deal.

Taj is really a win now piece, seems short sighted to dump youth for him considering we are at least another season or two away if you ask me as well.

Can you think of another way of getting rid of Landry without dumping a asset?

 

[Big Cuz 15]

we need to showcase landry for next years trade deadline to a contender or team that has a big injured and trying to make the playoff push. that is really one of the few scenarios i think we might be able move him w/o bleeding assets. how the hell do we keep giving away stuff and getting crap in return. smh

 

[Iced Espresso]

I really think we need to look in the mirror here, see what we have. And it is not much sadly.

Our young fellas need more time, thankfully Cousins has 3 years left on his contract, Rudy still has 2 years before his player option, and Collison is on the cheap for two more years.

Now you can try with everything you have to push next season, if you can even lure anything respectful this way that is, or give up some youth and "try".

Maybe I'm wrong though, maybe putting all the marbles in to dream about the 8th seed is what matters?

I think we need a home run in this draft, consolidate purchasing power for when we are ready which ideally will be after next season with little attachments heading into that season, and maybe keep that top 10 protected pick for next season too.

Big Cuz, I think Landry could be moved to a playoff team after the cap increases near the deadline in his last year of that contract. But that really does not get us anywhere, because we'd start the season with him and still not be as likely to improve our situation.

But I'm all ears, if somehow, or some way someone can get us what we need with our little cap room, few assets, and make a push let me know, I'd really like to believe we can do it.

 

[Iced Espresso]

I guess I'd like to water the garden, pull a couple weeds, and patiently wait one more year and then go for it with all we have.

 

[206Fan]

I'm not sure how we are rebuilding by eliminating the Thompson/Landry contracts. It looks like you believe somehow magically we can keep both of those guys around and will ourselves into the playoffs or something. Lee could be a corpse that never played a single minute and I at least consider this deal btw.

I'd like to know though how you are going to use the 2.5 million extra next season however to make a push.

I see next to no options, nothing worth long term investment dollars.

Affalo is on the decline, his contract will be inflated after next season, and he'd want at least a three year deal.

Taj is really a win now piece, seems short sighted to dump youth for him considering we are at least another season or two away if you ask me as well.

Can you think of another way of getting rid of Landry without dumping a asset?

You're suffering this years cap for Lee. Not to mention we won't have a legit backup PF. And we still didn't fix any defensive problems next to Cuz.

We are not going to throw away JT because of Landry. After this year,Landry's contract won't even be all that bad when the cap goes up. It's the same essential thing with or without David Lee.

You're talking about another year of rebuilding and that depresses me.

Landry's contract hurts us this offseason, not next. If anything, you should be trying to clear cap space, not gain.

Here's an interesting idea: what if Cleveland doesn't want to pay TT over 10million and the Kings were willing to do 11?

Trading for David Lee would be terrible.

 

[Iced Espresso]

Trading for Lee is terrible if you believe you can make a playoff push next year. I don't think we can. Now if you can convince me with a reasonable plan with our limited cap room that gives us some long term assets I'm all ears.

But if you cannot, long term we are better off developing youth and eliminating baggage.

I didn't create the mess we have here, I'm simply arguing to cut the losses now and develop fully rather than a half ass attempt at a 8th seed.

 

[Gilles]

After Vlade promised, that he gets Boogie help, this kind of off-season will not be met with understanding by certain individuals, plus Vivek doesn't want to bring 30-win team into new building for financial reasons. That's all you need to know to realize, that "flexibility" and "eliminating baggage" will be the last thing on FO's collective mind this off-season.

 

[bajaden]

Trading for Lee is terrible if you believe you can make a playoff push next year. I don't think we can. Now if you can convince me with a reasonable plan with our limited cap room that gives us some long term assets I'm all ears.

But if you cannot, long term we are better off developing youth and eliminating baggage.

I didn't create the mess we have here, I'm simply arguing to cut the losses now and develop fully rather than a half ass attempt at a 8th seed.

I guess the question would be, if trading for Lee has nothing to do with improving the team and being competitive for the final playoff spot, and keeping both Landry and JT insures, in your mind, that we won't be able to compete for the final playoff spot, then what's the point of the trade. After this next season JT's contract is only guaranteed 2 mil and easily moved, and with the cap going up, we'll have a lot of room under the cap. This seems like a move just for the sake of a move, that actually weakens us in the short term, and costs us more money under the cap in the short term.

 

[Iced Espresso]

I guess the question would be, if trading for Lee has nothing to do with improving the team and being competitive for the final playoff spot, and keeping both Landry and JT insures, in your mind, that we won't be able to compete for the final playoff spot, then what's the point of the trade. After this next season JT's contract is only guaranteed 2 mil and easily moved, and with the cap going up, we'll have a lot of room under the cap. This seems like a move just for the sake of a move, that actually weakens us in the short term, and costs us more money under the cap in the short term.

That's over 9 million off the books in 2016-2017. JT's contracts is guaranteed for 2.65 million. It allows you to have a decent shot at keeping the pick owed to Chicago as well.

So in theory you could keep Thompson and Landry for over 13 million that season, or buy out Thompson and still pay over 9.

So you tell me, if I do not believe we are going to be ready next season, why would I not want to take the opportunity to get rid of those contracts?

Not only that, most likely any further roster additions that will be suggested will also have more of a cap hit, it could easily become 15 million or more in junk contracts if you guys press hard.

This leaves your slate clean and allows you to probably keep the pick.

 

[Gilles]

It also gives you a lot of assets from Boston and whatever you can flip Rudy and Darren for.

 

[Iced Espresso]

Like I said though, if it can be done, let's do it. Show me we can add some long term viability with what we have, with what we have to spend.

 

[Gilles]

Kings have

• removing completely protection from 2016 pick
  
• conveyance of previous asset opens access to 3 more picks
• Nik Stauskas is still a valuable asset for a team, willing to wait and develop
  
• $9 million in cap space, that can be easily expanded to $13 million
• Despite my strong preference for a certain player, who will surely be available at that selection, #6 should be mentioned here as well

Given, that team is committed to fighting for POs, shrewd management would try to sell the first asset no matter what. Assets from point #2 also might have higher value to outsider at the moment, than expected by Kings.
To me that looks like a good collection of assets to find two solid role players and 1-2 low cost vets to beef up defense/bench play.

 

[c-webb1s#1]

Well if Lee would come off the bench that would be a huge boost to our depth! I would much rather have JT or someone else defending the best bigs in the west

 

[Iced Espresso]

Kings have

• removing completely protection from 2016 pick
  
• conveyance of previous asset opens access to 3 more picks
• Nik Stauskas is still a valuable asset for a team, willing to wait and develop
  
• $9 million in cap space, that can be easily expanded to $13 million
• Despite my strong preference for a certain player, who will surely be available at that selection, #6 should be mentioned here as well

Given, that team is committed to fighting for POs, shrewd management would try to sell the first asset no matter what. Assets from point #2 also might have higher value to outsider at the moment, than expected by Kings.
To me that looks like a good collection of assets to find two solid role players and 1-2 low cost vets to beef up defense/bench play.

This is what scares me.

Thompson's 2.65 million guarantee is just enough to keep him around because anyone decent to replace him with is still going to cost the salary savings you get or more.

So we're pretty much stuck at that 13 million investment in 16-17.

Let's say we were to chase someone decent, but no one special and it costs us 6-7 million.

Now that's 19-20 million invested in 16-17 and no one is really good between Thompson/Landry/Mystery addition.

And then the team plays well enough to lose the pick.

The only thing we'd be able to get from Chicago would be Taj, and he's 30. Which is fine if you plan on contending in 2-3 years, but that gamble is too big for me, I'd like someone younger.

What can we really get for Stauskas? Certainly not much unless someone was doing a full rebuild and wanted out of a higher paid contract so they could rebuild themselves. We are probably better off developing him and praying he shows some improvement.

Lots and lots of what ifs, I'm offering you a way to keep your youth, keep our pick, and having a 100% clean slate in 1 year.

The core of Rudy, Cousins, Collison still together.

Another season for Ben and Nik to develop. Plenty of opportunity for our new draft pick, and likely keep the following years pick.

With a whole lot of spending power to find that worthy player who is likely to make more than 10 million himself, and room with the cap increases to fill out a decent bench.