rhythmless
Starter
Where is it?
With some proper losing, we could get into a top 3 draft spot.
With some proper losing, we could get into a top 3 draft spot.
Draft Position Thread
- Thread starter rhythmless
- Start date
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Hard to argue for playing that game this year with every win helping in some small way to keep the team in town. Kings are somewhere in the 5-10 scrum, and frankly for the third year in a row I'm going to be advocating trading the damn thing, and not for John Salmons. Time to get the right pieces around Reke and Cuz, not another kid trying to figure it out.
Glenn
Hall of Famer
In the 5-10 spot there is little guarantess of getting any skill and with our schedule with a lot of home games, I say play to win. We'll win a few anyway. I don't want the pick for the same reason brickmeister said and a trade should get a decent PROVEN role player. I also think we are overloaded with youth and the time to teach a guy how to play NBA basketball is over. TRob was a distraction in my opinion. Let's move on as a team.
Kingsfan23
All-Star
Problem is, the black cloud over this organization which effects draft choices, free agent signings, trades, ownership, potential relocation etc, has also continually effected our drafting position. Why does it seem we always end up in the lottery choosing no better/or worse than our projected slot?
rhythmless
Starter
How do wins help keep the team here?
There are a few pieces that are right for us, imo. While there are no superstars here, there are players that fit well in some respects our centerpieces.
Smart seems to have the natural leadership that we desperately need.
Noel is a great fit next to DMC as the high flying weakside shot blocker and vertical interior presence. He doesn't need the ball much.
Porter will be a nice fit, with length and versatility at the SF spot.
A top pick is just another asset for a good coach to be intrigued by. I would think these things would all make Sac-town a fairly desirable coaching gig:
Possible Top 5 pick (currently 5th in the standings)
Plethora of young talent signed on reasonable contracts (Cousins, Patterson, IT, JT, Thornton, Jimmer)
$18 mil in cap space if we let Reke walk
A new ownership group that is ready and willing to do what it takes to put a winner on the court.
Basically a new coach/GM can come in and immediately change the team identity to whatever they want. If that doesn't attract the big boys (JVG, McMillan, Sloan, etc), then I don't know what will
Possible Top 5 pick (currently 5th in the standings)
Plethora of young talent signed on reasonable contracts (Cousins, Patterson, IT, JT, Thornton, Jimmer)
$18 mil in cap space if we let Reke walk
A new ownership group that is ready and willing to do what it takes to put a winner on the court.
Basically a new coach/GM can come in and immediately change the team identity to whatever they want. If that doesn't attract the big boys (JVG, McMillan, Sloan, etc), then I don't know what will
I can't speak for anyone else, but the results of our last two drafts have pretty much killed any enthusiasm I had for tracking our draft position mid-season. Maybe the next regime will be different, who knows. As for the draft itself, I would be excited about having a top 5 pick assuming someone were put in charge who knew what to do with it. I have my favorites this year just like every year and I would be quite happy to slot Noel, McLemore, Oladipo,or Porter into our rotation and pick up an extra pick somewhere along the way. This year reminds me of 2011 where there was no standout star (Kyrie Irving obviously has since become one) but there are some hidden gems throughout the first round. There'll be plenty of time to worry about that when the season's over though.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Wins help keep the team here by a) muting the failed debacle/let's clear out that rotten nest instinct amongst those who control your fate, and by giving reasons for the fans to show, and the ones there to make noise/potentially take a larger interest in the arean efforts. teh worse this franchise fails, the harder it gets for evrybody trying to save the team, from the top to the bottom.
And picks are just picks. We scored twice in a row, blew the next 2 and now are in danger of losing the two we scored on because we have stayed int he pcik zone too long. That's Clippersville there. Or old Kingsville. You dive down, score, climb up, not sit and wallow. We are well and good into the gotta be climbing time now.
kennadog
Dog On It!
I agree with Brick. We need to generate fans in seats and fans that are engaged/interested/loud. It may make only a small difference, but I want every single positive Sacramento can generate going into the BoG vote. I want those owners to be reminded of what Sacramento has been and can be in the future. Draft position won't matter much to me, if its the Seattle Sonics doing the drafting.
ParniValjak
All-Star
I am intrigued by Nerlens Noel as the shotblocker/rebounder/defender next to Cousins but even if we had a chance to get him, I would still strongly consider trading the pick for the right piece as I have been in the last 2 years. How much better off would we have been if we traded pick 5 for Lowry last year!
Fans in the seats is most important because it's the only thing fans can do from this point in time.
New ownership brings good executive talent and coaching, I don't think change of scenery will be a factor for Evans or Cousins.
P.S. Turning back to the thread topic, Wizards and Cavs seem to be on the upswing that should leave them out of bottom-5 finish, while Charlotte and Orlando look like they have 30-29 placings set in stone(hey, that's 2 Kings' latest wins). That leaves Wolves (in freefall, but expect Pekovic and Kirilenko back soon), Phoenix (have rookie coach, who tries to establish himself) and Pelicans along with Kings in a wink-wink competition for 28th place.
New ownership brings good executive talent and coaching, I don't think change of scenery will be a factor for Evans or Cousins.
Problems in FO and coaching are so huge and obvious and change there alone should produce a massive turnaround that let's sacrifice the talent for some more wins just isn't the best approach. Just pick the best talent available and evaluate after at least half a season.
P.S. Turning back to the thread topic, Wizards and Cavs seem to be on the upswing that should leave them out of bottom-5 finish, while Charlotte and Orlando look like they have 30-29 placings set in stone(hey, that's 2 Kings' latest wins). That leaves Wolves (in freefall, but expect Pekovic and Kirilenko back soon), Phoenix (have rookie coach, who tries to establish himself) and Pelicans along with Kings in a wink-wink competition for 28th place.
Big Cuz 15
All-Star
kings will get the top pick this year, book it.
every year stern has executed some story line to make the draft exciting.
2010 abe pollin's widow (washington) got the 1st pick
2011 lebron shafted cleveland, owner brings his son and gets 1st pick
2012 new ownership in new orleans, they get pick
2013 new ownership in sac, we get the pick - boo yah
every year stern has executed some story line to make the draft exciting.
2010 abe pollin's widow (washington) got the 1st pick
2011 lebron shafted cleveland, owner brings his son and gets 1st pick
2012 new ownership in new orleans, they get pick
2013 new ownership in sac, we get the pick - boo yah
MassachusettsKingsFan
All-Star
No matter where the team is, I'd be interested to see the draft process through the eyes of our new GM.
There are players I would take, and there are players I would not. If i'm in the position to draft Noel (if he drops), Cauley-Stein (if our pick is 8+) or Otto Porter, I keep it.
There are players I would take, and there are players I would not. If i'm in the position to draft Noel (if he drops), Cauley-Stein (if our pick is 8+) or Otto Porter, I keep it.
Kingster
Hall of Famer
Assuming a sale to the Sacto ownership group, I wonder if they allow Petrie to have a last hurrah with the draft pick? Unless the new ownership group hires someone intimately familiar with this draft, it seems like the thing to do.
rhythmless
Starter
5 years too late, but I'll take it. That's another reason I care for the draft pick; it's going to be by the new regime.
gunks
Hall of Famer
Add the fact that we could win the lotto and GP/Maloofs would find a way to **** it up....Of course that will be moot if we have new ownership (and hopefully a new GM) in charge by draft day.
Darth Divac
Bench
How do you put "reasonable contracts" and "JT" in the same sentence?
Very easily.
Your perception of what constitutes an average NBA player and what constitutes an average NBA contract might need some recalibration.
rhythmless
Starter
Petrie/Maloofs should be nowhere near the draft no matter what scenario plays out. The question of whether the Maloofs are selling is past. It's to whom now. Whether Sea or Sac gets the kings, it will be with new ownership. That's why this matters.
Course, Keith Smart is playing for his next assistant coaching job, so he has no reason to tank. And current "ownership" doesn't care one way or another, so there's no directive from the front office to "develop the kids."
CruzDude
Senior Member sharing a brew with bajaden
According to bajaden there are no stars in this draft, no one player who improves a team all by his self, no Lilliards, no Davis's, etc. This year more than any other looks like a year to trade the draft pick for what it can bring in immediate help with some experience. There will be a new owner by draft time and maybe even a new GM. Let them play the trade game.
Indeed. I can name 29 other teams that would love a big of JT's caliber signed for the next 4 years at 5.5 a year.
I don't know that it's fair to say that now. If we knew at this point last year that Lillard was a star, for instance, he wouldn't have been drafted 6th. I agree in a way though -- I don't see a can't-miss star this year either. Not like John Wall a few years ago or Andrew Wiggins next year anyway. But I think Nerlens Noel is actually a better all-around defender than Anthony Davis, which is saying a lot. And actually, I think the top 5 guys in this draft are really going to help whatever team is lucky enough to pick them. They all have some question marks, but it's also rare that the top 5 prospects in a draft are all average to good or even very good defenders this early in their careers. We need players like that. And besides, we already have a star in Cousins and a very good could-be star in Evans.
Trading a draft pick is often a losing move long-term unless you find a team in a desperate situation or you have a short and fast-approaching window of opportunity. Veteran players are almost always overpriced precisely because they're known commodities. You can't short-cut your way to the top or everybody would do it. Look at how many young players around the league are having big impacts on their teams this year. Vucevic and Tobias Harris in Orlando. Jeff Teague in Atlanta. Chandler Parsons in Houston. Evan Turner in Philly. Paul George in Indiana. Vasquez in New Orleans. Kawhi Leonard in San Antonio. Enes Kanter just put up 20 and 20 in his last game. These are all guys drafted in the last couple years, most of them in the middle of the first round or later. We talked about all of them as prospects, talked ourselves out of believing in their talent at times. Some fans may think that waiting on young players takes too long and we need to cash out and get there faster, but those fans are wrong. We know this. We've been talking about it here for 5+ seasons. But drafting talent alone is meaningless unless you have a system in place where their talent can be utilized. That's where we've come up short and where hopefully the next braintrust will turn things around.
None of which changes what I said before about letting the draft standings sort themselves out naturally. I've been as guilty as anyone of counting our eggs before they hatch when it comes to the draft. The team has been so miserably bad for so long that it's all I could so sometimes to hope that our on-court savior was coming even though every year someone else moves above us, grabs a superstar, and punches their ticket to the playoffs. I'm sick of it. I like watching the team win. When John Salmons of all people drops 5 straight bombs on anyone, lowly Bobcats or defending champs. it makes me smile. Because for a few brief moments I actually considered that perhaps we don't need to amnesty him out of town at the next possible second. For a few brief moments John made me smile, and looking back on everything else he's done in his tenure as a King, how great is that? And then I thought about how this might be the last game the Charlotte Bobcats ever play in Sacramento. Either because they'll be the Hornets next time or the Kings will be no more. The draft is going to happen and we'll either get lucky or we won't. But through this long journey we've all been on -- pouring over every news article, watching every game like it might be the last -- I think I've finally realized that it's all pretty simple. Someone wins and someone loses. And we get to watch with bated breath. How cool is that? Once upon a time we understood that somehow, innately. I know Mitch Richmond understands that or he wouldn't have pledged as an investor. Coming so close to a championship and falling short turned me into something else. Somehow without realizing it, that end goal became all I cared about. But the simple joy of basketball is back for me. I've seen it slip away, slipping away. Just one more game, one more season, one more last-minute pitch, one more arena plan. I get it now. The game is all that matters, every game.
So I'll worry about the draft when we get to it. Till then, go Kings!
There's no Davises - Noel can challenge him defensively (though he's a strict PF while Davis can possibly bulk up to become PF/C or even switch to C full-time), but there is a few Lillards for the simple fact that at this point last year Lillard was a late first rounder. Smart might figure it out and then he becomes much more impactful player than Lillard. Mclemore might be better than Beal. Porter shows more and more offensive punch as the season goes on and might be much better offensive player than he looks like - Hoyas' system tends to do that as Monroe can confirm. There are a few other potential impact players...But no franchise changers - that seems to be true.
Glenn
Hall of Famer
If I remember correctly there are several shotblockers of varying skill level available and enough to be available for us pretty much no matter where we pick. Getting BPA in a weak draft at pick 7 or whatever it turns out to be I think means we can pick for need - the shotblocker. Heck, one blocked shot by Aldrich sent some into a fit of rapture and certainly there are players better than he. Trading doesn't sound so hideous either as a #5 pick named TRob might ne a bust. Get a sure thing.
I refuse to get wrapped up excessively in our draft placement.
I refuse to get wrapped up excessively in our draft placement.
UK_King
Starter
I watched Kentucky vs Arkansas and Cauley Stein struggled a bit with a high tempo defense turned it over a fair bit and was blowing bubbles after a few minutes.
some great blocks though. Some people have mentioned him.
If Noel's injury doesn't scare people off we won't be drafting him, Zeller has fallen big time in the draft and was spoken about as a #1 earlier in the year, he'll more likely be in our range if we're looking for a big man. I saw Alex Len once this season too, he seems to be very skilful.
(obviously I'm discounting moving up in the lottery)
some great blocks though. Some people have mentioned him.
If Noel's injury doesn't scare people off we won't be drafting him, Zeller has fallen big time in the draft and was spoken about as a #1 earlier in the year, he'll more likely be in our range if we're looking for a big man. I saw Alex Len once this season too, he seems to be very skilful.
(obviously I'm discounting moving up in the lottery)
Dime Dropper
All-Star
I'm not necessarily against trading the pick, but only if it's an actual worthwhile deal. I will scream if we trade the pick for the equivalent of what we got back for Robinson, although under new ownership hopefully this won't be a problem. Depending on where we land in the lottery, I'd like to keep the pick. There are a few guys who can come in and make an immediate impact. Noels obviously would be the perfect fit to DeMarcus and it would be shortsighted to trade that pick unless you're getting a crazy offer, which won't happen. I'm starting to feel really good about Marcus Smart and think he's the best PG in the draft and has legit star potential. He's an excellent defender, huge for a PG and extremely strong, very athletic, with a very high BB IQ. He's a good passer and a leader through and through. He's also an intelligent kid with that star quality. The only thing that really stands out as needing work is his outside shot, but his form is good. If he's there and we pass on him, we're going to regret it. He's the type of PG that will start for a very good team, and pairing him with Reke in the backcourt makes it one of the best defensive pairings in the league at that position.
The other two guys I'd be happy with are McLemore and Porter. I haven't seen enough of the latter, but going by what everyone has to say, he sounds like he'd be an ideal fit at SF. I wouldn't hate trading the pick if he was on the board, so long as we got the right guy at the right position, rather than the junk we've been accumulating in our last few trades. With McLemore, it's more tricky. We already have 'Reke at SG, and Ben is a pure SG. But I'm scared to pass on him. He just has the potential to be too good for me to be comfortable trading the pick or passing him. He's got solid size for the position, is a freak athlete, has a picture perfect jumper, has a very high BB IQ (probably too unselfish at this point). He's also an impressive defender. The only thing he needs to improve is his handles. But taking him, you'd have to either put Reke at the point or else figure something else out. And it's hard to imagine what that would be.
The other two guys I'd be happy with are McLemore and Porter. I haven't seen enough of the latter, but going by what everyone has to say, he sounds like he'd be an ideal fit at SF. I wouldn't hate trading the pick if he was on the board, so long as we got the right guy at the right position, rather than the junk we've been accumulating in our last few trades. With McLemore, it's more tricky. We already have 'Reke at SG, and Ben is a pure SG. But I'm scared to pass on him. He just has the potential to be too good for me to be comfortable trading the pick or passing him. He's got solid size for the position, is a freak athlete, has a picture perfect jumper, has a very high BB IQ (probably too unselfish at this point). He's also an impressive defender. The only thing he needs to improve is his handles. But taking him, you'd have to either put Reke at the point or else figure something else out. And it's hard to imagine what that would be.
Similar threads
- Associated Press
- Kings News Links
