Eric Bledsoe & Thad Young

[twslam07]

With Cousins verbally committing to an extension with Sacramento, we have to be better about building around him. Cousins is going to be 27 years old at the start of next season. Focusing only on drafting and picking up 19-21 year olds as our talent around Cousins may end up in us "missing" or "wasting" Cousins prime as they develop. Trying to pick up quality players who are of a similar age to Cousins in FA is very doubtful looking at our past history, and it's very risky if we don't move our expirings considering they could just walk for nothing.

Also, we should really be trying to keep our pick this year. As it has been said before, this draft is being touted as the best in the last decade. Considering our lack of talent and the fact that we are horrible at bringing in talent in FA, this draft pick is a huge asset for us. Making the playoffs and losing the pick would make it a lot tougher to put an actual contender around Cousins in the long term. People seem to think that making the playoffs is all of a sudden going to make us a much more attractive destination. Even in the golden era, it was extremely difficult to lure FAs here. We should have a plan in place that doesn't include so much risk. Trading for a couple of players that are of a similar age as Cousins, under contract for multiple years, and can help them compete next year while also still being in their prime along with Cousins for the next few years should be the direction. That leads us to a couple of trades that I think would be worthwhile....

TRADE #1
Houston Gets: Rudy Gay, Darren Collison, & Derrick Jones
Houston Gives: Corey Brewer, Sam Dekker, KJ McDaniels, & Tyler Ennis
Why for Houston? Houston gives up one of their promising young players on a rookie contract for a couple expirings that improve their bench and help them compete in the playoffs this year. They also shed Brewer's contract which gives them more cap flexibility the following year.

PG - Beverley / Collison / Brown
SG - Harden / Gordon
SF - Ariza / Gay / Jones
PF - Anderson / Harrell / Wiltjer
C - Capela / Nene / Onuaku

Phoenix Gets: Corey Brewer, Sam Dekker, Willie Cauley-Stein, & Malachi Richardson
Phoenix Gives: Eric Bledsoe, Alan Williams, & Derrick Jones
Why for Phoenix? Phoenix is not competing this year. Moving Bledsoe for 3 young pieces helps their future and allows them to tank a little more this year (giving them a better 1st round pick in a stacked draft). The next move would be to move Knight/Dudley/Chandler for more youth/picks.

PG - Knight / Ulis / Barbosa
SG - Booker / Richardson / Brewer
SF - Warren / Dekker / Tucker
PF - Dudley / Chriss / Bender
C - Chandler / Len / Cauley-Stein

Sacramento Gets: Eric Bledsoe, KJ McDaniels, Tyler Ennis, & Alan Williams
Sacramento Gives: Rudy Gay, Darren Collison, Willie Cauley-Stein, & Malachi Richardson
Why for Sacramento? Bledsoe gives them a legitimate 2nd option who can help check opposing backcourts. He's also a similar age as Cousins, Cousins' friend, & is under contract for the next 2.5 years at a really good price.

PG - Bledsoe / Lawson / Ennis
SG - Temple / McDaniels / McLemore
SF - Casspi / Afflalo / Barnes
PF - Tolliver / Labissiere
C - Cousins / Koufos / Williams / Papagiannis

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TRADE #2
Indiana Gets: Anthony Tolliver, Ben McLemore, & Georgios Papagiannis
Indiana Gives: Thaddeus Young, Rakeem Christmas, Joseph Young, & 2018 2nd Round Pick
Why for Indiana? Their current core hasn't been as successful as they thought it would be this year. Papagiannis, McLemore, & Tolliver gives them cap flexibility if they would like to take another stab at building around George next offseason while also picking up a young asset to develop in the background (with Turner/Papagiannis being the C rotation of the future).

PG - Teague / Stuckey / Brooks
SG - Robinson / Ellis / McLemore
SF - George / Miles
PF - Tolliver / Seraphin / Niang
C - Turner / Jefferson / Allen / Papagiannis

Sacramento Gets: Thaddeus Young, Rakeem Christmas, Joseph Young, & 2018 2nd Round Pick
Sacramento Gives: Anthony Tolliver, Ben McLemore, & Georgios Papagiannis
Why for Sacramento? Thad Young gives us a PF that complements Cousins well. He can do a little bit of everything and help spread the floor and guard PFs effectively. Similar to Bledsoe, he's a similar age to Cousins which will allow him to be at his best ball when Cousins is in his prime. They also get a couple 2nd round pick players on some cheap deals & a 2018 2nd round pick to help fill out the roster with cheap contracts.

PG - Bledsoe / Lawson / Ennis
SG - Temple / McDaniels / Young
SF - Casspi / Afflalo / Barnes
PF - Young / Labissiere / Christmas
C - Cousins / Koufos / Williams

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TRADE #3
New Orleans Gets: Kosta Koufos
New Orleans Gives: Solomon Hill
Why for New Orleans? Hill hasn't lived up to his contract at this point, and the Pelicans may be looking to move him for another fit and/or shorter contract. Koufos is an upgrade from Asik & he is on a smaller & shorter deal than Hill. Koufos & Asik would be about $18 mil on the books which is manageable, and it would give them two good defensive Cs to trot out next to Davis.

PG - Holiday / Galloway / Frazier
SG - Hield / Moore
SF - Evans / Cunningham / Pondexter
PF - Davis / Motiejunas / Jones / Diallo
C - Koufos / Asik / Ajinca

Sacramento Gets: Solomon Hill
Sacramento Gives: Kosta Koufos
Why for Sacramento? Cousins should be logging all of his at C. That means Koufos would be getting only 12-14 mpg. Spending $8 mil for Cousins backup might be money not well spent. I'm not saying Koufos is on a bad contract. I'm saying that a C playing 12-14 mpg shouldn't be getting paid that much of the cap. Hill is a bit of a risk at this point considering his play right now, but he does have the ability to be a really good 3&D player at SF, and if not, a very good defensive specialist. A 25 year old defensive specialist on a $11 mil/year deal might be a bit of an overpay with the elevated cap, but the potential reward is great if he can put it all together and become a 3&D SF.

PG - Bledsoe / Lawson / Ennis
SG - Temple / McDaniels / Young
SF - Hill / Casspi / Afflalo / Barnes
PF - Young / Labissiere / Christmas
C - Cousins / Williams

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TRADE #4
Toronto Gets: Omri Casspi
Toronto Gives: Delon Wright & Fred VanVleet
Why for Toronto? Both guards are out of the rotation. Casspi gives them another SF/PF that can stretch the floor and play a little defense to help them make a push in the playoffs.

PG - Lowry / Joseph
SG - DeRozan / Ross / Powell
SF - Carroll / Casspi / Caboclo
PF - Siakam / Patterson / Sullinger
C - Valanciunas / Nogueira / Poeltl

Sacramento Gets: Delon Wright & Fred VanVleet
Sacramento Gives: Omri Casspi (waive Ennis)
Why for Sacramento? Casspi is an expiring next year & we don't have his bird rights either. Wright gives us a young PG on a rookie contract that can be a potential back up to Bledsoe long term.

PG - Bledsoe / Lawson / Wright / VanVleet
SG - Temple / McDaniels / Young
SF - Hill / Afflalo / Barnes
PF - Young / Labissiere / Christmas
C - Cousins / Williams

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Again, it would be ideal to keep that 2017 1st round pick to add yet another potential star to the Cousins/Bledsoe duo. If we make a qualifying offer to Williams, pick up McDaniels' option, do not waive Afflalo, Christmas, VanVleet, & J. Young, and Barnes picks up his option, that leaves us with $3.9 mil in cap space next year (not including the cap hold on the 2017 1st round pick and how much it would cost to sign Bogdanovic). If we do not extend a qualifying offer to Williams, do not pick up McDaniels' option, waive Afflalo, Christmas, VanVleet, & J. Young, and Barnes does not pick up his option, that leaves us with $30.7 mil in cap space (not including the cap hold for the 2017 1st round pick & Bogdanovic's contract) and this team. Let's just say that Barnes doesn't pick up his option & we waive Afflalo (while keeping Williams, McDaniels, Christmas, VanVleet, & J. Young), we'd have 21.3 mil in cap space (not including the cap hold for the 2017 pick or Bogdanovic's contract). Let's just say we drafted a guy like Jonathan Isaac, signed Bogdanovic, & signed Amir Johnson. This would be our team going into next year:

PG - Bledsoe / Wright / VanVleet
SG - Temple / Bogdanovic / J. Young
SF - S. Hill / Isaac / McDaniels
PF - T. Young / Labissiere / Christmas
C - Cousins / A. Johnson / A. Williams

This gives the Kings 3 starting caliber players to play alongside Cousins (potentially 4 if Hill becomes the 3&D player we hope) with some youth that can develop into quality starters (Bogdanovic, Labissiere, & 2017 1st).

 

[Dreadnought]

I don't mind the first trade. I personally would like to keep Malachi and see if he offers anything. I might be ready to give up on Willie.

I see no reason for us to do the 2nd trade, don't think it does us any good at all and we give up a potential home run (if Vlade can draft, which obviously suspect).

 

[twslam07]

I don't mind the first trade. I personally would like to keep Malachi and see if he offers anything. I might be ready to give up on Willie.

I see no reason for us to do the 2nd trade, don't think it does us any good at all and we give up a potential home run (if Vlade can draft, which obviously suspect).

I could see some being hesitant on the 2nd trade considering Papagiannis is a bit of an unknown at this point, but I wouldn't act like we aren't getting a valuable player in return. Young is a pretty good all around player who is definitely a starting caliber PF. Not to mention, he's under contract next year and possibly the year after (if he opts in).

 

[dude12]

I don't think your going to see Sac trade the current rookies...that is the biggest problem

 

[KingsFanSince85]

I don't think your going to see Sac trade the current rookies...that is the biggest problem

Exactly.

I think Vlade's plan to counteract the loss of the JJ Hickson 1st round pick and the potential pick swaps with the Sixers was to compile some young talent that might develop down the road. Papagiannis (19), Malachi (21), Labissière (20), and Bogdanović (24) all fit in that category. While they could very well end up not amounting to much, they at least are 4 very young players beaming with potential. If they develop as they expect, they could help overcome the loss of a couple draft picks.

 

[KingMilz]

I like it I suggested Young in another trade but I would do all those deals.

 

[twslam07]

I don't think your going to see Sac trade the current rookies...that is the biggest problem

Maybe, but the idea is not to trade them for 30+ year old veterans who don't make sense to be with the team long term. Bledsoe & Young are both starting caliber players, a similar age to Cousins, & do not expire after this year. These aren't really short-term patch jobs like signing an Afflalo, Barnes, or Tolliver.

Keeping the young guys means you are risking two things. You are risking whether or not they develop into good enough players to put a real contender around Cousins, and you're risking that they develop in time to help Cousins win when he is in his prime.

Even in my scenario, we still have 4 young guys to develop (Wright, Bogdanovic, Labissiere, & 2017 1st Round Pick). That's still a healthy amount of youth behind guys like Bledsoe, Temple, Hill, Young, & Cousins.

I'm going to need @Capt. Factorial's help on this one, but if we can sign Bogdanovic after we use our cap space, we still would have the ability to max someone if we wanted to. Judging by our FA history, I'm not saying it's likely but maybe we get lucky and a player likes the setup. For instance, let's say we maxed Otto Porter, signed Bogdanovic, drafted Isaac, & decided to keep Koufos instead of trading him for Solomon Hill, this would be our team

PG - Bledsoe / Wright
SG - Temple / Bogdanovic
SF - Porter / Isaac
PF - T. Young / Labissiere
C - Cousins / Koufos

That's a very strong starting lineup with good defenders 1-5. Then on the bench you have a ton of youth/potential & a really solid backup C in Koufos. Obviously signing a guy like Porter is an absolute pipedream, but perhaps the amount of talent & youth is enough to lure a good FA here.

 

[Section 101]

Maybe, but the idea is not to trade them for 30+ year old veterans who don't make sense to be with the team long term. Bledsoe & Young are both starting caliber players, a similar age to Cousins, & do not expire after this year. These aren't really short-term patch jobs like signing an Afflalo, Barnes, or Tolliver.

Keeping the young guys means you are risking two things. You are risking whether or not they develop into good enough players to put a real contender around Cousins, and you're risking that they develop in time to help Cousins win when he is in his prime.

Even in my scenario, we still have 4 young guys to develop (Wright, Bogdanovic, Labissiere, & 2017 1st Round Pick). That's still a healthy amount of youth behind guys like Bledsoe, Temple, Hill, Young, & Cousins.

I'm going to need @Capt. Factorial's help on this one, but if we can sign Bogdanovic after we use our cap space, we still would have the ability to max someone if we wanted to. Judging by our FA history, I'm not saying it's likely but maybe we get lucky and a player likes the setup. For instance, let's say we maxed Otto Porter, signed Bogdanovic, drafted Isaac, & decided to keep Koufos instead of trading him for Solomon Hill, this would be our team

PG - Bledsoe / Wright
SG - Temple / Bogdanovic
SF - Porter / Isaac
PF - T. Young / Labissiere
C - Cousins / Koufos

That's a very strong starting lineup with good defenders 1-5. Then on the bench you have a ton of youth/potential & a really solid backup C in Koufos. Obviously signing a guy like Porter is an absolute pipedream, but perhaps the amount of talent & youth is enough to lure a good FA here.

Bogdanovic has to use cap space.

 

[KingsFan80]

I could see some being hesitant on the 2nd trade considering Papagiannis is a bit of an unknown at this point, but I wouldn't act like we aren't getting a valuable player in return. Young is a pretty good all around player who is definitely a starting caliber PF. Not to mention, he's under contract next year and possibly the year after (if he opts in).

Young's cousin who doesn't play basketball is better than Papa. Do that deal in a heartbeat. Let's somebody else's fanbase drive up to the local D-League team to see all of their rookies play.

I don't like the idea of trading Malachi now though unless it is a great offer

Love Bledsoe, if we could get that done it would be AWESOME but i would say doubtful

 

[206Fan]

I like the trades. Before reading this, my initial thought was: "there's no way we could pull off a trade Bledsoe, we don't have the assets"...and then I saw your proposed trade. Suns trade is really good for both sides. It really let's the Suns go on their full rebuild while drafting a franchise PG in this upcoming draft.

I don't really like trade #3. Hill is on a horrible unmovable contract. Trading Koufos means we lose A LOT of our rebounding. I don't think we'd be able to make it up elsewhere. As good of a role player Temple is, he's actually extremely horrible on the boards. DC is bad. Gay and Young are average. Cousins is probably just slightly above average (his stats don't tell the whole story, he absolutely refuses to box out sometimes).

Onto the bench, we have no rebounders.

I'd do all of those trades except for the Koufos one.

 

[KingMilz]

I like the trades. Before reading this, my initial thought was: "there's no way we could pull off a trade Bledsoe, we don't have the assets"...and then I saw your proposed trade. Suns trade is really good for both sides. It really let's the Suns go on their full rebuild while drafting a franchise PG in this upcoming draft.

I don't really like trade #3. Hill is on a horrible unmovable contract. Trading Koufos means we lose A LOT of our rebounding. I don't think we'd be able to make it up elsewhere. As good of a role player Temple is, he's actually extremely horrible on the boards. DC is bad. Gay and Young are average. Cousins is probably just slightly above average (his stats don't tell the whole story, he absolutely refuses to box out sometimes).

Onto the bench, we have no rebounders.

I'd do all of those trades except for the Koufos one.

He's only making 4 mil more than KK and Koufus when his contract expires will be making more in a season or two than Hill the hard trade to pull off would be the Young one out of all of them imo. (note: I have a irrational love of Solomon Hill).

 

[KingMilz]

Maybe, but the idea is not to trade them for 30+ year old veterans who don't make sense to be with the team long term. Bledsoe & Young are both starting caliber players, a similar age to Cousins, & do not expire after this year. These aren't really short-term patch jobs like signing an Afflalo, Barnes, or Tolliver.

Keeping the young guys means you are risking two things. You are risking whether or not they develop into good enough players to put a real contender around Cousins, and you're risking that they develop in time to help Cousins win when he is in his prime.

Even in my scenario, we still have 4 young guys to develop (Wright, Bogdanovic, Labissiere, & 2017 1st Round Pick). That's still a healthy amount of youth behind guys like Bledsoe, Temple, Hill, Young, & Cousins.

I'm going to need @Capt. Factorial's help on this one, but if we can sign Bogdanovic after we use our cap space, we still would have the ability to max someone if we wanted to. Judging by our FA history, I'm not saying it's likely but maybe we get lucky and a player likes the setup. For instance, let's say we maxed Otto Porter, signed Bogdanovic, drafted Isaac, & decided to keep Koufos instead of trading him for Solomon Hill, this would be our team

PG - Bledsoe / Wright
SG - Temple / Bogdanovic
SF - Porter / Isaac
PF - T. Young / Labissiere
C - Cousins / Koufos

That's a very strong starting lineup with good defenders 1-5. Then on the bench you have a ton of youth/potential & a really solid backup C in Koufos. Obviously signing a guy like Porter is an absolute pipedream, but perhaps the amount of talent & youth is enough to lure a good FA here.

That team would be RIDICULOUSLY good for a Kings team that's easily a 50 win team if the chemistry is decent you could replace a guy like Porter with maybe a Marcus Morris (struggling this year) or Wilson Chandler or someone like that since Porter is having like a GOAT level efficiency season for a full time starting wing player and will be a max guy.

 

[Joshoua]

I think Bledsoe can be had at the draft. A great way would be for us to get the 10th pick (32-34wins) and Phoenix gets a top 3 pick. They will take one of the 3 top pgs or Jackson if they take Jackson we could offer the 10th pick for Bledsoe.