theclash4u5
Starter
We just waived Butler and Dukan
Blob
Starter
3rd in points is actually a bit misleading. The Kings were middle of the pack in offensive efficiency. Tied for 14th to be exact. They were 3rd in points because of pace and Karl implementing early offense and rim runs for Boogie. And the point differential was bottom 1/3rd.... (-2,5 PPG) or 21 out of 30, which reflects that the team was playing catch-up a lot of the time. And one reason they were playing catch up often was because of the inefficiency of their offense.
Bad offense leads to bad defense. They are interrelated. The team stunk on defense (23rd in efficiency) because they were SO bad defending the perimeter and because of the execution issues (primarily turnovers with Boogie and Rondo the main culprits) on the offensive end.
So to suggest that the team is some sort of offensive powerhouse is untrue especially with the hole at SG and scoring void at PF. There is also a dearth of passing and ball-handling on the wings and this does not make for an efficient offense, and one of the reasons the ball was in Rondo's hands so often.
So these moves are suspect because what the team needed to do was add a player who would undeniably become the team's 3 or 4th best player, even their second best players, behind Boogie and Darren. Instead we got a collection of "3 & D" journeyman with average to less than average shooting accuracy and old legs. This team needed a cornerstone, not just role players. Maybe that can be Bledsoe. I just hope we are not done yet.
News:
I thought Butler opted in recently? So maybe we need to create a roster for pending trade?
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SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Clearly, that move had to be made so the Kings can absorb Westbrook into the lineup.
23 million a year for Barnes is high- but would you rather have him, a guy that can both play defense and shoot and have some upside, or Afflalo and Tolliver who we spend 20 million on?
Barnes isn't a bad signing and Bogut will be able to play only limited monutes but he is still one of the best defenders in the league, Dallas is a mediocre playoff team waiting to catch a break- and that's not that bad.
ockingsfan
Starter
Barnes, but that's also a huge 4 year risk that the Mavs are taking. At least with guys like Batum and Horford, I know what I'm paying for. With Barnes, you're paying franchise player money on potential.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Barnes being a bad signing or not will be entirely dependent on performance. They are paying him franchise money so he'll get his chance to show if he is a franchise player. I like him as a player, but Dallas might be a bit disappointed in the end. They probably need to bite the bullet if it looks mediocre out there. They've been unable to land any big names in free agency so in order to find that next Dirk, they'll have to do it the old fashion way.
Mike
Bench
Risky, but they keep getting turned down my proven big name free agents. I guess taking a flyer on Barnes beats tanking for them because they want to remain competitive in Dirk's final years with them (if of course he signs a new deal). I'm torn on Barnes. He's showed flashes with the Warriors of talent that could see him become a star elsewhere, and that's what the Mavericks have bet on. Time will tell if it's the right decision for them, but putting him on a Mavericks team with a future hall of famer like Dirk Nowitzki could help his development into that potential star. It might do nothing. But it's worth the risk because in a worst case scenario he should be able to at least match Parson's production and role.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Probably means they couldn't find a team to take them on I'm guessing. Dukan had a guarantee date I think. They were also over the 15 man limit. I doubt it's for a move of any significance considering the Kings have almost no money to spend. Maybe a min. type of PG.
Hopefully we are clearing some roster spots for a big trade!
There's not actually a roster limit in the summer. We might have had to waive them in order to make the signings we have agreed to fit under the cap.
I'd rather have 1-2 years of Afflalo and Tolliver over Barnes for 4 years at his price while maintaining salary cap flexibility for next year where the FA class is better.
NewArena
All-Star
Would have been incredible back in 2010
lwc
Starter
Who can we sign with the MLE? Anyone?
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Didn't the Kings have to renounce their MLE to make the signings they did? I think they are within a few million of the cap already, in order to do that I'm pretty sure they have to renounce it.
I really feel like this a little bit of you, and whomever else may feel this way, creating a false dilemma. I think that Cousins wants to see progress. I don't really think that we have to "go deep into the PO in the next two seasons" in order to get Cousins to stay. I think that, if we can just get to the playoffs the next two years, and Divac can show Cousins a concrete plan for how he intends for the team to get further while Cousins is in his prime, that might be good enough. The idea that we have to go from zero to, like, the WCF by 2018, or else we risk losing Cousins for nothing is nonsense, IMO.
Weird that we'd wave Butler after he was kind enough to run through the media circuit and refute all the accusations of how dysfunctional the locker room allegedly is. His leadership will likely be missed.
My post was somewhat tongue in cheek. The Kings played at a frantic pace last season, scored a bunch of points and had a crappy season. In my mind MUCH more of that was about being Matadors on defense than an inability to get baskets.
What I'm hoping for is a turnaround under Joerger like the Hawks had when Budenholzer arrived. Josh Smith and Devin Harris had left and Atlanta had signed Millsap (who was viewed as a minor coup at the time) and DeMarre Carroll who fans had low expectations of. They also drafted Schroeder.
They regressed a bit that first season but you could see the changes happening and the next season they won 60 games.
Were there many people that looked at
Horford
Millsap
Carroll
Korver
Teague
and thought at the time - that will be a 60 win team in two seasons?
I want to see smart basketball, good ball movement, solid shooting, tough defense and a team that competes each night, stays flexible for the future and has young guys with potential to develop.
Last year's Kings did almost none of those things. So I'm okay with the moves that have been made. None of the free agents are cornerstones or exciting pickups on their own. But my hope is that they are all contributors to a culture change that replaces dysfunction, in-fighting and uninspired play with a winning system, chemistry and a willingness to play hard and compete each night.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Don't worry, we have Matt Barnes to fill that Butler role now. ha ha holy ****.
Matt will come in handy, I can't wait to see him slap around KD. Literally.
Matt will come in handy, I can't wait to see him slap around KD. Literally.
Dukan clears a cap hold and that money might be needed to sign Barnes etc
Butler doesn't open up capspace (the Kings still have to pay him) and there's no roster limit right now.
My complete guess? Butler saw the Warriors complete lack of depth and called them to see if they wanted him at the veteran's minimum.
Because unless I'm missing something there's no benefit to the Kings in waiving him now. I think with the numbers crunch this was a move to let Tuff Juice catch on elsewhere.
upinsmoke
All-Star
We'll that and our 5 wings we just added.
