[Grades] Grades v. Magic 11/3/2016

[206Fan]

lmao. I said this was a strong possibility before the draft and got poopoo from basically everyone for it. I'm not going to overreact and call him a bust yet (new coach, new system, new rotation... He's basically starting over again with his NBA development which is a big reason why we can't develop anyone since Adelman was let go) but I'll never understand why so many Kings fans were gung-ho about drafting him to the point of absurdity (ie he's guaranteed to win multiple DPOY awards).

All I can figure is that the vast majority of Kings fans either didn't watch him play in college or they're suffering from the same false delusion that defense is about 90% footspeed and effort. Actually, considering the comments directed at Rondo last year, that sounds about right. From what I've seen, the mental aspect of defense is what really counts at this level. You need physical tools and max effort to push you into elite status but the foundation of being a good defender is made up of anticipation, court awareness, and knowing your opponents tendencies. If you don't have that all the effort in the world amounts to running 100mph in the wrong direction.

In college, WCS showed amazing instincts for rim protection, but it has not translated over into the NBA yet.
WCS also ran with a 100% motor. From what we've seen, in his first year, he actually did do that. Very high-energy player.

You have a 21 yearold who displays high maturity off-court and understands his role. 7ft tall, good wingspan, elite lateral speed, great athlete, good rim protector, etc. Who wouldn't get excited about this? You really can't blame fans for being happy that we were finally getting that rim protector we needed desperately next to Cousins. One thing that is often overlooked in general is how much Cousins improves as a player every year. In 2013, everyone begged for a shot blocker next to Cuz because Cuz was incapable of ever becoming a rim protector. He wasn't quick enough. Fouled too much, helped too much, etc. In 2016, we have a different type of Cousins who's playing PF on defense now... and actually shows that he's able to be a very good all around defender.
That desperate need for a rim protecting PF who can step out and guard the perimeter isn't so much a gigantic need next to Cousins anymore, arguably because of how much he's improved on defense. However, to be completely fair, lots of people overlooked how poor WCS was on offense in Kentucky.
I saw WCS as the most nba-ready player in this draft. I felt like we were getting a good defensive player, but Vlade was definitely settling.

Fast forward to the end of WCS's rookie year......and it wasn't anything special from my lens. Lots of my concerns I had for him in the pre-draft showed up. Meh rebounder. Floats around on defense too much. Elite rim protection not fully transferred. Not a scoring threat. Clogs up the floor. Floats around on offense too much. Lower overall bball IQ. I also didn't like the way he expressed his disgruntlement towards(indirectly) Karl about his minutes in a few games. Yeah, Karl was crap, but a rookie shouldn't be doing that.
I started to dislike the pick about 1/10 way through the year. Still have to root for WCS. He's our rookie who still showed a lot of promise, but flashed a lot of rawness for who I saw as one of the most NBA ready players.
The only thing that I feel like a lot of Kings fans were really misguided on was WCS' offense. Lots of fans were saying Willie could become a 3pt shooter. Really not sure how a guy who struggles at the FT line and can't hit mid range shots would suddenly become a prolific 3pt shooter.

Present day, WCS' motor isn't at the same high intensity as his 1st year. His rebounding somehow, actually got worse. We're seeing a full-on regression by Willie. I still think it's way too early to give up on him, but you'd be a fool to not see how badly the Kings already missed in 2015. Talent was everywhere around us, and I felt like we just.....settled. I really don't know another good word to describe the pick. I'm not going to call WCS a bust, because he's clearly not. Still, I see him as a career 15mpg backup. Not a very good return for the 6th overall pick. The Kings really could not afford to screw up their 2015 and 2016 picks. Especially in 2016 when we had 3 1st rounders.

WCS has room to grow, but he needs to show a lot more out there on the floor. I said this 2 games ago, when your only positive skillset as a 7ft C is perimeter defense, you're not going to get any PT. Expectations aren't exactly high for WCS right now. I think a lot of Kings fans have met with reality... instead of wanting him to focus on an actual offense, lots of fans are pleading for him to just grab a rebound. I know Willie can bounce back from this ugly stretch, but it's really frustrating to see a 2nd year 6th overall player start a season so underwhelming like this. Has a person up at 1 in the morning typing out a response, turned rant. What the Kings do to you.

 

[gil renard]

We're going 0-5 on this roadtrip, I was just hoping for 2-3. Toronto is an automatic L, Demar will drop 40 on us. Milwaukee is better than us...Giannis will steal our lunch money, smh...this is a guy we should have drafted according to Petrie.

WCS...wow, this is looking more and more like a wasted pick...I'm raging right now. Cuz was dropping 22.7/11.7/3 on 50% in his age 23 season...WCS can't even pull down one rebound a game. Papagiannibust...might as well have kept Sim Bullar, lol. Malachi and Skal are non-factors when we could have drafted Baldwin and McCaw like I wanted. Honestly, I'm at the point where we should just contract this franchise and let Cuz collude with the Warriors super friends/Olympic team. Rudy can go join the Cavs bench, the rest of these guys belong in D-League.

 

[Iced Espresso]

But is it though? I mean, a little disappointing, but we're one shaky call in Miami from starting off 3-3. That's with a new team, new coach, missing a key piece, and with a 5 game roadtrip and three sets of back to backs in our first 8 games.

Tonight was obviously not good, something I am sure Joerger has explained at this point. People are acting like its all a disaster, but this is a new team and we're now 6-6 of being in games in the 4th quarter.

Before the regular season started, and without Collison, I thought a 3-5 start would be about the best we could ask for.

But what has me concerned is the "lack of fire" or passion on the court. I thought we had the scrapper look after starting 2-1 and should have known better.

If I had any hair left I'd of pulled it out watching the team fail to secure missed shots, see how badly we can be in streaks offensively.

So I have toughness concerns all ready with rebounding & lack of scoring ability with lots of the guys playing together.

 

[Sac.1989]

Collison can be the 3rd scoring option no problem. We are desperately missing his scoring. Aside from DMC and Rudy who else is gonna step up?

Collison will save us. He dam well better play like a man possessed after this suspension

 

[Chupacabra]

Our problem is that we have absolutely whiffed on almost all of our lottery picks.

 

[mac]

I mean it's true. The only "stars" we have on this team are Cousins and Gay. Everyone is either:
a) washed up
b) over the hill
or
c) young

If your team depends on Matt Barnes to be your 3rd best player.......then it must mean they're not very good.

2 years ago, Barnes' was the Clippers 7th best player....fast forward to now, this team is forcing a 36 yearold Barnes to be our 3rd best player?? (CP3, Grifin, Jordan, Reddick, Crawford, and Rivers...yes, 6 players ahead of him).

It's really pathetic. We just don't have enough star power. We don't have enough scoring talent. The Kings desperately need to get another elite scorer. It's really up in the air whether or not DC can be that player.

But. Vlade. and Joerger. and no Karl!

 

[andjel]

But. Vlade. and Joerger. and no Karl!

yep, this team is playing and competing much better this year. You are right, the effect is obvious.
Wins will pick up.

 

[Tetsujin]

yep, this team is playing and competing much better this year. You are right, the effect is obvious.
Wins will pick up.

We're in every game, which is a great contrast to last season wherein we either would get blown out of the water out of the gates or accidentally catch a team on an off night.

 

[KingsFan80]

Fact nobody wants to play here w this ownership. Fact we don't draft high enough to get a true talent. Fact this will take years to change. Fact cuz will be gone by then

Fact is that WE aka our GM passed on several solid draft picks over the past two years who would have made a significant impact on this team. WCS ok i guess I can see taking him over Mudiay, Booker, etc. but this year's draft decisions were absolutely ridiculous. Fact we traded away our first round draft pick to the 76ers so we could sign Kosta Koufos, and two guys not even here anymore. Fact we cannot lure any impact free agents here. Fact we continue to blame everyone except the person making the personnel decisions. The problem with this team isn't about defense, offense, learning an offense etc. it is about not having the talent it takes to win in the NBA. We have a great coach in place, we have an Owner willing to spend money, now we just need a GM who can go out and sell this vision and knows how to evaluate talent.

 

[KingsFan80]

We're going 0-5 on this roadtrip, I was just hoping for 2-3. Toronto is an automatic L, Demar will drop 40 on us. Milwaukee is better than us...Giannis will steal our lunch money, smh...this is a guy we should have drafted according to Petrie.

WCS...wow, this is looking more and more like a wasted pick...I'm raging right now. Cuz was dropping 22.7/11.7/3 on 50% in his age 23 season...WCS can't even pull down one rebound a game. Papagiannibust...might as well have kept Sim Bullar, lol. Malachi and Skal are non-factors when we could have drafted Baldwin and McCaw like I wanted. Honestly, I'm at the point where we should just contract this franchise and let Cuz collude with the Warriors super friends/Olympic team. Rudy can go join the Cavs bench, the rest of these guys belong in D-League.

And there is ONE person who made all of those decisions. The reason we suck right now with no talent. But if you mention his name in a negative way, on this board, you will get destroyed. All hail Lord Vlade!

 

[New Era]

Collison will save us. He dam well better play like a man possessed after this suspension

lol...you're in big trouble when you are relying on Collison to save a team!

 

[Glenn]

If we trade Boogie, I will have no reason to watch the Kings. WCS was never an offensive player and never may be one although a 10-12 ft jumper may be in his game some day. He is a freakish athlete and if no place is found for him on the floor I will blame his youth and maybe more so his coach.

 

[andjel]

We're in every game, which is a great contrast to last season wherein we either would get blown out of the water out of the gates or accidentally catch a team on an off night.

I agree, that is what I said. Thanks to Karl being gone and moves by our FO.

 

[dude12]

But. Vlade. and Joerger. and no Karl!

6 games .....you want to wait or are you to eager to pile on?

 

[Kingster]

Collison is a good player, but it sure does seem to me he's a thin reed on which to base the success or failure of a season. If you play him at the two guard you're going to have a very small back court. Gay is already getting into his injured mode and Barnes is semi retired. Even if absolutely everything breaks in this teams' favor they maybe get to .500 ball and a chance to be in No-Man's-Land for eternity. The premise that all this team needs is a bunch of complementary mediocre vets around Cousins is false, and all the conclusions that followed from it are false. As I've said for two years: BLOW IT UP!

And if they do blow it up, what then? The point is well taken that there's no reason to have 95% confidence in the ability of Vlade & Co. to pick talent in the draft. You can say that he hasn't dis-proven himself as a GM and I'll agree with that. But in order to prove himself as a GM, more time will be required, probably at least a year or two, and the Vlade experiment would then be even higher in stakes because of his central importance in making a Cousins' deal and in making the draft picks garnered from such a deal. It just seems uncertainty piled upon uncertainty.

 

[kingsfan1984]

Vlade should hire Petrie back as GM...much better talent evaluater

 

[Glenn]

Collison is a good player, but it sure does seem to me he's a thin reed on which to base the success or failure of a season. If you play him at the two guard you're going to have a very small back court. Gay is already getting into his injured mode and Barnes is semi retired. Even if absolutely everything breaks in this teams' favor they maybe get to .500 ball and a chance to be in No-Man's-Land for eternity. The premise that all this team needs is a bunch of complementary mediocre vets around Cousins is false, and all the conclusions that followed from it are false. As I've said for two years: BLOW IT UP!

And if they do blow it up, what then? The point is well taken that there's no reason to have 95% confidence in the ability of Vlade & Co. to pick talent in the draft. You can say that he hasn't dis-proven himself as a GM and I'll agree with that. But in order to prove himself as a GM, more time will be required, probably at least a year or two, and the Vlade experiment would then be even higher in stakes because of his central importance in making a Cousins' deal and in making the draft picks garnered from such a deal. It just seems uncertainty piled upon uncertainty.

I don't know what blowing it up means. We added 11 new players this year. I presume you mean getting rid of the only two players I like; Boogie and Gay. Screw that. I'm 71. I can't wait too much longer. We are in a horrible spot as we can't attract anybody. Depending on the draft is risky but is what we have. Then we have to hold on to who we have that has a modicum of talent. This year that means Gay. We have to overpay. My age influences a lot of my attitude. I feel blessed to have seen Boogie.

The part that frustrates the hell out of me is that most teams are well set up except they don't have a star or two. We have the stars. We have filled in the two parts the most difficult to fill. Damn!

 

[Kingster]

I don't know what blowing it up means. We added 11 new players this year. I presume you mean getting rid of the only two players I like; Boogie and Gay. Screw that. I'm 71. I can't wait too much longer. We are in a horrible spot as we can't attract anybody. Depending on the draft is risky but is what we have. Then we have to hold on to who we have that has a modicum of talent. This year that means Gay. We have to overpay. My age influences a lot of my attitude. I feel blessed to have seen Boogie.

The part that frustrates the hell out of me is that most teams are well set up except they don't have a star or two. We have the stars. We have filled in the two parts the most difficult to fill. Damn!

Don't worry about it. You're going to live well into your 80s or even 90s and the team will be vying for a championship, without Cousins and Gay!

 

[Bricklayer]

So Brick -
at what point would you find it prudent to be worried about the team's regression and lack of winning?

Given your scrutiny of the schedule, what benchmarks do you have for this season that the Kings should/need to satisfy for you to stay so confident of their ability to make the playoffs?
Or is your goal a .500 record?

2 and 6, with horrible chemistry and no reliable 5-man squad and a deteriorating defense and anemic offense would normally be worrisome -
how late do you think the Kings can go before worrying about them a lot?

The chemistry has been far from horrible. In fact on the court this team, before this poor game, was sacrificing more for each other than any team since we were good.

There are some things to work out, some more offense to put in, some rotations to settle, get DC back, the way Vlade and Peja are stalking the team, still gotta wonder about a trade, etc. None of that is terribly surprising given how new we are.

And chemistry? Where is this bad chemistry? Is it there while we hang tough against opponent after opponent? After we muscle our way back to tie the game in Miami? When have we quit?


A lot of you guys are being pretty ridiculous. The team is fine. Solid, hardworking vets. There's a talent cap on how far it can go, we're a little banged up, but its fine. And this handwringing about rookies and kids is hardly relevant unless we are forced into a rebuild. We're the 4th most veteran team in the league. The kids are so separate an issue that they might as well be a separate J.V. team of guys that we are developing off on the side, and who knows. And given that Ben is contributing back there in his role, if we traded Willie tomorrow for a solid vet who could contribute, we'd basically have no kid-related issues/inconsistency at all. Just a group of solid longtime NBA vets with a good coach finding their stride. Cuz has to remain healthy of course, but there is no major issue with this squad except settling in and a tough schedule.

 

[hrdboild]

In college, WCS showed amazing instincts for rim protection, but it has not translated over into the NBA yet.
WCS also ran with a 100% motor. From what we've seen, in his first year, he actually did do that. Very high-energy player.

You have a 21 yearold who displays high maturity off-court and understands his role. 7ft tall, good wingspan, elite lateral speed, great athlete, good rim protector, etc. Who wouldn't get excited about this? You really can't blame fans for being happy that we were finally getting that rim protector we needed desperately next to Cousins. One thing that is often overlooked in general is how much Cousins improves as a player every year. In 2013, everyone begged for a shot blocker next to Cuz because Cuz was incapable of ever becoming a rim protector. He wasn't quick enough. Fouled too much, helped too much, etc. In 2016, we have a different type of Cousins who's playing PF on defense now... and actually shows that he's able to be a very good all around defender.
That desperate need for a rim protecting PF who can step out and guard the perimeter isn't so much a gigantic need next to Cousins anymore, arguably because of how much he's improved on defense. However, to be completely fair, lots of people overlooked how poor WCS was on offense in Kentucky.
I saw WCS as the most nba-ready player in this draft. I felt like we were getting a good defensive player, but Vlade was definitely settling.

Fast forward to the end of WCS's rookie year......and it wasn't anything special from my lens. Lots of my concerns I had for him in the pre-draft showed up. Meh rebounder. Floats around on defense too much. Elite rim protection not fully transferred. Not a scoring threat. Clogs up the floor. Floats around on offense too much. Lower overall bball IQ. I also didn't like the way he expressed his disgruntlement towards(indirectly) Karl about his minutes in a few games. Yeah, Karl was crap, but a rookie shouldn't be doing that.
I started to dislike the pick about 1/10 way through the year. Still have to root for WCS. He's our rookie who still showed a lot of promise, but flashed a lot of rawness for who I saw as one of the most NBA ready players.
The only thing that I feel like a lot of Kings fans were really misguided on was WCS' offense. Lots of fans were saying Willie could become a 3pt shooter. Really not sure how a guy who struggles at the FT line and can't hit mid range shots would suddenly become a prolific 3pt shooter.

Present day, WCS' motor isn't at the same high intensity as his 1st year. His rebounding somehow, actually got worse. We're seeing a full-on regression by Willie. I still think it's way too early to give up on him, but you'd be a fool to not see how badly the Kings already missed in 2015. Talent was everywhere around us, and I felt like we just.....settled. I really don't know another good word to describe the pick. I'm not going to call WCS a bust, because he's clearly not. Still, I see him as a career 15mpg backup. Not a very good return for the 6th overall pick. The Kings really could not afford to screw up their 2015 and 2016 picks. Especially in 2016 when we had 3 1st rounders.

WCS has room to grow, but he needs to show a lot more out there on the floor. I said this 2 games ago, when your only positive skillset as a 7ft C is perimeter defense, you're not going to get any PT. Expectations aren't exactly high for WCS right now. I think a lot of Kings fans have met with reality... instead of wanting him to focus on an actual offense, lots of fans are pleading for him to just grab a rebound. I know Willie can bounce back from this ugly stretch, but it's really frustrating to see a 2nd year 6th overall player start a season so underwhelming like this. Has a person up at 1 in the morning typing out a response, turned rant. What the Kings do to you.

This is the same argument we had before the draft and I never saw it. "7ft tall, good wingspan, elite lateral speed, great athlete" Yes, of course. "good rim protector" Sure, I'll grant you he was good in college but a guy with his physical tools shouldn't just be a good rim protector in a league where the median height is somewhere around 6'7" -- he should be elite. He should be a force of unstoppable destruction. Nerlens Noel was (13.2 blk%). Hassan Whiteside was (18.8 blk%). Cauley-Stein had one very good year (12.3 blk%) bookmarked by two mediocre ones. It's a huge concern if a player comes back for his third season and doesn't show significant improvement. You want to draft players at the low end of the slope and his was already tapering off. You could argue that blk% and rim protection are two different things (others have) but we all know that there are two or three shots affected for every block that shows up in the box score. It's an estimation of effectiveness more than a direct measurement, but it's a good estimation and usually translates from NCAA to the NBA.

Where I did see some elite potential from Cauley-Stein was in guarding the pick and roll. And I wrote about that -- he can harass guards on the perimeter better than 99% of the bigs in the league and that's a useful skill when applied correctly. But it's also a skill that takes him a long way from the basket as his enthusiasm will get the better of him and it's hard to use your size advantage on the boards when you're way out at the three point line. Even when he's in position for a rebound he hasn't shown a nose for the ball. Remember the best rebounder the league has seen was a 6'7" power forward. Height, wingspan, and athleticism don't automatically make you a force under the basket.

Meh rebounder. Floats around on defense too much. Elite rim protection not fully transferred. Not a scoring threat. Clogs up the floor. Floats around on offense too much. Lower overall bball IQ.

Where were these caveats in 2015? There was a poll here before the draft and 68% wanted Cauley-Stein at #6. I brought up these same concerns and got raked over the coals for daring to oppose the preferred narrative. In fact, I pointed out in Summer League that he wasn't really imposing his will on the game very well on either end and that was also what I saw at Kentucky. I did see signs last year under George Karl that he was turning a corner in terms of on-court awareness, but it needs to happen more. He needs to get mad, he needs to get engaged, he needs someone like Phil Jackson to call him out for being a ghost on the floor and challenge him to prove him wrong. It's attitude more than anything else that's holding him back and unfortunately that's not an easy fix. He has to make the decision for himself that he's going to be the baddest mofo on the court. I'm still waiting (and hoping) to see that switch go on.

Also, Cousins was already good on defense by 2015. We didn't need an elite shotblocker next to him (which Cauley-Stein isn't anyway...) we needed a solid contributor who can play team defense and contribute on offense too. Myles Turner would have been that. Marquese Chriss would have been that too. Skal Labissiere may grow into that role eventually and Cauley-Stein still might too. But the myopia that surrounds the draft is a problem since it leads us every year into trying to fill extremely short-sighted goals like "we need a shooter" or "we need a defensive big" or "we need a PG" instead of just looking for the best prospect in the draft at any position. How much better off would we be right now if we had two positions locked in long-term with elite talent instead of just one?

Still, I see him as a career 15mpg backup. Not a very good return for the 6th overall pick.

This is pretty much exactly what I said on draft day. And actually (this is only tangentially related but...) it's the root of the problem I had with our whole off-season plan too. You want to bring in some defensive-minded vets, cool. That's one way to kickstart the defense. Hire a defensive-minded coach too? Finally! Thank you! But guys have to be more than just defensive role-players or they're not going to be on the floor. Conversely, every minute Matt Barnes is on the floor wreaking havoc is a minute that Omri and his team best 3pt shooting is probably on the bench. We need to get better at defense but there's a balance that needs to be maintained. And we didn't just hand out minimum contracts, we chewed up every last cent of our cap space on role-players. What's the end goal here? Fight like hell for the 8th seed, get swept in the first round, and spend our next influx of cash on more heady role-players?

We've seen over and over again that the best teams in the league get 3 or 4 key players right and then everything else can be tweaked and adjusted around that. The Clippers were a joke until they drafted DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin and traded for Chris Paul. Same with the Warriors before they drafted Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green and traded for Andrew Bogut. Or the Cavs and their run of first overall picks that culminated in the Irving/Lebron/KLove core they have now. We keep trying to put the cart before the horse loading up our roster with these role-players and specialists who would be great backups on a winning team if we had a couple more All-Stars. Get the All-Stars first! Invest there and figure out the rest later while your core is carrying you to 50 wins every year.

 

[beb0p]

Vlade should hire Petrie back as GM...much better talent evaluater

You mean the genius who drafted Jimmer Fredette and Thomas Robinson?

.

 

[KingsFanSince85]

The only thing that I feel like a lot of Kings fans were really misguided on was WCS' offense. Lots of fans were saying Willie could become a 3pt shooter. Really not sure how a guy who struggles at the FT line and can't hit mid range shots would suddenly become a prolific 3pt shooter.

Who was making that argument? I'm curious because I don't recall. I know I stated that I believed he could develop a good mid-range shot -- which certainly hasn't happened -- but it's much more of a stretch to believe he could become a 3pt threat.

 

[Kingsfan23]

I'm not on Vlade's train. Sixers trade, WCS, Papa, the sooner someone with experience is evaluating talent the better

 

[gunks]

You mean the genius who drafted Jimmer Fredette and Thomas Robinson?

.

Don't forget Douby!

 

[Bricklayer]

I'm not on Vlade's train. Sixers trade, WCS, Papa, the sooner someone with experience is evaluating talent the better

Sixers trade remains a good thing that cleared the lockerroom of balls and chains.

WCS was a conventional choice that most of this board was behind.

Papa is the only obvious mistake, although having seen a bit of Chriss now, he's such a narrow shouldered little weenie I at least understand the reluctance on that front. He'll never be able to defend Arron Afflalo in the post, let alone a big man. Worry that the overall move may have had too much trying to add Euros cleverness though.

 

[pshn80]

And there is ONE person who made all of those decisions. The reason we suck right now with no talent. But if you mention his name in a negative way, on this board, you will get destroyed. All hail Lord Vlade!

And the same to you. Move on.

 

[pshn80]

Vlade should hire Petrie back as GM...much better talent evaluater

Maybe, maybe not. But now is not the time. We just got our warmup jackets off.

 

[pshn80]

I'm not on Vlade's train. Sixers trade, WCS, Papa, the sooner someone with experience is evaluating talent the better

OK but you may be a little short sighted.

 

[bajaden]

In college, WCS showed amazing instincts for rim protection, but it has not translated over into the NBA yet.
WCS also ran with a 100% motor. From what we've seen, in his first year, he actually did do that. Very high-energy player.

You have a 21 yearold who displays high maturity off-court and understands his role. 7ft tall, good wingspan, elite lateral speed, great athlete, good rim protector, etc. Who wouldn't get excited about this? You really can't blame fans for being happy that we were finally getting that rim protector we needed desperately next to Cousins. One thing that is often overlooked in general is how much Cousins improves as a player every year. In 2013, everyone begged for a shot blocker next to Cuz because Cuz was incapable of ever becoming a rim protector. He wasn't quick enough. Fouled too much, helped too much, etc. In 2016, we have a different type of Cousins who's playing PF on defense now... and actually shows that he's able to be a very good all around defender.
That desperate need for a rim protecting PF who can step out and guard the perimeter isn't so much a gigantic need next to Cousins anymore, arguably because of how much he's improved on defense. However, to be completely fair, lots of people overlooked how poor WCS was on offense in Kentucky.
I saw WCS as the most nba-ready player in this draft. I felt like we were getting a good defensive player, but Vlade was definitely settling.

Fast forward to the end of WCS's rookie year......and it wasn't anything special from my lens. Lots of my concerns I had for him in the pre-draft showed up. Meh rebounder. Floats around on defense too much. Elite rim protection not fully transferred. Not a scoring threat. Clogs up the floor. Floats around on offense too much. Lower overall bball IQ. I also didn't like the way he expressed his disgruntlement towards(indirectly) Karl about his minutes in a few games. Yeah, Karl was crap, but a rookie shouldn't be doing that.
I started to dislike the pick about 1/10 way through the year. Still have to root for WCS. He's our rookie who still showed a lot of promise, but flashed a lot of rawness for who I saw as one of the most NBA ready players.
The only thing that I feel like a lot of Kings fans were really misguided on was WCS' offense. Lots of fans were saying Willie could become a 3pt shooter. Really not sure how a guy who struggles at the FT line and can't hit mid range shots would suddenly become a prolific 3pt shooter.

Present day, WCS' motor isn't at the same high intensity as his 1st year. His rebounding somehow, actually got worse. We're seeing a full-on regression by Willie. I still think it's way too early to give up on him, but you'd be a fool to not see how badly the Kings already missed in 2015. Talent was everywhere around us, and I felt like we just.....settled. I really don't know another good word to describe the pick. I'm not going to call WCS a bust, because he's clearly not. Still, I see him as a career 15mpg backup. Not a very good return for the 6th overall pick. The Kings really could not afford to screw up their 2015 and 2016 picks. Especially in 2016 when we had 3 1st rounders.

WCS has room to grow, but he needs to show a lot more out there on the floor. I said this 2 games ago, when your only positive skillset as a 7ft C is perimeter defense, you're not going to get any PT. Expectations aren't exactly high for WCS right now. I think a lot of Kings fans have met with reality... instead of wanting him to focus on an actual offense, lots of fans are pleading for him to just grab a rebound. I know Willie can bounce back from this ugly stretch, but it's really frustrating to see a 2nd year 6th overall player start a season so underwhelming like this. Has a person up at 1 in the morning typing out a response, turned rant. What the Kings do to you.

Can't really argue with much of what you said. I was happy with choosing Willie, but right now, he doesn't look anything like the player I saw at Kentucky. Now in fairness, Willie has never been a great rebounder, some of which I attributed to playing away from the basket on defense more than a normal center or PF would due to how he was being used. Its not just Willie's rebounding. He's not blocking any shots either. His man on man defense has been pretty good, and he's defended the P&R well.

On thing of note is that Kentucky played a dribble drive offense, and so did Karl, so maybe that's why Willie looked more comfortable last season. Don't know for sure. If I'm Joerger, I'd tell Willie to forget offense, and just attack the basket. Too many times he becomes a spectator instead of a participant. That usually happens when your thinking too much. When your on the floor, you need to react, not think.

Hey, he's just starting his second year in the league. I don't think we should overreact too much. Maybe Skal needs to tap Willie on the shoulder and remind him that he plays the same position, and he can shoot the ball...

 

[sono]

....
The good news: the sky is not falling. Many poor little chickie littles running around tonight, traumatized by a decade of bad ball, but tonight stood out precisely because we did not do the things that we know we should have. There is a way we play now, and we didn't do it. And hey, we are disappointed. Perhaps that is progress too. Knowing you should beat a team and the only reason you lost to them is because you beat yourselves is a mark of some respectability.
...

That's cold comfort.