How good is it to be the Kings right now? Amazing!

[sidney]

That being said, I am surprised people think we're set in the backcourt.

The personnel forum is filled with suggestions for SGs and PGs because we are not set there. Petrie even said we're thin there as well I believe.

 

[SacKings7]

Is it just me, or do we seem to alternate year to year for having too many backcourt players, then too many frontcourt players?

 

[Widowmaker2k]

Is it just me, or do we seem to alternate year to year for having too many backcourt players, then too many frontcourt players?

It depends on how you define "front court players."

 

[ElRey]

After some thought, I don't think the Kings are that far off from being a playoff team anymore. The balance of power seems to be slowly shifting to the East now, due to free agents and aging. Phoenix is losing Stoudemire, Utah is likely losing Boozer, San Antonio is losing Jefferson and is another year older. And more importantly our frontcourt is not a nightly mismatch anymore! I feel like we can play against anyone.

 

[pshn80]

The Kings may have generated a lot of justifiable optimism, they have for me, but they haven't played a quarter yet, haven't had time to make the first substitutions, so let's be calm and not get ahead of ourselves. They may have the best frontcourt that's never played a minute. Let's hope that Whiteside doesn't break a leg. Slowwwwwwwwww down a bit.

 

[annihilator_33]

it's just an incredible feeling to utter these words to all of my friends, "the kings have depth at the power forward and center positions"

 

[Bricklayer]

I think our frontcourt depth is completely set. It doesn't mean all of the guys will pan out and that we are stacked with proven commodities but we have enough potential we need to explore that adding any other pieces there is foolish.

That being said, I am surprised people think we're set in the backcourt. We have 3 players, 2 of whom have durability concerns. And our star player, who everyone says is a point guard (and I agree that's a position he can excel at), currently starts next to a point guard that does nothing to optimize Tyreke's offensive or defensive matchups.

Now I agree we shouldn't spend unwisely on someone that isn't a fit at the 2, but I'm just perplexed how so many Kings fans seem to think the backcourt issues were settled through adding 3 bigs this offseason.

The backcourt issues are largely filled just by having Cisco back and hopefully no longer working out on exercise balls, and then the natural growth of three of our best young talents in Reke/Casspi/Donte. Just noted in another thread:

Donte 26
Casspe 24
Cisco 28
Beno 28
Reke 38

And that right there is 96 minutes for each of the three PG, SG, SF positions. And none of those numbers are at all unreasonable. Could injuries change that? Sure. And so you go get some backups -- there's a reason rosters are 12 men deep. But all the rotation minutes are pretty much already accounted for. So yeah, we are almost as set back there as we are up front, with the only thin spot being SG, which is not a terribly imiprotant position and can be covered by literally every other member of that group of 5 players.

 

[VF21]

To answer the OP, it's nice to say "I LOVE THIS TEAM!" with conviction and not feel like I might be called upon to justify my feelings.

 

[kingsfan101]

I am watching the Free Agency signings and seeing a ton of people being over-paid for way too many years; Especially big men (Darko, Gooden, Amir Johnson for example).

The Kings have their core under contract already, already drastically improved their bigs this offseason via trade and draft, and are not forced to go give a guy like Drew Gooden a 4-year deal. How good does that feel?

The Kings are in a place where they can cherry-pick the right guy/situation/price seeing as their biggest need is a shooter and there are a LOT more good shooters than quality bigs (quality is a term I use loosely). Even if the Kings did not sign anyone and just used camp guys, they would still be a better team than last season... what a great place to be in where every other team is doing crazy things like giving Joe Johnson and Rudy Gay max deals.

Nice work Geoff!

To me, the most amazing/stupid thing was the offer to Darko. I mean, Wolves passed on DMC to pick Wes Johnson, and then dropped some serious cash on Darko? Wouldn't it have made more sense for them to pick DMC, and then go for some FA to play the 3?

But hey, we are not complaining. Kahn is turning out to be a good successor to McHale.

 

[NME]

If Cousins is what we think he is, we've made a big leap forward. If in addition to that Whiteside proves to be the steal we hope he is, and Donte steps up another level in his development, then the whole landscape will have shifted underneath this team's feet.

 

[kingsfan101]

If Cousins is what we think he is, we've made a big leap forward. If in addition to that Whiteside proves to be the steal we hope he is, and Donte steps up another level in his development, then the whole landscape will have shifted underneath this team's feet.

Lot of ifs, but all within the realms of possibility. So, yes, it's reasonable to hope.

 

[The Hammer]

One thing we need to keep in mind re this teams development: we've thinned out/beefed up the roster. The core is in place. What this means in terms of chemistry is huge. It means that each guy will be more emotionally invested in this team. As good as the chemistry was last year. You can see, in some of the highlight videos (the Chicago comeback for example) some of the players body language was still not very good. They knew they were still being "evaluated", or might not be part of the longterm plans. Sergio. Noc. May. Kevin. Hawes at times. I think people know and feel now that we are moving forward with these guys. That does a huge amount for building chemistry which always translates to the court. I think that that chemistry is being built as we speak as these guys hang out and get to know each other, even before the season will start. You gotta think that the players feel as excited as we do about our team, and want to be a part of it. One possible conflict I can see is between Omri and Donte for the starting slot. I hope that works itself out ok. I think a huge benefit was accomplished when we got RID of Hawes and Noc. Simply because a) there were obviously questions about Hawes and 2) Noc obviously didn't want to be here. That is all resolved. We essentially have our rotation. The only thing would be to maybe add a final piece or two once these guys all shake out and develop. Or, honestly, we might not even have to if they all develop how we're hoping they can. All these factors, the overall paring down, focusing and beefing up of the roster does a huge amount for the focus and chemistry of the team. You essentially know now who you are going to go to battle with, and be with for a while. No more real question marks. That is huge.

 

[Warhawk]

This is a true "building" year. I agree with Hammer - we got rid of some chaff and added some potentially important building blocks over the past couple years. I am VERY, VERY excited to see what this team can do.

But don't expect too much too soon. We drafted a 5 who only played about 25 minutes a night in college and will likely hit the "rookie wall" at some point. We have some young bigs who will take time to develop. We have essentially a new team from what we had two years ago. Let's not get too upset if they don't set the world on fire this season. I'd like to see a 10 win improvement as a minimum. I think that is realistic. That and some serious chemistry and team identity development. I'd be happy with that. Flirting with 0.500 - I'd be ecstatic.

 

[fnordius]

Let's not get too upset if they don't set the world on fire this season. I'd like to see a 10 win improvement as a minimum. I think that is realistic. That and some serious chemistry and team identity development. I'd be happy with that. Flirting with 0.500 - I'd be ecstatic.

Really... look over the last several years:
2001-2: 61 wins
2002-3: 59 -2
2003-4: 55 -4
2004-5: 50 -5
2005-6: 44 -6
2006-7: 33 -11
2007-8: 38 +5
2008-9: 17 -21
2009-10: 25 +8
Net: -36

Any improvement should be a welcome change. Very few teams go +10 over their last year, so I'd be more than content with that. Playoffs? Be patient, folks.

 

[gunks]

I predict an OKC like meteoric rise in the standings.

Reke is going to be better than last season (+10 wins). I expect improvement from JT, Casspi, and Greene (+7 wins). Cuz is going to live up to our lofty expectations (+5 wins), and speaking of Cuz, our depth at the 5 has gone from Hawes to Dally/Cuz/Whiteside, that's at least 5 more wins right there.

So....I'm calling it. 27 win improvement. Laugh all you want now, I'm revivifying this thread when we're in the playoffs.