kingofthejungle
G-League
IN THE MIDST OF GREATNESS?
What a time to be a Kings fan? I've always been guilty of being overly optimistic, but lets just consider it a necessary coping mechanism for all those years of futility. The one year anniversary of drafting Tyreke, Omri, and Brockness is around the corner and I hope Petrie will make us smile again with a great draft.
But what a trade just before the draft? Petrie stepped up and made a big-time trade that most Kings fans rate (here and on other boards) in the A or B range. Somehow Petrie colon-clenses us of Noce's toxic contract and in exchange the Kings receive an expiring big man who compliments our core players.
WELCOME DALEMBERT
Now Samuel Dalembert is certainly not a franchise changer, but the value of his large expiring contract alone is significant. Petrie can decide if he would like to re-sign Dalembert at a more reasonable price, sign-and-trade him for other pieces, or simply let him walk and use those dollars to re-sign Landry. Options abound.
In terms of this season, Dalembert will compliment Landry very nicely and I could see those two starting from day one regardless of who the Kings draft at 5. And who' to see how Dalembert will react? He's never been traded before and sounds like a man with something to prove. I have little doubt that, considering Dalembert's contract status and belief that he can contribute more, he will bring effort game in-game out. Time will tell.
The bottom line is that if Petrie believes that Dalembert is just playing for a contract, he can simply sign-and-trade him to one of the many playoff teams clamoring for a defensive big. The move just makes sense on so many levels.
GOODBYE SWEET SU-SPENCE
And so the Spencer Hawes expiriment ends. There's been that long-standing debate regarding Hawes' age/upside versus the lingering question: 'What are reasonable expectations?' Petrie seems to have given his answer.
It seems to me that Hawes was the most-recent relic of an era past. Hawes was supposed to be Vlade lite, Brad Jr., whatever you wanted to call him. His tale so far is a sad one, the story of a insecure kid (w/ false bravado) who probably declared too early. Some folks grow out of immaturity, others don't, and only time-will-tell with Hawes. But those interviews last year with Hawes unwilling (or unable) to adapt to the Kings new identity seemed like a self-admission that even he was no longer sure how he fit.
LOOKING TOWARDS THE DRAFT
And then there's the draft. Many here have pointed out that this trade does not really change the Kings draft needs. I agree. If Demarcus Cousins is available, feakin' take him Petrie! If Favors and Cousins are both off the board, then consider Monroe or trading down. I have to agree I'm baffled why Petrie hasn't at least postured some interest in Wesley Johnson, but who's to say he hasn't? If anything, I'm hoping that Petrie's interest in Monroe is a smoke screen and he's been eyeing Cousins from the get-go. If the Kings do pick Cousins, I agree with others that Westphal considers bringing him off the bench as I'd want to showcase Dalembert with the possibility of trading him at the deadline.
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART:
Udrih/33RD PICK
Evans/Garcia
Greene/Casspi
Landry/Thompson/Brockman
Dalembert/Cousins
What a time to be a Kings fan? I've always been guilty of being overly optimistic, but lets just consider it a necessary coping mechanism for all those years of futility. The one year anniversary of drafting Tyreke, Omri, and Brockness is around the corner and I hope Petrie will make us smile again with a great draft.
But what a trade just before the draft? Petrie stepped up and made a big-time trade that most Kings fans rate (here and on other boards) in the A or B range. Somehow Petrie colon-clenses us of Noce's toxic contract and in exchange the Kings receive an expiring big man who compliments our core players.
WELCOME DALEMBERT
Now Samuel Dalembert is certainly not a franchise changer, but the value of his large expiring contract alone is significant. Petrie can decide if he would like to re-sign Dalembert at a more reasonable price, sign-and-trade him for other pieces, or simply let him walk and use those dollars to re-sign Landry. Options abound.
In terms of this season, Dalembert will compliment Landry very nicely and I could see those two starting from day one regardless of who the Kings draft at 5. And who' to see how Dalembert will react? He's never been traded before and sounds like a man with something to prove. I have little doubt that, considering Dalembert's contract status and belief that he can contribute more, he will bring effort game in-game out. Time will tell.
The bottom line is that if Petrie believes that Dalembert is just playing for a contract, he can simply sign-and-trade him to one of the many playoff teams clamoring for a defensive big. The move just makes sense on so many levels.
GOODBYE SWEET SU-SPENCE
And so the Spencer Hawes expiriment ends. There's been that long-standing debate regarding Hawes' age/upside versus the lingering question: 'What are reasonable expectations?' Petrie seems to have given his answer.
It seems to me that Hawes was the most-recent relic of an era past. Hawes was supposed to be Vlade lite, Brad Jr., whatever you wanted to call him. His tale so far is a sad one, the story of a insecure kid (w/ false bravado) who probably declared too early. Some folks grow out of immaturity, others don't, and only time-will-tell with Hawes. But those interviews last year with Hawes unwilling (or unable) to adapt to the Kings new identity seemed like a self-admission that even he was no longer sure how he fit.
LOOKING TOWARDS THE DRAFT
And then there's the draft. Many here have pointed out that this trade does not really change the Kings draft needs. I agree. If Demarcus Cousins is available, feakin' take him Petrie! If Favors and Cousins are both off the board, then consider Monroe or trading down. I have to agree I'm baffled why Petrie hasn't at least postured some interest in Wesley Johnson, but who's to say he hasn't? If anything, I'm hoping that Petrie's interest in Monroe is a smoke screen and he's been eyeing Cousins from the get-go. If the Kings do pick Cousins, I agree with others that Westphal considers bringing him off the bench as I'd want to showcase Dalembert with the possibility of trading him at the deadline.
PROJECTED DEPTH CHART:
Udrih/33RD PICK
Evans/Garcia
Greene/Casspi
Landry/Thompson/Brockman
Dalembert/Cousins
