Is Donte Greene ready for prime time???

[CruzDude]

Donte could be on the bubble more than anybody so far this year. Didn't play in one game but not injured. Seems to be missing quite a bunch of on court sense. Last year he struggled to fit in, did not much "D" and always seemed to want to shoot the hot potato.

With Cisco out for a bit, and Greene not showing what is needed for more minutes, what else can one think? He really should have stayed in college for at least 2 and maybe 3 years. Now the D-League may be his only way to get minutes.

Too soon yet to see any semblance of a rotation. And with next game vs. Lakers in Vegas they could be hard pressed to show a 1 thru 10 rotation. And I don't see Greene guarding Lamar Odom.............

 

[Kings Faithful]

The thing with Donte is that he is too good to just throw on a D-League team until his contract runs out... He is too much of an unknown to give up. Its clear that he needs some big work but sooner or later its going to click and he could break out as an unstoppable scoring threat. He is tall, has a good shot (just can't hit it in an NBA game) and the dude is mad athletic. Too much potential.

 

[VF21]

The thing with Donte is that he is too good to just throw on a D-League team until his contract runs out... He is too much of an unknown to give up. Its clear that he needs some big work but sooner or later its going to click and he could break out as an unstoppable scoring threat. He is tall, has a good shot (just can't hit it in an NBA game) and the dude is mad athletic. Too much potential.

The thing with Donte Greene is he's a big question mark. Yes, he has potential but there are also problems, including things like focus, intensity, desire, etc. He COULD break out as an unstoppable scoring threat, but he COULD end up not ever living up to anything close to his own potential.

IMHO Donte Greene needs to grow up, realize he's in the NBA and devote himself to being the best player he possibly can be - ready whether his number is called or not - and always working to improve. If he doesn't, he just might find himself the most athletic guy flipping burgers at MickeyD's...

 

[6th]

So far, I am not seeing this Dante that everyone has high hopes for. I would send him to the D league and see if he is willing to put in the effort to become the player everyone expects to see.

I am seeing athleticism and wit, but little else. See how bad he wants to make it in the D league. Sitting on the end of the Kings bench is doing him no good.

And to answer the question...NO. He is definitely not ready for prime time. I agree that maturity (or his lack thereof) may be his biggest problem.

 

[kingsnation]

I'm thinking Omri and Noc will now get majority minutes at the 3 until Cisco does come back. However, while I do agree with the sentiment that Donte needs to mature and become more driven, I will continue to say that this FO/coaching staff has done an AWFUL job developing this kid.

We were a 17 win team last year, and besides Tyreke - what do we have to show for it? JT developed but only 1/2 way through the year, when we finally realized Mikki hadn't panned out.

I feel bad for Donte in the sense that his rookie year was on this team with last year's coaching staff. He could have developed sooo much last year and yet he became the website's poster boy instead.

It's a joke. Honestly, I hope we start Donte at the 3. I want to see what this kid has before some other team believes in his potential (as a baller, not a tv host) and actually nurtures it.

 

[Bricklayer]

To answer the thread title: no.

But this Cisco thing could be a godsend for Donte...or could have until we decided to finish off the kids with a Desmond coup de grace. Now if Desmond's back keeps him out too...Donte may still only be third in the rotation. But at least he'll get some semi-regular minutes. As it was we were all set to do the bury the kid and then point to him being buried as proof he can not play bit. Self serving, but hardly a way to develop a kid or get a read on him. Donte may not deserve, but definitely needs, a consistent 15-20 min a night to show whether he's going to have a career or not.

 

[PurpleHaze]

It's been said a thousand times. Donte Green has so much potential. He's a nice, fun loving guy. The Houston Rockets thought he had "something" but were not all that upset when they parted ways. He's a "great shooter" - at least as a college freshman before entering the NBA. He can play solid defense, even though he never really had too at Syracuse where they zone D all the time.

The NBA and all of big time professional sports is about consistency. Consistency when in the game, consistency in practice (plus film, meetings, etc.), a consistently professional demeanor, consistently improving all the necessary pro skills. So far in those areas of consistency it appears Mr. Greene is still very green to say the least. It's mostly all up to him, not the coaches fault, not relying on his supporters constantly clamoring or teammates wondering if the class clown can actually make it in the NBA. Only he can decide and now the clock is really ticking with his apparent wide open shot (like a wide open 3) to move up on the Kings depth chart.

 

[CruzDude]

Wow! For the first time ever all comments so far hit the nail on his head. Oddly, I agree with them all as well.

The Cisco demise will present Donte with more opportunity especially with Mason's back spasms. Then we may see if he can at least progress toward being a prime time player. Tools are there but is the attitude?

 

[bajaden]

It's been said a thousand times. Donte Green has so much potential. He's a nice, fun loving guy. The Houston Rockets thought he had "something" but were not all that upset when they parted ways. He's a "great shooter" - at least as a college freshman before entering the NBA. He can play solid defense, even though he never really had too at Syracuse where they zone D all the time.

The NBA and all of big time professional sports is about consistency. Consistency when in the game, consistency in practice (plus film, meetings, etc.), a consistently professional demeanor, consistently improving all the necessary pro skills. So far in those areas of consistency it appears Mr. Greene is still very green to say the least. It's mostly all up to him, not the coaches fault, not relying on his supporters constantly clamoring or teammates wondering if the class clown can actually make it in the NBA. Only he can decide and now the clock is really ticking with his apparent wide open shot (like a wide open 3) to move up on the Kings depth chart.

I would agree with you that a lot of his development is up to him. Maybe he should spend more time working out with a personal trainer than making entertaining, but ridiculous movies. How much time does he spend practicing his shot. Has he ever attended the big men's school in the offseason? Where they work on footwork, dropsteps and post moves. Did he ever consider spending the offseason with Martin working out, and developing his skill set?

I don't have the answers to those questions, but my guess is no. Why he didn't play in the second game is anybodys guess. Maybe Westphal intends to sit out different players each game. Or, maybe Westphal was trying to send him a message. This I know! I saw little or no improvement in his game last year. I'm willing to cut him some slack because of his age and inconsistant coaching. But he's got to start stepping up to the plate. Its up to him. And if he doesn't, he'll start bouncing from team to team until he bounces right out of the league.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

There's been many cases of players combining good physical tools (height, length, athleticism) with equally potent skillsets (shooting range, shooting touch, finishing ability), but have their overall mentality (atttitude, consistency, etc) lag far beyond any of their potential talents. Naturally talented, born-basketball players who coast on their tools rather than putting the work into it. Scouts salivate over them and peg them as lottery picks before the college season starts, but start to lose interest over the course of the season as their mental flaws are exposed. Donte fell to 28th in the draft because of that.

I don't want to demean Donte, but he might very well go down that path--while he impressed as a freshman in 'Cuse with his shooting ability and versatility, he also had a reputation for coasting and also seems to have a less-than-professional attitude; he really fits that blueprint. At least he doesn't have a bad attitude a la Gerald Green. I think expectations need to be lowered for him in particular, because while he's still very young, some aspects of this lack of professionalism stay with you in the course of your career--I'm thinking Tim Thomas as the real upside now, and of course the downside being that he's out of the league. It will be an interesting case study with him.

 

[Kevin's Good Feet]

I would agree with you that a lot of his development is up to him. Maybe he should spend more time working out with a personal trainer than making entertaining, but ridiculous movies. How much time does he spend practicing his shot. Has he ever attended the big men's school in the offseason? Where they work on footwork, dropsteps and post moves. Did he ever consider spending the offseason with Martin working out, and developing his skill set?

If I remember correctly, Donte spent most of the summer in the Kings training facility. What he did there I don't know, but I don't at all believe the argument that he doesn't try and he just spends his time goofing off.

I don't know what to think of Donte. As everyone here said, he's got the talent. Yeah, he's raw but I think his problem is entirely mental. The light hasn't gone off in his head and I don't know what will turn it on for him. Is it force feeding him minutes so we can get a read on him and see if he finally figures something out? Is it burying him on the bench and forcing him to earn everything he gets?

 

[HighTopKicks]

If I remember correctly, Donte spent most of the summer in the Kings training facility. What he did there I don't know, but I don't at all believe the argument that he doesn't try and he just spends his time goofing off.

I don't know what to think of Donte. As everyone here said, he's got the talent. Yeah, he's raw but I think his problem is entirely mental. The light hasn't gone off in his head and I don't know what will turn it on for him. Is it force feeding him minutes so we can get a read on him and see if he finally figures something out? Is it burying him on the bench and forcing him to earn everything he gets?

Your correct about his time in Sac this summer. He probably spent more time here than any other player, Based on his Tweets, he worked with Shapiro and with Reef. In one of his interviews he said they were working on ballhandling and footwork. Plus he dropped body fat and built up muscle in the weight room.

What everyone seems to be ignoring is the fact that Donte has had less orginized basketball experience that Brockman & Omri. Tyreke is doing the things that he has been training for his entire life. Dontes' role is totally different then what he was asked to do, at Cuse and even last year in Reno. In both places he was the primary scorer and now he's a defensive role player.

Now, Donte has had exactly one week of training camp. He's learning a totally new system. Different than Cuse, different than Theus, different than Natt, and different than anything he did playing street ball 3 years ago. Beside that he's got a new body. All of that added muscle certainly has to affect his shooting.

Donte's going to need more than a week to learn PW's system. And, I don't want to dismiss Omri's performance, but it's only 2 preseason games. Brockman isn't being asked to do anything he hasn't done in the past. Donte is being asked to change his game. So, I think I'll give him at least until Dec. to show he can adapt. The Kings have until then to decide whether to pick up his option.

As an aside. I find it astonishing that so many people want Cisco to start at SF because he shots 3's so well. While bemoaning every time Donte shoots a 3. Certainly Donte isn't as accurate, but that is the what the Kings ask of their SF's. So, they want Donte to attack the basket which is fine, but then criticise Mason because he attacks the basket and doesn't shoot 3's. It's taking the same two skills and slanting the facts to justify their opinion of the players.

 

[Kingster]

Prime time? Obviously not. But minutes here and there? That's going to depend on him and the coach. Westphal has two years to work with Greene to get some productivity out of him. My guess is that Greene's lack of productivity has more to do with figuring the game out mentally, and his particular role, as opposed to his work ethic. He still has two years to work on having that light bulb come on, and I sure hope it does because he has the length, speed and quickness that this team needs. Also, I've seen more offensive rebounding potential from him by far than anyone else on this team. He has an uncanny way of coming out of nowhere to grab and ball and throw it down or put it back in. You don't teach that. You either have it or you don't. It would be a shame to see this kid not reach his potential with the Kings.

 

[rainmaker]

Obviously Donte isn't ready for primetime. Talent-wise, he's ready for consistent minutes and a spot in the regular 8-9 man rotation. Mentally, he's not ready to be in the rotation. I think what has hurt Donte the most is having two inexperienced coaches his rookie year.

To a certian extent, you can throw last year out the window, because it was a waste for the majority of the organization. Last year doesn't define Donte as a person or a players. He's now learning a new system from a much more experienced coaching staff. But its going to take time for Donte to learn the system, and it might take him longer than anyone else on the team to get comfortable because he has less experience playing organized ball than anyone else on the roster besides Tyreke. But he will improve, and I see him contributing on a regular basis later this season. The mental part of the game has to catch up to the physical part for him, but talent wise, the tools are there.

 

[bajaden]

As an aside. I find it astonishing that so many people want Cisco to start at SF because he shots 3's so well. While bemoaning every time Donte shoots a 3. Certainly Donte isn't as accurate, but that is the what the Kings ask of their SF's. So, they want Donte to attack the basket which is fine, but then criticise Mason because he attacks the basket and doesn't shoot 3's. It's taking the same two skills and slanting the facts to justify their opinion of the players.

I was with you until this last statement. First, I haven't heard too many people criticize Mason for not shooting threes. And if they did, then they don't know his game. But Greene barely shot over 25% from the 3pt line. As a matter of fact, he only shot .326 overall. To my mind thats pretty bad for a guy thats suspossed to be a shooter. So I can't really find too much fault with anyone that criticizes him in that regard.

Now if he has a wide open three, then he needs to take it. But at some point, if he can't hit them when wide open, he becomes a liability. Especially if he can't do anything else. I suspect that's why Westphal is trying to have him find his niche on the defensive side.

If he's to be a part of the future, then I agree that he has to find some playing time. And time that has some value to it. But he can't just be out there. He has to be able to contribute in some way. Not than anyone needs my permission, but I'm willing to give him this year. I haven't given up on him yet. There's no doubt that he's loaded with potential. But as Vince Lombardi once said. The word potential means you haven't done anything yet.

 

[mr. moustache]

Green's out of the league within 5 years. He's a bum. Not a bad guy bum, just a "not NBA player" bum. He's shown nothing in his time in Sac.

 

[fnordius]

As an aside. I find it astonishing that so many people want Cisco to start at SF because he shots 3's so well.

I would have expected him to play SF so that our ball handling and A/TO situation might be a bit better. I don't see Greene, Mason, Nocioni, etc. helping with that.

 

[kingsnation]

Green's out of the league within 5 years. He's a bum. Not a bad guy bum, just a "not NBA player" bum. He's shown nothing in his time in Sac.

1 year on a 17-win team with no playing time should not dictate his future. and if you're going by rookie years in Sac, what about Gerald Wallace?

 

[HighTopKicks]

I was with you until this last statement. First, I haven't heard too many people criticize Mason for not shooting threes. And if they did, then they don't know his game. But Greene barely shot over 25% from the 3pt line. As a matter of fact, he only shot .326 overall. To my mind thats pretty bad for a guy thats suspossed to be a shooter. So I can't really find too much fault with anyone that criticizes him in that regard.

Now if he has a wide open three, then he needs to take it. But at some point, if he can't hit them when wide open, he becomes a liability. Especially if he can't do anything else. I suspect that's why Westphal is trying to have him find his niche on the defensive side.

If he's to be a part of the future, then I agree that he has to find some playing time. And time that has some value to it. But he can't just be out there. He has to be able to contribute in some way. Not than anyone needs my permission, but I'm willing to give him this year. I haven't given up on him yet. There's no doubt that he's loaded with potential. But as Vince Lombardi once said. The word potential means you haven't done anything yet.

I guess I worded that poorly. The point I was trying to make is that the Kings want their SF to take 3's when their open. If Donte is going to play the SF he's going to have to take 3's. Yes, he's not accurate as I mentioned, but he still needs to take the shots. He's not going to get better until he learns to make them in game situations.

Also, I didn't mean that people are criticising Mason for not taking 3's. I was making the point that people say that he's not right for the SF spot because he doesn't take 3's. While at the same time saying that Donte needs to stop taking 3's and drive to the basket, which is Mason's game. I'm still not sure I'm making myself clear.

I believe both skills (driving to the rim & 3pt shooting) are valueable skills for the SF. At this point in time Omri & Noc may be the most develped SF as far as those skill set are concerned. But, when you consider experience, athleticism, speed, & defense, right now the jury is still out for our 4 contestents. This is going to be like the American Idol thread, each week people are going to argue about who was best and who should go until a winner is chosen.

 

[Telemachus]

Green's out of the league within 5 years. He's a bum. Not a bad guy bum, just a "not NBA player" bum. He's shown nothing in his time in Sac.

I think it is a little early to pass judgement. Do you know how many legitimate NBA players would have never made if only given their first year to impress? It took Jermaine O'Neal until his 5th year to do anything that gave you any indication he would make it in the NBA. And there are many more that it took 2 or more years to make their presense felt.

I'm not saying that Donte is going to be a star, but as young as he is with that much talent, I wouldn't give up just yet.

 

[G_M]

No!

 

[bajaden]

This is going to be like the American Idol thread, each week people are going to argue about who was best and who should go until a winner is chosen.

Ha ha! Good analogy, you could be right about that one. Personally I hope one of the young players emerge's as the sure winner. I don't really care who. So far, Hawes and Thompson look like potential starting material. As do Martin and Evans. Yeah, I know, there are some that would debate that. But its a reasonable assumption to make at the moment. But there's no surefire potential starter at the SF position. And I'm talking about an NBA starter, that could start for other teams. So I'm hopeful that either Greene or Casspi will emerge as that player. If not, its back to the draft or perhaps freeagency.

Hey LeBron!! You want to come and play here?

 

[bajaden]

No!

Brevity is the soul of wit.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

Donte just needs to realize what his role is and start working and capitalizing on it. and right now he is a SF/PF he needs to look up to Nocioni's defense hustle and rebounding. he needs a foundation/skillset to build off and its clear his offense isnt ready to be that. Donte is mad athletic, whens hes in there he should be crashing the boards, gettin blocks and using his length to bug people on defense. His offense will come naturally if he starts out as a hustle player. If he improves and shows these traits this year I will be more then happy.

 

[6th]

Ha ha! Good analogy, you could be right about that one. Personally I hope one of the young players emerge's as the sure winner. I don't really care who. So far, Hawes and Thompson look like potential starting material. As do Martin and Evans. Yeah, I know, there are some that would debate that. But its a reasonable assumption to make at the moment. But there's no surefire potential starter at the SF position. And I'm talking about an NBA starter, that could start for other teams. So I'm hopeful that either Greene or Casspi will emerge as that player. If not, its back to the draft or perhaps freeagency.

Hey LeBron!! You want to come and play here?

We'll send you a ticket. And, once you get a house, the Maloofs will mow the lawn for you.

 

[dbfish]

The difference is.....

1 year on a 17-win team with no playing time should not dictate his future. and if you're going by rookie years in Sac, what about Gerald Wallace?

......when Wallace was a rookie he had Peja ahead of him and a contending team that wasn't going to commit minutes to a rookie out of JC.
Donte has had a couple of years to make himself ready to grab some minutes and as the Kings have gotten worse he hasen't shown that he has gotten any better.

 

[OptimusRhyme]

......when Wallace was a rookie he had Peja ahead of him and a contending team that wasn't going to commit minutes to a rookie out of JC.
Donte has had a couple of years to make himself ready to grab some minutes and as the Kings have gotten worse he hasen't shown that he has gotten any better.

donte has had jack squat oppurtunity. he should of been in the d-league all last year. its been two preseason games and dontes only played in one. and people are ready to write him off. I hope he gets minutes from garcias injury and proves hes not the schmuck some people think he is.

 

[kingsnation]

......when Wallace was a rookie he had Peja ahead of him and a contending team that wasn't going to commit minutes to a rookie out of JC.
Donte has had a couple of years to make himself ready to grab some minutes and as the Kings have gotten worse he hasen't shown that he has gotten any better.

No, he has had ONE year with very minimal playing time. We are a 17-win rebuilding team that has not committed to giving any sort of PT to a kid with loads of potential in a position of need.

 

[VF21]

donte has had jack squat oppurtunity. he should of been in the d-league all last year. its been two preseason games and dontes only played in one. and people are ready to write him off. I hope he gets minutes from garcias injury and proves hes not the schmuck some people think he is.

It's all in his own hands. If he works hard, really buckles down and focuses on what he's supposed to be doing instead of taking up pre-game time bouncing the ball off the backboard to himself so he can dunk it repeatedly then perhaps some of us (well at least me) will take him a little more seriously. He's got a LOT of growing up to do. He's the one who decided to blow off college and head to the NBA. He's the one who decided he was ready to compete at the highest level without spending any more time in college honing his skills and learning more of the fundamentals about the game and being a team player. He's the one who has to decide how he's going to approach the rest of his contract with the Kings - and the rest of his future with the NBA.

Loads of potential, mad skills and athleticism don't mean diddly or squat if he doesn't figure out how to use them. And believe me - if he was lighting it up in practice we'd know about it. Things like that have a way of getting out.

 

[CruzDude]

According to our new beat writer Jason Jones in this mornings Bee, Coach Westphal has recently impressed on Donte that he will not be the first, second or even the third option for scoring and that he needs to buy into defense, rebounding, going to the basket on both ends and being active on fast breaks if he wants to see playing time.

Apparently Greene has done just that the past couple of practices.

Decision making was the other major area Greene needs to work on... Duh! But that will take a year or more if he gets enough floor time and develops the proper attitude. So he remains a work- in- progress for another year unless he has an attitude change realquick. I'm hoping he buys into it all real quick.