Isaiah Thomas named Western Conference Rookie of the Month for games played in March!

[Uk kings fan]

http://www.nba.com/kings/news/isaiah_thomas_rookie_of_the_month_for_march_release.html

SACRAMENTO, CALIF., Apr. 2, 2012 -- The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kyrie Irving and the Sacramento Kings’ Isaiah Thomas were today named the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in March. The award is the third for Irving this season and the second for Thomas.

Irving led all rookies in scoring (19.9 ppg), assists (6.7 apg), and was second in free throw percentage (.881). He also led all Eastern Conference rookies in fourth-quarter scoring (7.4 ppg). Irving scored 20 or more points in eight games in March, shooting .500 or better six times. He and had a career-high 12 assists to go along with nine points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 9, snapping the Thunders 14 game home winning streak.

Thomas led all Western Conference rookies in assists (4.9 apg) and was second in scoring (13.6 ppg). Healso led all rookies in fastbreak points (64) in March and was ranked firstin free throws made (54), second in assists (89), third in points (245) and steals (24).


Here is a recap of the month for both Irving and Thomas:


Isaiah Thomas, Sacramento Kings:
March 14 vs. Detroit: Scored 21 points and recorded four assists and three rebounds in a 124-112 loss to the Pistons.

March 20 vs. Memphis: Scored 18 points and tallied seven assists and five rebounds in a 119-110 win over the Grizzlies.

March 28 vs. San Antonio Scored a career-high 28 points to go with four rebounds and 10 assists in a 117-112 loss to the Spurs.

March 30 @ Utah: Finished with 19 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals in a 104-103 win over the Jazz.

Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers:

March 7 @ Denver: Scored 18 points and tallied five rebounds and eight assists to go along with a career-high three steals in a 100-99 win over the Nuggets.

March 9 @ Oklahoma City: Scored nine points and added a career-high 12 assists in a 96-90 win over the Thunder.

March 21 @ Atlanta: Recorded 29 points, nine assists and career highs in rebounds (nine) and steals (three) in a 103-102 OT loss to the Hawks.

March 30 vs. Milwaukee: Scored 29 points and added five assists and three rebounds in a 121-84 loss to the Bucks.

Other nominees for the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month were Charlotte’s Kemba Walker, Denver’s Kenneth Faried, Detroit’s Brandon Knight, Houston’s Chandler Parsons, New Jersey’s MarShon Brooks and San Antonio’s Kawhi Leonard.

 

[rekehavoc73186]

he better be runner up for R.O.Y.

 

[Kingsguy881]

Ballin!

 

[Kingster]

No, he's too small, he's the reason we're losing, he can't play D, he takes too many shots, you'll never win with him in a starting lineup, he's a bench guy. Oh, I forgot the main reason he sucks: He took Tyreke's place in the starting lineup.

 

[xrzn]

No, he's too small, he's the reason we're losing, he can't play D, he takes too many shots, you'll never win with him in a starting lineup, he's a bench guy. Oh, I forgot the main reason he sucks: He took Tyreke's place in the starting lineup.

That awkward moment where the sarcasm is indeed actually true.

Although he doesn't suck, don't think anyone here has ever said that.

 

[Spike]

No, he's too small, he's the reason we're losing, he can't play D, he takes too many shots, you'll never win with him in a starting lineup, he's a bench guy. Oh, I forgot the main reason he sucks: He took Tyreke's place in the starting lineup.

Dude. Even I recognize that there's a time and a place.

 

[Bricklayer]

he better be runner up for R.O.Y.

Rubio is likely runnerup.

I think IT is the only fulltime starting rookie in the WC at this point other than Parsons. I would expect him to net April honors as well unless Curry stays out and Klay Thompson goes nutty or something.

 

[Section 101]

Rubio is likely runnerup.

I think IT is the only fulltime starting rookie in the WC at this point other than Parsons. I would expect him to net April honors as well unless Curry stays out and Klay Thompson goes nutty or something.

Don't count out Faried if he gets the PT.

 

[Heuge]

Grats Isaiah.

 

[Dembonez]

Bench or trade him! Too short!

 

[The_Jamal]

Beast. Has a 60th overall pick ever won even 1 rookie of the month honor before?

 

[kennadog]

Congratulations IT.

 

[LWP777]

Rubio is likely runnerup.

I think IT is the only fulltime starting rookie in the WC at this point other than Parsons. I would expect him to net April honors as well unless Curry stays out and Klay Thompson goes nutty or something.

No chance Rubio is runner up if IT stays healthy and keep playing like he's playing. Rubio will end up missing 25 games.

 

[hrdboild]

Rubio is likely runnerup.

I think IT is the only fulltime starting rookie in the WC at this point other than Parsons. I would expect him to net April honors as well unless Curry stays out and Klay Thompson goes nutty or something.

I believe Minnesota finally wised up and moved Derrick Williams into the starting lineup. Irving is going to win ROY in a landslide at this point, but considering the Cavs actually have less wins than the Kings now, you can't really make the argument that he's kept his team in playoff contention anymore. If he'd kept playing, I think Rubio would have gotten heavy consideration for the way he transformed his team -- it's a shame he got injured when he did.

 

[Gary]

I believe Minnesota finally wised up and moved Derrick Williams into the starting lineup. Irving is going to win ROY in a landslide at this point, but considering the Cavs actually have less wins than the Kings now, you can't really make the argument that he's kept his team in playoff contention anymore. If he'd kept playing, I think Rubio would have gotten heavy consideration for the way he transformed his team -- it's a shame he got injured when he did.

I would have ventured to say Rubio would have been a very close second to Irving if he stayed healthy and might have snagged more 1st place votes than people expected. He has made the biggest impact on his team, and he's a damned good PG.

But on topic Grats IT! I hope you are with the Kings for a long time!

 

[kingsnation]

IT, if you ever read this thread, I sincerely apologize for some fans' immaturity.

Congrats on such a great honor! Seeing you be picked 60th and becoming our starting PG and being nominated for ROY is truly a great thing.

Hey Kingsfans, don't let our coach's awkward rotations ruin this year/achievement for IT.

 

[Bricklayer]

No chance Rubio is runner up if IT stays healthy and keep playing like he's playing. Rubio will end up missing 25 games.

he will, but he's still the other big impac rook. They'll want to recognize the league's future faces

 

[Sac.1989]

Great read in the bee on IT check it out. Undersized but love his work

 

[kingsnation]

Great read in the bee on IT check it out. Undersized but love his work

I saw the one on the front page, I want to say Sunday morning? Is that the one you're referring to, or is there another?

 

[ppine]

Husky Power. T Williams is from Rainier Beach, WA and has known I Thomas for "a long time." They seem to play well together probably from all those years on the playground.

Thomas will continue to get better. Everyone on the team believes that because of his work ethic. He also loosens people up and makes them want to win at the same time. Those are qualities that the Kings have needed for a long time.

 

[Heuge]

Bench or trade him! Too short!

To be clear, I have heard noone say bench him or trade him. They, well, I have said give him minutes off the bench in a role similar to Bobby Jackson. And they, I, have said go ahead, see what his trade value is. If it is inflated, pull the trigger on a deal. Very different then, "Bench or trade him! Too short!"

 

[jcwkings]

To be clear, I have heard noone say bench him or trade him. They, well, I have said give him minutes off the bench in a role similar to Bobby Jackson. And they, I, have said go ahead, see what his trade value is. If it is inflated, pull the trigger on a deal. Very different then, "Bench or trade him! Too short!"

why would you want to trade Isaiah? he brings something to the team no one else has, and hes a rookie. hes a natural leader, and he has an intensity about him that the other players feed off of. Hes very much going to be a glue guy for this team in the future, whether thats as a starter or off the bench is tbd. You don't trade winners with intagibles because they are short. I'd much rather have Isaiah who always plays with a chip on his shoulder than other pg's we have brought in and flopped.

 

[Mal]

So, you want to trade the best value in the NBA? For whom? Who you gonna get for a trade value of less than $500,000?

 

[Capt. Factorial]

So, you want to trade the best value in the NBA? For whom? Who you gonna get for a trade value of less than $500,000?

Keep in mind that we have cap space, so we could take a much larger contract in return. Sure, Isaiah has a lot of value for his contract, but if you had put out a deal at the deadline that would have shored up the 3-spot for us, let's hypothetically say Batum (RFA this summer) for Thomas straight up, I think I'd probably have to pull the trigger on that one. For one, our guard rotation (especially now with T-Will looking like a rotation guy) is solid without IT, while our SF rotation is not. Yet, there's a dearth of good SFs in the draft so it will be hard to replace IT there, and we know that drawing free agents to Sac is always a bit iffy. On the other hand, the ball movement that IT brings could probably be replaced by Kendall Marshall, who will likely be available when we pick.

IT is not untouchable. If someone overvalues him and we can get a big upgrade at SF for him, I don't know why we wouldn't do it.

 

[ArcoKings]

That's great news! Congrats to IT.

Go Kings!

 

[Heuge]

why would you want to trade Isaiah? he brings something to the team no one else has, and hes a rookie. hes a natural leader, and he has an intensity about him that the other players feed off of. Hes very much going to be a glue guy for this team in the future, whether thats as a starter or off the bench is tbd. You don't trade winners with intagibles because they are short. I'd much rather have Isaiah who always plays with a chip on his shoulder than other pg's we have brought in and flopped.

You missed my point.

 

[Mal]

I was under the impression that contracts had to match within 20%. Has that changed? Cap space means you can sign players with greater contracts and still be under the cap; it doesn't mean you can swap a player for another with a much greater contract. And, beside, Thomas is a straight up better point guard than Evans. Evans might bring something in a trade....so you could get a much better player than you could for Thomas...or theoretically one being paid more and that generally means a better player. What player making less than $500,000 in the NBA would you trade Thomas for. Right now, Thomas is the best value in the NBA.

 

[Prince_XY]

Keep in mind that we have cap space, so we could take a much larger contract in return. Sure, Isaiah has a lot of value for his contract, but if you had put out a deal at the deadline that would have shored up the 3-spot for us, let's hypothetically say Batum (RFA this summer) for Thomas straight up, I think I'd probably have to pull the trigger on that one. For one, our guard rotation (especially now with T-Will looking like a rotation guy) is solid without IT, while our SF rotation is not. Yet, there's a dearth of good SFs in the draft so it will be hard to replace IT there, and we know that drawing free agents to Sac is always a bit iffy. On the other hand, the ball movement that IT brings could probably be replaced by Kendall Marshall, who will likely be available when we pick.

IT is not untouchable. If someone overvalues him and we can get a big upgrade at SF for him, I don't know why we wouldn't do it.

This post is full of logic and I agree.

If we finally found the ideal full-sized defensive PG for the team, I hope the Kings retains IT's services and play him the way other teams had played Earl Boykins. IMO, that kind of role fits IT very well. It would be cute and highly entertaining.

 

[Gilles]

I was under the impression that contracts had to match within 20%. Has that changed? Cap space means you can sign players with greater contracts and still be under the cap; it doesn't mean you can swap a player for another with a much greater contract. And, beside, Thomas is a straight up better point guard than Evans. Evans might bring something in a trade....so you could get a much better player than you could for Thomas...or theoretically one being paid more and that generally means a better player. What player making less than $500,000 in the NBA would you trade Thomas for. Right now, Thomas is the best value in the NBA.

There's a new additional clause that teams can use aside from 125%+ $100,000 rule to facilitate trades. It states that salaries must be within $5,000,000 so you can trade $6,000,000 contact for $1,000,000 player.