Kings 2013 Scouting Reports: The New Guys

[Bricklayer]

The rest of the squad as it currently stands. Lot of one way players.

The Mac & Mac reports are kept simple because we just don't know enough yet. College scouting is college scouting, and obviously many guys bust or boom unexpectedly. And Summer League is just summer league. So those guys will get updated reports midseason after we see what it looks like at the NBA level.

 

[Bricklayer]

Luc Mbah a Moute
Position: SF/PF
Hgt: 6'8"
Wgt: 230
Age: 27
Number: 33
Nickname: Prince
College: UCLA
Yrs with Team: 0
Yrs in League: 5
Previous Teams: Milwaulkee ('08-13)
How Acquired: trade for 2nd rnd picks July 2013
Contract: 2013-14 $4.6mil; 2014-15 $4.4mil;
Strengths: defensive stopper
Weaknesses: no offensive skills

Offense (Scoring & Passing)
This should be short. Not why Mbah a Moute is out there. Dirty work player, does the little things, sets screens etc., but scores majority of his buckets off of offensive rebound follows or as a cutter taking open setups inside from teammates. Has a little bit of a midrange jumper, but its not terribly reliable, and even his free throw shooting has been trending in the wrong direction. Critically for his value as a roleplayer, has never managed to extend his range out to the three point stripe. Neither a ballhandler nor a passer, and largely just stays out of the way on this end.

Defense & Rebounding
The latest attempt by the Kings to find a defensive SF on the cheap. Has just enough size to play some at both forward spots, although he's undersized at the PF, and Scott Skiles found it impossible to keep him out of the rotation in Milwaulkee. Call him a SF and he has good length and more strength than his build suggests, and is able to physically compete with precisely the sorts of power SFs that Salmons cannot match with. Has had some notable battles with Lebron, Melo etc. over his career. Does his work early, harassing guys and chasing them from their spots on the catch, and uses his length to challenge every shot that does go up. Not a gambler or high flyer, not a guy who's going to rack up numerous steals or blocks. But a guy who makes it consistently tough on his opponent shot to shot, challenging everything and physically holding his own. Good rebounder as a SF. Not so good as a PF, although notably probably a little better than Landry/Patterson who are thought of primarily as PFs.

Intangibles
Like many top defenders, combines the mental and the physical. Hard worker known for studying opponents and their tendencies, a trait sorely needed in a Kings lockerroom notorious for ignoring scouting reports. Is actually a prince of his home village back in Cameroon (hence the nickname), and a good locker room presence. Suffered through his worst season last year coming off of knee surgery, and has had some knee related wear and tear, so it will be something to watch. As literally the only proven defender in the Kings proposed rotation, they can hardly afford to lose him or have him badly limited.

Stats 12-13: 22.9min 6.7pts (.401 FG% .351 3pt% .571 FT%) 4.4reb 0.9ast 0.7stl 0.2blk 1.2TO
Stats Career: 25.1min 6.9pts (.460 FG% .290 3pt% .679 FT%) 5.3reb 1.0ast 0.9stl 0.4blk 1.1TO
NBA.com profile

 

[Bricklayer]

Carl Landry
Position: PF/SF
Hgt: 6'7"
Wgt: 248
Age: 30
Number: 24
Nickname: Mandry
College: Purdue
Yrs with Team: 1 (previous); 0 (current)
Yrs in League: 6
Previous Teams: Houston ('07-'10); Sacramento ('09-'11); New Orleans ('10-'12); Golden State ('12-'13)
How Acquired: free agent signing (July 2013)
Contract: 2013-14: $6.8mil; 2014-15: $6.8mil; 2015-16: $6.8mil; 2016-17: $6.8mil
Strengths: inside-out scoring, aggressiveness, pop off the bench
Weaknesses: undersized on defense, rebounding, passing...anything but scoring

Offense (Scoring & Passing)
Sophisticated scorer with a variety of post moves he is able to get off despite his lack of length, and range out to 18-20 feet on his jumper. Aggressive on the offensive glass and physical around the rim despite lack of size. When coming off the bench looks to attack immediately. Can play some postup SF where he overpowers opponents, as well as PF where he uses more quickness. Despite lack of height and length, able to get up and finish over the rim consistently. Excellent FT shooter for a big man. Bit of a blackhole, rarely even looking to pass.

Defense & Rebounding
Tough guy, but undersized at the PF position, and can be shot over by bigger players. Strong and stout rather than long, and not a shotblocker, nor does he have quick hands to be disruptive down low. Biggest weakness has traditionally been on the glass where he's rebounded like a tweener, not a full sized PF, but last season had his best year there since his rookie campaign.

Intangibles
Strong character guy popular amongst coaches and players. Notorious tough guy as well, willing to play through pain. Was shot in the leg in an attempted holdup several years ago, and back playing within a few weeks. Had his front teeth knocked out (left them embedded in Dirk's elbow) last year, and was back out playing the next game. Comes back now on the big career contract in a curious position, with a lot of clutter at his position and into the same frontcourt where he was beaten out for minutes three years ago. The difference this time is that Coach Malone may be relying on him as an assistant coach to help his teammates get up to speed on the defensive system Malone was running in Golden State.

Stats 09-10: 23.2min 10.8pts (.540 FG% .333 3pt% .817 FT%) 6.0reb 0.8ast 0.4stl 0.4blk 1.4TO
Stats Career: 24.5min 11.9pts (.536 FG% .176 3pt% .784 FT%) 5.3reb 0.8ast 0.5stl 0.4blk 1.3TO
NBA.com profile

 

[Bricklayer]

Grevis Vasquez
Position: PG
Hgt: 6'6"
Wgt: 211
Age: 26
Number: 10
Nickname: N/A
College: Maryland
Yrs with Team: 0
Yrs in League: 3
Previous Teams: Memphis ('10-11); New Orleans ('11-13);
How Acquired: trade for Tyreke Evans July 2013
Contract: 2013-14 $2.2mil
Strengths: passing, floor generalship, size for position
Weaknesses: quickness, athleticism, defense, shooting, discipline

Offense (Scoring & Passing)
Has an offensive game largely defined by his physical characteristics. Very tall for a PG, but also quite slow footed for a PG. Result is he often struggles to get around his opponents cleanly and rarely makes it all the way to the hoop. But on the other hand he uses his size to look over the top of opponents, and has a number of clever little flips and pull ups he can use in the paint to get it up over the top of the defense when he's stopped short of the rim. Smart player who uses angles to his advantage and knows how to use a screen and find space. Came into the league as a poor distance shooter, and an undisciplined one as well prone to chuck up shots seemingly at random over shorter opponents (in particular has a noted tendency to take hero shots). But has been slowly but steadily improving his range, and now has a credible if not intimidating three point shot. Rarely gets to the line, but when he does converts at a solid clip. Real reason he is out there of course is his passing and floor generalship. One of the league's leading assistmen last year, and with a little help from his coach started to overcome some of his tendency to rack up turnovers trying to go for too many home run passes. Keeps his head up at all times and has a special knack for again using his size/ability to see over people to throw lobs over the top into the post and for alley oops. Caps floor general resume with a feisty wants to lead attitude.

Defense & Rebounding
Physical characteristics come into play on this end as well, as lack of footspeed and athleticism make Vasquez highly vulnerable to attack by quicker PGs who can blow by him into the paint. Only slightly offset by the height and length to challenge jumpers on the perimeter. Picked up his rebounding somewhat last year, and used his height better to help out on the defensive boards.

Intangibles
Fiery floor general and would be leader will be counted on to direct the offense and keep the Boogie monster well fed. Has to show that he's worked most of the wildness and hero play out of his system and be a mature leader of the team. Relationship with Cousins could be one of those little not strictly basketball related factors that could sink or float the season.

Stats 12-13: 34.4min 13.9pts (.433 FG% .342 3pt% .805 FT%) 4.3reb 9.0ast 0.8stl 0.1blk 3.2TO
Stats Career: 24.5min 9.0pts (.429 FG% .325 3pt% .806 FT%) 2.7reb 5.7ast 0.7stl 0.1blk 2.2TO
NBA.com profile

 

[Bricklayer]

Patrick Patterson
Position: PF
Hgt: 6'9"
Wgt: 235
Age: 24
Number: 9
Nickname: N/A
College: Kentucky
Yrs with Team: 1
Yrs in League: 3
Previous Teams: Houston ('10-12)
How Acquired: trade for Thomas Robinson Feb 2013
Contract: 2013-14 $3.1mil
Strengths: versatile offense, some stretch 4 ability
Weaknesses: defense, rebounding

Offense (Scoring & Passing)
Has a well rounded offensive game without any one elite weapon. Active, and has the athleticism to finish over the rim if he gets inside. Also has an opportunistic post game which is primarily effective in mismatches, as he lacks the size and strength to utilize it against rugged interior defenders. Range on his jumper has now been extended all the way out to the short corner threes, and its this ability to play some "stretch" 4 which has started to define his role. Understands the game but not somebody who creates for others.

Defense & Rebounding
Had a rugged reputation coming out of college, but in the pros rugged reputations sometimes run into the reality that you are now undersized. Lacks size and strength when defending the post, and gets pushed around in battles around the boards. Shows defensive awareness and understands team defensive concepts, but gets beat 1 on 1. Despite decent hops, not a shotblocker or disruptive defender in any real way. Light and fairly mobile for a PF, but doesn't seem to have the lateral quickness to show and recover easily. The lack of strength is one reason he is one of the league's weakest PF rebounders, as is his increasingly perimeter oriented offensive game, but more than that just lacks physicality.

Intangibles
Intelligent and mature player who's hardworking persona belies the poor results he gets in the effort portions of the game. Ability as a stretch PF could provide him with a longterm roleplaying niche if he's not able to beat out the stack of competitors for the starting spot.

Stats 12-13(SAC): 23.2min 8.0pts (.494 FG% .444 3pt% .786 FT%) 4.8reb 1.3ast 0.5stl 0.5blk 0.8TO
Stats Career: 22.1min 8.3pts (.495 FG% .372 3pt% .728 FT%) 4.4reb 0.9ast 0.4stl 0.6blk 0.8TO
NBA.com profile

 

[Bricklayer]

Ben McLemore
Position: SG
Hgt: 6'5"
Wgt: 195
Age: 20
Number: 17
Nickname: N/A
College: Kansas
Yrs with Team: 0
Yrs in League: 0
Previous Teams: N/A
How Acquired: first rnd pick (#7 overall) 2013
Contract: 2013-14 $2.9mil; 2014-15 $3.0mil; 2015-16 $3.2mil (team option); 2015-16 $4.0mil (team option)
Strengths: shooting, athleticism
Weaknesses: ballhandling

Offense (Scoring & Passing)
Based on the limited and not always applicable college & summer league evidence, projects as an elite distance shooter with excellent form and the ability to square up and get the shot off quickly. Extremely run-jump athletic and should provide a number of highlight reel dunks and alley oops on the break. In summer league a serious weakness with his ballhandling was exposed, and it seems unlikely he is going to be able to create much offense for himself at this stage of his career, and is going to be prone to turnovers if he handles the ball extensively. Showed on and off competence with off the ball movement though, and if he can sustain the energy it takes to do that may be able to free himself for shots with a little help from his friends. Again based on limited summer league evidence, it looked like the NBA three might be a little outside his comfort zone as a shooter, but did have several explosive bursts that showed scoring potential if he gets into a groove. Despite amazingly not notching a single assist in the entire summer league fortnight, looked to be a willing passer given the right situation, just one who because of the ballhandling issues is more likely to make the stationary pass at this stage.

Defense & Rebounding
Has been chatter about his defensive potential based on his athletic traits, but during summer league we didn't see much of it. Seemed to get lost in space out there at times, and didn't widen out and take away driving lanes. Lateral quickness may not be at the level of his vertical explosiveness, and lateral quickness is the much more important defensive trait on the perimeter. Was about as far from disruptive as you could get, but summer league isn't a place you see a lot of lockdown defense being played. All very preliminary of course. Athleticism could make him an effective guard rebounder.

Intangibles
Comes from a tough background, and has a bit of a spotty academic past, but rep is as a nice kid who may be too nice on the court, and not always as aggressive as his talent demands.

Stats 12-13 (college): 32.2min 15.9pts (.495 FG% .420 3pt% .870 FT%) 5.2reb 2.0ast 1.0stl 0.7blk 2.1TO
Stats Career (summer league): 30.0min 15.8pts (.333 FG% .194 3pt% .741 FT%) 5.0reb 0.0ast 0.6stl 0.4blk 3.6TO
NBA.com profile

 

[Bricklayer]

Ray McCallum
Position: PG
Hgt: 6'2"
Wgt: 191
Age: 22
Number: 3
Nickname: N/A
College: Detroit
Yrs with Team: 0
Yrs in League: 0
Previous Teams: N/A
How Acquired: 2nd rnd pick (#36 overall) 2013
Contract: 2013-14 $0.5mil; 2014-15 $0.8mil; 2015-16 $0.9mil
Strengths: slashing, defensive intensity
Weaknesses: outside shooting

Offense (Scoring & Passing)
Played at a relatively small school, so the normal concerns about translation to the pro game is only elevated, but in summer league looked to have a nice ability to create his own shot on the drive. Range was an issue in college, and rarely even attempted anything from outside at the longer stripe during the summer. Showed solid if not spectacular PG instincts, setting people up in his sight lines but not always hitting open men at the angles and looking for his own offense a fair amount of the time.

Defense & Rebounding
Showed excellent defensive intensity during summer league, and created some havoc with quick hands up top. Scrappy and not afraid of being physical and was a good guard rebounder in college despite mediocre size.

Intangibles
Coach's son, literally, as he went to play for his dad in college.

Stats 12-13 (college): 37.3min 18.4pts (.477 FG% .317 3pt% .715 FT%) 5.2reb 4.5ast 2.0stl 0.6blk 2.0TO
Stats Career (summer league): 30.2min 12.6pts (.380 FG% .000 3pt% .676 FT%) 4.2reb 4.0ast 2.2stl 0.4blk 2.4TO
NBA.com profile