Kings and free agency - part 4

[Glaivenomics]

"Kings possibly upgrade 2 positions, and get a hugely upgraded bench. Grade - D"

"Trailblazers lose entire team. Grade - D+"

 

[macadocious]

The trade on it's own is a D- to an F. The signing are a B to B+. Together I am still uncertain what the grades would be, probably a C+ to a B. All depends on what Rondo we got, and if he is the good Rondo do we keep him after this year, how much does that cost us, and does he remain the good Rondo at 30+ with a bad knee.

 

[dude12]

Ty Lawson + Ty Lawson contract = negative value

 

[Glaivenomics]

The trade on it's own is a D- to an F. The signing are a B to B+. Together I am still uncertain what the grades would be, probably a C+ to a B. All depends on what Rondo we got, and if he is the good Rondo do we keep him after this year, how much does that cost us, and does he remain the good Rondo at 30+ with a bad knee.

While I would normally agree that the trade would be a D- to an F, I have to say that for this organization, even if it fails, we HAD to try something.

 

[ESP47]

I don't see an urgent need for a strong post scorer in the second unit. The way I see it, you build the starting lineup for toughness and grind and the second unit for speed and transition baskets. Omri, Belinelli, and collison can all push the ball in transition. WCS can outrun opposing bigs and find easy inside buckets. Then you just keep one of Rondo, Gay, Cousins or Koufos on the floor, depending on matchups.

I get what you're saying but the second unit is going to be in half court sets way more often than they're going to be in transition. Without a big man that can score, I think the ball is going to stall and we're going to have trouble getting good looks. Collison and Omri can kind of find open looks but neither are great at it. Everyone else on the court needs to be set up and I don't like relying on WCS for anything other than offense and garbage buckets/lobs.

 

[NoBonus]

Are there teams (other than the Nuggets with Lawson) that are trying to unload players?

I know the Heat need some help with cap room...

 

[pshn80]

While I would normally agree that the trade would be a D- to an F, I have to say that for this organization, even if it fails, we HAD to try something.

Agree. However, giving Stauskas, Thompson, and Landry, some first round draft pick considerations and ten or twelve million for Rondo, Koufos, Bellinelli, Butler and Casspi and throw in Anderson and two second round draftees is a damn good grade in my view. So much for D's and F's. Just a damn good deal.

 

[rainmaker]

I'd consider Chris Anderson as a 4th big if Miami is looking to dump him.

 

[pdizo916]

Probably the dumbest s*** I've read in a long while:

Players added: Willie Cauley-Stein, Rajon Rondo, Kosta Koufos, Marco Belinelli

Players lost: Ray McCallum, Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, Derrick Williams

Offseason review: The Kings cleared cap space thinking they could bring in some big names with it. Unfortunately, the draft picks they gave up to create that room weren't worth it. Sacramento saw Andrea Bargnani, Monta Ellis, Wesley Matthews, Corey Brewer, Tobias Harris and Patrick Beverley all reportedly turn down offers from the Kings to take less money from other teams.

2014-15 season outlook: The Kings probably will be better than they were last year, but it would be an upset to see them in the postseason. Bringing in floor-scrunchers to surround DeMarcus Cousins, who needs space to operate in the middle of the floor, isn't the way to go when you have the best post scorer in the league, and the tension between him and coach George Karl is an awkward way to start the year.

GRADE: D

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/...10154082815894552&adbpl=fb&adbpr=112638779551

So they gave the Bulls a "B" for firing their most successful head coach since Phil Jackson and resigning a couple of their own guys? However, we get a D for trading away very bad players and upgraded our roster SIGNIFICANTLY? I forgot how much of a joke FOX is....


edit: ok, FOX has lost their damn minds!

"You can forgive the Heat for being bullish on their title prospects. On paper, this team is stocked at all five positions and has talent in reserve, too. If everything goes right for Miami in 2015-16, a spot in the NBA Finals isn't out of the question.


Who wrote this, some troll that lives in their mother's basement?

 

[HndsmCelt]

Looks like Bird blew his signing order... I wonder if there is a way we could leverage Stucky out of this mess?
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....l-sign-him-anyway/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

 

[VF21]

Probably the dumbest s*** I've read in a long while:

Players added: Willie Cauley-Stein, Rajon Rondo, Kosta Koufos, Marco Belinelli

Players lost: Ray McCallum, Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, Derrick Williams
...
2014-15 season outlook: The Kings probably will be better than they were last year, but it would be an upset to see them in the postseason. Bringing in floor-scrunchers to surround DeMarcus Cousins, who needs space to operate in the middle of the floor, isn't the way to go when you have the best post scorer in the league, and the tension between him and coach George Karl is an awkward way to start the year.

GRADE: D

http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/...10154082815894552&adbpl=fb&adbpr=112638779551

When they can't even be bothered to change two numerals, you have to wonder how much effort they put in with the rest of this drivel.

 

[NoBonus]

Looks like Bird blew his signing order... I wonder if there is a way we could leverage Stucky out of this mess?
http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....l-sign-him-anyway/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

It will be interesting to see if the AMC Pacers get to "re-do" their signing order... The Kings seem to be a in, potentially a similar situation (not 100% sure of that though); this will be something to watch.

 

[twslam07]

A blockbuster summer of acquisitions for the Clippers???

Stephenson, Pierce, J. Smith, & Aldrich
vs.
Rondo, Belinelli, J.Anderson, C. Butler, Cauley-Stein, & Koufos

Apparently one of these hauls is a "blockbuster" summer while the other gets a grade of a "D"

SMH

 

[Sac.Kings]

I love all this negativity. It will make success taste that much sweeter.

 

[steelevt]

Zach Lowe: Cap minutia: league has temporarily disallowed Monta Ellis’s contract w/ Pacers; team ran out of room, just has to re-order transactions. In other words, Monta will sign w/ Indy. Things will be fine. DEN got slammed for screwing up Faried’s contract, but it happens to others. Repeat: Ellis will be a Pacer, nothing is amiss. Just thought it was fair, given DEN criticism, to point out this happens. Cap is complex.
– via Twitter ZachLowe_NBA

I'm reading this as pacers get a do over to make room for Ellis. I dunno if FA already signed there but let's say they did. Would this mean Kings can do something similar to create cap space and have casspi and butler sign later for exception and vet minimum?

 

[NoBonus]

Zach Lowe: Cap minutia: league has temporarily disallowed Monta Ellis’s contract w/ Pacers; team ran out of room, just has to re-order transactions. In other words, Monta will sign w/ Indy. Things will be fine. DEN got slammed for screwing up Faried’s contract, but it happens to others. Repeat: Ellis will be a Pacer, nothing is amiss. Just thought it was fair, given DEN criticism, to point out this happens. Cap is complex.
– via Twitter ZachLowe_NBA

I'm reading this as pacers get a do over to make room for Ellis. I dunno if FA already signed there but let's say they did. Would this mean Kings can do something similar to create cap space and have casspi and butler sign later for exception and vet minimum?

You would hope so especially considering the Kings situation was out of their control, yet the Pacers just messed it up.

 

[rainmaker]

I can't be the only one here who doesn't care one iota what national media thinks about how we'll do. Doesn't matter, just go out and prove them wrong. In general we will have to prove we aren't a laughing stock before we receive the benefit of the doubt.

National perception matters. Articles about our FO and continual dysfunction matter. Anti Vivek articles matter. But that's different than how some random schmuck rates our off season.

 

[kingsboi]

Until the Kings can prove they are not dysfunctional any longer and produce results in the W/L column...they deserve all the national media flack they are receiving.

 

[jdbraver]

Until the Kings can prove they are not dysfunctional any longer and produce results in the W/L column...they deserve all the national media flack they are receiving.

And even then it may not

 

[kingsboi]

And even then it may not

Consistency is key

 

[Turgenev]

'No one could have predicted this'

Says every generic NBA writer by midsession.

....

Fingers crossed at least.

 

[lawlman91]

We need another PG. I would have rather have kept
<-- this guy
but let's get Miller if we can, or some backup guy.

 

[Chubbs]

Zach Lowe: Cap minutia: league has temporarily disallowed Monta Ellis’s contract w/ Pacers; team ran out of room, just has to re-order transactions. In other words, Monta will sign w/ Indy. Things will be fine. DEN got slammed for screwing up Faried’s contract, but it happens to others. Repeat: Ellis will be a Pacer, nothing is amiss. Just thought it was fair, given DEN criticism, to point out this happens. Cap is complex.
– via Twitter ZachLowe_NBA

I'm reading this as pacers get a do over to make room for Ellis. I dunno if FA already signed there but let's say they did. Would this mean Kings can do something similar to create cap space and have casspi and butler sign later for exception and vet minimum?

Hey Zach I thought Vlade was the dumb GM who couldn't understand the cap?

 

[sono]

I love all this negativity. It will make success taste that much sweeter.

Yep, I like underdogs. We could be the Atlanta in the west.

 

[ockingsfan]

We need another PG. I would have rather have kept
<-- this guy
but let's get Miller if we can, or some backup guy.

I would of liked a third point guard locked up, BEFORE we traded away our third PG too.

Andre miller better be re-signed soon.

 

[SacTownGrantFan]

A strong season for the Kings would do nothing short of shock the NBA. An exciting franchise rising from the ashes of a decade of losing.

 

[Ron]

Some of you mentioned the possibility of getting some Euro-talent. Others wrote about bringing back American players from other leagues, like Blatche.
So, instead of LRMaM, I suggest an unknown (for NBA fans) defense specialist who would make a terrific steal.
I don't mean we should grab him, just check him out -

The name is BRIAN RANDLE, and I believe he may well be the #1 DEFENSIVE PLAYER in Europe right now!
He's a 30-year-old Illinois born, just 6-8 220-pound, but an unbelievable shot-blocker for his size.

Played in Maccabi Tel-Aviv last year, in local league plus Euroleague, and I just couldn't believe his 1-on-1 D and his impact on the team's defense.
He also has great handles and superior BB-IQ, plus he's a true glue-guy and a leader in the locker room.
On the downside - he IS injury prone
(But disregard the stupid emotional injury from college... The man changed tremendously since then)
STATS (a pity they don't have advanced stats. His would be off the charts last season)
2014/15 MIX

He just signed with Locomotive Kuban (Russia) with an NBA release clause.

I think Vlade should have Casspi give him a call...

 

[The Hammer]

A strong season for the Kings would do nothing short of shock the NBA. An exciting franchise rising from the ashes of a decade of losing.

.500 or better would blow the pants off Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein. Sorry for the imagery but you know it's true.

Rarely, if ever have I seen a team's expectations so low, while simultaneously knowing how easy it will be to absolutely shock people. The low expectation to easy shockability ratio is off the charts. Seriously. I can't ever remember a situation like this. I keep mentioning to people: PLACE YOUR BETS AS SOON AS THE OVER UNDER ON TOTAL WINS COMES OUT.

 

[SacTownGrantFan]

.500 or better would blow the pants off Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein. Sorry for the imagery but you know it's true.

Rarely, if ever have I seen a team's expectations so low, while simultaneously knowing how easy it will be to absolutely shock people. The low expectation to easy shockability ratio is off the charts. Seriously. I can't ever remember a situation like this. I keep mentioning to people: PLACE YOUR BETS AS SOON AS THE OVER UNDER ON TOTAL WINS COMES OUT.

To shock the NBA and lazy, unimaginitive NBA journalists is one thing, and I certainly agree with you how easy it will be, but the Vegas guys may not be quite as blind. It will be interesting to see what they place the over under at.

 

[The Hammer]

To shock the NBA and lazy, unimaginitive NBA journalists is one thing, and I certainly agree with you how easy it will be, but the Vegas guys may not be quite so naive. It will be interesting to see what they place the over under at.

Our odds to win the title are extremely longshot, up there with the few worst. I'm guessing they don't peg us to win 40 games.

I'm calling the over under on Kings total wins to be 38.5.

That's a bet I make all day and twice on Sundays.