T
The Sporting News
Guest
According to reports, the Sacramento Kings are exploring trade options to make room to sign unrestricted free agent Russell Westbrook.
Continue reading...
I have a hard time understanding how signing Westbrook makes any sense unless we’re sending out at least two of the following players: Monk, Carter, & DeRozan. The minutes just aren’t there.
For instance, let’s say the Monk for Kuminga trade ends up happening, I could see the minutes distribution being…
PG - Schroder (26) / Ellis (12) / Carter (10)
SG - LaVine (32) / Ellis (14) / Clifford (2)
SF - Murray (14) / DeRozan (26) / Clifford (8)
PF - Kuminga (32) / Murray (16)
C - Sabonis (34) / Raynaud (14)
Sabonis = 34 min
LaVine = 32 min
Kuminga = 32 min
Murray = 30 min
Schroder = 26 min
Ellis = 26 min
DeRozan = 26 min
Raynaud = 14 min
Carter = 10 min
Clifford = 10 min
If you add Westbrook to that, where are the minutes coming from? I guess you could cut Carter and Clifford out and give Westbrook 20 min, but now you’re not playing your young, 1st round talents to help them develop.
I guess you could reduce the collective minutes for Ellis, Carter, and Clifford, but again, you’re giving Carter and Clifford scraps at that point and giving Ellis a much smaller role than he deserves (26-30 mpg).
You’re not really going to drop DeRozan below 26 mpg. LaVine dipping below 30 mpg likely can’t be justified. Schroder is already at 26 mpg.
So again, adding Westbrook is going to be at the detriment of a combination of Ellis, Carter, & Clifford. How is that a smart move?
Now if Monk is traded for Kuminga AND DeRozan is traded for pick(s) & matching, expiring contracts (for example), then maybe the minutes make more sense with Westbrook added to the roster…
PG - Schroder (26) / Westbrook (18) / Carter (4)
SG - LaVine (16) / Ellis (22) / Carter (10)
SF - Murray (14) / LaVine (16) / Clifford (14) / Ellis (4)
PF - Kuminga (32) / Murray (16)
C - Sabonis (34) / Raynaud (14)
Sabonis = 34 min
LaVine = 32 min
Kuminga = 32 min
Murray = 30 min
Schroder = 26 min
Ellis = 26 min
Westbrook = 18 min
Carter = 14 min
Clifford = 14 min
Raynaud = 14 min
Unfortunately, it seems we’re wanting to add him if ONLY Monk is moved (rather than after Monk and another rotation player are moved). I think that’d be a mistake.
Not sure why anyone should be surprised. In almost 20 years of Kings basketball, they really haven’t had a player who brings the same kind of cultural impact as Russell Westbrook.
It was cool when GM McNair leaned into building a roster full of humble, low-key personalities, with Fox and Harrison Barnes setting the tone as leaders. But Westbrook is a different breed. His relentless drive, leadership presence, and ability to dictate the pace as a point guard make him the kind of cultural setter this team has never really had. Even if he's only going to be a rental for a year or two, if there’s one mentality I’d love to see the young Kings carry forward, it’s his fearless, all-in approach.
It's almost like there is a reason he's not on an NBA roster and the only team that is looking at adding him is us.Laughable
It's almost like there is a reason he's not on an NBA roster and the only team that is looking at adding him is us.
Not the type of "leader" I'd like on this team.
Which part?I kind of get the Westbrook thing!
If he's on this team his mins will not reflect a 15th man. If they did, then I wouldn't have a prob either.I don't want Westbrook although if he's just the 15th man on the roster on a minimum I also don't care. Realistically he can give us more than Fultz did.