Kings invite Darryl Watkins to camp

[HaraWish]

via Hoopshype.com

http://www.northjersey.com/page.php...lRUV5eTcxODE0MzImeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2

The 6-foot-11, 258-pound Watkins is about to sign a one-year, partially guaranteed deal worth an estimated $450,000 with the Sacramento Kings, while the 6-5, 215-pound Webb is headed to play professionally in Hungary. Both players leave around Aug. 20 to being their new lives.

Welcome Watkins, who played summer league last time.

I like this move. He may be a defensively good big man. However, now we have the DEEPEST(=most numerous) frontcourt in the league.

Miller, Thomas, Rahim, J. Williams, Hawes, Moore, and Watkins!! Wow...

EDIT: The title of this thread originally stated "Kings sign Darryl Watkins"... That was misleading and, from what I've been told, incorrect. Watkins has been invited to camp. For that reason, I've changed the thread title. -- VF21

 

[Peja]

Maybe we will be last in the conference next season,but we will have more rebounds than any other team...

 

[SacKings7]

Maybe we will be last in the conference next season,but we will have more rebounds than any other team...

Not with Miller, KT and SAR gettin a lot of minutes

 

[Spike]

These moves positively befuddle me. I see the additions, but where are the subtractions? This buying a pack of gum at the checkout line to get every last penny out of your gift card.

 

[Bricklayer]

This is going to sound strange, but this COULD be the most positive development of this offseason so far (given the options, not saying much, but....). Not because Darryl Watking is going to come in here and tear things up (although I liked his solid big man game in summer league), but because of the huge logjam he could create up front. Surely that would point to an actual MOVE being made with one or more of the old spare parts right? Right?

Of course given that is another of those partially guaranteed things we've been throwing aroud gin recent years, its really kind of a glorified training camp contract. Survive camp, or make it to Dec. 15 or Jan 15 or some such, and you get all the money. Otherwise, you jsut get a prorated portion for showing up. Alternately we just cut you at the end of camp ala Justin and hope nobody else snatches you up. In any case, unfortunately Watkins could be the newest victim of the eternal non-rebuild rather than the guy who finally signals a change. Squish Hawes and Justin deep onto the bench, squish Watkins right off the roster as the guy without a big guaranteed deal.

 

[John Galt]

maybe a prelude to a KT buyout at least? actually while we're at it maybe we can buy out KT and SAR? That would be a positive development.

 

[Entity]

So assuming Watkins a Shakur make the team. that gives us 14 on a possible 15 man roster. So that just 2 inactive probably Skakur and Watkins until an injur occurs. That is about what we had last year but, it was Potapenko and Douby most of the time.

Bibby/Shakur/Douby
Martin/Salmons
Artest/Garcia
Sar/KT/Williams/Watkins
Miller/Moore/Hawes

 

[Kingster]

This is going to sound strange, but this COULD be the most positive development of this offseason so far (given the options, not saying much, but....). Not because Darryl Watking is going to come in here and tear things up (although I liked his solid big man game in summer league), but because of the huge logjam he could create up front. Surely that would point to an actual MOVE being made with one or more of the old spare parts right? Right?

Well, it does seem logical. And it does seem like common sense. All the more reason to believe no move will be made to relieve congestion at the big man slots. Petrie seems to be saying that if he can't get quality, he's going to get quantity. Williams and Watkins will battle each other for 5 minutes per game at the end of blowouts, while SAR and KT battle each other literally for playing time. Miki is too nice to squabble, so he'll find a safe spot at the end of the bench.

Regarding a trade of the big men: I'll believe it, when I see it.

 

[SacKings7]

At least Petrie seems to be over his tweener PG-SG/SG-SF fetish.

 

[tyrant]

mikki, hawes, watkins. 3 new additions and we resigned williams. these 3 guys have to really show what they can do if they want to keep sar and thomas on the bench.

 

[DocHolliday]

Not with Miller, KT and SAR gettin a lot of minutes

Theus has stated multiple times that people will get minutes based on their play, not by how much money they make. if the young guys are hustling and doing what they need to do, the names you mentioned may not have significant play time on a regular basis.

 

[ovrush]

mikki, hawes, watkins. 3 new additions and we resigned williams. these 3 guys have to really show what they can do if they want to keep sar and thomas on the bench.

Run? Jump? Breathe? Collect less than outrageous contracts for more than subpar defense, average scoring, inept rebounding, and a bad attitude? (perhaps not fair to Mikki since his contract IS outrageous)

this should be a no brainer for the organization pin the overpaid vets to the bench if you can't ship them off and go young period dot. (sadly this should probly mean Mikki too as I'd rather see Hawes/Watkins/Williams than anyone over 30 )

 

[bajaden]

I liked what I saw of Watkins in the summer league. He looked a little lost at times but he has something Williams doesn't. A 15 to 18 ft. jump shot. He also seemed to be a pretty good free throw shooter. He could be a candidate for the DL. Something the Kings haven't taken part in as yet. He's not quite as athletic as Williams or as quick, but he's certainly quicker than SAR or Miller. I agree with Bricky that this could signal that more moves are coming.

There are some teams out there that are starting to get desperate to do something. Miami, New York, Cleveland, and the Lakers. We have what they want. The question is, do they have what we want....

 

[kingsfan101]

Theus has stated multiple times that people will get minutes based on their play, not by how much money they make. if the young guys are hustling and doing what they need to do, the names you mentioned may not have significant play time on a regular basis.

Hope that is true, but the statement by itself doesn't mean much. All coaches say such things. No one will ever say that I shall continue to play highly paid vets even if the younger, lower paid kids are hungrier and better.

Let's see what he does once the season starts.

 

[DocHolliday]

Hope that is true, but the statement by itself doesn't mean much. All coaches say such things. No one will ever say that I shall continue to play highly paid vets even if the younger, lower paid kids are hungrier and better.

Let's see what he does once the season starts.

I think Theus might actually be just cocky enough to do it. We shall see though.

 

[dude12]

I think Theus might actually be just cocky enough to do it. We shall see though.

I'm on the same page here. No way in hell Musselman would ever sit those vets but I don't see Theus as an insecure guy wanting to be friends or making the players happy.

 

[VF21]

CLARIFICATION:

From what I've heard it's just a camp invite at this point. NO SIGNING of any kind.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think Theus might actually be just cocky enough to do it. We shall see though.

When his locker room is an openly rebellious cesspool and the owners begin screaming about why their $50million of players are not only benched, but now rapidly becoming untradeable cancers all demanding buyouts, and the poisonous atmosphere is turning off fans and causing their young playes to start looking for greener pastures, he may discover why the actual NBA level coaches don't do it either. Young cheap guys will accept being benched. Old vets on huge contracts with a rookie coach will not.

He simply can NOT, unless Geoff Petrie helps him. Geoff hasn't appeared inclined to do that so far. But Reggie needs Geoff to move multiple vets now, this offseason, not just to clear minutes, but to finally signal the change to a rebuild. Only when its clear that the vets are ALL on the way out, that they have no say because we are finally headed down the Portland/Minnesota etc. path can Reggie play the young guys over the vets. Only then can he blame it on the rebuild philosophy and deflect the anger/frustration of vets who will not accept it otherwise.


Otherwise, if Geoff's hands continue to slowly merge with his butt cheeks as he sits on them in his recliner, then Reggie will have little choice than to play the vets. In fact he may even be ORDERED to do so by Geoff in order to try to drive up their trade value, and any time for the kids might not come until deep into the season aftr trades are finally made draining guys away.

 

[dude12]

When his locker room is an openly rebellious cesspool and the owners begin screaming about why their $50million of players are not only benched, but now rapidly becoming untradeable cancers all demanding buyouts,

There is not one team in the NBA who wants Kenny Thomas in a trade. He has no trade value. He can't help a potential playoff team get over the hump, not good enough. A young team won't want him, he's a cancer already. His only value will come when he's got one year left on his contract. SAR can get 15-18 minutes per game in the beginning to try and stoke some trade talk but at some point he will be riding pine also. He's got some value as a guy who can score in the post. That will be important to some team who needs a vet off the bench to score a little.

I've said it before but KT with that contract is untradeable.

 

[fnordius]

I'm going to take a wild guess that the front office is finally thinking about doing something with the DL. Shakur is needed, but his FG% has been very inconsistent, to put it charitably. Watkins could also use some post-collegiate practice, and how's he going to get any minutes behind Miller/Moore/SAR/Williams/Hawes/KT?

While I'd love to see a blockbuster trade that unloads some of our veteran bigs, I long ago stopped holding my breath. Unless SAR or Miller show big improvements in their physical condition this year, or unless we trade away some guys we'd much rather keep as part of the deal, I doubt that anybody's going anywhere.

I know that I'm going out on a limb, since we've never used the DL before (even in cases where it was the obvious choice), but I really cannot figure out what we'd do with 7 bigs. Hopefully it's not the usual (cut him a few days before Halloween).

 

[Kingster]

When his locker room is an openly rebellious cesspool and the owners begin screaming about why their $50million of players are not only benched, but now rapidly becoming untradeable cancers all demanding buyouts, and the poisonous atmosphere is turning off fans and causing their young playes to start looking for greener pastures, he may discover why the actual NBA level coaches don't do it either. Young cheap guys will accept being benched. Old vets on huge contracts with a rookie coach will not.

He simply can NOT, unless Geoff Petrie helps him. Geoff hasn't appeared inclined to do that so far. But Reggie needs Geoff to move multiple vets now, this offseason, not just to clear minutes, but to finally signal the change to a rebuild. Only when its clear that the vets are ALL on the way out, that they have no say because we are finally headed down the Portland/Minnesota etc. path can Reggie play the young guys over the vets. Only then can he blame it on the rebuild philosophy and deflect the anger/frustration of vets who will not accept it otherwise.

Otherwise, if Geoff's hands continue to slowly merge with his butt cheeks as he sits on them in his recliner, then Reggie will have little choice than to play the vets. In fact he may even be ORDERED to do so by Geoff in order to try to drive up their trade value, and any time for the kids might not come until deep into the season aftr trades are finally made draining guys away. Otherwise Cisco

That scenario sure sounds familiar: It's Musselman era deja vu. Good analysis. The "play the young guys" scenario is a pipe dream, unless as you say Petrie finally deals the old guys. If Petrie doesn't do it, Theus will be thrown to the wolves, just like Muss.

 

[Kingster]

There is not one team in the NBA who wants Kenny Thomas in a trade. He has no trade value. He can't help a potential playoff team get over the hump, not good enough. A young team won't want him, he's a cancer already. His only value will come when he's got one year left on his contract. SAR can get 15-18 minutes per game in the beginning to try and stoke some trade talk but at some point he will be riding pine also. He's got some value as a guy who can score in the post. That will be important to some team who needs a vet off the bench to score a little.

I've said it before but KT with that contract is untradeable.

Well, it could go like this. Petrie offers to trade Bibby to Team X and Team X offers only 75% of what Petrie thinks Bibby is worth in return. So, Petrie says to Team X: I need you to take Kenny Thomas in order go forward with the trade. Team X then may decide to "eat" Thomas in order to make the deal. In effect, Petrie sells a liability as part of the trade.

 

[Troy]

Well, it could go like this. Petrie offers to trade Bibby to Team X and Team X offers only 75% of what Petrie thinks Bibby is worth in return. So, Petrie says to Team X: I need you to take Kenny Thomas in order go forward with the trade. Team X then may decide to "eat" Thomas in order to make the deal. In effect, Petrie sells a liability as part of the trade.

I sure hope Team X takes Kenny like the Cavs! The Celtics with their "win now" theme sure could use Bibby, but they just shipped away a lot of players to get MR. KG!

 

[dude12]

Well, it could go like this. Petrie offers to trade Bibby to Team X and Team X offers only 75% of what Petrie thinks Bibby is worth in return. So, Petrie says to Team X: I need you to take Kenny Thomas in order go forward with the trade. Team X then may decide to "eat" Thomas in order to make the deal. In effect, Petrie sells a liability as part of the trade.

Yes, that is the only way KT gets traded. As a chip by himself, he has zero value. Bibby and KT together represent quite a bit of salary so I feel as if its not possible but I hope it happens.

 

[DocHolliday]

When his locker room is an openly rebellious cesspool and the owners begin screaming about why their $50million of players are not only benched, but now rapidly becoming untradeable cancers all demanding buyouts, and the poisonous atmosphere is turning off fans and causing their young playes to start looking for greener pastures, he may discover why the actual NBA level coaches don't do it either. Young cheap guys will accept being benched. Old vets on huge contracts with a rookie coach will not.

He simply can NOT, unless Geoff Petrie helps him. Geoff hasn't appeared inclined to do that so far. But Reggie needs Geoff to move multiple vets now, this offseason, not just to clear minutes, but to finally signal the change to a rebuild. Only when its clear that the vets are ALL on the way out, that they have no say because we are finally headed down the Portland/Minnesota etc. path can Reggie play the young guys over the vets. Only then can he blame it on the rebuild philosophy and deflect the anger/frustration of vets who will not accept it otherwise.


Otherwise, if Geoff's hands continue to slowly merge with his butt cheeks as he sits on them in his recliner, then Reggie will have little choice than to play the vets. In fact he may even be ORDERED to do so by Geoff in order to try to drive up their trade value, and any time for the kids might not come until deep into the season aftr trades are finally made draining guys away. Otherwise Cisco

Sounds like a bunch over paid cry babies. Oh wait, that's actually what we have. Let them want to leave, we don't want them anyway. Young guys won't look for greener pastures when they are getting play time and actually excelling and benefitting the team.

This is the EXACT attitude that has brought sports to the current state of affairs. Players running the team, not the coach or GM. I think it's time for someone to change that at ALL costs.

 

[JoMama]

Grant Napear once again this afternoon voiced the opinion that the Kings will make a deal right before camp opens. In his opinion, Boston and Orlando strengthened their teams in the East and other teams (he mentioned Miami and New York) are feeling the pressure to improve their rosters.
By waiting, Napear says Petrie will get a better deal from teams that are becoming desperate to compete this season. Bibby and Artests are the players the Kings want to move, he says. He's laid this scenario out before and hasn't wavered.

 

[Rockmeister]

Grant Napear once again this afternoon voiced the opinion that the Kings will make a deal right before camp opens. In his opinion, Boston and Orlando strengthened their teams in the East and other teams (he mentioned Miami and New York) are feeling the pressure to improve their rosters.
By waiting, Napear says Petrie will get a better deal from teams that are becoming desperate to compete this season. Bibby and Artests are the players the Kings want to move, he says. He's laid this scenario out before and hasn't wavered.

Last month, I heard Grant saying that in July there will be a couple of trades. Throughout the whole month in July, I waited and waited and waited and still no trade. Now, Grant has said again the Kings will make a deal. Well, I'm not holding my breath this time. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[JoMama]

Last month, I heard Grant saying that in July there will be a couple of trades. Throughout the whole month in July, I waited and waited and waited and still no trade. Now, Grant has said again the Kings will make a deal. Well, I'm not holding my breath this time. I'll believe it when I see it.

Since he has close contacts in the Kings front office, what he says usually comes true. If it doesn't, it's not because the Kings didn't try. I can't see the Kings starting the season with basically last year's roster and meat scraps to fill out the bench area. It's just good business to put butts in the seats and you need hope to do that. At this point, it's hopeless.

 

[SacTownKid]

This is going to sound strange, but this COULD be the most positive development of this offseason so far (given the options, not saying much, but....). Not because Darryl Watking is going to come in here and tear things up (although I liked his solid big man game in summer league), but because of the huge logjam he could create up front. Surely that would point to an actual MOVE being made with one or more of the old spare parts right? Right?

Of course given that is another of those partially guaranteed things we've been throwing aroud gin recent years, its really kind of a glorified training camp contract. Survive camp, or make it to Dec. 15 or Jan 15 or some such, and you get all the money. Otherwise, you jsut get a prorated portion for showing up. Alternately we just cut you at the end of camp ala Justin and hope nobody else snatches you up. In any case, unfortunately Watkins could be the newest victim of the eternal non-rebuild rather than the guy who finally signals a change. Squish Hawes and Justin deep onto the bench, squish Watkins right off the roster as the guy without a big guaranteed deal.

I...I will...weep

 

[LPKingsFan]

I sure hope Petire's waiting is working in his favor by putting the pressure on potential suitors to make a better offer. Because at this rate he'll be bluffing his way into a total disaster.

That said, Artest to NY, Bibby to Miami, and Brad to Orlando would get things right.