Kings pick up '13-'14 options on Cousins/Fredette

[Bricklayer]

http://tracking.si.com/2012/10/17/kings-pick-up-options-demarcus-cousins-jimmer-fredette/?xid=si_nba

Cousins was a no brainer, but frankly I am a little shocked at us picking up Jimmer's, not only given what he hasn't shown, but also because in looking forward making Jimmer into an expiring was a minor key to freeing up enough money this offseason to retain Evans, Johnson, and Brooks, who are all considerably superior players. Not that we have ever been accused of being good money managers, but still.

 

[SCKingsfan]

http://tracking.si.com/2012/10/17/kings-pick-up-options-demarcus-cousins-jimmer-fredette/?xid=si_nba

Cousins was a no brainer, but frankly I am a little shocked at us picking up Jimmer's, not only given what he hasn't shown, but also because in looking forward making Jimmer into an expiring was a minor key to freeing up enough money this offseason to retain Evans, Johnson, and Brooks, who are all considerably superior players. Not that we have ever been accused of being good money managers, but still.

Maybe they are assuming that he will maintain trade value, as a kick and shoot specialist at the very least, to the right team

 

[HndsmCelt]

they must see Jimmer as possible trade bait, but yeah I don't see it either.

 

[SacTownKid]

That or they want to see what happens with Tyreke. How this season goes at the start will depend heavily on whether or not he's back for the long term I'm sure. Teams will call on him this deadline and if there is a deal worth taking it may open up a spot for Jimmer in the rotation.

 

[pshn80]

Maybe they are assuming that he will maintain trade value, as a kick and shoot specialist at the very least, to the right team

My first thought also. They think he has value and I agree. I'm not looking for anything for the KIngs from Fredette except some useful trade value.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

http://tracking.si.com/2012/10/17/kings-pick-up-options-demarcus-cousins-jimmer-fredette/?xid=si_nba

Cousins was a no brainer, but frankly I am a little shocked at us picking up Jimmer's, not only given what he hasn't shown, but also because in looking forward making Jimmer into an expiring was a minor key to freeing up enough money this offseason to retain Evans, Johnson, and Brooks, who are all considerably superior players. Not that we have ever been accused of being good money managers, but still.

It's pretty rare that a team doesn't pick up the third-year option. It tends to be pretty cheap on the whole and the player has only had one year to show what they can do. When the Bucks declined Joe Alexander's third-year option in 2009, Wojarnowski wrote that only two other players (Patrick O'Bryant, Yaroslav Korolev) had suffered the same fate. I don't know if he meant "lottery" players and missed the word, or if every single one of the non-lotto picks had their third-year option picked up since the 2+1+1 structure came about, but at any rate it seems like the third year is almost always a shoe-in.

 

[mac]

That or they want to see what happens with Tyreke. How this season goes at the start will depend heavily on whether or not he's back for the long term I'm sure. Teams will call on him this deadline and if there is a deal worth taking it may open up a spot for Jimmer in the rotation.

I'm not sure opening up a spot for Jimmer in our rotation is a good thing ...

 

[Bricklayer]

It's pretty rare that a team doesn't pick up the third-year option. It tends to be pretty cheap on the whole and the player has only had one year to show what they can do. When the Bucks declined Joe Alexander's third-year option in 2009, Wojarnowski wrote that only two other players (Patrick O'Bryant, Yaroslav Korolev) had suffered the same fate. I don't know if he meant "lottery" players and missed the word, or if every single one of the non-lotto picks had their third-year option picked up since the 2+1+1 structure came about, but at any rate it seems like the third year is almost always a shoe-in.

We'll see how it plays out, but here's why its eyebrow raising this time:

He's our 5th guard.

After this season Tyreke Evans, James Johnson, and Aaron Brooks will all be free agents. Potentially 3 of our 5 starters, including our best defender and two guys who have averaged 20ppg as the ROY and MIP respectively. We are at $55mil in contracts this year. With Jimmer and picking up Isaiah's option (automatic) but letting Honeycutt and Cisco go, we'll be at $41mil before resigning anybody or chasing FAs next summer. Jimmer's deal is only $2.5mil for next season, but without it on the books we'd be at $38.5mil, and unless we're suddenly willing to spend up to the cap, we're going to need every penny we can get (even in a perfect world where you get Reke for $10mil, Johnson and Brooks for another $10 combined, that's $61mil). I can only imagine the joy in Kingsland if we lose one of three markedly superior players to get Jimmer for a third year.

 

[Gilles]

I think the way revenue sharing is constructed, until they hit luxury tax territory, $61 million or $67 million is all the same to the Kings. After 13-14 season when Cousins' contract kicks in, you have Salmons finally gone and Hayes and Outlaw as expiring. Also as this offseason showed middle class is squeezed by the new CBA so Johnson and Brooks may not even get $10 million together which makes $2.4 million for Jimmer look all the more questionable.

 

[jdbraver]

Jimmer couldn't stay in front of my grandma. He has the footspeed of Duane Causewell.

 

[bajaden]

First off, as stated, its rare for a team not to pick up the third year option on a player. Secondly, I know everyone has given up on Jimmer, but time and time again, players that struggle at first end up being at minimun decent rotational players, to at best, very solid contributers. Obviously I can't predict Jimmers future, unlike some of you, but I do know he's a hard worker and has the desire to be a good player. And that goes a long way toward becoming one. And yes, he is faster than Duane Causewell, who I had the unfortunate experience of being a season ticket holder through his tour with the Kings.

Its easy to make smug, and percieved funny remarks when someone is down. The irony is, that those that do, are the first to jump on the bandwagon when they end up being wrong. Jimmer wasn't my first choice, but I'm certainly willing to wait and see how he develops. I can remember when the same things were being said about JT. Every player can't be a star, although that would be nice. Although the expectations for Jimmer were high, the reality is, it usually takes time for most draft choices to find their way, and Jimmer is no exception. In short, I'm saying don't count him out just yet.

In Jimmers first year of college he was not very good. He struggled his second year as well. Suddenly in his third year, he broke out as one of the top scorers in the nation, and in his senior year he flirted with being the leading scorer in the nation with outstanding percentages. It didn't happen overnight. When he knows what he needs to improve, he improves in those areas. If he fails, it won't be for lack of putting in the time and effort.

 

[Bricklayer]

First off, as stated, its rare for a team not to pick up the third year option on a player. Secondly, I know everyone has given up on Jimmer, but time and time again, players that struggle at first end up being at minimun decent rotational players, to at best, very solid contributers. Obviously I can't predict Jimmers future, unlike some of you, but I do know he's a hard worker and has the desire to be a good player. And that goes a long way toward becoming one. And yes, he is faster than Duane Causewell, who I had the unfortunate experience of being a season ticket holder through his tour with the Kings.

Its easy to make smug, and percieved funny remarks when someone is down. The irony is, that those that do, are the first to jump on the bandwagon when they end up being wrong. Jimmer wasn't my first choice, but I'm certainly willing to wait and see how he develops. I can remember when the same things were being said about JT. Every player can't be a star, although that would be nice. Although the expectations for Jimmer were high, the reality is, it usually takes time for most draft choices to find their way, and Jimmer is no exception. In short, I'm saying don't count him out just yet.

In Jimmers first year of college he was not very good. He struggled his second year as well. Suddenly in his third year, he broke out as one of the top scorers in the nation, and in his senior year he flirted with being the leading scorer in the nation with outstanding percentages. It didn't happen overnight. When he knows what he needs to improve, he improves in those areas. If he fails, it won't be for lack of putting in the time and effort.

This isn't about Jimmer himself. I personally doubt he can be much in the NBA, but that's not really important. If nobody was a free agent, sure, give him the third year, I always prefer to wait on kids even if its a long shot.

BUT, the issue is that giving him another year could directly impact your ability to sign three markedly better players. Three guys with starter/major cog potential. And if it costs you one of them, then Jimmer's cost/benefit isn't just oh, maybe he can be ok eventually. If you lose guys in order to extend him then its he has to be better than Tyreke, or Brooks, or more important to us than Johnson is to make the extra year worth it. Now we're moving into the low percentages. I just hope for his, and our sakes that the Maloofs' wallets are more open than rumored and it doesn't impact anything.

 

[bajaden]

This isn't about Jimmer himself. I personally doubt he can be much in the NBA, but that's not really important. If nobody was a free agent, sure, give him the third year, I always prefer to wait on kids even if its a long shot.

BUT, the issue is that giving him another year could directly impact your ability to sign three markedly better players. Three guys with starter/major cog potential. And if it costs you one of them, then Jimmer's cost/benefit isn't just oh, maybe he can be ok eventually. If you lose guys in order to extend him then its he has to be better than Tyreke, or Brooks, or more important to us than Johnson is to make the extra year worth it. Now we're moving into the low percentages. I just hope for his, and our sakes that the Maloofs' wallets are more open than rumored and it doesn't impact anything.

Well I can't disagree with that approach. I guess we'll have to wait and see how much money the Maloofs are willing to spend. I don't see the team going forward with three PG's on the roster for more than this year. All three players have value, but at the present time, Jimmer has the least. But he is tradable, as is IT or Brooks. I have no idea what the mindset of Petrie is, or if he's even making the decisions money wise.

Honeycutt and IT are both non guaranteed next season, but cutting either or both wouldn't save much money since both are playing for the mininum salary. Cisco comes off the books, and if you take his entire salary, and add to what Tyreke would make next year, it would max out Tyreke's salary. Ditto the next year when Salmons comes off the books and you can add that amount to what Cuz would make.

Basicly we would be about the same in total salaries, but with two less players. However, it doesn't leave us a lot of flexability going forward. Do we give IT a four year contract since his contract is up the same time as Cuz. Plus we have to deal with J. Johnson if he proves to be our answer at SF. All of this is possible if the Maloofs are willing to spend. They can still stay under the luxury tax, but barely. So even though Fredette doesn't make an earthshattering salary, every little bit does count, and though they picked up his contract for next season, they don't have to pick it up for the following one.