In college he was relied upon for offense and rebounding. Defense was not a priority, but he has always been a good shot blocker. NBA players learn to play defense or they don't last very long. Golden State only signs players that are good at defense.
Kings SIGN Javale McGee
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
- One of our best players (and probably our most important player), an all-star, had a broken hand almost the entire season - that seems to be ignored every time this is brought up
- It's not our fault that other teams went in on trading for players that are older and/or are notoriously frequently hurt - that's like going to McD's for a shake and gambling on the machine working when you get there
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SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
De'Aaron being able to beat the injury bug for an entire season and not break his finger and the Kings probably get past the Warriors regardless. The real question is how far beyond them they go. I'm not sure C is the answer for those other teams but Monte's done a decent job of cobbling together some higher end minimum vet types.
Jones2006
Bench
Not sure I quite understand this, are you suggesting McGee would have played alongside Sabonis? Kings rarely if at all played a C next to Sabonis all year so I doubt they would have done that in the playoffs. Kings were a + in the non-Sabonis minutes in the Po’s, that wasn’t the issue.
I think these signings more point to the Kings figuring out they need Shot blockers / defenders behind Sabonis. Len worked last season so they’re adding more Len types for competition or just injury insurance.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
I’d be hard pressed to say Javale wouldn’t help at least put up a bit of a fight against AD and Jokic even if randomly having big games against Joker has sorta been Len’s thing as a King.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
McGee has always had that little extra bit of something. It just doesn't always matchup with the nervous center, haha.
NewArena
All-Star
This is such a great point and the perfect analogy.
- One of our best players (and probably our most important player), an all-star, had a broken hand almost the entire season - that seems to be ignored every time this is brought up
- It's not our fault that other teams went in on trading for players that are older and/or are notoriously frequently hurt - that's like going to McD's for a shake and gambling on the machine working when you get there
Probably not anymore, but Prime Javale was easily the worst player in NBA history that could just pop for 25-20 on any given night.
HndsmCelt
Hall of Famer
The Micky D's analogy, besides being dam funny, highlights a trend in the league worth discussing. With improved training and treatment, many good players are playing longer than players averaged just a few years ago. This seems to have had several impacts on the game. One of course is the perpetuation of gathering aged players who have had great careers with the idea that this "All Star Roster" can make a good run "this year." For lazy thinkers/writers that becomes the story. As far as this goes this trend has mostly just made me smile, but there are potentially serious problems for the league/players. If it is true that college ball and the G League are producing more talent than ever before it is also true that LESS of that talent can find it's way to the court when 39 year old Iggy is suiting up. Right now Rudy Gay is only the 10th oldest guy in the league at 36 and just played on a Championship team. Anyway, maybe not the biggest issue in the league but your jibe just got me started lol.
- One of our best players (and probably our most important player), an all-star, had a broken hand almost the entire season - that seems to be ignored every time this is brought up
- It's not our fault that other teams went in on trading for players that are older and/or are notoriously frequently hurt - that's like going to McD's for a shake and gambling on the machine working when you get there
Also:
- One of our best players (and probably our most important player), an all-star, had a broken hand almost the entire season - that seems to be ignored every time this is brought up
- It's not our fault that other teams went in on trading for players that are older and/or are notoriously frequently hurt - that's like going to McD's for a shake and gambling on the machine working when you get there
- Per Fox's interview with Deuce & Mo, he played hurt for a chunk of the season as did several other players, including Lyles - it may not be that they were completely healthy, but they played through some of these things that may have kept other players out of the lineup
I think the opportunity to shake the playoff drought was so great, that they all, to an individual, bought into playing through pain, for better or worse. Roster moves seem to indicate that Fox and Domas might be encouraged to take off a little more time next year if they really need it.
Either that, or the Kings will get a rep for being workhorses... Or, you know, like pretty much any team from before the load management era.
Sac.Kings
All-Star
It makes the most sense though. Len plays hard and knows his role and McGee has significant experience plus familiarity with Brown. If true, that’s the direction I expected them to go. Queta is still very much an unknown and he is too inconsistent. I think this will signal the end for him with us.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
For Lyles' contract to make any sense, that wouldn't be backup C minutes they'll be fighting for. It's those 7 mpg when needed spot.
Jones2006
Bench
Not sure I follow this thinking. He’s making 8 million a year not 20. That’s actually right around what Len/McGee make combined. By your salary = minutes logic, it would make sense for Lyles to play 15-20 mpg & Len/McGee to play 15-20 mpg too.
Really salary is irrelevant. The best guys should play.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
This is the same conversation almost every offseason when the Kings have a deep roster and somebody always seems to find that short straw when the season gets going. I figure Lyles was a rotation player last year making less, he got paid more, and for more than one year. The contract isn't a crippling thing but I would imagine for them to be that into re-signing him then the plan wasn't a cut in minutes or role. The Kings just added Sasha on top of it all, odds are some of those leftover Metu minutes at a whopping 10 per game are going that way. As always, for Len/McGee to play 15-20 minutes along with Lyles playing the same, work out the minutes. I don't think you can figure any of Barnes, Keegan, Sasha, or Lyles are playing much if any SG although a big lineup might work and hopefully Keegan breaks into legit starters minutes one way or another. Also some of the reason the Kings last year had decent looking minutes on some of the fringe guys like Metu/TD/Edwards was Brown would ride some guys some nights, and then they might not even play another night. So maybe some nights Lyles plays, some nights the true C's play which yes, is something Brown has done in the past. Outside of Lyles who played a lot of minutes next to Metu last year, the combo of "C's" of Metu, Len, Queta, and Holmes, none averaged more than 10 mpg last season except Metu and Metu played the most games at 66 of 82. If Len or McGee play the minutes you describe, someone else is getting cut to do it. Even during the season Lyles' big minute games usually came with Keegans time getting pinched in the process.
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