Kings' Weakest Position?

[SacTownGrantFan]

I think that Power Forward is clearly the Kings' weakest position, now that the roster has revealed itself and we are the near the end of the 2013-14 season.

Going into the season, I would have thought Small Forward was the weakest, but this is no longer the case. Assuming we hang on to Rudy Gay (fingers crossed), people most definitely cannot say that we are weak at SF.

To refresh your memory, our Power Forwards are Jason Thompson and Derrick Williams. Both are proven backups, but neither are capable starters. Jason puts up decent numbers, but his ceiling has been reached, and his help defense is horrendous. Oh wait! He'll tell you that he's only committed a handful of fouls, ever, in the NBA.

Derrick Williams is wildly inconsistent. For several reasons, he'll never be a dominant starter. At least not on a consistent basis. Enough said.

If we sign Rudy Gay in the offseason and draft Power Forward Julius Randle, that will be AWESOME!!

 

[Entity]

So you think Williams and Thompson are only backups? How is randle any better than either?

 

[Spike]

I think Randle would be a bad fit next to Cousins. I'd like a defensive PG to shift IT back into super sub and balance the roster.

 

[hrdboild]

I just don't see that this is a productive question. If you go position by position you can identify where we're not getting production this season but that isn't the same thing as projecting where our needs are going forward...

We're not getting a lot of scoring from the PF position this season, for instance, but we don't really need it either. We badly need an impact paint defender at either front court position. It's the role that is a problem rather than the position. Thompson is a pretty good backup big and Evans is an elite rebounder so we're not helpless depth-wise, we just don't have the right type of player to fit next to Cousins. And Cousins is so talented offensively that we're not limited to the PF position to fill that role. He could slide to PF to accommodate a defensive C like Embiid.

The SG position has been a sore spot this season with McLemore reminding us (after success stories in Evans and Cousins) that 21 year olds often play like 21 year olds. Thornton had an opportunity to be a valuable bench piece but I don't think he ever mentally accepted that role. But then while the production isn't there, having a talented 21 year old athlete to develop for the next 3 seasons isn't the worst position to be in as a team. We could find a solid 3 and D wing as a shot-term solution and push McLemore to the bench while he develops. I think he's shown enough though to continue grooming him as the starter and find someone who can come off the bench and make open shots.

The SF position is a big question mark right now. At the start of the season we had no front-line talent and now we have a legit starter in Rudy Gay and a promising prospect in Derrick Williams. Gay has an unresolved contract situation though and Williams may or may not find the missing piece which allows him to thrive in a starting role. We don't need help at the position anymore, but it's reasonable I think to question whether we've found the best fit yet. Or, in other words, if you believe in their talent you pick Wiggins or Parker anyway even if they don't represent a short-term upgrade over Rudy Gay. Long-term is the goal here.

And then there's the PG position. Again, the production is there. Objectively speaking Isaiah has been a real bright spot for the team this year. He proved he belongs in the league and he proved it in a big way. Ray McCallum is also starting to show us in his limited minutes that he's earned the coach's confidence and deserves ours as well. I would have no problem trusting either of these guys with the backup PG role next season. And I also wouldn't have a problem with either of them as the starter either, in the right circumstances. The problem though is that some nights IT looks like he's growing as a play maker and some nights he still has tunnel vision. We don't need help at the position, but with so many elite PGs in the NBA right now, we certainly could stand to improve at this position if the right player becomes available.

Which is my long-winded way of saying don't count your chickens before they hatch. Cousins is a given. Centers with his talent are so rare that you do everything you can to help them succeed if you're lucky enough to get one. Everything else is still in flux as far as I'm concerned. We have some solid vets and some promising prospects. We have a couple of proven scorers with expiring contracts. There's a lot to sort out still. And we badly need to start emphasizing defense and fundamentals with our roster moves from this point. I wouldn't turn down talent at any position right now if it was the right kind of talent -- a player who fills a role on both ends of the court and pushes us toward being respectable defensively.

 

[Glenn]

I think Randle would be a bad fit next to Cousins. I'd like a defensive PG to shift IT back into super sub and balance the roster.

I'm with Spike mainly because he has pictures of me and a few women in Las Vegas.

Seriously, although I think we need a better power forward, I don't think that excludes anyone called a center in college as Cuz can be labeled as either a PF or center. Take your pick but let's not get trapped in some preconceived idea of what a center or PF must be. Also, Cuz has a wide range on offense and I think he does as much as most PFs do right now. I would like Vonleh and if need be, Cauley-Stein. Vonleh seems to be more of a complete package as best I know while Cauley-Stein is a defensive player and little more. Cauley-Stein is fairly quick on his feet so isn't trapped as a guy who would hang around the paint. If he can evolve a little and contribute on the offensive end, so much the better. I have not researched the college shot blockers but I would not be surprised if Cauley-Stein is the best shot blocker in college.

Some people will say SG is a weakness on this team but I must ask the question of what exactly a SG must do in our starting lineup. Shooting doesn't seem to be high on the list of requirements.

 

[EJF]

Right now - SG

Long term - PF

 

[Bricklayer]

SG is still the weakest position, but the talent there is at least potentially greater than PF.

The PF quandary though is this: yes its one of the two weaker positons. But the needs of the positon do not dictate a star player. In fact cannot tolerate one unless one of our "Big Three" goes. What it needs to up its stature is an elite roleplayer. Right now we've got two middling ones who are kinda/sorta holding the spot down in Reggie and JT. What we need as an upgrade is one really good one, backed up by one of those guys (I wouldn't mind both, but JT's contract is probably too big for us to use him just as a limited minute backup).

On the other hand, we are dead last in the NBA in assists, and have been ever since we went to our "Big Three" lineup, and we're bottom 1/3 in 3pt shooting, which kind of hurts when you've got a big post masher and need to create space for him. So there are certainly other areas of need as well.

 

[KingsCitizen]

Exxum, if the good scouting reports are really true, is probably the bull's eye type of player we need to get.
Our weakest position is the guard spot.
And specifically we don't have a very good player that can put IT to the bench or play beside IT as the bigger guard, who would help in ball distribution because IT is more of a score first PG, and bring in really good defense in our back court. The sort of an athletic Greivis Vasquez who can play defense.

Even if Rudy would walk, I think D-Will has shown flashes that with big minutes he can deliver. Only thing missing is consistency.
The PF could use an upgrade. But I like what Evans is bringing on the table so far.

 

[Bosnian Diehard]

I was originally going to select PF. But then I remembered that we had SG's.

 

[Warhawk]

1. SG
2a. PF
2b. PG (IT goes to be a super sub 6th man)
4. SF (assuming Rudy stays for his contract next year)
5. C

And I could be convinced on swapping 2a and 2b.

 

[PurpleHaze]

C is an option?! I voted SG and hope since our starter is only 21 he just grows into it - at a faster rate.

 

[The_Jamal]

Pretty easy question. Clearly, SG and PF are our weakest positions, with PF having the least long-term potential.

 

[rainmaker]

Announcers.

Both need replacing.

 

[pshn80]

Announcers.

Both need replacing.

Come to California. We have a couple of good ones in Sacramento. Napear and Reynolds.

 

[rainmaker]

Come to California. We have a couple of good ones in Sacramento. Napear and Reynolds.

I'm 78 mins southeast of the arena, on a good day.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

I'm 78 mins southeast of the arena, on a good day.

And on a bad day, much of California including Sacramento has fallen into the ocean and you have beachfront property?

 

[Gilles]

"currently weakest Kings' position" is obviously SG: Kings have below average bencher as a starter and no backup. But potentially it's a good starting big next to Cousins, who hasn't arrived yet.

 

[Bricklayer]

I'm 78 mins southeast of the arena, on a good day.

I was trying to think what was 78 mins southeast of Sacramento. you live with Yogi in Yosemite? Is that you Boo Boo?

 

[ParniValjak]

Like every bad team we have many weaknesses with SG being the most obvious one.

We also desperately need an upgrade at PF but as brick said, a very high level role player, preferably a shot blocker / rim protector.

We also need to sort out the PG mess that we have. IT should be moved to 6th man role.

 

[Warhawk]

I was trying to think what was 78 mins southeast of Sacramento. you live with Yogi in Yosemite? Is that you Boo Boo?

I would guess somewhere around San Andreas, Yosemite is a *bit* farther than that.

 

[Kingster]

Turnovers need to be replaced.

 

[SacTownGrantFan]

So you think Williams and Thompson are only backups? How is randle any better than either?

Yes, I think on a serious playoff roster, Williams and Thompson are not good enough to be starters.

Randle has good potential. Just my personal opinion. But how is Randle better than Thompson or Williams? That's an ill-fitting question because the guy is still in college. How about giving him a year in the NBA before asking that.

 

[John Galt]

Reggie Evans + Jason Thompson + Derrick Williams + Carl Landry >>>>>> Ben McLemore + nobody + nobody. Not even close. I don't even see PF as a real panic position right now with the enforcer grabbing 10+ boards a night and not hogging shots. We have 4 decent players with different personalities to rotate out there at PF. If we had a polished piece out there at SG we'd be a playoff team I think.

At SG we have Ben and then I don't know what the hell... all our eggs are in one basket. I sure hope he has a good summer!!

PG should not even be in the discussion - I have been an IT basher but I've surrendered. He's pretty damn good and he's durable. Not a position of dire need like SG & PF.

 

[Chupacabra]

While our weakest position is indeed Shooting guard I would have to say that our most immediate need is a defensive specialist at power forward.

 

[LPKingsFan]

This says it all in one chart (which may include some data from players no longer on the team, but still...)

 

[Entity]

Yes, I think on a serious playoff roster, Williams and Thompson are not good enough to be starters.

Randle has good potential. Just my personal opinion. But how is Randle better than Thompson or Williams? That's an ill-fitting question because the guy is still in college. How about giving him a year in the NBA before asking that.

we don't have time for "potential" because Potentially Randle will be no better than either. He has done nothing that they didn't do in college.

 

[Bricklayer]

I would guess somewhere around San Andreas, Yosemite is a *bit* farther than that.

I don't know where that is -- somewhere out Sonora way? Big Trees!

Its more fun to say Boo Boo anyway.

P.S. Randle projects out to be a much different and MUCH more skilled player than JT/Evans. Paul Milsap maybe. But that's the problem. We don't need, nor even want, a player of that ilk. We need defense, rebounding and stay out of the way. Not another shot dependent player begging for the ball and getting beat on the other end.

 

[FaStRmAn]

I really believe that until the Shooting guard situation is resolved, it is are most pressing need. Second is a Vet PG who can defend and run the offense. 3rd is the need for a front court defender at PF.

I am sure the coaching staff is hoping that Ben will fulfill the first need. A vet PG will be available in free agency. And a front court defender may be available in the draft. It would seem that is the way the team is leaning. They have made it clear that they will build around Cuz, and Rudy has solidified the SF position. Everything else is in flux. IT can start until a better solution can be found that is a better defender and distributor. IT would be the 6th man of the year if he came off the bench.

 

[rainmaker]

I was trying to think what was 78 mins southeast of Sacramento. you live with Yogi in Yosemite? Is that you Boo Boo?

Well that's dumb of me. Southwest. Bay Area.

Not a hillbilly.

 

[Warhawk]

Well that's dumb of me. Southwest. Bay Area.

Not a hillbilly.

You will live where we tell you you live. And you will like it!

I don't know where that is -- somewhere out Sonora way? Big Trees!

Its more fun to say Boo Boo anyway.

Do the google! It is about halfway between the metropoli of Jackson and Angel's Camp!