Let's get to the playoffs next year

[KingsCitizen]

Kings basketball is not fun anymore. And it will really be more frustrating if rebuilding mode will still need 2-3 yrs more before we say we will be legit. Then what? Are we gonna just turn into the Blazers of now after that? Just another playoff team but not a title contender? How about we fully redesign our team this year and this summer and build a playoff team for next season?

How? Compared to last year, we are now at a much better position to move our big(salary) chips around or cut them(no extension) and also has better draft positions.

So If we make the right moves now, we will be in the playoffs next year. Which will be a great experience for the kids to be in more pressured games. Since I think after 2009 draft we should stop getting kids and move with the legit vets/stars recruitment.

So here's what I see for this Team:

Youngins: Thompson(PF/C), Hawes(C/PF), Green(SF), Martin(SG), Williams(PF/C), Douby(SG), Brown(PG), Udrih(PG)
Vets: Miller(C), Moore(C/PF), Jackson(SG/PG), Salmons(SG), Garcia(SG/SF), Thomas(PF)


Movable/Tradable: Miller(C), Salmons(SG), Moore(C), Martin(SG)??
Possible cut/Non-extension of Contracts: Douby(SG), Jackson(PG), Williams(PF/C)
Possible Buy-outs: Thomas(PF), Moore(PF)


Possible Quality Players Left after re-org:

Hawes(C)
Thompson(PF)
Green(SF)
Martin(SG)
Garcia(SG)
Udrih(PG)

As I see it, there are 2 legit starters(Hawes(C), Martin(SG)) left and rest are better quality back-ups (Thompson(PF), Green(SF), Garcia(SG), Udrih(PG)).

Thus if we can get stud PG/SF/PF in the draft. We will only need 2 other studs to be legit team again. Moving Salmons and Brad should yield us these 2 possible starters (i.e. G. Wallace (by Trade) or Boozer (by FA) or maybe Hinrich (by Trade)) if Petrie makes unpredictable great moves.

Here's how I see our team after a shake-up:

Hawes (C)/ ??? (Back-up C)
??? (PF) / Thompson (Back-up PF)
??? (SF)/ Greene (Back-up SF)
Martin (SG)/ Garcia (Back-up SG)
??? (PG)/ Udrih (Back-up PG)

As I see it we are still 3 starters and 1 back-up C away from being legit. So if we keep on trades that will just basically drop our movable chips for nothing and not get a quality player in return we will be having AT LEAST 2-3 more seasons as cellar dwellers which I think will really dry out Kings Basketball.

So I do hope we can get to next season's playoffs by doing well on the draft day and successfully trade our key players(Miller and Salmons) for quality starters like G. Wallace or pick good FA this summer like Boozer.

Coz even if we take Wallace we can still sign at least a quality starter FA and good back-up this summer. Or if we take Hinrich and Noah/Thomas via Chicago trade, we can already fill the starter PG and back up C thus leaving for a draft day at SF or PF, which Griffin might be great if we get a great luck come June.

Random and weird thoughts in my mind right now:

1.) Trade Martin for a PF and high draft pick 09 keep Salmons, get G. Wallace for Miller. Draft a PG and big man in the draft. Salmons + Wallace + Rubio/Jennings will be any perimeter players nightmare on the defense. Plus they are above average offensive players.

2.) Get Hinrich and Noah for Miller, get Boozer of FA, and draft a SF/C (Thabeet/Mullens) on the draft. Move Salmons for a high draft pick and quality swingman(SF) or expiring contract.

What's yours?

 

[Jespher]

Good Plan, but it's the execution of it that is far fetched. Given this scenario, the Thunder have a good chance of making the playoffs next year. This isn't football, NBA rosters are rarely this liquid (because of guaranteed contracts) and the GMs are very calculating and averse to risk in all forms. I like to dream big too, but I think it will take baby steps to improve this deteriorating team...

 

[Jerryaki]

As I see it, there are 2 legit starters(Hawes(C), Martin(SG)) left and rest are better quality back-ups (Thompson(PF), Green(SF), Garcia(SG), Udrih(PG)).

Thus if we can get stud PG/SF/PF in the draft. We will only need 2 other studs to be legit team again. Moving Salmons and Brad should yield us these 2 possible starters (i.e. G. Wallace (by Trade) or Boozer (by FA) or maybe Hinrich (by Trade)) if Petrie makes unpredictable great moves.

wow. just...wow. so that's all we have to do, go out and get two studs, not draft a bust, and bam, we're in it? that's optimism at its very brightest, so bright that it obscures the actual predicament we are in.

our front office has not changed one bit (petrie + maloofs). if it were that easy to construct a contender in such a short amount of time, wouldn't they have done it since 2006? how many great trades have they swung since 2006??? we won't be in contention, let alone playoff bound, for a few years. we need our sucky contracts to expire, and draft as well as we can over the next few seasons, and seriously pray that one of them turns out to be a superstar.

we are not going to get a superstar free agent to sign in sac (let alone that sports illustrated just pointed out that only one superstar free agent ever helped the team that signed him to a championship: shaq).

we are not going to be able to trade any combination of picks, young kids, or expiring contracts for a superstar (unless that superstar is "troubled" and a "cancer" to his team, and they are looking to deal him; in which case, we again have to pray for that situation to come up).

yeah. so in my view, my plan for the future involves A LOT of praying.

 

[rings4Kings]

we are not going to get a superstar free agent to sign in sac (let alone that sports illustrated just pointed out that only one superstar free agent ever helped the team that signed him to a championship: shaq). [/quote]

KG?

 

[kennadog]

we are not going to get a superstar free agent to sign in sac (let alone that sports illustrated just pointed out that only one superstar free agent ever helped the team that signed him to a championship: shaq).

KG?[/quote]

No. KG was traded.

 

[Spike]

Playoffs? Playoffs!?! This is what rebuilding looks like.


There are several flaws with your premise. It's too early to say what we will get out of Thompson/Greene, especially Greene. Thompson's a bit older, but I digress.

Basically, you're looking at gutting the roster and filling it with superstars. Sure, wouldn't it be nice to have DWade, Bosh, and some PG to be named later? Nice, but not reality.

Finally, I wouldn't mind being the Portland Trailblazers right now. They're still an awfully young team loaded with talent. It's tough to write them off as non title contenders at this stage in the game.

At this point, it's about patience. The albatross contract of KT is about to become a valuable ender, Mikki's 3million buyout will be filler somewhere else. The trick is not to take back crap in return. It's time we let the kids develop and see what we have here. To me, the future looks pretty exciting, for the first time in a few years. I guess it's all dependent upon your point of view.

 

[Kingzrool]

we are not going to get a superstar free agent to sign in sac (let alone that sports illustrated just pointed out that only one superstar free agent ever helped the team that signed him to a championship: shaq).

KG?

OK, there is all this talk about free agency. And it is true that few difference makers have been acquired in FA. Then there is talk about Free Agency vs Draft. Draft is a little better, but aside from extenuating circumstances (Spurs), few recent championship teams have been built around the draft. The big problem with FA and the reason I do not understand this multi-team push for 2010 FA, is that almost always, a team works out a trade prior to losing a star or superstar in the FA. Cap space does not really help if you need to put together a trade. The Kings most likely will acquire the major peices to put around Kevin in trades.

And I care not about the Playoffs next year as long as I am happy with the team direction.

 

[Jerryaki]

Draft is a little better, but aside from extenuating circumstances (Spurs), few recent championship teams have been built around the draft.

the sample size of recent championship teams is sort of small: lakers, spurs, heat, celtics, pistons. lakers (kobe + shaq FA signing) and spurs (Duncan + Parker + Ginobli) were definitely winners in their drafting. the other three are one time wins, but even miami bult it around wade. i am not familiar with the celtics' draft history, and the pistons were an anomaly.

so the draft is a pretty huge component of recent championship teams. here's to hoping we luck out in our upcoming drafts just the same.

The Kings most likely will acquire the major peices to put around Kevin in trades.

this is nitpicking, but kevin martin is NOT the piece we build around. we put him around something else.

 

[BMiller52]

No lets miss the playoffs forever.

 

[AriesMar27]

well first we would need a good coach and the team needs an identity before we start trading and signing players or talking about making the playoffs....

 

[Alacron]

Let's see if I understand this... if we just get two studs, then all we'll need to get are three more studs, at which point the acquisition of a couple more studs will give us a lineup capable of NBA competition...

I like, I like!
~~

 

[Jerryaki]

Let's see if I understand this... if we just get two studs, then all we'll need to get are three more studs, at which point the acquisition of a couple more studs will give us a lineup capable of NBA competition...

no, no, the first five studs are all you need, the bench is for role players!!!

 

[bajaden]

Let's see if I understand this... if we just get two studs, then all we'll need to get are three more studs, at which point the acquisition of a couple more studs will give us a lineup capable of NBA competition...

I like, I like!
~~

Stud: a movable , double-headed flatheaded nail; upright wooden support, as in wall; a post.

How many do you want?