Monte McNair
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
The other thing to recognize is that Monte just improved the talent base without too much going out. HB had some value but not as much as DDR and he’s on the downside of his career. Add in Carter if Carter is anything like his comp Derrick White. And if Isaac Jones or Crawford or even Mason Jones hit as rotation pieces then it’s a grand slam off-season.
Now it’s up to Brown AND the players to get this done.
Now it’s up to Brown AND the players to get this done.
The Kings are still awfully thin and small in the 3/4/5 area. One major injury to one of our front court players could be devastating.
And I don’t think shipping out Huerter (our only legitimate back up 3) would be the answer. Trading Huerter would only thin our front court.
Monte needs to go out and sign one of the few remaining 3/4 or 4/5 free agents still on the market ASAP. The Kings have some cap space still and there are a few FA that makes a lot of sense for the Kings. FA like Cedi Osman, Precious Aichiwua, Doug McD or Gordon Hayward would make a ton of sense and wouldn’t break the bank to get.
Monte needs to go out and sign someone to fill in the depth in the front out ASAP before all the good options are gone.
And I don’t think shipping out Huerter (our only legitimate back up 3) would be the answer. Trading Huerter would only thin our front court.
Monte needs to go out and sign one of the few remaining 3/4 or 4/5 free agents still on the market ASAP. The Kings have some cap space still and there are a few FA that makes a lot of sense for the Kings. FA like Cedi Osman, Precious Aichiwua, Doug McD or Gordon Hayward would make a ton of sense and wouldn’t break the bank to get.
Monte needs to go out and sign someone to fill in the depth in the front out ASAP before all the good options are gone.
Not sure if McDaniels will be in the rotation. Brown tends to favor players that can actually be a factor on the offensive side of the ball to play. McDaniels seems more like end of the bench player (12 to 15th man) to me.
If Davion (pre-last 25 games) and Kessler could hardly get off the bench for most of the season, not sure McDaniels will play any meaningful minutes.
If Davion (pre-last 25 games) and Kessler could hardly get off the bench for most of the season, not sure McDaniels will play any meaningful minutes.
At the moment, "There are only two players over 6-foot-9: Centers Domantas Sabonis and Alex Len." We need another big. Only one of the four guys mentioned here is taller than 6' 8", namely David Bertans.
https://www.si.com/nba/kings/sacramento-kings-news/4-remaining-free-agents-kings-should-target
https://www.si.com/nba/kings/sacramento-kings-news/4-remaining-free-agents-kings-should-target
Well, hopefully after all these years dating back to when Len was with the team the first time Len is the backup center. He's more than earned it and last year showed his impact. I figure this is the kind of thing that will battled out in preseason camp. 2-3 guys getting a chance to be that 14th man/3rd big.
My thoughts, some repetition from before:
- I'm a big Len fan but they still need another Center or at least a 4' that can play center. Even if Len is the backup, injuries are a thing. If Sabonis or Len get hurt, gotta have another big to turn to besides "small ball Lyles"
- Kessler Edwards should be re-signed. He's pretty much the exact sort of depth piece they need. I see Dorian Finney-Smith mentioned - and though he's a good fit - I'm not so sure Edwards is not better than him right now. Defensively, Edwards is rising & Finney-Smith at age 31 is diminishing. Ironically, Finney-Smith was a nobody (draft wise, and potential wise) earlier in his career but then got minutes. I see a similar trajectory for Edwards if Brown will just play the dude
- Not opposed to a Huerter, pick deal for a better forward (Cam Johnson, John Collins maybe) but I can see the point of just keeping Huerter since his value is low given end of last season. And given Carter is out to start year
- Coaching is going to be big this year. They need to add some wrinkles to the offense, not just throw the ball to DeRozan to let him shoot 17 footers for example. Use dribble hand offs in a more creative way, experiment w/ bigger lineups (Let Len shoot 3's, run some sets where they kick out to Len at the perimeter, and he sets pick to free up someone else, etc.).
- I'm a big Len fan but they still need another Center or at least a 4' that can play center. Even if Len is the backup, injuries are a thing. If Sabonis or Len get hurt, gotta have another big to turn to besides "small ball Lyles"
- Kessler Edwards should be re-signed. He's pretty much the exact sort of depth piece they need. I see Dorian Finney-Smith mentioned - and though he's a good fit - I'm not so sure Edwards is not better than him right now. Defensively, Edwards is rising & Finney-Smith at age 31 is diminishing. Ironically, Finney-Smith was a nobody (draft wise, and potential wise) earlier in his career but then got minutes. I see a similar trajectory for Edwards if Brown will just play the dude
- Not opposed to a Huerter, pick deal for a better forward (Cam Johnson, John Collins maybe) but I can see the point of just keeping Huerter since his value is low given end of last season. And given Carter is out to start year
- Coaching is going to be big this year. They need to add some wrinkles to the offense, not just throw the ball to DeRozan to let him shoot 17 footers for example. Use dribble hand offs in a more creative way, experiment w/ bigger lineups (Let Len shoot 3's, run some sets where they kick out to Len at the perimeter, and he sets pick to free up someone else, etc.).
Another point, I wasn't really in favor of the Vezenkov experiment. Thought it may have got in the way of Lyles a bit, who is a better overall NBA player and capable of shooting well enough, to make any difference there negligible.
If they're going to add a big, at least make him a physical big. In other words, not a Davis Bertans type
If they're going to add a big, at least make him a physical big. In other words, not a Davis Bertans type
Yeah - I have no problem with Lyles being the backup 5 or playing some minutes there. Historically though, Brown hasn't done a lot of that. The bigger issue is that if you play Lyles as the backup 5 you probably need another backup 4 and you are pushing Len out of the rotation. The question becomes whether we are better off with our backup 4/5 being Lyles/Len or whether we are better off with ??? Free agent/Lyles, with Len out of the rotation.
I want Brown and any coach to be flexible in using players in spots. Use Lyles as a 5 in situations. Play Len when you need full center size and against big 5's. Use someone like Edwards, when you need wing defense in a spot.
You can use strategic spot moves outside of your normal rotation. Even bringing someone else in, doesn't mean you forget about the strengths and advantages of each player available
You can use strategic spot moves outside of your normal rotation. Even bringing someone else in, doesn't mean you forget about the strengths and advantages of each player available
That doesn't surprise me. There's no one that I see left on the FA market that is worth the Biannual or the non-taxpayer MLE if it means going above the first apron. The Kings have just enough wiggle room to sign two veteran minimum players to fill out the roster.
My guess is that Kessler Edwards is one since he provides 3/4 depth and then likely a third string center. At this point that means someone like Bismack Biyombo or even bringing back JaVale McGee for another season.
Okoro would be a great signing, but I can't see him taking the minimum. If you'd rather have shooting than defense you could opt for someone like Reggie Bullock, but he's more of a 2/3 than a 3/4.
My guess is that Kessler Edwards is one since he provides 3/4 depth and then likely a third string center. At this point that means someone like Bismack Biyombo or even bringing back JaVale McGee for another season.
Okoro would be a great signing, but I can't see him taking the minimum. If you'd rather have shooting than defense you could opt for someone like Reggie Bullock, but he's more of a 2/3 than a 3/4.