Telemachus
Starter
Well, I did say "one" of the best PGs in this draft. I assumed Dunn would be the best and everyone else was shooting for 2nd best.
PG for the Kings
- Thread starter King Baller
- Start date
Well, I did say "one" of the best PGs in this draft. I assumed Dunn would be the best and everyone else was shooting for 2nd best.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
And again, makes absolute 100% sense.
I like this Vlade front office. Its the first time in living memory for most Kings fans that everything the front office does makes 100% sense/follows the same goal.
Nick Calathes:
played for Joerger in 2013-14 and 2014-15
noted for his defense
6'6" tall -- one more long defensive backcourt presence
Absolutely 100% makes sense under all the rules we have been following this summer.
Now the question: how could we afford him? I thought we tapped ourselves out capwise, even if he has a way out of his Greek contract? Would one of our trade pieces have to be just given away for cap space to make this happen?
We have the room exception, which is $2.9M. That should be just a touch over what he is making in Europe (two years left on a reported 3/$7M contract, or $2.3M per year) but I'm not seeing anything suggesting he has an NBA out clause or a buyout.
Calathes would either spell the end for I-Cuz or would require us to eventually pull a two-for-one deal (or straight up cut somebody, but the only real candidate is McLemore and I don't see that happening).
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
I-Cuz really isn't of great interest beyond Reno. Got one look at his athleticism at SL and said, oh, ok. Gotcha.
But Calathes is a major person of interest, and the pursuit alone now brings into clear focus our backcourt vision.
Think Memphis 2014-15:
Courtney Lee/Tony Allen
Mike Conley/Benu Udrih/Nick Calathes
We went after Lee, found him too expensive, settled for Afflalo instead. Temple comes in as a more versatile Allen figure that can play 3 positions (we also call that guy Doug Christie). The designated little guard goes from Conley to Collison. We sign Calathes. And really the only question is did we have to use Ben to create that, and would Calathes be trusted fully as a vet without the Beno crutch? I think given Temple's ability to play the PG too, the answer is yes. Malachi is the 5th guard if Ben is moved..
Arron Afflalo/Garret Temple/Malachi Richardson
Darren Collison/Nick Calathes
If Joerger can reach Afflalo and reactivate his defense then that backcourt has lots of length and defense, and those traits are clearly prioritized over offense.
But Calathes is a major person of interest, and the pursuit alone now brings into clear focus our backcourt vision.
Think Memphis 2014-15:
Courtney Lee/Tony Allen
Mike Conley/Benu Udrih/Nick Calathes
We went after Lee, found him too expensive, settled for Afflalo instead. Temple comes in as a more versatile Allen figure that can play 3 positions (we also call that guy Doug Christie). The designated little guard goes from Conley to Collison. We sign Calathes. And really the only question is did we have to use Ben to create that, and would Calathes be trusted fully as a vet without the Beno crutch? I think given Temple's ability to play the PG too, the answer is yes. Malachi is the 5th guard if Ben is moved..
Arron Afflalo/Garret Temple/Malachi Richardson
Darren Collison/Nick Calathes
If Joerger can reach Afflalo and reactivate his defense then that backcourt has lots of length and defense, and those traits are clearly prioritized over offense.
biltalent
Starter
If my understanding is correct moving Ben wouldn't help us in giving Calathes more money. After signing our rookies we are 1.7 mil over the cap. So even if we dump him for a future pick it would only give us 2.3 mil in cap space which is less than the room exeption.
There is no NBA buyout fee in Calathes contract with the Greek club this year. Plus his current club released an announcement saying Calathes has got a contract with them for the next 2 years and will stay there. IMHO thats good news for Kings fans.
http://www.eurohoops.net/featured/287443/calathes-is-bound-with-panathinaikos
According to Eurohoops sources from the States, there was some kind of interest from the Kings for the player, but no offer is made and it’s very hard for this to happen for two reasons. The first is that Calathes’ contract with Panathinaikos – which pays him $2,1 m. annually – does not include any buy out option for this season and the second that Calathes is a restricted free agent of Memphis. The Kings were in theory willing to give him the veteran’s minimum, but in that case Memphis would match their offer, so it’s more than unlikely for Calathes to leave Europe this summer.
What’s even more interesting is that Panathinaikos seems to have predicted the new financial situation with the rise of the salary cap numbers. There’s an NBA buy out in Calathes contract for the summer of 2017, but the price tag is $4 million. This means that Calathes should get an offer close to $8 m. per year in order to leave next summer Greece and return to the States. However this is a possibility which will be examined next year and for now the chances of him leaving Panathinaikos are more than slim and pretty close to nonexistent.
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sono
Starter
What about his offense and playmaking?
Looks like he's a slightly better playmaker than Collison but can't shoot. Or at least is very streaky with the outside shot.
There is no NBA buyout fee in Calathes contract with the Greek club this year. Plus his current club released an announcement saying Calathes has got a contract with them for the next 2 years and will stay there. IMHO thats good news for Kings fans.
http://www.eurohoops.net/featured/287443/calathes-is-bound-with-panathinaikos
According to Eurohoops sources from the States, there was some kind of interest from the Kings for the player, but no offer is made and it’s very hard for this to happen for two reasons. The first is that Calathes’ contract with Panathinaikos – which pays him $2,1 m. annually – does not include any buy out option for this season and the second that Calathes is a restricted free agent of Memphis. The Kings were in theory willing to give him the veteran’s minimum, but in that case Memphis would match their offer, so it’s more than unlikely for Calathes to leave Europe this summer.
What’s even more interesting is that Panathinaikos seems to have predicted the new financial situation with the rise of the salary cap numbers. There’s an NBA buy out in Calathes contract for the summer of 2017, but the price tag is $4 million. This means that Calathes should get an offer close to $8 m. per year in order to leave next summer Greece and return to the States. However this is a possibility which will be examined next year and for now the chances of him leaving Panathinaikos are more than slim and pretty close to nonexistent.
While I don't know about the rest of that reporting, Eric Pincus has reported that the Grizzlies renounced their rights to Calathes and he is a free agent as far as the NBA is concerned: https://mobile.twitter.com/EricPincus/status/753769390760263680
A $4M buyout on the final $2.1M year of a three year contract also sounds a bit extreme but I guess that could be accurate.
I think we would be better off with a trade or signing a state side FA. This is the Chinese Tony Parker right? I'd like to see him attack the basket more, can he create his own shot? He's deft enough to break the press or pressure and has obvious skills. But for this squad being put together for the Kings, if your not 6'5", doesn't appear that he would fit.
@ESPNSteinLine: Philly, Brooklyn, Denver, Minnesota, Phoenix and Utah have at least $10 million in cap space. Waiters wound up settling for Miami's $2.9 mil
I see cap space and think trade partner, especially with PHX having an overload of guards. Minnesota has 3 PGs as well.
I see cap space and think trade partner, especially with PHX having an overload of guards. Minnesota has 3 PGs as well.
ParniValjak
All-Star
The thing about Calathes' contract is that the value there would be after tax as that is how salaries are calculated in Europe so it would have to be a fair bit more than our $2.9 million.
It's interesting that we are trying to recruit a PG that has history with Joerger in Memphis and as Brick said is known more as a defensive type. Another interesting angle is that Calathes plays for the same team that Papagiannis played for which means bringing over his teammate if this eventuates.
If we pull this off, there is a big of Greek flavor to this team with Koufos, Papagiannis and Calathes.
It's interesting that we are trying to recruit a PG that has history with Joerger in Memphis and as Brick said is known more as a defensive type. Another interesting angle is that Calathes plays for the same team that Papagiannis played for which means bringing over his teammate if this eventuates.
If we pull this off, there is a big of Greek flavor to this team with Koufos, Papagiannis and Calathes.
ockingsfan
Starter
Calathes NOT coming to Kings:
http://www.eurohoops.net/featured/288347/calathes-thank-you-kings-but-i-am-devoted-to-pao
White_Chocolate
Starter
Bummer. I liked the idea.
White_Chocolate
Starter
I would assume I-Cuz is better being that he was drafted. We need a backup PG who can play now more than a project.
ParniValjak
All-Star
Given the money and the contractual status he has over in Greece this always seemed like a long shot.
whozit
Starter
You know maybe it's the blinders on, but when I read the article in the link it was a definite No this year but next? Perhaps Vlade is doing preliminary work for the FA period next year when the Kings will have a little spending money.
ParniValjak
All-Star
Doesn't he have 2 years left?
whozit
Starter
I honestly don't know. The article mentioned a $4 million buyout next summer AND he was committed to his current team this next season. He is also quoted as saying he would like to play for Joerger again. If Vlade believes in him, the Kings could work out a deal to "compensate" him for his buyout while also protecting the Kings. And yes I know the $3.5 million dollar difference between league sanctioned team contribution and the actual buyout is a lot of money, but as a free agent they do have a lot of leeway on his starting salary.Doesn't he have 2 years left?
It's also possible a lot has been lost in the translation since I'm assuming English isn't his primary language.
One and Done
Bench
Wonder if this will be like '07 where we ran out of options and had Oriene Greene at the 1. Yeesh, that was ugly.
ParniValjak
All-Star
There are still some legitimately solid options out there. Whether they choose to sign with us is another thing. Players like Chalmers and Douglas make a lot of sense if healthy. Also someone like Cole might be someone we look at and would fit here reasonably well.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Calathes may not be the guy, but our pursuit of him should confirm the direction we are looking there: size and defense again. Scoring and even shooting not primary concerns.
And actually the way that was written he COULD not come here because there was no buy out at all. But that is kind of odd given our interest -- we would know that, and hence know it was impossible. In any case, a bit like Bogdan in that if what Calathes says about wanting to play for Joerger is true, we could eventually get him. But he may be missing a golden opportunity this year with our PG position weak enough he could have grabbed major time. Wait a year, or especially 2, and who knows how we might have filled it in the meantime.
And actually the way that was written he COULD not come here because there was no buy out at all. But that is kind of odd given our interest -- we would know that, and hence know it was impossible. In any case, a bit like Bogdan in that if what Calathes says about wanting to play for Joerger is true, we could eventually get him. But he may be missing a golden opportunity this year with our PG position weak enough he could have grabbed major time. Wait a year, or especially 2, and who knows how we might have filled it in the meantime.
ockingsfan
Starter
Don't be surprised if the kings sign Beno udrih as backup point guard.
Beno was joerger's backup in Memphis for 3 years. He is a trusted player in joerger's system.
Beno could fit in the room exception the kings still have.
Beno was joerger's backup in Memphis for 3 years. He is a trusted player in joerger's system.
Beno could fit in the room exception the kings still have.
biltalent
Starter
I wonder if we will now trade Rudy for Rodney Stuckey. There already were reports that we discussed a Rudy deal with the Pacers and everyone assumed it was for Monta Ellis. But what if we actually discussed Stuckey? He would fit right into all the moves we made as he is a tall vet PG. We bleed talent with that deal but Stuckey fits a need as a scoring backup PG and maybe Rudys interview now forces Vlades hand.
Collison / Stuckey
Afflalo / Temple / (Ben)
Casspi / Barnes
Definetly looks like I would expect a Joerger/Divac backcourt to look.
Edit: I went to Espns trade machine and Stuckey for Rudy straight up actually works because the Pacers are still under the cap. Coincidentally they are about 7 mil under the cap and and the difference between Rudys and Stuckeys contract is about 6 mil
Collison / Stuckey
Afflalo / Temple / (Ben)
Casspi / Barnes
Definetly looks like I would expect a Joerger/Divac backcourt to look.
Edit: I went to Espns trade machine and Stuckey for Rudy straight up actually works because the Pacers are still under the cap. Coincidentally they are about 7 mil under the cap and and the difference between Rudys and Stuckeys contract is about 6 mil
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K
KingMilz
Guest
Stuckey and CJ Miles sounds a lot better, CJ could be the starting SF (even if he's more of a SG) and him and Stuckey (back up PG/SG) could combined give us 30-32 points a night.I wonder if we will now trade Rudy for Rodney Stuckey. There already were reports that we discussed a Rudy deal with the Pacers and everyone assumed it was for Monta Ellis. But what if we actually discussed Stuckey? He would fit right into all the moves we made as he is a tall vet PG. We bleed talent with that deal but Stuckey fits a need as a scoring backup PG and maybe Rudys interview now forces Vlades hand.
Collison / Stuckey
Afflalo / Temple / (Ben)
Casspi / Barnes
Definetly looks like I would expect a Joerger/Divac backcourt to look.
Edit: I went to Espns trade machine and Stuckey for Rudy straight up actually works because the Pacers are still under the cap. Coincidentally they are about 7 mil under the cap and and the difference between Rudys and Stuckeys contract is about 6 mil
K
KingsFan80
Guest
I like Miles...seems like Stuckey stays hurt. Can Stuckey play point? I hope we don't go into the season with Temple as our backup PG
biltalent
Starter
I'm not familiar with Miles but his numbers look good. He shoots a lot of threes and makes them at a good clip. Per 36 he averaged 18 points.
How is his defense though? I wonder if that is the reason why he played only 23 min per game.
Anyways, I don't know if the Pacers make that deal. But maybe if we throw in Ben?
Rudy + Ben for Miles + Stuckey sounds fair for both teams.
