Royce White

Should we sign him?

  • Yes please!

    Votes: 11 21.6%
  • Ummm...what?

    Votes: 3 5.9%
  • Good god no

    Votes: 30 58.8%
  • Who?

    Votes: 7 13.7%

  • Total voters
    51
  • Poll closed .
#31
OK, what are his basketball skills and how can they help this team? In the thread I see he is talented but also a PF. This team has a plethora of them. What does he do that the others don't? I'm asking because I don't know.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#32
You do the same to me so when you ask me to give you a break, turn that around and give me a break.
What is it that you would like broken? Seriously, if I have misunderstood anything you've posted, then point it out to me at the time, and I'll gladly apologize. But don't throw that in my face now as some abstract argument. You totally misunderstood what I was implying. And that's fine! But you could have just questioned me about it, not make an assumption, and then attack me over it. Fear not, I'll try and be clearer in the future.
 

Glenn

Hall of Famer
#34
OK, what are his basketball skills and how can they help this team? In the thread I see he is talented but also a PF. This team has a plethora of them. What does he do that the others don't? I'm asking because I don't know.
In high school he was a tremendous athlete although was kicked out of a private school. He then went to a public school and led them to a state championship. He went to the U of Minnesota but had to leave there. He then went to Iowa. He led the team in almost every statistical category which is unheard of. His basketball skills are unquestioned. Even leaving out his phobias which cause an immense problem, he has been in legal problems and I can't get past that. We have Boogie going ballistic and we bring in a guy who has been arrested for assault. I may have the exact details wrong but the general idea is that he is a great PF, he has an anxiety disorder, and he can be a trouble maker. Just what we need ...................... to tank. His trouble with his temper may not be a big deal but he did get arrested at the Mall of America for pushing a Security Guard. Picture him with Boogie.
 
#35
So your saying we can't even do a tank the easy way .......................... :p:(

On the other hand, there was a tweet quoting Malone as saying nothing was imminent in terms of White. Maybe a hoopla over nothing.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#36
OK, what are his basketball skills and how can they help this team? In the thread I see he is talented but also a PF. This team has a plethora of them. What does he do that the others don't? I'm asking because I don't know.
He's a skilled low post player with a variety of dropsteps and spin moves. He also has a face up game and a quick first step off the dribble. He has a jumpshot with good form, but is inconsistent. He's a very good ballhandler for his size. He handles the ball like a SF, and he's also a very good passer, and an unselfish one. He's also an excellent rebounder, and has huge hands.One of the knocks on him was that he was accused of being out of shape, or never being in top shape. When you consider how well he moved when supposedly being out of shape, you'd have to wonder just how good he could be if in top shape. On the other hand, you have to question his work ethic and dedication.

The majority of the criminal charges all came at the University of Minnesota in 2009 when he was accused of stealing some clothes at a mall, and then pushing a security guard who White said was rushing at him and he was just defending himself. Another incident the same year was when he was accused of stealing a laptop from one of the dorms.. He has been diagnosed with impulsive obsessive anxiety disorder. Don't know if the impulse to steal is included in that, but I suspect not. Talent aside, I'm not sure why the Kings are interested. It would appear that we already have our quota of big's on the team, and when you take all of White's problems into consideration, its makes you wonder. But as I said earlier, its not much of a risk on a 10 day contract.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#39
Because I really have no idea - is he a candidate for Reno?
Really doubt that they would sign him to a 10 day contract and then assign him to Reno. He's been playing in the D-League already. I have to believe that they just want to get a look at him. They may repeat this process with several players till the end of the year, and if any impress them, then maybe invite them to summer league, or to training camp. We have, I think, 26 games left, and I think they intend to use those games to audition some players for future reference. Just my opinion.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#40
Is there actually a plan? I don't see it.

Starting to lean towards our FO is winging it.
Maybe, maybe not. Hard to say, but when you think about it, they didn't have much time to get organized prior to the draft, summer league or freeagency last year. They were truely winging it then. So to my feeble mind, they're starting to acquire info now for the future, and that includes taking a look at some of the D-League prospects between now and the end of the season. The next big event is the draft and then the freeagent period including summer league. Mike Bratz is over in europe on his second trip, scouting players, and Mullins and Richmond are reportedly jumping all over the country scouting college players. So I think they have a plan. How well that plan works out, is anyone's guess.
 

hrdboild

Moloch in whom I dream Angels!
Staff member
#41
Not quite sure what Gay or Williams has to do with White. White is a slightly undersized at 6'8", 270 pound PF that can also play a little center. He'd never be mistaken for a SF. He's a very talented kid! Of course the problem is getting him from point A to point B. Not sure I see much risk in signing him to a 10 day contact. If he wants to play in the NBA, he has to start somewhere, and he has to prove that he's willing to put foot on an airplane. If you sign him, and he refuses to get on the plane, you cut him and move on. Where's the risk? Were not going to offer him a guaranteed contract, so lets not blow this thing out of proportion.
I just always saw him as a face-up power 3 in the NBA. But if we say his true position is a smallball 4, it doesn't really change the point much. We have Carl Landry and Jason Thompson signed for the next 3 years at PF and we also have Reggie Evans and Quincy Acy on contract for next year. If anything, the 3/4 tweener position is even more of a logjam on this team than a pure wing would be. I guess it makes sense in a "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" point of view, but if that's the plan isn't that basically admitting that you don't have a plan? I'm not sure that I even like the Rudy Gay deal in retrospect because it basically negated the previous move to give Derrick Williams a shot at proving himself. It's difficult for me to figure out what direction our front office thinks they're moving in. It's kindof like every direction at once.

What I said last week about IT and Rudy still stands for me -- we know what they're playing for right now, they're playing for a big payday in the off-season. So what are we as a team playing for right now? Is it to develop the kids? Then let's do that. You want to give Royce White a chance to prove himself? Fine. Then bench Landry, JT, Rudy, and IT for the rest of the season and let's watch Ray McCallum, Ben McLemore, Derrick Williams, and Royce White and a cast of D-League all stars run the show for the rest of the season. That could get pretty ugly but it's at least decisive. Somehow I don't see that happening though. I see more confusing substitutions, more ugly lopsided offense, and DeMarcus Cousins in the middle of it all wondering what he signed himself up for.
 

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#42
Sam Amick wrote an interesting article:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ite-10-day-contract-sacramento-kings/5839345/

White was drafted 16th overall by the Houston Rockets out of the Iowa State in 2012, but he struggled to adjust to the NBA lifestyle, in part, because of the well-chronicled anxiety disorder from which he suffers. His fear of flying has proven to be the most problematic part of his condition, as the rigors of NBA travel are far more demanding than those in the college ranks.
Fear of flying can be a problem if you're John Madden. If you're a professional NBA player, I don't see any way around getting on that plane.
 

Glenn

Hall of Famer
#43
Is there actually a plan? I don't see it.

Starting to lean towards our FO is winging it.
I have a bad feeling about this and several other moves they have made. I'm confused as if there is a goal in mind. It all started with the signing of Landry and then seemed to progress. I have no problems with the trades that got us DWill and Gay but this guard bleed confuses me very much. We are collecting pfs starting with Landry and I'd almost rather that we collected guards. We are one injury or even attack of the flu with IT to there being a disaster.

Anyway, does anyone see a method to this not so much in the long run but in the short run. I have thought the FO didn't do much in the summer and began to think of a FO orchestrated tank even over the summer. People seem to have a problem with the word "tank" but that was my reaction way back then. Now it seems like we are continuing the orchestration.

Defenses have found that double teaming IT takes us out of any kind of offense. He simply cannot pass over the top of a double. Now what? How can this team win? Better yet, is it meant to win?

We all know Boogie's craziness has to do with getting respect and also out of an intense desire to win. What if it strikes him he is playing for a team that has little intention to win? This may be seem like an excuse for Boogie's attitude over the last several weeks but something is bugging him and I'll bet it isn't the refs.
 
#44
I have a bad feeling about this and several other moves they have made. I'm confused as if there is a goal in mind. It all started with the signing of Landry and then seemed to progress. I have no problems with the trades that got us DWill and Gay but this guard bleed confuses me very much. We are collecting pfs starting with Landry and I'd almost rather that we collected guards. We are one injury or even attack of the flu with IT to there being a disaster.

Anyway, does anyone see a method to this not so much in the long run but in the short run. I have thought the FO didn't do much in the summer and began to think of a FO orchestrated tank even over the summer. People seem to have a problem with the word "tank" but that was my reaction way back then. Now it seems like we are continuing the orchestration.

Defenses have found that double teaming IT takes us out of any kind of offense. He simply cannot pass over the top of a double. Now what? How can this team win? Better yet, is it meant to win?

We all know Boogie's craziness has to do with getting respect and also out of an intense desire to win. What if it strikes him he is playing for a team that has little intention to win? This may be seem like an excuse for Boogie's attitude over the last several weeks but something is bugging him and I'll bet it isn't the refs.
I think their plan has been all about acquiring "talent", which I understand but it feels like it's coming at the cost of fit and doesn't seem to have a timeline in place.
 

funkykingston

Super Moderator
Staff member
#45
White's struggles with plane travel are certainly a concern.

But the bigger concern IMO though is that he routinely missed practices and workouts with the Rockets (which involved no flight time) and the fact that the last report I saw said that he had gained weight and was inching towards 300 lbs.

There isn't really a good comparison for White as a player. I watched him at Iowa and I really liked him as a prospect. His shot was poor to non-existant but otherwise his offensive game was like a homeless man's LeBron James. Big, powerful, good handle, able to attack the basket (though he needed to improve his ability to finish) and a very good passer as a forward.

But when he wasn't even able to stand out in the D-league it makes me think either his condition will not ever allow him to succeed as a pro player or he just isn't all that committed to succeeding in the NBA. Or both. Whatever the case, I don't think after two organizations essentially threw up their hands in exasperation (including the Rockets who were by all accounts very invested in helping him succeed early on) then I can't see him contributing to the Kings in any meaningful way.
 
#47
I love it! This is the kind of out-of-the-box thinking that was sorely missing from the previous regime. I don't know if Royce White will ever put it together, but the kid is talented, not just talented, he is truly a unique one-of-a-kind that absolutely worth a look-see on a cheap 10-day contract.

How does White fit? First of all, he's a passer and a playmaker, he's really a PG in a PF's body. He's very unselfish and can find open guys like a true PG. He's one of those guys who makes his teammates better. The Kings can use that. Furthermore, the guy can score and rebound - he's a triple double threat, the only things he lacks are experience and a dependable jumpshot. When he gathers a rebound, pushes it upcourt, and delivers a no-look pass to an open teammate, he reminds me a little (just a little mind you) of Magic Johnson. Maybe Anthony Mason with playmaking skill is the more apt description. He's a 6'8 260 point forward that will be a mismatch for the other team every time he steps on the court. The kid is truly talented and unique. If I was managing a team in the tank, I'd even go full Frankenstein and play White at PG just to see the carnage.

At any rate, the Kings need more talent. And if it comes in the form of a kid with suitcases full of mental issue, so be it. It may not work out, but I'm glad the FO is trying.
.
 
#48
White's struggles with plane travel are certainly a concern.

But the bigger concern IMO though is that he routinely missed practices and workouts with the Rockets (which involved no flight time) and the fact that the last report I saw said that he had gained weight and was inching towards 300 lbs.

There isn't really a good comparison for White as a player. I watched him at Iowa and I really liked him as a prospect. His shot was poor to non-existant but otherwise his offensive game was like a homeless man's LeBron James. Big, powerful, good handle, able to attack the basket (though he needed to improve his ability to finish) and a very good passer as a forward.

But when he wasn't even able to stand out in the D-league it makes me think either his condition will not ever allow him to succeed as a pro player or he just isn't all that committed to succeeding in the NBA. Or both. Whatever the case, I don't think after two organizations essentially threw up their hands in exasperation (including the Rockets who were by all accounts very invested in helping him succeed early on) then I can't see him contributing to the Kings in any meaningful way.

Best comparison was Boris Diaw. If he's up to 300 he is Boris Diaw.
 

bajaden

Hall of Famer
#49
I have a bad feeling about this and several other moves they have made. I'm confused as if there is a goal in mind. It all started with the signing of Landry and then seemed to progress. I have no problems with the trades that got us DWill and Gay but this guard bleed confuses me very much. We are collecting pfs starting with Landry and I'd almost rather that we collected guards. We are one injury or even attack of the flu with IT to there being a disaster.

Anyway, does anyone see a method to this not so much in the long run but in the short run. I have thought the FO didn't do much in the summer and began to think of a FO orchestrated tank even over the summer. People seem to have a problem with the word "tank" but that was my reaction way back then. Now it seems like we are continuing the orchestration.

Defenses have found that double teaming IT takes us out of any kind of offense. He simply cannot pass over the top of a double. Now what? How can this team win? Better yet, is it meant to win?

We all know Boogie's craziness has to do with getting respect and also out of an intense desire to win. What if it strikes him he is playing for a team that has little intention to win? This may be seem like an excuse for Boogie's attitude over the last several weeks but something is bugging him and I'll bet it isn't the refs.
I'm not about to defend the moves they've made. All I can do is give you my opinion based on what they've said. When they didn't make a lot of moves in the last freeagency period, they said they wanted to get a good look at all the players on the roster before making any big changes. There is some logic to that, since, unlike us, they hadn't been watching the team play night in and night out. So while they didn't make wholesale changes last summer, they've certainly made some during the season. I'm also not sure about the Landry signing. Obviously, he wasn't their first choice, but after they were rejected, or they withdrew, or whatever happened in the Iggy situation, and then missed on Calderon, they ended up with Landry. I think they even made an offer to Kirilenko. Point is, they did pursue other players.

As far as bleeding guards, I don't think anyone is shocked that they traded Thornton, nor that they bought out Jimmer. We can disagree with those moves, but it wasn't a surprise. At least not to me. They have added talent in Gay and Williams. Don't know what their plans are for Reggie Evans, but I hope we retain him. I'm a huge fan of what he brings to the game. He might even be able to teach Cousins how to hit someone in the groin and not get caught. Just kidding, just kidding!
 
#51
What the heck do we have to lose - more games? Who cares at this point?

Who knows, maybe it will work out. Hoiberg took a big chance with him and it worked out wonderfully.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#55
He has more than just a case of phobia. He also has a case of being a self involved entitled asshat. That concerns me more. How could you ever have a professional lockerroom with that thing in it?

People have mental disabilities. Happens. Good luck to them. But there is no RIGHT to be a professional basketball player. And your disabilities are your responsibilities if you want the honor to be pro baller, nobody else's. If you have one leg and want to be a marathon runner, well good luck with that. But its absolutely 100% on you to go find a prosthesis that let's you compete with all the two-legged types, to manage it, pay for it, and make it work. Its not the marathon organizer's responsibility. And if you want to whine, complain, and steal money instead, then you are 100% not needed.
 

hrdboild

Moloch in whom I dream Angels!
Staff member
#58
Since it seems like this is more or less a done deal, I thought I'd at least look at the practicality of having Royce driven to our upcoming games. The next three are all in California so that's fine. But then there's a trip from Sacramento to Milwaukee that's going to take two days to drive so he wouldn't be ready for the next game on March 5th. More realistic would be to have him inactive for the home game against New Orleans on the 3rd and meet the team in Milwaukee. Fortunately the next 7 games after that are all on the East coast and all drive-able distances so there won't be a problem again until March 18th when he'll have to be driven from Minneapolis to Sacramento. The simplest solution here is to have him miss the game on the 18th and rejoin the team by the 21st for three straight home games. Over the course of a season if you map it out, it probably adds up to 10-12 games he'd have to miss due to travel schedule issues. The bigger problem would be that he's not able to practice with the team regularly because he's going to be spending those in between days in transit.
 

Bricklayer

Don't Make Me Use The Bat
#60
Since it seems like this is more or less a done deal, I thought I'd at least look at the practicality of having Royce driven to our upcoming games. The next three are all in California so that's fine. But then there's a trip from Sacramento to Milwaukee that's going to take two days to drive so he wouldn't be ready for the next game on March 5th. More realistic would be to have him inactive for the home game against New Orleans on the 3rd and meet the team in Milwaukee. Fortunately the next 7 games after that are all on the East coast and all drive-able distances so there won't be a problem again until March 18th when he'll have to be driven from Minneapolis to Sacramento. The simplest solution here is to have him miss the game on the 18th and rejoin the team by the 21st for three straight home games. Over the course of a season if you map it out, it probably adds up to 10-12 games he'd have to miss due to travel schedule issues. The bigger problem would be that he's not able to practice with the team regularly because he's going to be spending those in between days in transit.
There are no practicalities for an NBA player who is terrified of flying. There is no such thing.

I'd strap his ass in a jet and have a pilot do loop da loops with him until he got over it. :p