Sacramento Kings Team Needs

[VF21]

Note: From DraftExpress.com via Rival.com as posted at Yahoo Sports.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=rivals-teamneeds-2007-23&prov=rivals&type=lgns

Sacramento Kings team needs

Point Guard: Mike Bibby/Ronnie Price*
Shooting Guard: Kevin Martin/John Salmons/Quincy Douby
Small Forward: Ron Artest/Corliss Williamson*/Francisco Garcia
Power Forward: Shareef Abdur-Rahim/Kenny Thomas
Center: Brad Miller/Vitaly Potapenko*/Justin Williams*

*Potential Free Agent

Could use help at: Point Guard, Power Forward, Center

Bottom line: The Kings have an outstanding point guard in Mike Bibby, an emerging star in Kevin Martin and arguably the league’s top perimeter defender in Ron Artest. On the down side, they have two aging big men starting in the post - Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Brad Miller. Their most glaring need is clearly a young big man, although they still do not have a legitimate backup for Mike Bibby.

Draft Outlook: With only one pick at No. 10, the Kings would ideally snag the best big man still on the board. They reportedly love Spencer Hawes, but he will be off of the board by then in all likelihood. Yi Jianlian remains a possibility here, but he could also very well be gone. If Jianlian and Hawes are gone by the time the Kings are on the clock, look for them to consider Jason Smith, Josh McRoberts, and Tiago Splitter to fill their glaring need in the pivot.

DraftExpress covers the NBA Draft for Rivals.com. Their work can also be found at www.draftexpress.com, where they offer a free NBA Draft scouting service.

 

[Merdiesel]

we have to get another 1st rounder... make it happen Petrie!

 

[Kingzrool]

I would love to see GP trade up. Seems unlikey because GP has never done it with the Kings and somewhere I heard that he said he is happy with #10 and not looking to trade up.

With all these players that seem to have more value to other teams than the Kings, now is the time to cash in. GP has got to find a team lower in the draft that wants what Kings have bad enough.

Kings have players that will get better - Martin, Garcia, Price, Douby and Williams. And they have players that IMO will only get worse - Bibby, Artest, Miller, KT, SAR. Trade the ones that will get worse for more players that will get better, regardless of talent bleed (to a degree).

 

[HndsmCelt]

Wow they must have had a team of 50 experts working arround the clock on that analysis.

 

[VF21]

I know. I was really impressed with the insight.

 

[bloom]

Bottom line: The Kings have an outstanding point guard in Mike Bibby, an emerging star in Kevin Martin and arguably the league’s top perimeter defender in Ron Artest. On the down side, they have two aging big men starting in the post - Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Brad Miller. Their most glaring need is clearly a young big man, although they still do not have a legitimate backup for Mike Bibby.

Draft Outlook: With only one pick at No. 10, the Kings would ideally snag the best big man still on the board. They reportedly love Spencer Hawes, but he will be off of the board by then in all likelihood. Yi Jianlian remains a possibility here, but he could also very well be gone. If Jianlian and Hawes are gone by the time the Kings are on the clock, look for them to consider Jason Smith, Josh McRoberts, and Tiago Splitter to fill their glaring need in the pivot.

I think we really need a leader. This team is leaderless and it shows just like how we need that big man. We have a couple clashing players but no one that stands up and plays like a leader.

I'm really hoping that Jianlian is going to be around when it's our time to pick a player. I hope the suns don't take him. Plus with the way our team is headed (young and fast), he could be a great piece to our team.

 

[Spike]

What's the word on McRoberts, now that he's hired an agent? Personally, I think the Kings should get a mid-rounder to see if they can get him there. I wouldn't use the #10, but I'm not sure how far he'd fall.

Basically, I'm looking at this as a "potential" sort of pick. Could be amazing, could be below-mediocre.

 

[CruzDude]

we have to get another 1st rounder... make it happen Petrie!

Several teams have 2 first rounders and I think Boston has 3. A first rounder in the 20-30 range would need the Kings to cough up a backup player who can contribute. Who would the Kings "cough up" so to speak?

Vitaly might be of interest back east. But what do we have others would want?

Kings also have NO second round pick either. hmmm

 

[Entity]

I think we really need a leader. This team is leaderless and it shows just like how we need that big man. We have a couple clashing players but no one that stands up and plays like a leader.

I'm really hoping that Jianlian is going to be around when it's our time to pick a player. I hope the suns don't take him. Plus with the way our team is headed (young and fast), he could be a great piece to our team.

Oh great the leader **** starts already. That usually waits until August. Come on ppl first things first.. Most important is a decent big, then a coach then maybe if someting comes of either of those then we can worry about a leader. We need a team first before someone can be the leader of that team.

 

[VF21]

Several teams have 2 first rounders and I think Boston has 3. A first rounder in the 20-30 range would need the Kings to cough up a backup player who can contribute. Who would the Kings "cough up" so to speak?

Vitaly might be of interest back east. But what do we have others would want?

Kings also have NO second round pick either. hmmm

Vitaly is a free agent. And I really doubt if the east is that blind. The Ukraine Train is headed to the station for the final time, I believe.

 

[SacTownKid]

These people clearly know nothing. Petrie will go for talent, not a big for the sake of getting a big.

 

[NevadaWolfpackStudent]

I really hope we dont take Jason Smith. He has bust written all over him. He got dominated in works out by guys who arent as highly rated as he is.


While I think we need to get a young forward or center out of this draft, I am really high on Javaris Crittention. I can see him go anywhere from 11 to 20 at the moment. I hope the kings bring him in for a work out. He has the potential to be a star at PG. While their may better options next year in the draft for pg, I think almost every team that passes on him in a couple of years is going to regret it. This dude is 6'5 has extremely good skills for a 19 year old. It may take a few years to fully develop him, but it isnt like we are going to competing for a title in two years. So I hope we look at him if Noah, Hawes, Yi, Wright, and Horford arent there at 10.
Like a lot of you are saying and hoping, I do hope we get a 2nd first round pick, maybe around 20 to 25. I would love to take Spliter. While he wouldnt be playing over here next year, I think he would be a top 15 maybe even top 10 if he didnt have an expensive buy-out clause in his contract. Another big-man I would look at around the last part of the first round if we cant get Spilter is Nick Fazekas. While he may not be over powering inside, he would be a great person to look at taking. While he may not be a future star I think he could become a Robert Horry type player. Two other players I would consider if we get a late first to early second round pick are Ramon Sessions (if he stays in the draft) and Sean Williams. If Sessions goes back to school I think he would be a top 15 pick next year. He has all the skills to be a great NBA player. He still has some work, but he has the passing skills of knight, bobcats, and has the scoring ability of tony parker. He was the main reason for a few of Nevada wins last year. During this wins he would take the ball the basket over and over again and would keep scoring.

 

[Bricklayer]

I have nothing more to go on than a prospect vid, but Critterion severely disappointed me there. 6'5" PG sounds sexy, then watched the tape, and he was the epitome of mediocre. And those were supposed to be his highlights. Just a tape, and he's young. But I've mentioned before that as a 6'5" PG if he was really all that he would easily be the #1 PG in the draft and a Top 10 pick. Still understand the appeal, but I wouldn't be doing back flips to get a pick to take him with.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

we have to get another 1st rounder... make it happen Petrie!

Yeah, I could see that happening...with us getting 2 young bigs...perhaps a Jason Smith(I know dude hasnt performed in pre-draft camps, and he looks like a bust...but he also looks like a guy Petrie would pick) and the guy I think might be a sleeper in Tiago Splitter...I've kept my eyes on him the last couple years and he's shown remarkable progress and has matured as a player on both sides of the ball.

 

[CaminoChaos]

How many feel Petrie has something up his sleeve and may draft a player none of us ever heard of (Peja/Hedo/Martin)

 

[Emma]

I think he'll draft Jason Smith and in 2 years Jason will be akin to Andrew Bynum now. Who knows

 

[fnordius]

Under the circumstances, I almost wonder if we might not be better off trading our pick to Golden State for two of theirs, or something like that. Let the Warriors be the ones to be disappointed about not getting Yi, and let Geoff pick at #18 and #36.

That seems to be where Geoff's comfort level is, and that's certainly where he has established himself as a solid GM. Tiago Splitter and Taurean Green? It could be worse.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

Since I have nothing to offer in terms of analysis or suggestions, a couple of mundane observations

Brad Miller is "aging"

Isn't he like 29 or something? Granted, I can probably jump higher than he can but I don't think Brads limitations have anything to do with age.

Mike Bibby is an "outstanding" point guard

Well shoot, I hate to see what they think mediocre looks like

And I won't even touch Ron Artest's defense last season =/

 

[Bricklayer]

Since I have nothing to offer in terms of analysis or suggestions, a couple of mundane observations

Brad Miller is "aging"

Isn't he like 29 or something? Granted, I can probably jump higher than he can but I don't think Brads limitations have anything to do with age.

Mike Bibby is an "outstanding" point guard

Well shoot, I hate to see what they think mediocre looks like

And I won't even touch Ron Artest's defense last season =/

31 and breaking down.

 

[ReinadelosReys]

31 and breaking down.

Ok, Draft Express can have the "aging" back

 

[Kingzrool]

6'5" PG sounds sexy

Sexy, huh. Sometimes I worry about you Brick.

 

[kennadog]

Under the circumstances, I almost wonder if we might not be better off trading our pick to Golden State for two of theirs, or something like that. Let the Warriors be the ones to be disappointed about not getting Yi, and let Geoff pick at #18 and #36.

That seems to be where Geoff's comfort level is, and that's certainly where he has established himself as a solid GM. Tiago Splitter and Taurean Green? It could be worse.

That's the range our picks have fallen into for some time. And we weren't getting rid of guys for picks most of that time. (Maybe we should have, but that's another argument.) Why would that happenstance make it GP's "comfort zone?" Picking 10th may not be great, but its better than picking at 18 or 36.

 

[fnordius]

That's the range our picks have fallen into for some time. And we weren't getting rid of guys for picks most of that time. (Maybe we should have, but that's another argument.) Why would that happenstance make it GP's "comfort zone?" Picking 10th may not be great, but its better than picking at 18 or 36.

I've just noted, over the years, that Petrie has done very well at late first-round picks, but when he's had 'em, he hasn't done outstandingly with picks much earlier or later than that. I figured that was probably why he traded away mid-to-late second round picks fairly regularly -- considering his track record with them, why not? Most of them ended up waived anyway.

But maybe he'll do better this year... we will see.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I've just noted, over the years, that Petrie has done very well at late first-round picks, but when he's had 'em, he hasn't done outstandingly with picks much earlier or later than that. I figured that was probably why he traded away mid-to-late second round picks fairly regularly -- considering his track record with them, why not? Most of them ended up waived anyway.

But maybe he'll do better this year... we will see.

Petire has had an odd track record with second round picks. Michael Smith and Jerome James were both successful (relative to second round picks). Ryan Robertson I still believe to this day was only drafted to help resign Scot Pollard cheap. He took a college friend of a projected loner and then Scot resigned, hmm. Minard was a nothing and since then Petrie had traded second rounders for Darius (good) and Hart (bad). I would love to see what he could do with more.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

one thing the spurs gm has over petrie in picking second round is that they take international flyers. they pick them and wait for them to develop then bring them over. if they don't develop as they hope, they don't sign em. if they do develop and fit in their rotation.. they bring em in... if all else fails, some other team is willing to trade a future second round for their rights. i wish petrie would use that method since 2nd rounders usually don't make in the nba.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

one thing the spurs gm has over petrie in picking second round is that they take international flyers. they pick them and wait for them to develop then bring them over. if they don't develop as they hope, they don't sign em. if they do develop and fit in their rotation.. they bring em in... if all else fails, some other team is willing to trade a future second round for their rights. i wish petrie would use that method since 2nd rounders usually don't make in the nba.

I am not sure they have utilized this as a strategy. They had success with Ginobili; however, Petrie also drafted Boderoga who just never came over. It's not as if the Spurs have had any type of a replicable draft strategy, they did a great job with one player. While this does not discredit your stragegy, I'm just pointing out that the Spurs have not developed a long-term successful strategy, they got one very good player when foriegn players were still underrated. Not exactly a something that is worth copying.

 

[ParniValjak]

I am not sure they have utilized this as a strategy. They had success with Ginobili; however, Petrie also drafted Boderoga who just never came over. It's not as if the Spurs have had any type of a replicable draft strategy, they did a great job with one player. While this does not discredit your stragegy, I'm just pointing out that the Spurs have not developed a long-term successful strategy, they got one very good player when foriegn players were still underrated. Not exactly a something that is worth copying.

I actually disagree with this. Spurs are the masters of drafting foreign talent with later picks. Parker and Ginobili are great examples of this.

They also have Scola and that Ukranian athletic C playing in europe and both are good enough to be better contributors in the NBA than your average 2nd round picks.

They have a very sound strategy in place with their 2nd round picks that is paying off for them much better than it would if they just drafted within the USA with their 2nd round picks.

 

[Bricklayer]

I am not sure they have utilized this as a strategy. They had success with Ginobili; however, Petrie also drafted Boderoga who just never came over. It's not as if the Spurs have had any type of a replicable draft strategy, they did a great job with one player. While this does not discredit your stragegy, I'm just pointing out that the Spurs have not developed a long-term successful strategy, they got one very good player when foriegn players were still underrated. Not exactly a something that is worth copying.

They also got Parker very late in the first round.

But I would agree that sort of thing -- find stars int he late first/2nd round is not remotely replicable or tenable as an actual strategy. You cna always hope, and if you do, good on you. But its a crapshoot and a longshot, and you can have 29 teams who can wipe out your "strategy" by picking your sleeper before you ever get to him.

 

[ParniValjak]

They also got Parker very late in the first round.

But I would agree that sort of thing -- find stars int he late first/2nd round is not remotely replicable or tenable as an actual strategy. You cna always hope, and if you do, good on you. But its a crapshoot and a longshot, and you can have 29 teams who can wipe out your "strategy" by picking your sleeper before you ever get to him.

Its not so much as finding stars in the 2nd round but more abouting finding good role players that you can get on the cheap that are better than what you would generally get in the 2nd round and Spurs have been doing a good job with it.

Ginobili obviously was the pick of the bunch.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

Its not so much as finding stars in the 2nd round but more abouting finding good role players that you can get on the cheap that are better than what you would generally get in the 2nd round and Spurs have been doing a good job with it.

Ginobili obviously was the pick of the bunch.

I just don't see this as an example that has proven it's worth. Ginobili was obviously a star example. However, so was Michael Redd and I don't see people saying we need to always draft great shooters in the second round. The Spurs did a great job with Ginobili and I will give them credit for their scouting on him, but that still does not make it a great draft strategy.

Bricklayer among others have pointed out Parker as another example. And yes he was a very good late first round pick. However, he was still first round pick and this comment was about the second round, particularly late second round picks where the Spurs and us (until recently) have been. Add to that that in a draft today Parker would not last nearly as long (as foriegn players are more valued) and he really isn't a relavent example.

Long story short - the Spurs did a great job on Ginobili; however, this does not mean that always drafting foriegn players in the second round is a utilizable strategy. Even in the last decade, good to great players like Mobley, Redd, etc. have also been drafted there. This is more of a question of great scouting than a blanket strategy.