Also, are we sure Barnes is a must-resign? Heading into his age 31 season?
https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm...rfrom=2023&player_id2=barneha02&p2yrfrom=2023
Lyles statistically has basically been the same player off the bench. Worse at drawing FT's, much better rebounder. I think we can pretty much bank that Lyles has really figured something out in a Kings uniform. And still just 27, this next contract basically will be inking his prime years, while Barnes is far more likely to see a decline over the duration of his next deal. The obvious caveat being the minutes discrepancy and if Lyles can sustain his level of play with a higher minutes role.
Still, Lyles stat profile this year would be a pop for me if he were on another team as an underrated asset that needed more playing time.
Not sure if the cap would play out this way but if it were Barnes+1 of Sasha or Lyles or Sasha+Lyles+Something else? Mostly just thinking out loud here.
https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm...rfrom=2023&player_id2=barneha02&p2yrfrom=2023
Lyles statistically has basically been the same player off the bench. Worse at drawing FT's, much better rebounder. I think we can pretty much bank that Lyles has really figured something out in a Kings uniform. And still just 27, this next contract basically will be inking his prime years, while Barnes is far more likely to see a decline over the duration of his next deal. The obvious caveat being the minutes discrepancy and if Lyles can sustain his level of play with a higher minutes role.
Still, Lyles stat profile this year would be a pop for me if he were on another team as an underrated asset that needed more playing time.
Not sure if the cap would play out this way but if it were Barnes+1 of Sasha or Lyles or Sasha+Lyles+Something else? Mostly just thinking out loud here.
But moving Lyles to the starting role and signing Vezenkov could work too. Even if it's a lateral move at best (and it's actually probably a slight downgrade) it gives a bit more financial flexibility. In some small part it will probably also depend on who the Kings draft, but more so on how Lyles and Kessler Edwards look to finish the season.