Spencer Hawes

[rainmaker]

I thought now would be a good time to post this question. Do you think Spencer should be our center of the future? Since the allstar break, Spencer has been playing the best basketball of his career. Over the last 12 games he has averaged 15.6pts, 7.3rebs, 3.3asts, while shooting 54% from the field.

With the possibility of drafting Griffin, and the fact we are in a rebuilding phase, do you want to keep him or trade him. He is one of the most promising young centers in the league. I would like to keep him because I think he is the most talented all-around player on the team and I think he could become an all-star. But, I also understand the arguement that he is not physical enough down low, and won't ever become the shot-blocking, intimidating force we would like our center to be. Thoughts...

 

[Vlade4GM]

That's not a decision that really needs to be made until his contract needs to be extended, and there's two drafts/free agency periods between then so we can wait to figure all that out.

 

[rainmaker]

That's not a decision that really needs to be made until his contract needs to be extended, and there's two drafts/free agency periods between then so we can wait to figure all that out.

I think it is something we have to think about now, because there is a good chance we will make a move or two on draft night or this summer. Inculding him in a package could get us some good talent in return.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I think it is something we have to think about now, because there is a good chance we will make a move or two on draft night or this summer. Inculding him in a package could get us some good talent in return.

Well if the deal is worth it then trade him, he shouldn't be off-limits and we shouldn't be trying to be move. What does making him "center of the future" really mean if it doesn't mean making him unavailable in trades?

 

[NoBonus]

Watching the Vlade stuff last night, if he and Thompson and Nochioni can get some more on-floor chemistry together in the next year, they could be formidable. Man, this team needs leadership!

 

[Oprostaj]

He's not my ideal C... sometimes plays too soft, but is still very young and if his body develops out and he hits the weights a bit more I'm sold. He needs to take a big step forward next season, however. Good poll, I think we're a year too early on it.

 

[Circa_1985_Fan]

I've been surprisingly impressed this year by Spencer's maturity, he has a very versitile and potent offensive game, and I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but he is turning out to be a very good weak side defender, and plays good help defense...all this and he's only 20 yrs old! We need to hold on to him.

 

[KF8]

It hasn't been long since Spencer Hawes been inserted into the starting line up. If Hawes could keep this up and improve upon this season to next season then i'll be sold on him, but as for now I'm undecided.

 

[D-Rock]

I've been surprisingly impressed this year by Spencer's maturity, he has a very versitile and potent offensive game, and I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but he is turning out to be a very good weak side defender, and plays good help defense...all this and he's only 20 yrs old! We need to hold on to him.

Spencer was continuously switched to Chris Paul last night and Paul did not take advantage of it. I kept expecting to seem him drive on Spence over and over, get the basket and 1, but he didn't. Curious.

How the hell does a 7 foot center get stuck guarding the best point guard in the league and not get abused?

 

[kennadog]

I'm pretty happy with the progress Spencer's made and his work ethic. However, he's only 20 and still developing. I think it's too early to declare him more than the hope that he's our center of the future.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think its pretty obvious he's the center of the future, not even sure if that's a question anymore. Now the center of how much fo the future? Who knows. Does he stay healthy? Who do we get offered for him? Does he ever learn to defend or rebound, or are those going to remain constant aggravations that will eventually undercut his support? Does his ego become a locker room problem? Do his contract demands price him out of our market? All questions we can't answer right now. But he's obviously a young center with considerable talent, so its hard to see how he's not the center of the future wihtout there being a specific reason for it.

 

[bajaden]

Based on what I've seen so far, I would have to say yes. I don't see another center lurking around anywhere. Even if we were to draft Griffin, that shouldn't have any effect on Hawes. You need at least a three man rotation at the C/PF positions.

Hawes has proven to be capable. He has yet to prove he's consistant. But considering his age and the improvement from last year, I would say the future looks bright for him. When you look around the NBA right now, there's a lack of great centers. Hawes has possibley come along at the right time for him to make his mark. Look around the league and tell me what other centers in the league you would trade Hawes for. It would probably be a pretty short list, headed by Howard and Yao. You surely wouldn't trade him for Shaq at this point. Anyway, you get my point. Probably says more about the league than it does Hawes.

 

[Kings Faithful]

Barring a dramatic drop off in producition, I don't think there is any doubt about it...for the last month he's been averaging about 15 ppg 8 rpg and 3.4 apg (leads starting C's) and all at the age of 20. If that isn't good enough, then I don't know what is. Good centers, especially scoring ones, are hard to come by. He can work on his build and athletics but overall I think he is going to be a great player in the coming years.

 

[Kings Faithful]

Spencer was continuously switched to Chris Paul last night and Paul did not take advantage of it. I kept expecting to seem him drive on Spence over and over, get the basket and 1, but he didn't. Curious.

How the hell does a 7 foot center get stuck guarding the best point guard in the league and not get abused?

I noticed that too...however i know why Paul decided not to drive in on Spencer. If Hawes is switched off on Paul then where is Beno? Thats right...guarding West. Guess who the games leading scorer was? Yup, David West. Im not sure whose fault it is but that is a major flaw. I would think it is Beno's job to stay on Paul and be more active instead of dropping off nearly every time defense. If you were watching Paul on Defense he would constantly find his way around our screens (at least the ones that Beno actually chose to use).

 

[AriesMar27]

hawes is that dude.... bajaden is right, which centers would you trade hawes for? bargnani? no... bogut? no.... dalembert? hell no.... lopez? no.... bierdens? no.... theres a short list of centers that i would trade hawes for... yao, howard, oden and chandler....

 

[Kings Faithful]

hawes is that dude.... bajaden is right, which centers would you trade hawes for? bargnani? no... bogut? no.... dalembert? hell no.... lopez? no.... bierdens? no.... theres a short list of centers that i would trade hawes for... yao, howard, oden and chandler....

I wouldn't for Oden even. I think he's just too injury prone. And for all the praise he recieved as being the next Shaq, he hasn't even gotten close to living up to it. I think he'll be a solid 15 and 10 player in the future with solid minutes and a more refined game but never a superstar.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I wouldn't for Oden even. I think he's just too injury prone. And for all the praise he recieved as being the next Shaq, he hasn't even gotten close to living up to it. I think he'll be a solid 15 and 10 player in the future with solid minutes and a more refined game but never a superstar.

Who called him the next Shaq?

 

[hrdboild]

The poll question says "Is Hawes the center of the future?" I think the answer to that is clearly yes right now given the lack of other options. In your post though you asked whether Hawes should be the center of the future which is a much more interesting question and where I think opinions tend to differ. Until that big contract extension comes due it's relatively harmless speculation but when the big-time salary-cap eating contract is on the table and the team really does have to make a comittment, I hope cooler heads prevail than whoever signed Udrih's extension. Every team has only 5 starters and of those 5 starters, the PG and C are potentially the most important (depending on what type of offense you're going to run). You better be sure Hawes is going to be the best center on the team for the next 5 years before you give him that huge contract. And, more importantly, you'd better be sure the production he's giving you justifies the expense.

I'm not really in favor of the "well, can you think of anyone better?" approach to signing contracts. If there really isn't anyone better it would make more sense financially to save your money and wait until someone better comes along instead of committing the next 5 years and all of your salary flexibility to guaranteed mediocrity. Once you sign that contract, you lose all flexibility to improve your team. There will be more future drafts. There will be free agents. But if you have neither high lottery picks or salary cap space, you have no shot at any of them. Don't look at the 5 worst starters in the league and say "at least our guy is better than them". That's no way to win a championship. Ideally you should be looking for guys who are better than everyone else at every position. Anything less than that is a compromise.

Remember six years ago Brad Miller was the center of the future coming off an All-Star season and a month ago he was basically dumped for expiring contracts. Bibby signed his extension and 5 years later was dumped for a second round pick. Webber signed his extension and 4 years later was traded for a former sixth man of the year and assorted garbage. Obviously other circumstances played into those decisions, but my point is that none of them played out the full duration of their contracts with the Kings. And paying them (or the the players we got in trade for their contracts) to underperform is why this team has been mired in no-man's land until this season. We've finally cleared out the contracts and we've got a clean slate again. So we have to realize that comitting to anyone else means living with the results for 5 years or so. If the best-case scenario is squeeking into the playoffs and maybe winning a first round series, you have to ask yourself if that's really worth it.

PS - I still believe in Oden. Because defense and rebounding are skills you can build on. Those are priorities 1 and 1a if I'm looking for a young center. It's way too early to write him off.

 

[Kings Faithful]

Who called him the next Shaq?

Ive seen people call him that, but for the most part no one thought he was the next Shaq. I just used that to illustrate the amount of hype that was behind him.

 

[Vlade4GM]

Ive seen people call him that, but for the most part no one thought he was the next Shaq. I just used that to illustrate the amount of hype that was behind him.

I thought the hype he was getting was fair, a little exagerated but that's expected. I remember most people describing him as a less offensive Ewing type which I think accurately described his potential. He was a freak athlete, especially for his size and strength.

 

[hammystyle]

hawes is that dude.... bajaden is right, which centers would you trade hawes for? bargnani? no... bogut? no.... dalembert? hell no.... lopez? no.... bierdens? no.... theres a short list of centers that i would trade hawes for... yao, howard, oden and chandler....

Bogut, Lopez and Biedrins would be easy yes's for me. Hawes is just ok. For all the talk of his offensive prowess, he actually stinks on that end. He has some moves, and can shoot a little but he can't draw a foul to save his life. He averages less than two foul shots a game. That's incredibly low and a major problem for a big guy. Because of this he has the lowest points per shot of anybody on the team who's played reasonable minutes other than Bobby Jackson and its 1.1 to 1.09 between them in the battle for the bottom.

Hawes actually is a better rebounder than I thought he'd be. Which is promising and he's very young so everything can get better. But my hopes aren't that high.

 

[rainmaker]

Bogut, Lopez and Biedrins would be easy yes's for me. Hawes is just ok. For all the talk of his offensive prowess, he actually stinks on that end. He has some moves, and can shoot a little but he can't draw a foul to save his life.

Are you kidding? You think "he actually stinks on that end". Wow. I think you need to watch more basketball, because if you trully believe Hawes stinks at offense, you have no idea what you are talking about.

 

[AriesMar27]

you think he stinks offensively but would trade him for biedrens, lopez or bogut? wow....

 

[mac]

I agree with the above.

 

[Spike]

With the above assessment of Hawes' offensive skill set, or with the above people who are shocked and amazed at the previous posters decrying said statement?

FTR, I feel that Hawes is developing at a nice, steady pace. He may even become more important depending upon our new coach's philosophy. Or any coach, for that matter. I think he sees the floor rather well and has a high BBall IQ. As others have often said, bigs take a bit longer to adjust. I'm seeing positive progress. As such, I wouldn't get rid of him unless he were part of a larger package to get someone really, REALLY, good. (Read: NOT Biedrins, Bogut, or Lopez.)
Unfortunately, I don't see another big who is on the upswing except for a guy like Howard, and he isn't coming to Sacto anytime soon.

 

[ovrush]

I've been pleasantly surprised with Spence. I was really peeved when we drafted him as I thought it would be a wasted pick. It definitely hasn't been. The weird thing about Spence is that he's almost exactly the opposite of what was advertised. His rebounding has been much better than I expected, and he has shown some ability to block shots in the NBA. He hasn't been a great defender but he hasn't really been aweful.

He was advertised as a tremendous low post offensive player. From the games I've watched, however, he looks far more comfortable as a high post guy and seems to struggle really establishing himself in the post. He's really young though, and obviously has developed low post skills. I think he just lacks the strength at the moment to really get position in the post. Hopefully as he gets stronger that element of his game will start to shine through.

Anyways, I think he's shown enough to be comfortable moving forward with him at center. Definitely not a star, and I don't think you'd say we wouldn't try to get another center if the right one was available in the draft or free agency, but certainly good enough that GP can and should avoid signing one of his worthless MLE guys to man the 5.

** side note should something happen where we wind up with Thabeet, Hawes is skilled enough in the high post and away from the basket that the two could easily play together and be effective on the offensive end.

 

[bajaden]

I'm not really in favor of the "well, can you think of anyone better?" approach to signing contracts. If there really isn't anyone better it would make more sense financially to save your money and wait until someone better comes along instead of committing the next 5 years and all of your salary flexibility to guaranteed mediocrity. Once you sign that contract, you lose all flexibility to improve your team. There will be more future drafts. There will be free agents. But if you have neither high lottery picks or salary cap space, you have no shot at any of them. Don't look at the 5 worst starters in the league and say "at least our guy is better than them". That's no way to win a championship. Ideally you should be looking for guys who are better than everyone else at every position. Anything less than that is a compromise.

I think your sort of twisting what I said around a little bit. The question was, is Hawes your center of the future, right now, based on everything you know. It wasn't, is Hawes your center of the future, if three years from now there might be somebody better. One question is based on factual evidence at the present, and the other on what if.

I wasn't comparing Hawes to the five worst centers in the league. I was comparing him to all the centers in the league. My question was, how many centers currently playing in the league are better than him. How many of those would you actually trade Hawes for.. To my mind, the only way you can judge whether someone is your center of the future is to compare him with his competition that exists right now. Not what might exist two, three, or fours years from now.

 

[bajaden]

Bogut, Lopez and Biedrins would be easy yes's for me. Hawes is just ok. For all the talk of his offensive prowess, he actually stinks on that end. He has some moves, and can shoot a little but he can't draw a foul to save his life. He averages less than two foul shots a game. That's incredibly low and a major problem for a big guy. Because of this he has the lowest points per shot of anybody on the team who's played reasonable minutes other than Bobby Jackson and its 1.1 to 1.09 between them in the battle for the bottom.

Hawes actually is a better rebounder than I thought he'd be. Which is promising and he's very young so everything can get better. But my hopes aren't that high.

You would trade Hawes for Biedrins because Hawes stinks on the offensive side of the ball. And this is of course because Biedrins is an offensive juggernaut.

 

[Aenadin]

bedriens wouldnt be able to extend his offensive range past the painted area enough said...

lopez on the other hand im quite intrigued but i wouldnt give up on hawes just yet...

Hawes doesnt have that one style of play to dominate or go to fully.. hes more like a guy who has a wide range of skills...plus i love the way he can pass the ball at his position leaves so much options for us.

he has indeed surprised me with this growth even under 2 different coaches..
i really cant believe he and JT got shafted in the rook soph games for guys like noah and cause of Oden who didnt even play that time...

right now if we REALLY want these guys to BE the future of the team.. i suggest to the FO that THEY GET A REAL COACH and a LEGIT big man coach to truly harness that untapped potential in both hawes and JT

 

[Packt]

He'll continue to put up good numbers, but won't be dominant at what he does. If that's the case I'd prefer someone who is a better defender, even if they don't have much offensive game.