Team Cornerstone?

[oldenpolynice]

Who is the cornerstone of the Kings? By cornerstone, I mean a player that the rest of the team can be built upon. For instance, LeBron would be the cornerstone in Cleveland, Chris Bosh in Toronto, Al Jefferson in Minnesota, Chris Paul in New Orleans, etc.

Kevin Martin seems like an obvious answer, but I would argue that he isn't enough of a two-way player to justify cornerstone status.

Do we even have a cornerstone in Sac?

 

[VF21]

Is he the cornerstone around which you build an entire team? Nope. Is he an integral part of a team for the future? Yep.

 

[6th]

I believe you need a superstar to have a "cornerstone." We do not have a superstar, so no, we do not have a cornerstone.

 

[Arby's Roast Beef]

Kevin Martin is definitely the type of player who can thrive the most playing second-fiddle; don't get me wrong, he's still talented enough to score at will as a first option, but whether that translates into more wins is in question. He's really good at certain things, like moving off the ball and scoring, but he lacks the all-around game usually expected of most star guards/wings. It's sort of like the Michael Redd situation in Milwaukee--guy puts up 26 ppg there, they still lose. I'm not saying Kevin's not talented enough to be a 1st option, because he more than certainly is, but we need to surround him with a superior passing guard and/or an elite post scoring player in order to relieve the offensive pressure off of him. Going into this season, he is what he is--a scoring guard, nothing more nothing less. I hate to say he's maxed out his potential, because he can certainly develop an all-around game a la Rip Hamilton down the road, but we already have a great feel for what he can do and what he can't do. But in order to be successful, we need to surround him with a guy equal or better to him to relieve some pressure off of him.

 

[oldenpolynice]

But in order to be successful, we need to surround him with a guy equal or better to him to relieve some pressure off of him.

Yeah, I agree with that. I just don't see a way for us to get an elite player to Sac. There isn't a clear superstar available on the free agent market unless Gilbert Arenas, Shawn Marion, Baron Davis or Elton Brand opts out.

I'd love to get Brand, but I don't think he's looking to leave L.A.

 

[DesertFox]

Ron Artest.

 

[CruzDude]

The Kids: Spencer, Douby, Shelden, and Beno tho' he's not really a kid with Kevin being the main brick in the cornerstone.

 

[VF21]

And don't forget Cisco. He's the energizer bunny of the bunch and we need him, even if he might drive us(me) nuts at times.

 

[Kingster]

Martin, Hawes, Beno. Supporting cast: Cisco, maybe Douby

 

[bench_blob]

The Kids: Spencer, Douby, Shelden, and Beno tho' he's not really a kid with Kevin being the main brick in the cornerstone.

Why would you put Shelden Williams in the mix??? The guy is not very good.

Energy level = Lethargic. Fundamentals = Weak. Shooting touch = Barely.

That about sums up his game. If you didn't know he was a #5 pick you'd think he was just brought up from D league.

 

[HndsmCelt]

Is he the cornerstone around which you build an entire team? Nope. Is he an integral part of a team for the future? Yep.

I'd say at the moment Kevin is the palce holding cornerstone. UNTILL we can get a domanat big to be our cornerstone Kevin has to do the trick. The nice thing is that given a tallent big man who can shoot and set screans Kevin has an AWSOME 2 man game. (Were I cocaching Kevin and Brad would be playing Cisco and Spencer 2 on 2 at every practice!)

So this team CAN build arround Kevin for the time being and insert a domanat big if and when they find him. (maybe Spencer or Sheldon will develop into this guy but I'd still be looking just incase)

 

[oldenpolynice]

Why would you put Shelden Williams in the mix??? The guy is not very good.

Energy level = Lethargic. Fundamentals = Weak. Shooting touch = Barely.

That about sums up his game. If you didn't know he was a #5 pick you'd think he was just brought up from D league.

Yeah, I agree. You can't throw Shelden Williams in the same sentence as cornerstone.

Also, while we're on the topic of players we got in the Bibby trade, can I just say that I've never seen a player more boring than Anthony Johnson. He's slow and plodding. He doesn't have a go-to move. He can't create shots for himself or others. He lacks court vision. And he looks (and plays) like he's 45 years old.

I can't wait till the offseason, when we can cut A.J. loose.

 

[CruzDude]

Why would you put Shelden Williams in the mix??? The guy is not very good.

Energy level = Lethargic. Fundamentals = Weak. Shooting touch = Barely.

That about sums up his game. If you didn't know he was a #5 pick you'd think he was just brought up from D league.

Au contrare, mon ami!!! He is a banger, rebounder and shot blocker, something he has done every game with limited minutes. Coming in early February for any bench player is tough to get up to speed. His energy level seem really good for what I see, he just doesn't jump around and wave his arms like Mikki or Brad..... thank goodness. 4 years at Duke means his fundamentals are excellent. Coach Z doesn't ever have someone for a few years who meets any of those criteria of which you speak.

Wait and see when he gets 8-9 min a stretch in both halves then a judgement is based on some reality we all can see, good or bad.

 

[kings20993]

Artest