uolj
Starter
Maybe because he would be a great 6th man?
The Kings and Freeagency:
- Thread starter bajaden
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NoBonus
Starter
Grant Hill would be great as a vet to come in an provide leadership, but start? I am not sure.
I think he needs to be the starting SG now, but the thinking is that if Jimmer works out and Marcus Thornton's defense remains the worst on the team, then it'd be better to have Jimmer in the lineup because he has PG abilities that Tyreke and Marcus Thornton do not.
I can't explain Douwe's lineup though. If they asked Salmons to play that role, he'd be exactly what he was in Chicago and the last time he was here, which is what they should avoid by making him a 4th option SF behind Thornton, Evans and Cousins.
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GoodOldDouwe
G-League
Well, I think Marcus Thornton is a great scorer and is best suited coming of the bench(in a Jason Terry roll). But as a starter he's the achilles heel of the five with his (bad) defense. So it's not because I like Salmons so much, but I think this team will be stronger in this line-up then with Thornton as a starting SG and Salmons as an SF. That's just my opinion 
MassachusettsKingsFan
All-Star
Based on what Marcus Thornton did for us at the end of last season, he deserves to enter camp as the starting SG. He played much better than a sixth man ... and maybe he was playing way over his head, but we can cross that issue when/if it comes up. And while he is no stud on defense, I thought he was 'fine' for us. Nothing great, but I never saw defenses just pick us apart because of his matchup. Especially with Tyreke on the court at the same time ... they are both strong enough to handle most PGs, and if we stickThornton on the opposing teams less effective guard I don't see a problem with him .. at least not one that would warrent him going to the bench.
A much bigger worry for me defensively is DMC. Even if he never improves defensively, he needs to work on the fouls.
A much bigger worry for me defensively is DMC. Even if he never improves defensively, he needs to work on the fouls.
Kings Faithful
Starter
That's what I observed as well. I remember when we made the trade the knock on Thornton was his "terrible defense". I specifically remember him NOT being the defensive liability he was made out to be. I also agree that having Tyreke on the floor with him plugs up any hole he may create. Just throw Tyreke on the biggest defensive threat at the guard position.
It's not Marcus' fault as much as it is Westphal's. But some defensive strategies that you expect out of a good defensive team might be shading players to their weak hand / to the sideline and icing pick and rolls to protect the middle. These are things that no perimeter defender on the team ever did except for Beno, but that was still very rare. The Kings could have won at least ten more games if they did simple things like that, and it really stuck out more and more as I watched the games.
Any player in the NBA could do those things, really.
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Agree
=LarryLegend=
Starter
What about s&t dally to NYK for Billups? This move of course is CP3 opts out and help the Knicks sign him, maybe Billups and Landry? Then if we lose Billups we at least get Landry. I hate the Knicks but we could use Billups as a cap filler for next season and he is a nice vet that still can play.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
I wouldn't want to subject such a stand up guy in Billups, who has only a few years left in his career, to Westy and his joke of a system.
I'm not that cruel.
S
Shabazz916
Guest
i hope the lockout has given westy time to think about preaching defense 1st and creating a new offensive system
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Why would we sign and trade a useful and important piece for an overrated old guy with a fork in his back?
We NEED a defensive presence inside or we will suck again, that simple. If we can't get Daly, then we need to use the money we would have spent on him on Chandler, or on SOMEBODY to play that role. Creaky old guards need not apply.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
The kindest thing I can say about that idea, is nothing........or ditto what you just said!
bajaden
Hall of Famer
By the way, let me say this about defense. People will see someone like John Wall, or Chris Paul being guarded by a Thornton, and they'll throw a wicked crossover at him and go right by him. And then those people will sat thay Thornton is a horrible defender. Well I would venture to say that Wall or Paul, or Westbrook, will blow by just about every player in the league. Good defense is about team defense and knowing your opponet. As someone stated in an earlier post, you make the player go in the direction he doesn't want to go in. You make him shoot the ball from a spot he doesn't like. And in general, you shade him into your help. But once a good PG gets in the lane, and if you don't have a Dalembert, or like kind, your in trouble.
I thought Thornton played fairly well on defense. He certainly wasn't horrible, and here's a shocker for you. Most teams in the NBA don't have five lockdown starters on the team. If things go according to plan, Thornton will be out there with Evans, Dally, Salmons, all good defenders, and Cousins, who is going to improve. Why will he improve? Because he's dedicated to it, and he's very quick learner.
I thought Thornton played fairly well on defense. He certainly wasn't horrible, and here's a shocker for you. Most teams in the NBA don't have five lockdown starters on the team. If things go according to plan, Thornton will be out there with Evans, Dally, Salmons, all good defenders, and Cousins, who is going to improve. Why will he improve? Because he's dedicated to it, and he's very quick learner.
KingsCitizen
Starter
Can't wait till signing of free agents starts so we can really assess where we're at. IMO the big man signing would really determine direction were gonna take this season. If we sign a vet big like Dally, Chandler, Nene, I think we can easily contend for 6th-8th seed in the west. Our size will definitely be a trouble for most teams in the West. If we don't get a defensive big, we're better off diving hard for the lottery where a lot of big men is expected to join next year's draft.
But prefer the former, it's more fun being in the playoffs than waiting for another kid to bloom.
But prefer the former, it's more fun being in the playoffs than waiting for another kid to bloom.
MassachusettsKingsFan
All-Star
Yea, That is why you have interior shotblockers. Perimeter defenders are going to get beat every now and then. Opposing guards are just too good and too fast to successfully defend at all times.
Thats why it is so important to have a defender at one of your big positions .. not just because of shotblocking either, its an intimidation thing. Dalembert has a reputation .. He has been blocking shots for a long, long time. Players know it. He can alter shots without even doing anything.
hammystyle
Starter
Jeff Green
I used to think Jeff Green was an overrated, undersized PF who was destined to get overpaid. In this market after last year, I think he's a real buy-low candidate and long-term fit at SF.
The Fit - He's a SF not a PF. According to stats, my own eyes and common sense, the 6'9 230 with long arms and quick feet is a nice defender against the LeBron's, Durants, and Melo's in the league. Additionally that length will add to what is going to be the strength of the Kings D as they mature. It will be hard to get easy shots and passes over and aroud Evans, Green, and Cousins.
On O, he's a multi-skilled player who can handle the ball, pass, and be a matchup problem against smaller SF's. He shot the ball a fair amount on a offensively challenged OKC team, but his reputation coming into the league was being unselfish to a fault. The one problem is shooting. His 3 point percentages have dropped three straight years. If he can even shoot his career average of .337, that would do well enough to spread the floor. Maybe he could do more getting kickouts from a post scorer like Cousins.
Why Buy Low - I just don't see where the big offer comes from. The other cap space teams either have a SF or are targeting a bigger name. If the Kings outpace the mid-level they will knock out the rest of the market. Potentially the Raptors or Wizards could make a play.
The Celtics are completely locked down financially with huge contracts to their vets, and then a desire to keep cap flexibility moving forward. I do not think they would match a 4y/25M contract.
The question is whether he would accept that from Sacramento, or simply play out the year on the tender.
I used to think Jeff Green was an overrated, undersized PF who was destined to get overpaid. In this market after last year, I think he's a real buy-low candidate and long-term fit at SF.
The Fit - He's a SF not a PF. According to stats, my own eyes and common sense, the 6'9 230 with long arms and quick feet is a nice defender against the LeBron's, Durants, and Melo's in the league. Additionally that length will add to what is going to be the strength of the Kings D as they mature. It will be hard to get easy shots and passes over and aroud Evans, Green, and Cousins.
On O, he's a multi-skilled player who can handle the ball, pass, and be a matchup problem against smaller SF's. He shot the ball a fair amount on a offensively challenged OKC team, but his reputation coming into the league was being unselfish to a fault. The one problem is shooting. His 3 point percentages have dropped three straight years. If he can even shoot his career average of .337, that would do well enough to spread the floor. Maybe he could do more getting kickouts from a post scorer like Cousins.
Why Buy Low - I just don't see where the big offer comes from. The other cap space teams either have a SF or are targeting a bigger name. If the Kings outpace the mid-level they will knock out the rest of the market. Potentially the Raptors or Wizards could make a play.
The Celtics are completely locked down financially with huge contracts to their vets, and then a desire to keep cap flexibility moving forward. I do not think they would match a 4y/25M contract.
The question is whether he would accept that from Sacramento, or simply play out the year on the tender.
bajaden
Hall of Famer
To quote Bill Russell: "Being a shotblocker isn't about blocking every shot, its about making them think you can block every shot."
ParniValjak
All-Star
Here is an interesting question that I am sure Petrie would have asked himself....
What if this whole free agency goes pear shaped and we don't get players that we want (possible but not sure how likely) but we don't want to spend money of FA that would not want to sign for one year deals as they are looking for some long term security.
Could we see the Kings bidding on some amnesty contracts to fill the salary cap gap and get to the 85%? Then it keeps the cap flexibility for 2012 which will be a deeper and better FA class?!
I consider re-signing Dalembert and Thornton as non-negotiables this off-season and I believe that we can do that, provided we don't completely tighten the strings and make low ball offers. However, even in that case we might be below the minimum cap and this is where bidding on the amnestied player might come in!
What if this whole free agency goes pear shaped and we don't get players that we want (possible but not sure how likely) but we don't want to spend money of FA that would not want to sign for one year deals as they are looking for some long term security.
Could we see the Kings bidding on some amnesty contracts to fill the salary cap gap and get to the 85%? Then it keeps the cap flexibility for 2012 which will be a deeper and better FA class?!
I consider re-signing Dalembert and Thornton as non-negotiables this off-season and I believe that we can do that, provided we don't completely tighten the strings and make low ball offers. However, even in that case we might be below the minimum cap and this is where bidding on the amnestied player might come in!
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
To pop up where?
I ask that because Nick Young makes absolutely zero sense for our team unless we somehow lose Thornton. Not only is he a pure and so purely one dimensional shooting guard that even Kevin would laugh at him, but last year he tracked out as THE single most selfish player in the entire NBA. It was really quite ridiculous. Something like 70%+ of the time that he got the ball he ended up shooting it. Would have to find the stat again, but he was #1, and it wasn't close.
Suffice it to say that barring sudden and unexpected gaping holes getting torn into our roster, we have roughly zero need for a selfish super-one dimensional gunner of a shooting guard. there are not enough shots to go around already, and he would be one of the most worthless guys in the NBA if he wasn't getting them.
Edit: rainmaker posted the stat list of guards and their passing percentage here: http://www.kingsfans.com/forums/showthread.php?42962-Sammy-Dalembert&p=850318&viewfull=1#post850318
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LPKingsFan
All-Star
I assume GP made the call just to see what the market is, in case Thornton gets an unreasonably high offer. That qualifies as "interest" to an agent, I'd imagine.
bluntsnbball
G-League
Has anybody mentioned Arron Afflalo?
I believe he is a restricted FA but i think he would be a valuable asset to our team, similar to the role of Thabo Sefolosha in OKC. He plays solid defense and can hit the 3 when needed, both are categories that our current roster lacks in. I do believe (or hope) that Thornton is the long term shooting guard next to Tyreke, but when Jimmer is on the floor, it would be nice to have a defender to put next to him. He's also young, and most of the veteran free agents this year are not! After looking at our team stats from last year, i have serious doubts about our defense and i think this kid could help.
Why the hell would we go after an immature cocky kid like Nick Young when we could have a solid 2 guard in Afflalo?
I believe he is a restricted FA but i think he would be a valuable asset to our team, similar to the role of Thabo Sefolosha in OKC. He plays solid defense and can hit the 3 when needed, both are categories that our current roster lacks in. I do believe (or hope) that Thornton is the long term shooting guard next to Tyreke, but when Jimmer is on the floor, it would be nice to have a defender to put next to him. He's also young, and most of the veteran free agents this year are not! After looking at our team stats from last year, i have serious doubts about our defense and i think this kid could help.
Why the hell would we go after an immature cocky kid like Nick Young when we could have a solid 2 guard in Afflalo?
UK_King
Starter
It was mentioned by Jason Jones and an ESPN writer i think, thats where i noticed it!
Hardly a "strong" story though.
Telemachus
Starter
Hansel
Bench
He was signed by another team in Italy just now.
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