The Kings sign Ryan Hollins
- Thread starter HereWeBoogie
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I must say that if I scanned the NBA for a good backup center, I'm not sure I stop with Hollins. As a matter of fact, I'am sure. However, I'm not going to llose any sleep over it. Last season he averaged just under 8 minutes a game for the Clips, and I doubt he'll average much more than that for us. He's one of these guys that's somehow managed to stick around on the edge of the NBA by first being drafted in the second round by Orlando, and I guess by being seven foot tall. No? Well you tell me! I'm starting to suspect that he has some revealing photo's of someone high up in the NBA. I mean he wasn't that good a player at UCLA. In his time there, he didn't score much. He didn't rebound, and he didn't block shots. Nor has he done any of those things while in the NBA. The only redeeming flag he can wave at this point is 8 years of NBA experience. Never mind that seventy-five percent of his experience was how to ride a bench.
But, I doubt he'll get any relevant playing time. Most of his minutes will come at garbage time, when you don't want your star center out there possibly getting injured. Maybe he's nothing more than Bhullar insurance. Someone to hold the spot until Bhullar is ready to take over, or not, one way or the other. As I said, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
But, I doubt he'll get any relevant playing time. Most of his minutes will come at garbage time, when you don't want your star center out there possibly getting injured. Maybe he's nothing more than Bhullar insurance. Someone to hold the spot until Bhullar is ready to take over, or not, one way or the other. As I said, I'm not going to lose any sleep over it.
I think this move was to get DMC a backup center option, so if PDA can find a taker for JT, the Kings could move JT and would have a cheap backup center for those 10mpg that DMC on the bench.
Before this move, the Kings had nobody that could fill the 10 min/game backup center, besides JT. Now with Hollins, the Kings can move JT without wondering who would backup DMC.
The Kings have been looking to move JT for some time now and now they have the safety net of Hollins as a backup center.
I could see the Kings trying to move JT to a team in need of a center, like Miami, Phoenix, or Charlotte, for an ending contract or 2nd round picks.
Before this move, the Kings had nobody that could fill the 10 min/game backup center, besides JT. Now with Hollins, the Kings can move JT without wondering who would backup DMC.
The Kings have been looking to move JT for some time now and now they have the safety net of Hollins as a backup center.
I could see the Kings trying to move JT to a team in need of a center, like Miami, Phoenix, or Charlotte, for an ending contract or 2nd round picks.
Imo its that damn trade kicker that's making JT extra hard to trade. We could have used those two 2nd rounder as a sweetener in a JT trade and wait and see if Jason Terry cracked on his buyout as he sat and watched the season unfold from his couch like the rest of us but that ship sailed. We're all looking at you PDA...
This is simply a logical signing, regardless of any plans or hopes to move JT. You normally don't have your starting 4 also be your backup center. Every team needs a legit backup center, someone of whom that is their primary position, regardless of where they sit on the bench: 7-12. Just so happens we have a few other guys who CAN fill in at center. This simple roster construction. Our roster is actually fairly well balanced now.
PGs:
Collison
McCallum (can play SG)
SGs:
Ben
Stauskas (can play PG)
SFs:
Gay (though I love seeing him at SG in a big lineup)
Casspi (can play some PF)
PFs:
Thompson (can play C)
Landry
Evans (can play C)
Cs:
Cousins
Hollins
SF/SG/PF:
Williams
Projects:
Sim (C)
Moreland (PF)
--
Given the above group, and hoping that Moreland can develop, I'd love to see a lineup of:
Cousins
Moreland
Gay
Stauskas (or Ben)
McCallum
That is a young, hungry group, and at least on paper, has the chance for a good balance of shooting, defense, passing, ball handling, and even strikes me as good on chemistry. No selfish guys in that group at all.
PGs:
Collison
McCallum (can play SG)
SGs:
Ben
Stauskas (can play PG)
SFs:
Gay (though I love seeing him at SG in a big lineup)
Casspi (can play some PF)
PFs:
Thompson (can play C)
Landry
Evans (can play C)
Cs:
Cousins
Hollins
SF/SG/PF:
Williams
Projects:
Sim (C)
Moreland (PF)
--
Given the above group, and hoping that Moreland can develop, I'd love to see a lineup of:
Cousins
Moreland
Gay
Stauskas (or Ben)
McCallum
That is a young, hungry group, and at least on paper, has the chance for a good balance of shooting, defense, passing, ball handling, and even strikes me as good on chemistry. No selfish guys in that group at all.
Wasn't there a Bee article recently where it was stated that the Kings would like to clean up the PF position? I believe all of the current PF were included including Landry.
The Kings management has been open that there will be mistakes and it appears they aren't afraid to attempt to remedy something not working or that hasn't worked. Whether or not this is an indication that the team will never have stability and always looking for the quick/different fix is a question still to be determined (could probably argue either way but not enough evidence yet).
The Kings management has been open that there will be mistakes and it appears they aren't afraid to attempt to remedy something not working or that hasn't worked. Whether or not this is an indication that the team will never have stability and always looking for the quick/different fix is a question still to be determined (could probably argue either way but not enough evidence yet).
K
Well that's a stupid way to do things if you moving pieces which can somewhat help you for ones that really won't just for the sake of change. JT is not a selfish player so I don't get why moving him would change the culture, if anything JT is probably one of the most honest guy's on the team and actually tells it like it is.
Also why bring Casspi back if that's what they are doing as well as Landry since they were part of the pre-Vivek era?
Also why bring Casspi back if that's what they are doing as well as Landry since they were part of the pre-Vivek era?
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JT needs to move on, it's just time. Really don't want to give him away for peanuts though. Landry is also a professional type. His trade value took a hit last year because of the injury. If and when he shows he's healthy, he has trade value to playoff teams, I personally want him to stay as he brings something we don't have out of the power forward spot...a scoring option off the bench.
Landry and Casspi are returning after being in winning organizations. Also, they were brought in by our FO, vs being leftovers.
I'm not arguing whether it's right or wrong to "clean house" when a new FO comes in, but it's not uncommon.
I don't know JT to say he's honest or a good guy. All I've heard is he no longer wants to be here. If that is the case, then that is not good for culture change.
I'm not arguing whether it's right or wrong to "clean house" when a new FO comes in, but it's not uncommon.
I don't know JT to say he's honest or a good guy. All I've heard is he no longer wants to be here. If that is the case, then that is not good for culture change.
Indeed. Here's the quote. I found it surprising because it was the first indication I'd seen that they'd be willing to move Landry, but the implication is clear:
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/17/6716192/kings-offseason-moves-will-continue.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/17/6716192/kings-offseason-moves-will-continue.html#storylink=cpy
The PF position remains the biggest hole in the roster, so it's reasonable to expect the front office is exploring their options on how we can get better there. Since Vivek and PDA took over, they've brought in McCallum and Collison at PG, McLemore and Stauskas at SG, Gay, Williams, and Casspi at SF. Those positions are set for now with all their guys. Williams and Gay can maybe play some PF as well, but the rest of our bigs are either carryover from the previous team (JT) trade throw-ins (Evans) or a first off-season impulse buy (Landry). I think Landry was brought in for two reasons: (1) The front office knew him in GS to be a good locker room guy who's familiar with Coach Malone's system and would be a veteran presence on a young team (2) His contract could be an asset down the road. I don't think he's untouchable, but he also wasn't ever intended to be the starter. Missing the whole season makes him damaged goods and difficult to move at this point. Regardless he'll probably be given a chance to at least play a little bit before he gets aggressively shopped.
Cousins' play for Team USA maybe changes things a bit. He played the role of true C on that team, and he held his own on both ends. Perhaps that gives Pete and co. more of a license to stop looking for a dedicated defensive presence at the other front court spot, and to instead look for more of a versatile offensive threat. I'm not saying that's what I would do, but it's probably fair to downgrade "defensive big" from priority 1a to priority 1b. Of the bigs we have now, Moreland seems like the most logical fit as a glue guy who can hustle all over the floor and maybe block some shots and find open looks near the basket off double teams. We're obviously a long way away from handing him that role right now though.
Cousins' play for Team USA maybe changes things a bit. He played the role of true C on that team, and he held his own on both ends. Perhaps that gives Pete and co. more of a license to stop looking for a dedicated defensive presence at the other front court spot, and to instead look for more of a versatile offensive threat. I'm not saying that's what I would do, but it's probably fair to downgrade "defensive big" from priority 1a to priority 1b. Of the bigs we have now, Moreland seems like the most logical fit as a glue guy who can hustle all over the floor and maybe block some shots and find open looks near the basket off double teams. We're obviously a long way away from handing him that role right now though.
Yeah, one of the things that JT always does is run the floor, and no one has ever questioned his motor. I might add durabiity into the equation. And, durability hasn't been one of Landry's attributes of late. Look, I like JT for what he is as a player. The question is, does he fit next to Cousins, or is he better suited as Cousins backup. The next question would be, is the money he's going to be paid, too much for being Cousins backup. I think you can justify 6 plus million for a starting PF, who also does some backup at center, but maybe not for someone that only plays 12 or so minutes off the bench as the backup center.
Soooooo, maybe JT is going to be part of a deal, and thus the Hollins signing. That would make some sense, depending on the deal. Hollins comes at a far more reasonable price.
Soooooo, maybe JT is going to be part of a deal, and thus the Hollins signing. That would make some sense, depending on the deal. Hollins comes at a far more reasonable price.
This is a bittersweet reality for me as well. Moreland is the exact type of player that we need to pair with Cousins however there is no way he sees more than 10 or so mpg next season. There is no way to have a starting lineup that features both Stauskas and Moreland and yet those are the guys that we need significant production from this coming season if we're goi to have any kind of a chance.
And that would be an enormous mistake. Cuz was able to do what he did defensively in Spain in large part due to not being an offensive focus. It was a guard oriented team. Here, he's without a doubt our top offensive option and should be the focal point of our system, just as Webber was previously.
If our FO doesn't understand the Team USA roles don't equate to roles on specific teams, we've got quite a problem.
Bigger question regarding Landry is how is it that just one year after signing him to that idiotic contract did PDA decide he doesn't fit our plans? He didn't show it on the court. He's not a different player than he was 2, 3 or 5 years ago. Cuz doesn't have a different skillset than he did a year or two ago. Tells me they knew little about Cuz when they made that offer to Carl, which of course not only added to our problems at PF but also helped to severely limit our flexibility this offseason.
PDA should have stopped by kingsfans before offering Carl that contract. We'd have offered him some much needed guidance that apparently no one in our FO was capable of doing.
If our FO doesn't understand the Team USA roles don't equate to roles on specific teams, we've got quite a problem.
Bigger question regarding Landry is how is it that just one year after signing him to that idiotic contract did PDA decide he doesn't fit our plans? He didn't show it on the court. He's not a different player than he was 2, 3 or 5 years ago. Cuz doesn't have a different skillset than he did a year or two ago. Tells me they knew little about Cuz when they made that offer to Carl, which of course not only added to our problems at PF but also helped to severely limit our flexibility this offseason.
PDA should have stopped by kingsfans before offering Carl that contract. We'd have offered him some much needed guidance that apparently no one in our FO was capable of doing.