At this point, the G-League guys are Queta and...Queta. We cut Lou King loose, nobody else has been added on a 2-way to my recollection.
The Tankathon Thread (since that's apparently what this is now)
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
At this point, the G-League guys are Queta and...Queta. We cut Lou King loose, nobody else has been added on a 2-way to my recollection.
Ah, I thought Quinn Cook was the 2nd guy, but doesn't look like it.
twslam07
All-Star
I wonder if a package of Mitchell & #7 is enough to move up and draft Holmgren or Smith? It feels a bit light to me so we'd probably have to include a future protected 1st or to trade Holmes for another asset that is rerouted to that team, but a roster of...
PG - Fox
SG - DiVincenzo / Davis
SF - Barnes / Holiday / Harkless
PF - Holmgren-Smith / Lyles / Metu
C - Sabonis / Holmes / Len
...seems like a very complementary team with a decent ceiling (based on the development from Fox & Holmgren/Smith).
PG - Fox
SG - DiVincenzo / Davis
SF - Barnes / Holiday / Harkless
PF - Holmgren-Smith / Lyles / Metu
C - Sabonis / Holmes / Len
...seems like a very complementary team with a decent ceiling (based on the development from Fox & Holmgren/Smith).
My take-- I think that's a horrible idea. We know what we have in Mitchell and he's easily the best individual defender on a team that is still poor defensively. Giving up Haliburton for a proven All-Star in Sabonis made sense. But in a trade-up scenario we'd be giving up two players for one (Mitchell + whoever we could have drafted with our lower pick) and there's no guarantee either Holmgren or Smith will even be better than Mitchell is now.
I think we just need to be patient here. Monte waited to see who fell to him in 2020 and 2021 and ended up with Haliburton and Mitchell who both look like they'll be solid starters at least. We can wait this year too.
twslam07
All-Star
I have no problem being patient. I just don’t think that reflects the reality of McNair’s situation.
If this team is not competing for the playoffs next year, I think there is a very good chance he's let go. He doesn't have the luxury of being patient (even if it's the right move).
The other point to this is I don't think Fox & Mitchell are an ideal pairing. Neither have the size/length to check SGs on a daily basis and both are questionable shooters. If the reality is that McNair's seat is getting hot, can he afford to keep the non-complementary pairing of Fox & Mitchell if his job is dependent on him competing/making the playoffs next year?
kb02
All-Star
So I agree that McNair is on the hot seat next year. He’s gone by the break if the Kings are struggling at that point. What I don’t agree with is that trading Davion and #7 would make the Kings better next year, if the pick is Holmgren or Smith. I think they will be better, if it’s Banchero. Dude is the only plug and play player amongst the top 3.
They let Vlade F this thing up for 5 years if they fire McNair at any time next year I'm taking a long hiatus.
twslam07
All-Star
That’s fine. We can disagree on who’d we take with the pick. Only time will tell.
However, you’ve mentioned on numerous occasions that people need to shift their thinking from “if player X can play with Fox” to “if player X can play with Sabonis.” Going off that logic, I don’t think Banchero is a good fit with Sabonis. Both are below average shooters and defenders. You’re not going to very far if you can’t space the floor and both your PF & C have difficulty on the defensive side of the ball.
kb02
All-Star
Pete got two years. Vlade got 5.
The tweet that CD posted last week was how the Suns, Grizzlies, and Mavs were the last three teams three years ago. They're the top three ranked teams in the West this year.
3 years is more than enough for McNair.
kb02
All-Star
I think Banchero can play with anyone. I also think Domas can play with anyone. And I'm certain Davion can play with Banchero and Domas.
sactowndog
All-Star
middle of the road Monte will surely be on the hot seat if the Kings fail to make the play in next year. The roads in Sacramento are filled with Squirrels who failed to pick a direction. I suspect Monte will be next.
twslam07
All-Star
Again, you're lacking shooting and defense if you're moving forward with a Banchero/Sabonis frontcourt. Considering how important it is to have at least 1 of your bigs be a good defender, having two that are below average defenders is not all that attractive to me.
If you think Banchero is leaps and bounds better than anyone else in this draft, go ahead and take him and figure out the fit later (e.g., trade Banchero or trade Sabonis), but you yourself admit that McNair's time is short if the team isn't competitive next year. Can McNair afford to draft Banchero and go into next season with a roster that doesn't complement each other, lacks spacing, and lacks defense?
gunks
Hall of Famer
I think McNair could probably find a solid piece wherever we land. I'll be psyched if we move up, but not heartbroken if we drop or stay put.
I'm way more invested in the coaching search than the draft this offseason either way. Monte really needs to sign a winner.
If Vivek forces him to cheap out and keep Gentry (biased speculation warning) that'll probably be the last straw for me - although I have been steadily adding to my "last straw" pile for over a decade now...
I'm way more invested in the coaching search than the draft this offseason either way. Monte really needs to sign a winner.
If Vivek forces him to cheap out and keep Gentry (biased speculation warning) that'll probably be the last straw for me - although I have been steadily adding to my "last straw" pile for over a decade now...
If he forces him to keep Gentry he can't possibly be on the hot seat and if he was I'd probably stop watching NBA as long as Vivek owned the Kings and the Arizona team was good.
He hasn't even gotten to hire a coach and his drafting is light years above anyone we've had since Petrie wasn't jerked around by the Maloofs. If he's on the hot seat Vivek is dumber than I imagine.
He hasn't even gotten to hire a coach and his drafting is light years above anyone we've had since Petrie wasn't jerked around by the Maloofs. If he's on the hot seat Vivek is dumber than I imagine.
As hard as it is to believe, Pete wasn't actually fired. Writing was on the wall for sure as Vlade basically came in outranking him, but Pete took the Denver job while still in the Kings employ.
gunks
Hall of Famer
Haha yeah, like I said... I'm definitely just speculating based on past Vivek screw ups.
And honestly just the fact that there aren't any rumors about a Gentry contract floating around is probably good news.
But I definitely can't hang with another awful coach, Gentry or otherwise. As we've seen over years, it's just such a franchise crippler to have incompetence in that position.
kb02
All-Star
The ceiling is high for Banchero, Smith, and Chet. Banchero is the only one, who can come in and be the second bes5 player on the Kings from day one. Behind only Domas. If shooting/spacing is an issue, everyone else is fair game for a trade.
twslam07
All-Star
It's not just shooting that would be an issue. Defense would be an issue as well. Extremely difficult to be a solid defensive team when your PF & C are below average defenders.
kb02
All-Star
Starting your best on ball defenders and trading players, who only play defense a few minutes a game, would help that. No?
twslam07
All-Star
While ignoring the below average defense from the cleanup crew that is supposed to erase mistakes (PF & C)? There's a reason why guys like Gobert have such an impact on the defensive side of the ball while guys like Conley can only do so much.
TTown Kings
Bench
I don't think he failed to pick a direction. I think the direction is pretty obvious and it was dictated to him by ownership.
I also think it's the wrong direction and the same one we've been pursuing for years.
Keep doing the same thing over and over and expect different results, right Vivek?
kb02
All-Star
So the only spots to improve the defense are at the 4 and 5? Wing defenders must not be valued much in todays NBA then. I’m sure McNair can find a bunch this off season.
kb02
All-Star
Yea, Vivek had a mandate for sure. Didn’t quite hit that goal this year though. I’m sure the ownership group won’t hold the current Kings FO accountable for it though. Totally not a big deal.
steelevt
All-Star
James Jones took more than 3 seasons to build a contender and the grizz and mavs didn’t blow their gifts given to them by the nba gods in Ja and Luka. Monte inherited this dumpster fire with players and coach included. I think he should be able to hire his own coach like they did and more than 3 years to clean it up.
Pretty much. Just goes to show that we're going into year 5 next season and we still aren't recovered from passing on franchise cornerstones
Suns nailed Ayton/Bridges, Booker hit his prime, swung the big trade for Cp3 and have been really smart with their limited FA budget bringing in guys like Crowder and Payne.
-Grizzlies didn't miss on Ja and JJJ, nailed a bunch of later draft picks (Bane, Brooks, Clarke) and found absolute gems in FA (Tyus, Anderson, Melton)
-Mavs nailed Luka and have been excellent at surrounding him with good role player talent that enhances his game.
Kings can get there with another strong 2-3 years in the draft to really build up that player pool where we become a yearly contender. And if we do happen to get lucky, don't freaking miss on your top 3 pick.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
I'm not totally sure. I can't see Vivek truly understanding the nuances of a big like Sabonis. Not sure if I would have made that trade rather than rebuilding but in the end, it's a deal that makes sense. If the argument to Viveks plan is that it lacks sensibility then this is a counter to that. I think this is Monte/data guys right now. Good or bad? That depends on what he and they do next. Common sense is the key and so far, common sense did seem to reign at the deadline.
twslam07
All-Star
Of course not, but it handicaps the defensively ceiling of the team. Improving from 27th defensively to 24th defensively is not going to be enough to get this team to where it needs to be. We need "significant improvement" in this area not just "improvement."
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kb02
All-Star
I think starting three above average to elite defenders at the 1, 2, and 3 spots would lead to significant Improvement. That’s 3 better defenders, 2 better if you consider Barnes to be above average, than what’s in the starting lineup.
Think I both agree and disagree. Do not think Fox and Mitchell are an ideal pairing as a long-term, starting backcourt and do think that, in two or three seasons time, one will be gone. But do think that keeping Mitchell in a bench/ 6th man role next year is something that would well work next season. He would still contribute off the bench and develop his game. And his improved ability to relocate on the perimeter without the ball will help him play better minutes alongside Fox. Plus, if you move Mitchell this offseason, then you need to find a new backup point guard with resources (e.g., picks, salary, trade pieces) that would otherwise be directed elsewhere.
If you put that aside and say I’m off base, you still have Monte’s interest in trading to draft higher up in a mid-level draft lacking clear talent at the top. Sure, I don’t know him personally and he hasn’t been making decisions that long. But in each draft that he has overseen he has waited until his turn to pick. He hasn’t yet shown interest in moving up, moving down, or acquiring more picks.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
how has he done the same thing? Our two best players are 25 or under and one is a two time all star, we own all our picks, have solid complimentary pieces DDV (restricted) Mitchell and have a ton of cap room after next season. Doesn’t sound anything like our previous regimes.
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