The trading of Domantas Sabonis.
- Thread starter upinsmoke
- Start date
Welp, not sure any of it isn’t true though. Taylor Jenkins just got dumped and his teams played hard too. But if the star or stars don’t like something about the coach or schemes, the head coach is always the one to go. This situation is probably no different.
I can tell you from listening to the talking heads, there is absolutely going to be fallout from how Mike Brown was handled.
If Sac doesn’t hire DC, then it’s going to be a retread or a guy looking for his first chance.
Also fairly certain that Domas won’t be chosen as an all-star reserve any time soon
I can tell you from listening to the talking heads, there is absolutely going to be fallout from how Mike Brown was handled.
If Sac doesn’t hire DC, then it’s going to be a retread or a guy looking for his first chance.
Also fairly certain that Domas won’t be chosen as an all-star reserve any time soon
I just don't know what to believe with Domas because there were rumors he's the one that wanted Brown gone (certainly spread by a player who is no longer here's camp) and now the same camp has spread the rumor that Domas wants out because how Brown was handled has created uncertainty.
Now I do not think him and Zach have paired well and we need to get rid of DDR if he won't go to the bench.
My faith in Doug is shaken a bit although I am sure he is being forced to try to make the three starting SGs when they are available. I feel like my vacation last week was a blessing because I am certainly not interested in tanking to keep our pick and then having that dangle over whoever is the GM's head for another year. Also I think consensus is this draft isn't as great as it was billed and it's just the opposite of last draft which had no clear top pick, while this one seems to have picks 1 and 2 locked.
I am fine if we throw in the towel after next season if we still suck this bad, but I think if we identify a starting PG and solve the mess Monk/Zach/Deebo somehow will be ok.
Now I do not think him and Zach have paired well and we need to get rid of DDR if he won't go to the bench.
My faith in Doug is shaken a bit although I am sure he is being forced to try to make the three starting SGs when they are available. I feel like my vacation last week was a blessing because I am certainly not interested in tanking to keep our pick and then having that dangle over whoever is the GM's head for another year. Also I think consensus is this draft isn't as great as it was billed and it's just the opposite of last draft which had no clear top pick, while this one seems to have picks 1 and 2 locked.
I am fine if we throw in the towel after next season if we still suck this bad, but I think if we identify a starting PG and solve the mess Monk/Zach/Deebo somehow will be ok.
This year it was a different gameplan and that has to be part of what Domas wants clarification on. This is the fewest assists per game Domas has averaged since the 15 games after he was traded to the Kings. The team going more pick and roll saw him having an uptick in his scoring but he was less involved as a lead playmaker as a result. In January Domas looked to be coming back around as the focus under Christie but then the trades clearly took away the ability for him to really know where to put the ball. From February on Domas is averaging the least amount of assists since he's been a King.
Just don’t see the ownership letting us tank the right way and when you got big names like Embiid out there the GM will be pressured to make a move. Vevik eyed sorry ass Lavine for a couple years now his eyes will light up seeing Embiid is available
With Zion atleast he can play and it’s not medically proven he cant
With Zion atleast he can play and it’s not medically proven he cant
If Memphis flops in the playoffs which is what I expect offer Sabonis/filler for Bane/filler. JJJ/Morrant/Sabonis fits well and they got a ton of up and coming wings.
Bane is a great fit with Keegan and gives you a nice building base until you got rid of LaVine, it also mean you don't have to overpay Ellis.
Bane is a great fit with Keegan and gives you a nice building base until you got rid of LaVine, it also mean you don't have to overpay Ellis.
I hadn't been to a game in awhile. I was watching pretty intently last night on sets and defensive scheme. I get the defensive scheme is trying to cause chaos because we don't have the size. But the offense is loathsome. I know Christie "simplified" the offense, but it has just turned into dribble dribble dribble ISO jumper. Domas has been completely negated. Last night, he was floating in the dunkers spot and just not getting the ball. I know part of that is, we don't have anyone who can make the pass. Lavine is a below average passer, Keon is a way below average passer and Carter is TBD. I thin Deebo is a good, passer, just not a very willing passer as he is always looking for a bucket.
Drastic changes need to be made with all this. I don't blame Domas for wanting an answer.
Drastic changes need to be made with all this. I don't blame Domas for wanting an answer.
LaVine is a big part of the problem there. He'd run a pick with Domas and the double would immediately come at him. Instead of hitting Domas back for an easy wide open attempt, LaVine would just hold on to the ball and reset. I know he was just afraid of turning the ball over but his lack of court vision and decision making is the reason why he's that guy that puts up numbers and struggles to win instead of the guy that does both.
It sounds crazy when the guy is coming off an 11 assist game or whatever it was but that's just basically LaVine's game in a nutshell.
It sounds crazy when the guy is coming off an 11 assist game or whatever it was but that's just basically LaVine's game in a nutshell.
Both are pretty good ball handlers though. This summer better be the summer league of Devin Carter. He's not a pass first pick and roll player but in college he was ELITE out of pick and roll his last year. If that pick and roll game transfers he's going to be stud on both ends. Keons pick and roll game looked a lot better last year but him being more of a secondary ball handler and spot shooter is perfect to put next to LaVine, Carter, and Monk.
Fox was the same way. That can be worked out, but the fact is the best option is still likely LaVine being aggressive out of that position. LaVine can get you 25 a night, Domas is far more selective even if the production gets there some nights. On paper LaVine shouldn't be a bad fit with Domas if they can get a two man game down. Look at Monk, it took awhile but a lot of Monks passing is literally him being confident that even when he throws a horrendous pass Domas can wrangle it in.
Not saying it's impossible but Zach is 30 and his passing skills and court vision are pretty bad. I highly doubt he's going to improve like Monk did as a 23/24 year old. I don't think the problem is that Zach's passes are a little off. It's that he throws them to the other team. Doesn't matter how good Domas's hands are if the ball doesn't even make it to him. It's just a mixture of lack of court vision and decision making. A lot of time Zach has the right idea but he attempts it at the wrong time. Those pocket passes back to Domas seem like they have about a 2:1 chance of making it to him and it shows in his career AST/TO ratios.
Maybe, they play it differently to an extent but it's not just about passing, it's overall effectiveness in pick and roll and whether your team is getting baskets when running the set. Most true superstars aren't passing out of it, they are scoring out of it. Historically speaking LaVine has been a better pick and roll player than Monk even in Monks best year which is this season. Prior to joining the Kings LaVine was near 80th percentile in pick and roll this season, Monk is around 62nd percentile which is pretty much baseline for his top rung over the years. LaVine's role has changed somewhat and getting him back into that rhythm in pick and roll needs to be a priority every night. I do agree with you though, him being a main facilitaor as a passer might not be the better option nor just being blind to everyone else and going overboard with selfishness. If the Kings do end up getting to the playoffs though my bet is it comes down to that. He or DeMar will have to carry it because they have the skills to do it whereas nobody else really does.
Yeah, I'd be curious how much Domas and LaVine have actually just gotten to practice their 2-man game with each other. Or how much practice time we've had at all since the trade deadline. Didn't really cross my mind much, until we saw some of the unfamiliarity after the trade, but Domas is such a unique offensive player that I would guess it takes a lot of reps to learn how to play off of him. He's certainly just not your typical "screener" big like a Vuc or most of the NBA is.
I don't know if this core lasts the summer or not, and it's certainly not a title team, but I think a full off-season of getting to work with each other, fully committing to Keon being in the starting LU and possibly finding a different wing than DDR can be a really effective and fun team heading into next year.
Keon
LaVine
Keegan
Something
Domas
Monk
JV
Carter
LaRavia (hopefully find a way to keep him)
I'd buy that squad as a playoff team. Maybe you shop Monk over DDR. Something along those lines. But step 1, if we keep this core, has to commit to Keon and Keegan in the starting lineup to even give us a chance to be competent defensively.
I don't know if this core lasts the summer or not, and it's certainly not a title team, but I think a full off-season of getting to work with each other, fully committing to Keon being in the starting LU and possibly finding a different wing than DDR can be a really effective and fun team heading into next year.
Keon
LaVine
Keegan
Something
Domas
Monk
JV
Carter
LaRavia (hopefully find a way to keep him)
I'd buy that squad as a playoff team. Maybe you shop Monk over DDR. Something along those lines. But step 1, if we keep this core, has to commit to Keon and Keegan in the starting lineup to even give us a chance to be competent defensively.
Unless that Something spot in the starting lineup is filled by a First Team All-Defense player, I don't think there's enough defense in this rotation to be any better than a 7 seed (play-in) level squad next year. This is basically the same squad we have right now that's in the mid 20's in defensive rating minus DeRozan plus some unknown PF who we'll be able to get with no cap space, no first round draft pick, and only DeRozan to dangle as trade bait. I don't see how that works. And by the end of next season, can we even afford to keep Keon Ellis if we still have $115 million tied up in paying LaVine, Sabonis, and Monk?
twslam7 had a breakdown of our cap sheet somewhere in the personnel section on this. I don’t have the exact numbers but we will likely be able to keep everyone and be under the tax as long as Keegan gets Trey Murphy money or less and Keon gets extended this offseason for similar money as the Herb Jones deal or less.
