Welcome Devin Carter
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Well it’s Gleague and Memphis was without some of their best players but a lot to like in this one. Again just contributing across the board. Defense first, shooting second, facilitating third and a bit of driving/ iso mixed in there. Turns the ball over a bit too much, that will be something to tighten up
What really intrigued me about Carter this draft cycle was the super rare defensive energy/effort/hustle tied with incredible athleticism/wingspan/defensive IQ. He wants to be great on the defensive end first, which frankly, is just rare for most guys drafted in the 1st round. It's even more rare for those traits to be tied with an absolute freak athlete with a giant wingspan.
I think he's going to hold a 20 MPG role from the jump. He's just going to make so many hustle/impact plays on defense that I think it'll quickly get to the point we can't afford to play him any less than that.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
He's a NFL level and type of athlete. The Kings seemingly always pass on those types. If those types can walk and chew bubble gum you have a pretty impactful piece and incredible upside. The Kings need anyone that's elite at something other than shooting. Carter being an elite athlete both in terms of strength and lateral mobility checks so many boxes regardless of size. Dude plays like he's 6'8", that's all that matters.
kingsfan101
Starter
While we all want him to play, where are the minutes going to come even when he is healthy.
Unless we play lots of 3 guards rotations, or cut Keon's minutes, most of the guard minutes will be mopped up by Fox, Monk, and Keon. Kevin too will continue to see the floor as long as he is with us.
It's on Monte to cleanup some logjam. Given Kevin's play, trading him won't be easy.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
If he was gonna get traded it would’ve been done before he played a single game not after he gets the fans and organization excited
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
the Thunder find a bunch of minutes for SGA, Lu Dortzzzz, Cason Wallace, Alex Caruso and even their back up rookie point guard Mitchell who is on a two way deal has got a ton a minutes plus Isaiah Joe. That’s 6 guards that play on the best team in the west with the number one ranked defense. Now some of that is because of injuries and blowouts but still. The good news is Fox, Keon and Devin can all guard or can likely guard up so we can run 3 guard lineups a fair amount like OKC does.
Kingz19
Hall of Famer
He’s virtually the same size as Josh Hart and Lu Dort. About the same wingspan..they might be a hair taller. Both play a lot of small forward in smaller lineup. He projects to be a better rebounder than most 3’s.
Kings just started Keon Ellis at Small Forward.
They have negligible depth.
Finding minutes for talented players is not something the Kings should find challenging.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
That's Dougs issue. You simply sit the guy that doesn't fit or provide those needs nor that is in the long term picture. Salvaging value out of Kevin Huerter shouldn't be close to a top priority at this point. The Kings have waited out far longer contracts than Kevin Huerters.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
And at this point he is a salary matching asset. If we have to sit him that won’t change his value. Kev is a good player but he needs a fresh start in the worst way. If we do find a trade I’m hoping we can find a third team that actually wants his services. He could help the right team
twslam07
All-Star
With Huerter moved, I think you can carve out 20 min for Carter fairly easily…
PG - Fox (34) / Monk (14)
SG - Ellis (24) / Monk (12) / Carter (12)
SF - DeRozan (34) / Carter (8) / Murray (6)
PF - Murray (28) / Lyles (20)
C - Sabonis (34) / Len (14)
And depending on if we get a forward or center for Huerter, we can probably start reducing minutes for guys like DeRozan, Murray, and/or Sabonis so they aren’t playing such heavy minutes.
Going forward, a big part of me is open to moving Monk in the 2025 off-season for more frontcourt help. This all depends on how Carter looks to end the season of course, but if Carter closes out the year looking like he’s going to be a monster and high impact player, I’d seriously consider moving Monk. What would that do for us?
The thing about a Fox, Carter, & Ellis backcourt is who is running the offense when Fox is off the court? I think the hope would be for Carter to at least be good enough in that role to handle backup PG minutes but perhaps we’re just relying on DeRozan and Sabonis to handle the ball more during those stretches.
PG - Fox (34) / Monk (14)
SG - Ellis (24) / Monk (12) / Carter (12)
SF - DeRozan (34) / Carter (8) / Murray (6)
PF - Murray (28) / Lyles (20)
C - Sabonis (34) / Len (14)
And depending on if we get a forward or center for Huerter, we can probably start reducing minutes for guys like DeRozan, Murray, and/or Sabonis so they aren’t playing such heavy minutes.
Going forward, a big part of me is open to moving Monk in the 2025 off-season for more frontcourt help. This all depends on how Carter looks to end the season of course, but if Carter closes out the year looking like he’s going to be a monster and high impact player, I’d seriously consider moving Monk. What would that do for us?
- It allows us to give 30+ min to Fox, Carter, and Ellis
- Our backcourt, POA defense would be ridiculous all game long.
- Our backcourt would have good size, length, and athleticism
- Our backcourt payroll would be pretty good considering Ellis and Carter are making peanuts which allows us to use that payroll on other positions of need.
- Monk is a solid asset entering his prime on a good contract. He should fetch a decent return and could be a piece apart of a larger package to bring an upgrade or star to SAC (e.g., Markkanen)
The thing about a Fox, Carter, & Ellis backcourt is who is running the offense when Fox is off the court? I think the hope would be for Carter to at least be good enough in that role to handle backup PG minutes but perhaps we’re just relying on DeRozan and Sabonis to handle the ball more during those stretches.
sono
Starter
I would feel remorse moving Monk, knowing what he had sacrificed to stay here. Anyone else?
twslam07
All-Star
I would be too, but if he lands in a spot where he can be a full-on starter and possible lead guard, perhaps he’s fine with it.
coolhandluke
Starter
If this is a "C" grade game for him, I'm eagerly looking forward to his "A" game in Kings uniform. Sounds like a high character guy like most Monte picks.
Only real wart on his game that I can see so far is he gets picked pretty easily when dribbling through traffic. I think he's definitely going to be off ball a lot more than on ball this year in the NBA because of that very reason.
His shot looks great. Even his misses are close. He knows when to make the right reads to dump the ball off to his teammates. His defense looks great. A guy his size blocking two 3pt shots in a game is very impressive. I think he has a chance to come in and be Keon v2.0 from the start. Just needs to work on his ball handling in traffic and get more reps because you can tell he still doesn't always know where his spots are on the court. Probably just from not playing much 5 on 5 for months.
His shot looks great. Even his misses are close. He knows when to make the right reads to dump the ball off to his teammates. His defense looks great. A guy his size blocking two 3pt shots in a game is very impressive. I think he has a chance to come in and be Keon v2.0 from the start. Just needs to work on his ball handling in traffic and get more reps because you can tell he still doesn't always know where his spots are on the court. Probably just from not playing much 5 on 5 for months.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
he has corrected people a few times in videos I’ve seen. Appears to be a motivator for him haha
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
It is sorta weird that the NBa stopped taking measurements in shoes so now there’s a whole generation of players listed shorter than their elders purely because those guys got an extra inch and a half added by the soles of their sneakers.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
He’s said it was fine in his interviews but that’s before he’s had a night for it to swell up.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
He and Keon about to have Desmond Bane in hell
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Yes!!! Even if just for a few 5 minute stretches
Joshyjosh31
Starter
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Kev takes a breather from dumping on Sabonis to hype up DC
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
The question is whether or not he actually did. I mean you like the commitment but after the FA period started the rumors proved to be true. The only two teams on his radar went with the questioned yet rumored moves of Harris to Detroit and KCP to the Magic. I'm pretty sure he was told these teams had him down their list and there was chatter about that prior to the FA period. If those were their first options Monk would have been without much of a market to use as leverage.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
And again, technically in the NBA that said Spencer Hawes was 7'1" in shoes, he'd be 6'4", lol.
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