Welcome Domantas Sabonis
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I think what it ultimately came down to was a value proposition between their two best players. Fox was likely shopped around and my guess is we were receiving "pennies on the dollar" type offers for him because of his down year and the contract. Hali obviously had tremendous value on the rookie scale contract and already being really good. So do you sell high on Haliburton (Which, I think we absolutely did. Get off the toxic Buddy contract, getting a young extremely good 2x all-star) or sell-low on Fox in the down year?
Yeah, add in what we expect is Vivek's insistence that this team win now and McNair didn't have many options.
The "right" thing might have been to tank, trade Fox for a diminished return along with any other pieces that could net draft capital, young players, and future cap space and build around Haliburton and future draft picks. But I don't think that was an actual option for Monte.
Hopefully the Kings DON'T trade any FRPs in win now type moves and McNair proves to be a good drafter year in and year out. Because THAT's the only long term path to success for all teams other than the Lakers, Heat, Nets and one or two other attractive markets. Hit on guys in the draft (especially with high picks) and then either let them lead your team or flip them while on their rookie deals for established stars. I hate that it was Tyrese, but that's what McNair did here.
Haliburton was picked 12th and traded for Sabonis, with many in the media claiming that the Kings got the short end of that deal. Jalen Smith was picked two spots ahead of him and the Suns didn't even pick up his 3rd year option. If McNair stays as GM you have to hope he drafts well.
The "right" thing might have been to tank, trade Fox for a diminished return along with any other pieces that could net draft capital, young players, and future cap space and build around Haliburton and future draft picks. But I don't think that was an actual option for Monte.
Hopefully the Kings DON'T trade any FRPs in win now type moves and McNair proves to be a good drafter year in and year out. Because THAT's the only long term path to success for all teams other than the Lakers, Heat, Nets and one or two other attractive markets. Hit on guys in the draft (especially with high picks) and then either let them lead your team or flip them while on their rookie deals for established stars. I hate that it was Tyrese, but that's what McNair did here.
Haliburton was picked 12th and traded for Sabonis, with many in the media claiming that the Kings got the short end of that deal. Jalen Smith was picked two spots ahead of him and the Suns didn't even pick up his 3rd year option. If McNair stays as GM you have to hope he drafts well.
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Monte played it right too so ultimate credit to him. Would I have done this? Eh. It's enticing to build a legit two star team anytime it's possible but no, I'm not sold on him building a team around Fox/Sabonis/Barnes as an overnight thing. Now it gets tough and he needs to be aggressive in the next day to add something to this and copy the build of a team like the Nuggets. Sabonis is your poor mans Jokic, so he and Fox need shooters and wings, preferably another legit talent to go with Barnes. He also now needs a coach that understands the nuances of a high post/pick and roll offense (Bobby! DC! it's right there Monte), and pieces to compliment them. I'm just glad they didn't trade Fox for Sabonis, that would have been lateral on paper and still leave you at a 1 star level team. For the first time since Cuz/Gay they have two players that can legit get you 30+ on any given night. Now the process of them getting a 2 man game down starts. The potential to be the most devastating pnr combo is there.
I was in favor of dealing Fox for Sabonis because I think he and Hali are a better fit, but I see your point. Sabonis probably is a better P&R partner for Fox because he can pick and pop at at much higher level than Holmes and Fox has historically been elite at attacking the paint. Holmes was a great P&R fit for Haliburton as a vertical lob threat because Tyrese wasn't an elite finisher but very good at making the defense pick their poison.
We'll see how it works out. I think under the circumstances (fan apathy, Vivek supposedly wanting win now moves, Fox & Haliburton not meshing as hoped in the starting lineup) McNair played it fairly well.
Barnes helps with spacing as a stretch 4 but he's not the ideal frontcourt mate for Sabonis. He's one I wouldn't deal unless there's really clear value/improvement to gain. Holmes is now relegated to being a bench big which will suppress his trade value so he should be traded if there's a good deal available. Bagley almost certainly won't be re-signed (or want to re-sign) so he should be flipped for any decent assets too.
Lots more work to be done.
We'll see how it works out. I think under the circumstances (fan apathy, Vivek supposedly wanting win now moves, Fox & Haliburton not meshing as hoped in the starting lineup) McNair played it fairly well.
Barnes helps with spacing as a stretch 4 but he's not the ideal frontcourt mate for Sabonis. He's one I wouldn't deal unless there's really clear value/improvement to gain. Holmes is now relegated to being a bench big which will suppress his trade value so he should be traded if there's a good deal available. Bagley almost certainly won't be re-signed (or want to re-sign) so he should be flipped for any decent assets too.
Lots more work to be done.
I’m really looking forward to see Domantas a King. His passing should make trading Hali a bit more tolerable but add in those and screens. Holiday is over thirty but if there is anything to miss about Buddy’s three’s this will help.
Not sure how many here got to watch his dad play but Arvydas didn’t even come over to the NBA until he was 30 and still had an amazing career. Looks like he taught his son the finer skills of a big well.
Not sure how many here got to watch his dad play but Arvydas didn’t even come over to the NBA until he was 30 and still had an amazing career. Looks like he taught his son the finer skills of a big well.
On the Holmes front, the saving grace is that he's really not much above MLE scale but yeah, I agree with you, and as such there's danger there. The biggest one being if they see Sabonis as a bruising 4 man. Remember KANGZ is having something that could work, but trying to fit the square peg in the round hole on a board full of square holes. It's always just off the mark. Which is why it's so frustrating.
A 25-year-old two-time all-star who is an advanced stats darling just entering his prime. I'm not sure Kings fans appreciate how rare it is to acquire a player like that via trade without having to part with a boatload of assets. Monte McNair surrendered exactly one.
This is a single half of basketball against a middling Timberwolves squad, but it's certainly enough to see the outline of how a Fox/Sabonis core just might be successful. It's also enough to see why it's not particularly prudent to stack all of your talent at a single position. Fox/Haliburton/Mitchell was never going to be sustainable in the rotation. McNair likely knew he would have to flip at least one as soon as he drafted Davion.
Subtract an efficient playmaking guard in Haliburton, add an efficient playmaking big in Sabonis, and there is greater balance to the rotation all of a sudden.
This is a single half of basketball against a middling Timberwolves squad, but it's certainly enough to see the outline of how a Fox/Sabonis core just might be successful. It's also enough to see why it's not particularly prudent to stack all of your talent at a single position. Fox/Haliburton/Mitchell was never going to be sustainable in the rotation. McNair likely knew he would have to flip at least one as soon as he drafted Davion.
Subtract an efficient playmaking guard in Haliburton, add an efficient playmaking big in Sabonis, and there is greater balance to the rotation all of a sudden.
They also acted like Buddy was a huge win for the Pacers instead of the cost of doing business. And Holiday if his shot starts dropping is going to be the 3rd best guy in the deal, if you get the first and third best players and the second highest paid player is the biggest liability going the other way that's a pretty big win.
It's still going to take time, but already I'm re-sold on Barnes staying here. Bagley and Holmes look like odd men out and f it, I'd give up a pick if it gets us two starters for those two.
It's still going to take time, but already I'm re-sold on Barnes staying here. Bagley and Holmes look like odd men out and f it, I'd give up a pick if it gets us two starters for those two.
You know there was also a playmaking Power Forward drafted by the Magic.
Upon getting drafted, he was immediately traded by the Magic to a team in the Western Conference.
Spent his rookie season at that team then immediately got traded back to the EC for his second season.
Spent four seasons at that EC team and became an all-star.
But after some unsuccessful runs for the playoffs, that EC team decided to tear it down so they traded the then 25-year-old allstar power forward again, this time to the Kings for a 6'5 guard.
That deal worked out pretty well for both parties
Upon getting drafted, he was immediately traded by the Magic to a team in the Western Conference.
Spent his rookie season at that team then immediately got traded back to the EC for his second season.
Spent four seasons at that EC team and became an all-star.
But after some unsuccessful runs for the playoffs, that EC team decided to tear it down so they traded the then 25-year-old allstar power forward again, this time to the Kings for a 6'5 guard.
That deal worked out pretty well for both parties
Former Pacers center Domantas Sabonis thanks Indianapolis, Pacers fans on Instagram
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Brogdon, Turner, Warren, McConnell - Pacers have a lot of talent on the injured list.
They'll be just fine down the road.
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Brogdon, Turner, Warren, McConnell - Pacers have a lot of talent on the injured list.
They'll be just fine down the road.
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