This does kind of point to Carter being traded, doesn't it?
Welcome Nique Clifford
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
KainLear
Starter
I don't get it. Carter fits everything GM Perry said he's looking for, the defense, the hustle, the rebounding instinct...
Nique said he grew up playing a lot of point. It would be nice if he shows those skills. A 1 through 3, not a bad scenario.
I don't really get WHY we aren't embracing Carter, but if this is the team mantra, he needs to be dealt this off-season. While he's still a "mystery box" If we're not going to play him or develop him, he's going to only drop further in value.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
So Nique can play point but Carter can’t smh
coolhandluke
Starter
Actions speak louder than words. Are people still falling for the culture and vision stuff?
Sac media already tried to prime the fans for his departure by calling Carter as fat and questioning his work ethic. If we're talking about real culture, they should put an end to this kind of nonsense that disparages our own players. Going to be awkward when they can't sell him off for a decent return and had to keep him.
Section 101
All-Star
Depends if on who they think is the backup now.
KainLear
Starter
err... no?
I’m referring to the tangible, physical skill set he brings to the court. I’m not concerned with culture, it isn’t something that automatically develops just by recruiting certain types of players anyway, or the whole Coach Brown/D. Fox/Monk kumbaya thing would've worked out better.
Aside from ball handling, which he’s shown he can manage at a serviceable, backup level, his skill set stands out as uniquely different from most players on the Kings' roster. That’s especially relevant given that, outside of Sabonis, none of the starting five are particularly aggressive on the boards.
I’m also not swayed by whatever narrative the Sac media is pushing. Given how the organization has been run, I doubt they have any meaningful insider knowledge to begin with.
The producer who decided that they needed to play a soundtrack under the interview needs to be taken into a dark closet and slapped around with a broom for a while.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
I’m hoping it’s just a numbers game. Lavine is tough to trade and is the best player, Keon is more proven and a great shooter and Nique can play 2 or 3 maybe backup 1. If Carter is traded for an upside swing at a different position of need that is reasonable. Maybe that’s all it is and not a move him at all costs kinda deal.
Caccia
Starter
Maybe they are unimpressed with Carter's "standing reach" at 8' 2". Currently, he is the second shortest player on the Kings at 6' 2". Only Dennis Schröder is shorter, at 6' 1".
coolhandluke
Starter
Certainly hope so. Carter is not some untouchable player but I think we're trying to sell when his value is at its lowest. He has flashed elite defensive potential in his short time on the floor. Hope we don't give up on him early for mediocre return.
coolhandluke
Starter
His 6'9" wingspan and 42" vertical should help counter that to those measurement freaks.
Last edited:
sactowndog
Hall of Famer
Here are Carter’s highlights. What you don’t see is him getting a paint touch and passing for an assist. It’s just one game but he has to be able to do those things as a back-up point.
You're not watching then. Carter and Nique are the only 2 guys who have shown the ability to break down the defense and get to the paint. Carter struggled shooting the first game, but you still saw him beat his man over and over and get to the paint
He's sloppy and unrefined, yes. SL in general ia just sloppy and out or control basketball. But step 1 is getting the guy that can blow by the perimeter defender and collapse the defense. Get the guy who can operate in the PnR.
Joshyjosh31
Starter
Kingster
Hall of Famer
I hadn't heard this. I had the impression he was a basketball nut in a good way, which would imply he works out assiduously. Who exactly in the media has been saying this?
Kingster
Hall of Famer
Has anybody heard or read what Perry has had to say about Carter specifically? Or maybe it's more what he Perry hasn't said? We did hear a few days ago that Perry was still looking for another point guard, which seems to imply he doesn't value Carter in that regard. Maybe Perry doesn't like smaller 2Gs in general? Maybe he doesn't like the injury history?
This one might be my favorite in terms of a basketball play. Clifford recognizes that the corner is open and that's where he's supposed to go, but as he starts his move he sees the high pick and roll about to open up with Raynaud and Stevens. So he keeps his defender up in position to help on the PNR, as the PNR starts to develop he sees his defender edge over and points to the corner so Stevens knows he's about to break, leaves his defender in the lurch and gets the wide open three. This one's just pretty.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Then tell Maxime to launch it at 1:20. That was a perfect set up. BTW, notice the direction Carter goes as he moves away from the screen. Going left or right off pick and roll is a good sign for a developing guard.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Yeah, Nique looks like a pure point F so far.
Yeah, looks like a realistic secondary wing creator. I dont really see a full time ball handler, but in the same vein of a jdub, he could bring the ball up if needed.
Find someone who loves you like Tyler Rucker loves Nique Clifford
And the play resulted in a wide open lay-up by Carter. But like you said, Max could have launched that, but ended up showing some fun creation to attack the close out and dish it right back to Carter for the lay-up. All of that started by Carter getting a paint touch though
Kingster
Hall of Famer
He's got the skills and BBIQ, but he also has a burst that separates from the defender. Makes a big difference in the NBA.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Yeah, it was the right play all around. People are just super hyper focused on 1 guy racking up assists when that two man game where the big and small just put the defense in a blender as a tandem is something you take that all day and run regardless of who gets the assist. Carter and Nique were near 25% assist percentage guys college and Carter was right there with the Kings when he first came back before he got moved almost exclusively off ball. Assist percentage doesn't necessarily make you a "PG" according to some but it means you're helping your team function for sure. While someone like Hali is a good passer a large number of his assists are simple swing passes. Getting a high volume of assists nowadays is all about forcing the defense away from the 3 point line and Hali can do that. So can Carter from the looks of it. So can Nique. That's the important part.
Last edited:
Similar threads
- Sacramento Kings On SI
- Kings News Links
- Sacramento Kings On SI
- Kings News Links
- Sacramento Kings On SI
- Kings News Links
- Locked
