What About Cuttino's Future

[Purple Reign]

Over the past six games:

22.5 PPG
51.0 FG%
54.5 3pt FG%
4.6 RPG
4.2 APG

A little under 2 steals, a little over 2 turnovers some decent defense and huge, huge games against Philadelphia, LA Clippers, Golden State.

I am sold on this guy being the "2" guard for the next several years. He is agressive, he attacks the basket, he hits his free throws. Contrary to popular belief, he is not much of a distruption in the offense. Adelman trust him and most importantly he is not afraid to take the big shots when the team needs him. I like Cutino Mobley and hope that when he ops out, that he will consider Sacramento his home for the future.

 

[HndsmCelt]

None of the above
But he does have a future

 

[Bricklayer]

Over the past six games:

22.5 PPG
51.0 FG%
54.5 3pt FG%
4.6 RPG
4.2 APG

A little under 2 steals, a little over 2 turnovers some decent defense and huge, huge games against Philadelphia, LA Clippers, Golden State.

I am sold on this guy being the "2" guard for the next several years. He is agressive, he attacks the basket, he hits his free throws. Contrary to popular belief, he is not much of a distruption in the offense. Adelman trust him and most importantly he is not afraid to take the big shots when the team needs him. I like Cutino Mobley and hope that when he ops out, that he will consider Sacramento his home for the future.

Mentioned this before -- but I simply do not believe you can bring back Bibby, Peja, Miller AND Mobley (let alone AND Thomas as a PF) and have any hope of being a strong defensive or rebounding team. And the last weak defensive/rebounding team to win an NBA title was...well, 30+ years ago at least.

And if that's true, then I really think Mobley's fate has to be tied into what we are thinking of doing with the other three. If we're determined to bring them all back regardless of their deficiencies, I think you damn well better have shotblockers around Miller and a defensive stopper back there with Bibby. And that kind of leaves Cat out in the cold, unless we wanted to try to turn him into a 6th man or something (which I don't think is as good a fit as I once would have).

(And of course a little bad voice in my head keps on asking, do Petrie/Adelman really care about those things/realize how important they are? Would they intentionally put a team on the floor that could score and score and score but not do the little things, just because they think offense first? Think Geoff has scared me a bit with his talk of emulating Phoenix and his apparent devotion to a certain degree of softness.)

P.S. All of which puts me in a category you don't have -- Stay, but only if we restructure our team to allow for an undersized offensive minded OG.

 

[PixelPusher]

...All of which puts me in a category you don't have -- Stay, but only if we restructure our team to allow for an undersized offensive minded OG.

An offensive minded 2-guard, what a concept. All those years with Doug Christie at the 2 has schewed everyone concept of what a 2-guard is expected to bring to the table. If you're worried about defence and rebounding, you might want to turn your gaze over to the small forward...

 

[SacTownKid]

See me in the offseason, I just don't know what will develop in the meantime. Even though I have been a big fan of Cats for a couple of years now, I just don't know if he is right for this team. I would like to see what he does in the playoffs because he always seems to come up BIG!!!

 

[SLAB]

I've liked Cat since the trade, and I woulnd't mind keeping him, but other questions come up...

--Is he what this team needs now? An undersized, offfensive minded OG, that may not fit into the system perfectly?
--Sould we go after another Doug Christie-esq guy? More of a defensive role player, that can be more a passer than a shooter?

But then, if we don't give it a go for another year with the Cat, we won't get to see how, in my opinion, the great offensive backcourt of Bibby/Mobley/Jackson. Think of the offensive firepower out of those three. Plus, we would have a rested Bibby, assuming B-Jax can stay healthy, only making the backcourt better!

BUT, are Mobley and Jackson to much alike to mesh on the court? They're both guys who can, and will, shoot everything in sight.

I don't really know...I think I want to see what this team would be like as a whole, before I can answer for sure, so I say...Keep him, 100%.

I want to see this team as a whole.

 

[Bricklayer]

An offensive minded 2-guard, what a concept. All those years with Doug Christie at the 2 has schewed everyone concept of what a 2-guard is expected to bring to the table. If you're worried about defence and rebounding, you might want to turn your gaze over to the small forward...

Well if you read the whole post you will see that was exactly what I was saying. We can NOT have an offensive minded OG, offensive minded PG, offensive minded SF offensive minded C etc. etc. and be anything but wimps on the glass and defense. ONE of them has to go or we are stuck being Dallas. Doesn't have to be Cat who goes, but realistically we can't keep them all + seriously chase a championship.

 

[PixelPusher]

Well if you read the whole post you will see that was exactly what I was saying. We can NOT have an offensive minded OG, offensive minded PG, offensive minded SF offensive minded C etc. etc. and be anything but wimps on the glass and defense. ONE of them has to go or we are stuck being Dallas. Doesn't have to be Cat who goes, but realistically we can't keep them all + seriously chase a championship.

True, and neither Peja nor Miller are easily cast aside, in spite of their defensive/rebounding deficiencies. We can trade them for better rebounders, but then we take the heart out of our offence and diminish the Kings strength.
Sometimes I wonder if Offensive Skill and Defensive Ability are mutually exclusive. It's so rare to find players that excell at both equally.

 

[VF21]

Mentioned this before -- but I simply do not believe you can bring back Bibby, Peja, Miller AND Mobley (let alone AND Thomas as a PF) and have any hope of being a strong defensive or rebounding team. And the last weak defensive/rebounding team to win an NBA title was...well, 30+ years ago at least.

And if that's true, then I really think Mobley's fate has to be tied into what we are thinking of doing with the other three. If we're determined to bring them all back regardless of their deficiencies, I think you damn well better have shotblockers around Miller and a defensive stopper back there with Bibby. And that kind of leaves Cat out in the cold, unless we wanted to try to turn him into a 6th man or something (which I don't think is as good a fit as I once would have).

(And of course a little bad voice in my head keps on asking, do Petrie/Adelman really care about those things/realize how important they are? Would they intentionally put a team on the floor that could score and score and score but not do the little things, just because they think offense first? Think Geoff has scared me a bit with his talk of emulating Phoenix and his apparent devotion to a certain degree of softness.)

P.S. All of which puts me in a category you don't have -- Stay, but only if we restructure our team to allow for an undersized offensive minded OG.

I want him to stay. You don't see players like him every day and I just don't want to see him get away. There has to be some way - he's a good fit, despite the defensive concerns, and he certainly brings excitement to the floor. Flaws? Sure, he has some but he also has taken to our team like he was meant to be here all along and I trust that Petrie didn't just bring him here for the short term.

I have a feeling...

 

[KingKong]

We can NOT have an offensive minded OG, offensive minded PG, offensive minded SF offensive minded

Well we did have Doug Chrisite, a defensive minded OG, but most complained that he was non- existant on the offensive end. How many real defensive minded players are there out there really for the OG, SF postion. I can only seem to name a few: Bowen, Artest, Prince, Kirelenko, Patterson, Christie, Marion, and Hassell.

PG Bibby
OG Magette
SF Peja
PF Kenny Thomas
C Brad Miller


PG Bibby
OG Mobley
SF Prince
PF Kenny Thomas
C Brad Miller

PG Bibby
OG Mobely
SF Kirelenko
PF Kenny Thomas
C Brad Miller

I think any of these lineups would do the trick, even if they might not be feasable.

 

[Bricklayer]

PG Bibby
OG Magette
SF Peja
PF Kenny Thomas
C Brad Miller


PG Bibby
OG Mobley
SF Prince
PF Kenny Thomas
C Brad Miller

PG Bibby
OG Mobely
SF Kirelenko
PF Kenny Thomas
C Brad Miller

That PF also HAS to be able to block shots if Miller is back or we are easily the worst interior defending crew in the NBA...UNLESS you actually did get a Kirilenko to play SF (Andrei could solve a lot of our problems singlehandedly, but you have to believe he's more or less untouchable).

The problem we've got with Brad is that he is considerably "shorter" than Vlade was (lengthwise), and Vlade wasn't scaring anybody. And Thomas blocks even fewer shots in there than Webb did this year. That's not going to work, and makes things even tougher on our already poor perimeter defenders. Miller/Thomas = less than 2 blocks combined. That's a little more than half of what our frontcourt gave us in our prime. Just doesn't work.

 

[KingKong]

That PF also HAS to be able to block shots if Miller is back or we are easily the worst interior defending crew in the NBA...UNLESS you actually did get a Kirilenko to play SF (Andrei could solve a lot of our problems singlehandedly, but you have to believe he's more or less untouchable).

The problem we've got with Brad is that he is considerably "shorter" than Vlade was (lengthwise), and Vlade wasn't scaring anybody. And Thomas blocks even fewer shots in there than Webb did this year. That's not going to work, and makes things even tougher on our already poor perimeter defenders. Miller/Thomas = less than 2 blocks combined. That's a little more than half of what our frontcourt gave us in our prime. Just doesn't work.

Ok, just replace KT with KG if you will.

 

[hoops4kings]

I'm still not completely sold on Cat. I think his passing skills are suspect. He always seems to give up the rock a day late and a dollar short, especially on breakaway situations. He does make some big shots, but most of the time he's not looking for a better option when he goes one on one. I don't know how many times I've seen Cat with the ball and someone wide open that he fails to see because he's trying to create his own shot. I dunno. Maybe he just needs to get more comfortable in the offense.

I'm still on the fence with him. If his passing improves then I could be sold. I just see a lot of dumb turnovers and some really tougher than they should be shots coming from the Cat. We shall see.

 

[starks]

I'm ok with Cuttino but if we can get Joe Johnson (free agent) from phoenix, that would be better option....also I like swift from Memphis.....
1. Biby
2. Johnson
3. Peja
4. Swift
5. Miler
This is younger and more athletic team

 

[Purple Reign]

I just like the "Cat's" game. He is extremely agressive. With him learning this system on the fly, I think he has complemented Mike Bibby on the offense very well. For some reason I just can't get the Golden State game and the Clipper game out of my head. In both of those games, Cutino Mobley just exploded. You do not find players like that very often. With a training camp and a pre-season with these guys, I think he would fit in quite nice.

 

[bozzwell]

None of the above.

I would like to see someone who plays like DC paired up with Mike in the back court for the obvious reasons (defensive stopper). But I wouldn't let Cat just go or trade him for inferior offensive talent with "some" defense. I also think that the next year is his option year, so I don't really know what are the implications.

Cat is a special player, but right now, our starting five is vertically and defensively challenged. Somebody will have to go and we will have to give up a very good/great player (i.e. Pedja or Cat) in package with K9 to fix that. And that is why I think we might stay put (because we will not get better deal) and go into the next year as Dallas II <ducks>!

Now, if Artest can be acquired and moved to OG...

 

[love_them_kings]

In my heart of hearts, I still believe that Petrie is not done with the Webber trade. I think he has plans for the offseason, but cannot for the live of me, figure out who or what is involved. I'm having trouble speculating on off season moves because I feel like I don't see the big picture right now.

That said, I like Mobley, and would love to keep him if everything works out. I was at the 76er game, and obviously without Mobley there is no way we get the W on that one.

 

[Bibby_Is_Clutch]

Keep him... the guy is now fitting in a lot better and if he can have some more games like his last one he will be fine.

 

[kingsofnba]

i think mobley is a good shooting guard... he can create his own shot, which alot of the other kings can't do...

with that being said, i would keep mobley if we can sign him to a reasonable contract... i.e. 5 years at 6-7 mil average (5 years, $33-38million)... if he ask for something crazy like 8-9 million per year then let him walk... he is 30 years old and we don't want to be in a DC situation with a 35 year old shooting guard with $9 million per year left on his contract in the end... otherwise, if the number of years and salary are reasonable, then i say bring the cat back...

GO KINGS!!!

 

[Diehard Jim]

i think mobley is a good shooting guard... he can create his own shot, which alot of the other kings can't do...

with that being said, i would keep mobley if we can sign him to a reasonable contract... i.e. 5 years at 6-7 mil average (5 years, $33-38million)... if he ask for something crazy like 8-9 million per year then let him walk... he is 30 years old and we don't want to be in a DC situation with a 35 year old shooting guard with $9 million per year left on his contract in the end... otherwise, if the number of years and salary are reasonable, then i say bring the cat back...

GO KINGS!!!

why would cat take a salary which he is already guranteed? his option for next year is $6,374,000

Cats value is in the 8-10 million range. This is what the market will pay him with no problem. Finding a guy like Cat who can score and is a Good (not great) defender is what every team needs.

Believe me if Petrie thinks that Cat is the future of the Kings at 2 guard he will resign him. But if he does not look for a sign and trade because Cat will want as much money as possible and that is the only way he will get it.

 

[Bibby_Is_Clutch]

i think mobley is a good shooting guard... he can create his own shot, which alot of the other kings can't do...

with that being said, i would keep mobley if we can sign him to a reasonable contract... i.e. 5 years at 6-7 mil average (5 years, $33-38million)... if he ask for something crazy like 8-9 million per year then let him walk... he is 30 years old and we don't want to be in a DC situation with a 35 year old shooting guard with $9 million per year left on his contract in the end... otherwise, if the number of years and salary are reasonable, then i say bring the cat back...

GO KINGS!!!

True... His skills are worth it to keep but it all depends on how much we have to pay him to keep him around.

 

[kingsofnba]

why would cat take a salary which he is already guranteed? his option for next year is $6,374,000

Cats value is in the 8-10 million range. This is what the market will pay him with no problem. Finding a guy like Cat who can score and is a Good (not great) defender is what every team needs.

Believe me if Petrie thinks that Cat is the future of the Kings at 2 guard he will resign him. But if he does not look for a sign and trade because Cat will want as much money as possible and that is the only way he will get it.

i think there is no way they would bring the cat back for 9-10 mil per year, 8 mil maybe... the kings still have to resign peja after next season and i think petrie will make the 27 year old peja an 9-10 mil offer before he gives the 30 year old cat a 9-10 mil offer... the main reason for the webb trade was to open up money flexibility to resign peja, not to resign cat.... i would still want cat back, but not by over paying him... i say 5 years, 40 mil is my final offer...

 

[outsider62]

How about:

Bibby
Mo
Brad
Skiner
Peja

more balanced then current one.

 

[**KInGs^RoYalTy**]

I think we should keep him because in NBA Live '05 i played the cavs and he hit a three and got fouled at the buzzer to win the game.

 

[Rowdyone]

I come down on this with Brick so my answer is "it depends". We can't have a front line that can't defend, rebound or block shots. We can have maybe one guy who is vertically challenged if he is integral to our offensive attack (Miller) so that means Peja and Thomas can go...or Peja can go and Thomas move to the SF position (where he'd do a lot of damage after going against PF's all of his career). So we trade Peja for a rock solid defending/rebounding PF with a decent post up game who can defend Dirk, KG etc. other Western Division PF's and doesn't want much money (since Peja doesn't make much either)...okay, Geoff, go find him!! Now, a SG scorer (not just shooter) is needed. Is it Cuttino? Seems like it more and more as he takes the ball to the hoop more, blocks shots and not afraid to take the big shots. Yes, a little undersized for an NBA SG but with long arms makes up for much of it. And, if everyone else on the team is stressing defense I think he will make the commitment to do so as well. Remember, he's on a mission to prove he's an player worthy of our admiration and not just Stevie Franchise's best bud!

 

[Amory]

I think that come playoff time he will be our top performer. He is doing so well right now and I would love to see him stay, but I would understand him leaving if we were to get something good for him like Garnett (I know that wouldn't happen) or something.

 

[AleksandarN]

True, and neither Peja nor Miller are easily cast aside, in spite of their defensive/rebounding deficiencies. We can trade them for better rebounders, but then we take the heart out of our offence and diminish the Kings strength.
Sometimes I wonder if Offensive Skill and Defensive Ability are mutually exclusive. It's so rare to find players that excell at both equally.

Pedja's defense is good. probably the best man on man defender we have. The problem with him is rebounding is very very bad. Now we look at Bibby which I think is a poor defender but is a very good rebounder for a PG. Then we look at Cat who is an undersized SG that is a poor rebounder and a poor defender(even though last couple of games was he did a not bad jopb defending PGs). It is clear to me if we had to ship one out it would be Cat.

 

[AleksandarN]

I would love to see this as our lineup next year.


PG Bibby
OG Jaric
SF Peja
PF/C Skinner
PF/C Brad Miller

With Brad and Skinner switching positions on offense and defense.

 

[iheartBrad]

I want him to stay. You don't see players like him every day and I just don't want to see him get away. There has to be some way - he's a good fit, despite the defensive concerns, and he certainly brings excitement to the floor. Flaws? Sure, he has some but he also has taken to our team like he was meant to be here all along and I trust that Petrie didn't just bring him here for the short term.

I have a feeling...

yeah i agree...thats exactly how i feel about the whole situation...PLUS i think his off the court personality is just so hard to ignore (for me anyway)...I love his attitude towards basketball and towards life in general...

 

[hrdboild]

I guess the biggest problem I have with Mobley is his size. He can defend PGs but he's always going to have problems against the bigger SGs out there. We can play Peja on them (like I saw them doing with JRich for some of the game) but that puts him in an even worse matchup with a SF. He does seem to make up for it alot with energy, and we could play a kind of "help" defense that we've had some success with, but man-to-man we're always going to get burned with Mobley and Bibby in the backcourt.