What ARE the Kings about??? Where are they going?

[CruzDude]

First some facts then some observations. Solutions? Wow! Not this year, so far.

Facts
$13,794,000 in expiring contracts

• Corliss
• Pot
• Hart
• Taylor
• Price
• Williams
• + bits more for Amundson, Woods, Monya and Jeter

Bibby can opt out end of season and is due $13.5M next year

Ron Ron has one more year with player option for 2nd year

Miller, SAR, KT and Salmons have at least 3 more years

Observations

• Kings have no defense in paint
  
• Their go-to guys are competing with each other in the 4th
  
• Other than Kevin and Cisco they have no athleticism
  
• Coach can't find a decent rotation and it's NOT his fault
  
• No athleticism among the "bigs" (Corliss can bang but is only 6-6)
  
• Don't see movement without the ball (Kevin excepted) much of the time
  
• I don't see Kings in playoffs and they could end up in bottom 5 or 6
  
• I think it's Deja Vu all over again and it's really 1996

What next? We can hope for a Vlade, a JWill and a Jon Berry. But even if we get on of the top draft "bigs" there is much else needed.

What do I think? Keep Kevin, Cisco, Ron Ron and hope Williams can add 20 lbs and get plenty of experience. Salmons borderline but likely a keeper.

 

[Merdiesel]

If the Kings continue to play like they did against the Mavs, this year could get interesting.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

It'll be frustrating, not interesting; people here still don't seem to realize that this team can't win the champion this year, which means making the playoffs this season is the WORST thing that could possibly happen for this team in the long term. The only thing that'll happen if we continue to fight for a playoff spot is that we'll maintain the same mediocre status quo.

 

[quick dog]

Keepers?

If you were Petrie or one of the Maloofs, which players would you keep?

I would keep Ron Artest and Kevin Martin, and perhaps a few of the relatively low-cost younger guys like Williams and Garcia.

I would trade Mike Bibby and Brad Miller because they have become "role players" due to fundamental weaknesses in their games that appear to uncorrectable. I would allow Williamson, Potapenko, Hart, Taylor, and Price to leave. Corliss is my favorite player.

 

[rhythmless]

i would trade bibby and miller to teams that need to win right now, even if its for 75 on the dollar. given what those two ahve shown right now, its all we can ask for. id ask corliss to sign back for cheap. hes been one of the few bright spots, a great professional, and the youngins look up to him without him having to get an interview to say that hes the leader. hes a great mentor and glue type person, like a vlade. keep the kids for cheap, and tank like theres no other for this season.

 

[KevinMartinsGirl23]

If you were Petrie or one of the Maloofs, which players would you keep?

I would keep Ron Artest and Kevin Martin, and perhaps a few of the relatively low-cost younger guys like Williams and Garcia.

I would trade Mike Bibby and Brad Miller because they have become "role players" due to fundamental weaknesses in their games that appear to uncorrectable. I would allow Williamson, Potapenko, Hart, Taylor, and Price to leave. Corliss is my favorite player.

I would keep: Martin, Garcia, Price, Salmons, Artest (that is, if he is still behaving )

I would possibly try to sign Williamson to a veteran's minimum because I think he has proved he can still play, and it is good to have a vet as classy and knowledgable as him around especially with younger players.

I would try to keep Williams and see what he can do.

I would try to trade Bibby, Miller, SAR, Thomas, and so on. Hopefully try to draft a big, athletic guy.. no more 6'7" shooting guards or utility players please.

I just hope that Petrie can work some of his magic and that a little bit of luck can be on our side like the year we put together the Vlade, Webb, J-Will team..

 

[uolj]

It'll be frustrating, not interesting; people here still don't seem to realize that this team can't win the champion this year, which means making the playoffs this season is the WORST thing that could possibly happen for this team in the long term. The only thing that'll happen if we continue to fight for a playoff spot is that we'll maintain the same mediocre status quo.

I'm not disagreeing with the notion that the Kings would be better off if they made moves that led to a worse record and a higher draft pick. However, the fact they can't win the championship this year is not the reason. The 1999 and 2000 teams could not win the championship either, but getting the 8th playoff spot (6th in 1999) was much better for them because it gave the team experience in the postseason together.

The difference is that this team does not appear to be on the way up. It is unlikely that the current core will ever win a championship, and so making moves to go young and allow the team to lose some games provides a higher likelihood of future success. That also doesn't mean that it would be impossible to win a championship in the near future without getting into the lottery. A trade for the right inside presence, and perhaps changing one of the three "core" guys, and it is entirely possible that the Kings could become contenders again.

 

[Cal-Kings]

It'll be frustrating, not interesting; people here still don't seem to realize that this team can't win the champion this year, which means making the playoffs this season is the WORST thing that could possibly happen for this team in the long term. The only thing that'll happen if we continue to fight for a playoff spot is that we'll maintain the same mediocre status quo.

But, since I have control over nothing, I will continue to hope my team wins.

If they lose, maybe they'll be in the lottery. If they make the playoffs, I'll watch and hope they win.

But whether they win or lose, it ain't up to me.

So I don't have to "realize" anything.

 

[rings4Kings]

If the Kings continue to play like they did against the Mavs, this year could get interesting.

The interesting thing will be trying to predict how may ping-pong balls we will get after another 40 games.

 

[Vlade4GM]

ron artest doesn't fit in with a rebuilding team, i have no idea why people would want to keep him in that scenario. i'd keep martin and that's basically the only one i'd commit to keeping. miller probably can't be moved so he'd probably stay. other than martin i'd be open to dumping anyone.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

The difference is that this team does not appear to be on the way up. It is unlikely that the current core will ever win a championship, and so making moves to go young and allow the team to lose some games provides a higher likelihood of future success.

Even "unlikely" is fatally optimistic.

 

[CruzDude]

How soon we all forget that the Spurs picked up both Robinson and Duncan in the lottery, the Lakers got Kobe and the Suns were in the lottery several years not that many ago.

Everyone goes thru the lottery at some time or another. It's a part of the overall process of the business of the NBA. And it is always painful for fans, for management and for the players. But it is what it is!!!!

 

[SLAB]

Keep: Artest, Martin, Cisco, Corliss, Douby, Williams, Price.

Everyone else needs to be traded for anything you can get, as long as in return comes.

1: A youngster with any sort of untapped potential.
2: Any picks.
3: Enders.

No more treading water, blow up the clown.

 

[Chim Richulds]

I'm a little more partial to a complete rebuild.

Definitely Keep: Martin

Try to Keep: Artest, Douby, Williams, Williamson

Trade: Salmons, Garcia, SAR, Bibby, Miller

Beg, Bribe, or Threaten Murder to Trade: Kenny Thomas

FA Signings: Mo Williams, Anderson Varaejo, et al

Draft: Whatever's at #7-10, and hopefully an additional pick to get Marcus Williams or Josh McRoberts

Just give us something to root for...

 

[fnordius]

I'd go with keeping Martin, Williamson, Williams, probably Price, quite possibly Douby and/or Salmons. Uncertain about Cisco. Unless some of the latter are needed for sweetening a trade, anyway. How many combo guards can we use?

Artest, SAR: hmmm. Their contracts aren't onerous, but they aren't consistent with rebuilding. I lean towards letting them go, but it might be worth seeing how they'd do under a better coach first. Like in the upcoming summer/preseason.

Miller, Bibby: now accepting offers!

KT: Not worth bothering to solicit offers. Before he stunk off the bench, now he stinks at almost all times. He can help us in our pursuit of pingpong balls, and we can still put Hart and Potapenko in if the game is close. But after that... would $10M do to get him to go away?

 

[CruzDude]

Lotsa talk about getting in the draft lottery. That is both good and bad news. As I said earlier every one of the power house teams of 2007 have been there with Pistons, Suns and Heat having last been there in 2001-2004! The Kings were in the lottery the last time in 1998 and got Jason Williams at #7.

Draft Lottery 1995-2005
I reviewed the 1st round NBA draft summary for 1995-2005 with the lottery highlighted. The Spurs, Suns, Heat, Pistons and Lakers all have been there in that time frame (did not allow that some may have been in lottery thru trades and not final standings).

It's fascinating to see who went where and who is still around.

Message is it can be good news (Suns getting Amare in 2002 at #9, Heat getting Dwyane Wade at #5) as well as bad news (Pistons and Milicic in 2003, Bulls and Fizer in 2000, and Mavs taking Tractor Traylor at #5 in 1998).

It's a 5-page long excel spreadsheet. as soon as I can figure how to publish it in this blog........ hmmmm, I think is has to be an original posting. Stand by.....

 

[kingsfan101]

First some facts then some observations. Solutions? Wow! Not this year, so far.

Facts
$13,794,000 in expiring contracts

• Corliss
• Pot
• Hart
• Taylor
• Price
• Williams
• + bits more for Amundson, Woods, Monya and Jeter

Bibby can opt out end of season and is due $13.5M next year

Ron Ron has one more year with player option for 2nd year

Miller, SAR, KT and Salmons have at least 3 more years

Per the info in the personnel sticky thread, we have a committed salary of $54,137,841 next year.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/salaries/kings.html

I am hoping that Corliss, Price and Williams shall be resigned. Plus, the two picks (1st and 2nd round) shall cost around $4M (depending on where we pick). Assuming a luxury tax limit of around 65M, that shall give us only about 5M to spend on MLE.

If Petrie is able to clear up some additional space via trades, do you guys think it shall be better to front load the contract of our free agent pick up (assuming we sign one)? I am not even certain if that can be done for MLE. However, some teams have recently done it (Bulls with Ben, Hawks with JJ), and I think it is a smart thing. It shall free up additional cap space when we need it, pays guys more when they are younger, and hopefully more productive, and makes them easier to trade down the line.

BTW, we have a committed salary of over 56M in 2008. It does not include extension we shall need to give to Kevin. Ron, if we retain him, shall cost much more, since he shall certainly opt out after next year. Plus Corliss, Price, Williams, free agent signing for next year, next year's rooks, and 2008 rooks. So, unless we are able to significantly reduce our salary, 2008 shall look really bad.

 

[fnordius]

I am just hoping that, with whatever personnel changes we manage to make, that we don't have Muss around next year. My personal nightmare is the idea of getting some great new talent and have them all plodding around like zombies (like most of the team is now).

 

[Fresno King]

I'd keep Martin, Corliss, Williams, Douby, Salmons, and Artest.

I'd also turn Corliss into a player-coach. He's going to be an excellent head coach someday, IMHO.

Check my outstanding sig for the other change we need to make:

 

[Rug King]

Don';t get too giddy about the draft

Anybody remember when the Kings went into the draft with 5 first round picks one year?

Quick, name those players who turned around this franchise.


Oh wait, it didn't help at all.

 

[slugking50]

Anybody remember when the Kings went into the draft with 5 first round picks one year?

Quick, name those players who turned around this franchise.


Oh wait, it didn't help at all.

But do you see Bill Russell around anywhere? I see GP and he's just a tad better.

It was 4 not 5. L-Train, Anthony Bonnor, Travis Mays, and ..... The one I can't remember...

 

[Rug King]

Actually it was five.1. Lionell Simmons2. Duane Causwell3. Anthony Bonner4. Travis Mays5. Bimbo Coles ...t raded for the great Rory Sparrow


which makes me wonder...
How can you soar with the Eagles when your point guard is a Sparrow?

 

[CruzDude]

Point is, don't put much faith in the draft. Maybe Kings get 3-6, maybe not. Chances of 1 or 2 very, very slim.

Look at Cavs with LaBron. He is franchise player, the best in may years, has an experienced 7-3 center and good PG and still they are just a playoff team, not a championship team. It's all about on-floor chemistry, whether they like each other or not. And coaching.

 

[thatguy]

Actually it was five.1. Lionell Simmons2. Duane Causwell3. Anthony Bonner4. Travis Mays5. Bimbo Coles

Actually it was four 1st round picks. Coles was a 2nd rounder.

 

[LilMissDiva]

If the Kings continue to play like they did against the Mavs, this year could get interesting.

I really don't think the Mavs even played 50% against us.

 

[LilMissDiva]

I'm a little more partial to a complete rebuild.

Definitely Keep: Martin

Try to Keep: Artest, Douby, Williams, Williamson

Trade: Salmons, Garcia, SAR, Bibby, Miller

Beg, Bribe, or Threaten Murder to Trade: Kenny Thomas

FA Signings: Mo Williams, Anderson Varaejo, et al

Draft: Whatever's at #7-10, and hopefully an additional pick to get Marcus Williams or Josh McRoberts

Just give us something to root for...

YES!!!

 

[Jerryaki]

Look at Cavs with LaBron. He is franchise player, the best in may years, has an experienced 7-3 center and good PG and still they are just a playoff team, not a championship team. It's all about on-floor chemistry, whether they like each other or not. And coaching.

upgrading a coaching staff or finding a complementary piece is much, much more preferable than upgrading EVERYTHING.

this current crop of kings also don't have chemistry, so whose problems would you rather have right now, ours or the cavs???

 

[bibbinator]

I really don't think the Mavs even played 50% against us.

Agree. We surprised them, and maybe could have stolen it with some luck, but they won the game when the time came.

 

[LPKingsFan]

Look at Cavs with LaBron. He is franchise player, the best in may years, has an experienced 7-3 center and good PG and still they are just a playoff team, not a championship team. It's all about on-floor chemistry, whether they like each other or not. And coaching.

Disagree here. He's still only 22? The Cavs are still in the mix this year, and will be for the next 10 years!

 

[Vlade4GM]

Point is, don't put much faith in the draft. Maybe Kings get 3-6, maybe not. Chances of 1 or 2 very, very slim.

Look at Cavs with LaBron. He is franchise player, the best in may years, has an experienced 7-3 center and good PG and still they are just a playoff team, not a championship team. It's all about on-floor chemistry, whether they like each other or not. And coaching.

i wouldn't call eric snow a "good" pg, maybe decent but that's about it. the cavs will always be in a good situation as long as they have james, they are one significant player away from being a legitimate championship contender year in year out. although i have no idea why they blew so much money on larry hughes, that could've been so much better spent.