What if the Kings finally get the number 1 pick?

[bajaden]

Really, the only things to get the Kings into being a legitimate team next year are two things:

1) The SGs need to be able to shoot more reliably than they do right now. Work on it this summer, kids.
2) Size. Someone who is 6'11 or taller should be on our team.

Cauley-Stein is a shade over seven foot, and Karl Towns is just a shade under seven foot. So, done deal there! I think both Nik and Ben will return next season much improved. Especially Nik. Young players always think the're ready for the NBA, until they get to the NBA. Then reality sets in. They don't get as many shots, the ref's treat them like rookies and they don't get the calls they'd normally get. Everybody the go up against is as good or better than the best players they went up against only occasionally in college. Everyone is stronger, and faster. Expectations are higher, excuses are a sign of weakness, and there's always a young hungry player breathing down your neck that wants your minutes. Other than that, its just business as usual.

Nik is a young player that's a hard worker and wants to succeed. He's not the type that's happy sitting on a bench collecting a paycheck. He's not Donte Greene. So I expect him to work on his weaknesses and show up ready to play in the NBA. I have a gut feeling though that one of either McLemore or Stauskas won't be on the roster next season. If I had to guess, it would be McLemore whose gone. Right now, he has more trade value, and would get us a better return on our dollar. Hope I'm wrong. I'd like to see both guys develop.

 

[206Fan]

If we got the #1, I would consider trading it, but you don't get the #1 everyday.

I would maybe call up Utah and see if we could do a deal around Favors and the #1. We'd likely get back a couple more assets and maybe be able to dump Landry in the process.

I'd wonder if they'd consider #1 overall pick + Mclemore + Landry for Gobert + Burks. Burks has never played a full season and he's coming off an injury. Gobert alone isn't worth the #1 overall pick, but the impact he'd have is amazing. You sell the idea to the Jazz that Towns will be an amazing player and they'll be ok without Burks. They played the rest of the season pretty well without him

 

[twslam07]

I'd wonder if they'd consider #1 overall pick + Mclemore + Landry for Gobert + Burks. Burks has never played a full season and he's coming off an injury. Gobert alone isn't worth the #1 overall pick, but the impact he'd have is amazing. You sell the idea to the Jazz that Towns will be an amazing player and they'll be ok without Burks. They played the rest of the season pretty well without him

No, I think we should target Favors. Gobert is a beast defensively. The Jazz are going to want to keep their defensive anchor.

Besides, Favors can guard PFs and Cs, rebound, protect the rim, and knock down jumpers. Gobert would probably struggle against some PFs and he can't shoot. I think Favors would be a very good compliment to Cousins on both sides of the floor. I also don't think they would be willing to give up Burks in addition to Favors or Gobert.

I think the deal to be had is #1/#2 and Landry for Favors, Burke, and #12.

In this deal, we get our long term PF who pairs great with Cousins. We also get more PG depth and he's a PG that has the ability to replace Collison in the starting unit if he is able to make leaps and strides, but more importantly, having Burke and McCallum on the bench should give us good PG play even if an injury hits us. Lastly, we still get a late lottery pick to add to the depth of our team (Turner, Oubre, Dekker, Lyles, and Kaminsky could all be options here).

PG - Collison/Burke/McCallum/Miller (vet min)
SG - McLemore/Stauskas
SF - Gay/Casspi (room exception)/Turkoglu (vet min)
PF - Favors/Thompson/Moreland
C - Cousins/Ajinca ($4.2 mil/year)/Turner (#12)

In my opinion, that team is well on their way to success. The only question mark would be at starting SG, but by having 4 solid or better vets in the starting lineup (Collison, Gay, Favors, Cousins), the team should instantly be better. And then you consider the improvement in the bench (Burke, Stauskas, Casspi, Thompson, Ajinca), and this team should be much better despite our starting SG being below average. Next year, we can look at signing a better SG if McLemore or Stauskas were not able to take that next step this season.

I would be thrilled if this was our roster going into next season. If our young players reach their potential or even if just McLemore or Stauskas reach their potential, we're going to be in great shape going forward.

 

[206Fan]

No, I think we should target Favors. Gobert is a beast defensively. The Jazz are going to want to keep their defensive anchor.

Besides, Favors can guard PFs and Cs, rebound, protect the rim, and knock down jumpers. Gobert would probably struggle against some PFs and he can't shoot. I think Favors would be a very good compliment to Cousins on both sides of the floor. I also don't think they would be willing to give up Burks in addition to Favors or Gobert.

I think the deal to be had is #1/#2 and Landry for Favors, Burke, and #12.

In this deal, we get our long term PF who pairs great with Cousins. We also get more PG depth and he's a PG that has the ability to replace Collison in the starting unit if he is able to make leaps and strides, but more importantly, having Burke and McCallum on the bench should give us good PG play even if an injury hits us. Lastly, we still get a late lottery pick to add to the depth of our team (Turner, Oubre, Dekker, Lyles, and Kaminsky could all be options here).

PG - Collison/Burke/McCallum/Miller (vet min)
SG - McLemore/Stauskas
SF - Gay/Casspi (room exception)/Turkoglu (vet min)
PF - Favors/Thompson/Moreland
C - Cousins/Ajinca ($4.2 mil/year)/Turner (#12)

In my opinion, that team is well on their way to success. The only question mark would be at starting SG, but by having 4 solid or better vets in the starting lineup (Collison, Gay, Favors, Cousins), the team should instantly be better. And then you consider the improvement in the bench (Burke, Stauskas, Casspi, Thompson, Ajinca), and this team should be much better despite our starting SG being below average. Next year, we can look at signing a better SG if McLemore or Stauskas were not able to take that next step this season.

I would be thrilled if this was our roster going into next season. If our young players reach their potential or even if just McLemore or Stauskas reach their potential, we're going to be in great shape going forward.

I honestly don't really like that roster overall. I think we should at least add a vet SG because relying on Ben and Nik won't be fun to watch. If at least one of them does take a step forward, it will be interesting, but I don't want to take that risk.

McLemore is so raw. I've never seen a SG miss more open 3pt shots before. At this point, Ben is an inconsistent shooter...

I don't feel like you've improved our PG position either.

With your roster, the only position you've really upgraded is PF and C.

If we get the #1 pick we can get a real franchise starting pg or a great prospect in Towns.


I'm not crazy about that Turner pick either. We should draft a prospect who'd be able to contribute now. Turner is stuck as the 5th big.

I would not be opposed to drafting Devin Booker at 12...

 

[twslam07]

I honestly don't really like that roster overall. I think we should at least add a vet SG because relying on Ben and Nik won't be fun to watch. If at least one of them does take a step forward, it will be interesting, but I don't want to take that risk.

McLemore is so raw. I've never seen a SG miss more open 3pt shots before. At this point, Ben is an inconsistent shooter...

I don't feel like you've improved our PG position either.

With your roster, the only position you've really upgraded is PF and C.

If we get the #1 pick we can get a real franchise starting pg or a great prospect in Towns.


I'm not crazy about that Turner pick either. We should draft a prospect who'd be able to contribute now. Turner is stuck as the 5th big.

I would not be opposed to drafting Devin Booker at 12...

Preferably, we would add a veteran SG as well, but the trade you suggested is too unrealistic. We're not going to get any combination of Gobert/Favors/Hayward/Burks/Exum for this pick. This trade helps us upgrade another position that we still do need to upgrade. The fact that you're looking at this trade and not liking it because it doesn't improve our SG situation is a little silly. If I were to improve our SG situation, would you put the trade idea down because our PF position is still weak? It's pretty darn hard to solve both our PF and SG issue with one trade.

At least this trade gives us a legitimate PF and gives us the ability of finding a starting level SG. McLemore and Stauskas could still become a starting level SG. Am I saying it will happen next season? No, but it's a possibility. I think all of us at this point know that Thompson is best suited as a third big. So would I rather upgrade the PF spot and give us the chance at finding a starting SG among McLemore or Stauskas, or would I rather upgrade SG knowing I will have to upgrade PF in the future (knowing that Thompson is not going to get better)? Seems like risking it on the young SGs is the logical choice.

As for PG, we have a starting PG already. This trade adds another bench PG option to our roster. Burke was seen as a top PG in his draft and many will tell you that PGs and big men can take much longer to adjust to the NBA. It's still possible that Burke reaches his potential and is good enough to replace Collison in the starting lineup. I can't say that McCallum has that same ability. But you're right, would Burke really be that much of an upgrade from McCallum in this last season? I would say no. However, it gives us more depth at PG in case injuries hit us, and it gives us the potential of adding another PG who has a higher ceiling than McCallum.

You're also right about Turner. He would be stuck in a 5th big role (banking on the idea of us signing Ajinca). if we don't sign Ajinca, he immediately becomes our 4th big. However, I would prefer Ajinca getting minutes compared to a rookie PF/C.

So who else do we take? Do we take a PF? I would rather Thompson get minutes over a rookie PF. Do we draft a SF? I would rather Casspi get minutes over a rookie SF. Do we draft a SG? I would rather Stauskas get minutes over a rookie SG. Do we take a PG? I would rather Burke and McCallum get minutes over a rookie PG. Whoever we take in my scenario, is likely to not see much floor time which is good considering we're trying to be competitive. However, considering we have youth/potential at backup PG (Burke, McCallum) and SG (Stauskas), that leaves us with SF, PF, & C as options to add some more youth/potential. Considering Gay is a 35 minute per guy, and we have Stauskas as another bench wing earning minutes, I don't see much value in taking a SF. Selecting a guy who can play both PF/C would be an ideal pick because he can get minutes at either position while also being Thompson's long term replacement.

 

[206Fan]

Preferably, we would add a veteran SG as well, but the trade you suggested is too unrealistic. We're not going to get any combination of Gobert/Favors/Hayward/Burks/Exum for this pick. This trade helps us upgrade another position that we still do need to upgrade. The fact that you're looking at this trade and not liking it because it doesn't improve our SG situation is a little silly. If I were to improve our SG situation, would you put the trade idea down because our PF position is still weak? It's pretty darn hard to solve both our PF and SG issue with one trade.

At least this trade gives us a legitimate PF and gives us the ability of finding a starting level SG. McLemore and Stauskas could still become a starting level SG. Am I saying it will happen next season? No, but it's a possibility. I think all of us at this point know that Thompson is best suited as a third big. So would I rather upgrade the PF spot and give us the chance at finding a starting SG among McLemore or Stauskas, or would I rather upgrade SG knowing I will have to upgrade PF in the future (knowing that Thompson is not going to get better)? Seems like risking it on the young SGs is the logical choice.

As for PG, we have a starting PG already. This trade adds another bench PG option to our roster. Burke was seen as a top PG in his draft and many will tell you that PGs and big men can take much longer to adjust to the NBA. It's still possible that Burke reaches his potential and is good enough to replace Collison in the starting lineup. I can't say that McCallum has that same ability. But you're right, would Burke really be that much of an upgrade from McCallum in this last season? I would say no. However, it gives us more depth at PG in case injuries hit us, and it gives us the potential of adding another PG who has a higher ceiling than McCallum.

You're also right about Turner. He would be stuck in a 5th big role (banking on the idea of us signing Ajinca). if we don't sign Ajinca, he immediately becomes our 4th big. However, I would prefer Ajinca getting minutes compared to a rookie PF/C.

So who else do we take? Do we take a PF? I would rather Thompson get minutes over a rookie PF. Do we draft a SF? I would rather Casspi get minutes over a rookie SF. Do we draft a SG? I would rather Stauskas get minutes over a rookie SG. Do we take a PG? I would rather Burke and McCallum get minutes over a rookie PG. Whoever we take in my scenario, is likely to not see much floor time which is good considering we're trying to be competitive. However, considering we have youth/potential at backup PG (Burke, McCallum) and SG (Stauskas), that leaves us with SF, PF, & C as options to add some more youth/potential. Considering Gay is a 35 minute per guy, and we have Stauskas as another bench wing earning minutes, I don't see much value in taking a SF. Selecting a guy who can play both PF/C would be an ideal pick because he can get minutes at either position while also being Thompson's long term replacement.

I think this just highlights how sucky our team currently is and how much we need a huge overhaul. We have very limited options and I think it would be best if we just took Cuz and Gay and built around them. Add shooting and defense. Scratch everyone else on the team unless they are willing to step up next season.

You displayed what our roster could look like next year, and it didn't impress me at all because we have no real starting SG nor starting PG. I think we can get away with JT as our starting PF because our main issue is containing perimeter players.

You did not propose a solution for the other 2 problems considering Burke is one of the worst pg defenders, and he shoots very inefficiently.

I'm one of the few who do not believe Collison is a starting PG in the NBA. I often compare him to George Hill, but Hill is the better defender. I think Collison is a super back up PG, not a starting pg in today's game when you're going up against guys like Curry, Irving, Paul, and etc.

Yes Ben and Nik can improve, but I don't see how we're going to win more than 35 games with this proposed roster. Your overall scenario included free agents, but to answer your question. Yes I would like this much more if you added a vet SG.

Next year is the break it or make it year for the Kings. If we do not make it into the playoffs it means either two things: Cousins is not good enough to carry a team to the playoffs as the #1 option. OR the FO sucks too much to be able to build a team around Cousins. If this is the only type of roster the Kings would be able to surround Cousins with next year, I'd be almost done with this team.
Nothing against you, but I feel like we barely improved our roster. If Favors can make all the difference in the world, I'd be for it. But I don't think adding him alone will carry this team to the playoffs.

 

[twslam07]

If this is the only type of roster the Kings would be able to surround Cousins with next year, I'd be almost done with this team.Nothing against you, but I feel like we barely improved our roster. If Favors can make all the difference in the world, I'd be for it. But I don't think adding him alone will carry this team to the playoffs.

Wow, then I'm really, really interested in hearing your realistic moves that will make this team significantly better than the one I just drafted up.

Swing away. I'm waiting...

EDIT: May I also say this scenario is based off a somethging that won't likely happen (getting the #1/#2 pick) so if we don't win the lottery, it's going to make it even harder to put a team on the court that you wont' give up on.

If you think that this team struggled last year because of talent, than I don't know what to tell you. Our team was on pace for a 49-33 season (and that was under the 2nd hardest schedule at the time) until everything that could go wrong did.

 

[bajaden]

I'd wonder if they'd consider #1 overall pick + Mclemore + Landry for Gobert + Burks. Burks has never played a full season and he's coming off an injury. Gobert alone isn't worth the #1 overall pick, but the impact he'd have is amazing. You sell the idea to the Jazz that Towns will be an amazing player and they'll be ok without Burks. They played the rest of the season pretty well without him

Is your offer more about getting rid of Landry, or more about landing Gobert. Because if I have to choose between Towns, and Gobert, I'm taking Towns 10 times out of 10. Yeah, Gobert has some experience under his belt, but he'll never be the offensive player that Towns will, and I think Towns will be a better overall defender than Gobert. Gobert gets pushed around under the basket. Towns, once he gets rid of his baby fat, and strengthens his core, will hold position much bettter Than Gobert. Why all these trades? Just draft towns and go home. Towns has all star potential. Does Gobert?

 

[206Fan]

Wow, then I'm really, really interested in hearing your realistic moves that will make this team significantly better than the one I just drafted up.

Swing away. I'm waiting...

EDIT: May I also say this scenario is based off a somethging that won't likely happen (getting the #1/#2 pick) so if we don't win the lottery, it's going to make it even harder to put a team on the court that you wont' give up on.

If you think that this team struggled last year because of talent, than I don't know what to tell you. Our team was on pace for a 49-33 season (and that was under the 2nd hardest schedule at the time) until everything that could go wrong did.

Don't take it the wrong way, I love your scenario because it gives us a real starting PF, and it would give us a bright future ahead, but I'm getting impatient. I want the Kings to win tomorrow. Here's just my scenario:

Kings Trade for Jrue Holiday.

Kings: Darren Collison, Ben McLemore, and Carl Landry
Pelicans: Jrue Holdiay

Offer a max to Khris Middleton

Offer Ish Smith a small 2 year deal

Offer Jonas Jerekbo a 1m vet min

Resign Casspi to a 2 year $5million deal

Draft WCS

PG- Jrue Holiday/Ish Smith/David Stockton
SG- Khris Middleton/Nik Stauskas/Ray McCallum
SF- Rudy Gay/ Omri Casspi
PF- WCS/Jonas Jerebko/ Eric Moreland
C- Demarcus Cousins/ Jason Thompson

 

[macadocious]

WTH? I'd rather have Collison than Holiday, let alone give all those other players up. Holiday has looked terrible this year.

 

[206Fan]

WTH? I'd rather have Collison than Holiday, let alone give all those other players up. Holiday has looked terrible this year.

Holiday is the better shooter, passer, and defender..plus 6'4 vs 6'0 not to mention 2 years younger.

The only real player you're giving up is Ben which isn't terrible considering you're using this trade to free up cap space to sign Khris Middleton whos 50x better than Ben.

 

[twslam07]

Don't take it the wrong way, I love your scenario because it gives us a real starting PF, and it would give us a bright future ahead, but I'm getting impatient. I want the Kings to win tomorrow. Here's just my scenario:

Kings Trade for Jrue Holiday.

Kings: Darren Collison, Ben McLemore, and Carl Landry
Pelicans: Jrue Holdiay

Offer a max to Khris Middleton

Offer Ish Smith a small 2 year deal

Offer Jonas Jerekbo a 1m vet min

Resign Casspi to a 2 year $5million deal

Draft WCS

PG- Jrue Holiday/Ish Smith/David Stockton
SG- Khris Middleton/Nik Stauskas/Ray McCallum
SF- Rudy Gay/ Omri Casspi
PF- WCS/Jonas Jerebko/ Eric Moreland
C- Demarcus Cousins/ Jason Thompson

I happen to think that Holiday would fit well with our team, but he's a huge injury risk. Successful teams don't build around players like that. Unless we're getting him very cheaply (which I don't think NOP would do), then he's not worth it.

As for Middleton, that's unrealistic. The Bucks would match a max offer sheet considering it'll be better value when the new cap hits. The only realistic option for signing a SG goes is throwing a huge offer sheet at Green ($13 mil/year). However, I still see another team offering that amount or the Spurs being willing to match, so considering FAs aren't lining up to go to a team that hasn't won 30 games in forever, I highly doubt we can sign him. Matthews won't want to come to our team and I don't see Portland letting him go. Afflalo will likely opt in so he can play with a playoff team with another year and get a huge payday the next year. Shumpert is restricted and the Cavs seem willing to match just about anything. Their owner seems hellbent on not bleeding any talent. He understands he's in the LeBron window, and he'll overspend as much as he has to in order to bring a championship to Cleveland.

Taking all of that into consideration, it's pretty unrealistic to think we'll be able to sign any substantial SG free agent, and that's why I think we might have to role with McLemore and Stauskas for another year. Belinelli seems like the only halfway decent option that seems realistic to me, so perhaps we bring him in as our stop gap SG.

I also find it odd how you complain about the inconsistency of our two year vet (going into his third year next year) in the starting unit and how we need to replace him, yet your scenario has a rookie starting at PF? I think it's a bad idea for any team wanting to compete to bank on a rookie as a starter unless that said rookie is the number one overall pick.

 

[Gilles]

You're not getting Middleton, WCS will take at least half a season adjusting to NBA, before making impact even on D, Nik Stauskas is not ready to be a backup SG and Ish Smith will be your starting PG for half a season.

 

[RichieInRocklin]

IF we were to get the 1st pick in the draft, you have to first look for those players who have All Star potential. In this draft, I think there are two players in that category, Towns and Russell. Neither one will lead us to the playoffs all by themselves the first year. However, Towns, IMHO, will be able to take over the PF position with good offense, good passing, good defense, and be the best of any PF we could get (yes, even better than WCS). Favors, Gobert and Noel will never be All-Stars. I think that PF is the most critical position that needs upgrading desperately, so I would pick Towns over Russell. The rest of the upgrades would come through trades and free agents. I hope Baja's feelings are right that we'll get the 1st pick this year.

 

[Spike]

A front court of Towns and Cousins would make me squee.
Yes, squee.

 

[Livinthedream]

You draft Towns. Can never have too many good PGs or big men. Thise positions can can transform your franchise if you get the right one.

Philly is in a position to not need to trade for a big nan, so I don't know if it's realistic that we could entice them with anything we could offer.

 

[Gilles]

KAT vs top-100 offensive teams from kenpom.com-20.7 min-3.72 def. reb.-1.55 bl.-3.5 fouls
vs non top-100 offensive teams from kenpom.com -21.5 min-5.12 def. reb.-3.17 bl.-2.23 fouls

WCS vs top-100 offensive teams from kenpom.com-28.0 min-4.63 def. reb.-1.95 bl.-2.27 fouls
vs non top-100 offensive teams from kenpom.com--23.2 min-3.53 def. reb.-1.41 bl.-1.65 fouls

All his offensive explosions happened against teams outside of top-100 defenses as well, so anyone expecting KAT to come in and take the league by storm might be in for quite a surprise.
KAT has excellent tools and work ethic, but he's nowhere near to being ready.

 

[hrdboild]

IF we were to get the 1st pick in the draft, you have to first look for those players who have All Star potential. In this draft, I think there are two players in that category, Towns and Russell. Neither one will lead us to the playoffs all by themselves the first year. However, Towns, IMHO, will be able to take over the PF position with good offense, good passing, good defense, and be the best of any PF we could get (yes, even better than WCS). Favors, Gobert and Noel will never be All-Stars. I think that PF is the most critical position that needs upgrading desperately, so I would pick Towns over Russell. The rest of the upgrades would come through trades and free agents. I hope Baja's feelings are right that we'll get the 1st pick this year.

I agree with the first part and both Towns and Russell clearly have All Star potential. I think Emmanuel Mudiay, Stanley Johnson, and Myles Turner have All Star potential too. If we got #1 I would work out all 5 of those guys and pick the one I like best. I disagree about Nerlens Noel never being an All-Star though. Ben Wallace was an All-Star 4 years in a row with less offensive game than Noel has now. And if the defense is DPOY level, that's a better fit for us than an all around All Star who's good but not elite on defense, I think.

 

[ockingsfan]

I think Okafor will make the biggest impact as a rookie.

I see a lot of Chris Webber in his game. Gigantic, soft hands and can palm the entry pass. I wouldn't sleep on Okafor. If the Kings want instant impact, I think Okafor is the pick. Towns will take a few years to develop.

If Vlade says he wants impact players, he may opt for Okafor if he gets #1.

I think Okafor can be an instant 15pts/7reb as a rookie.

 

[randymoss1881]

KAT vs top-100 offensive teams from kenpom.com-20.7 min-3.72 def. reb.-1.55 bl.-3.5 fouls
vs non top-100 offensive teams from kenpom.com -21.5 min-5.12 def. reb.-3.17 bl.-2.23 fouls

WCS vs top-100 offensive teams from kenpom.com-28.0 min-4.63 def. reb.-1.95 bl.-2.27 fouls
vs non top-100 offensive teams from kenpom.com--23.2 min-3.53 def. reb.-1.41 bl.-1.65 fouls

All his offensive explosions happened against teams outside of top-100 defenses as well, so anyone expecting KAT to come in and take the league by storm might be in for quite a surprise.
KAT has excellent tools and work ethic, but he's nowhere near to being ready.

Dude is sicking overrated his Norte Dame game wasn't impressive to me. There front court didn't have a player over 6'9.