What to do with Thornton?

[ParniValjak]

If we have IT-MT-Reke as our 3 guards we will always suck defensively because there are stretches where you will just have to run with IT-MT pairing and that is troublesome.

Reke is the best 2 way player of that trio and can play SG and PG so he offers versatility. Not to mention he is the most talented of the 3. Now you simply have to make a choice between IT and MT. If finances were not a real issue then you pick MT, make him a 6th man and get another guard instead of IT. But since finances are an issue and MT's attitude towards being a bench player, then you trade him and to address other needs and roll with IT-Reke for the time being.

IT has the potential to be a real nice player in the NBA. A Bobby Jackson type energy guy and he is cheap and will be cheaper than MT even when he gets re-signed in a few years. I have long been an advocate of MT-Batum swap but with T-Rob on board, our need is for someone less polished offensively and a lock down defender at 3. A young Gerald Wallace or Kirilieno would be perfect. Its also the reason I was hoping the Taylor would slip to 36 in the draft as he would be nice in that role (minus the block of course)

But MT is a pure scorer with attitude and on a reasonable contract. We could use him to bring in players that address out needs going forward and better balance the team that already has too many players needing shots. The shooting suffers a bit but I've got to believe that Tyreke's shot will get better, IT's shot will continue to get better, Jimmer will improve and provide some spot minutes as a long range threat and Salmons surely can't stink it up as much as he did this season.

 

[Sac.1989]

i dont want to trade thornton but given our immediate needs and financial situation a sign and trade for batum would be prime

 

[Prince_XY]

Only a fool would get rid of TRob before you know what you have. If I had to make a comparison of TRob it would be Bosh but slightly more athletic. And you would really trade that? Really?

Amazing that you see TRob similar to Bosh.

Physically- NO.

Playing style - NO.

And you think TRob is comparable to Bosh? Really?

Do you play basketball?

 

[Prince_XY]

If we have IT-MT-Reke as our 3 guards we will always suck defensively because there are stretches where you will just have to run with IT-MT pairing and that is troublesome..

Just ship out IT and you won't have to deal with being undersized and having a defensively challenged back court.

Any pairing of Evans-MT-Twill (and occasionally with Jimmer and Salmons) and we will be okay.

 

[ParniValjak]

Just ship out IT and you won't have to deal with being undersized and having a defensively challenged back court.

Any pairing of Evans-MT-Twill (and occasionally with Jimmer and Salmons) and we will be okay.

It also comes down to the cost factor. Thornton is getting $8 million which is a reasonable contract. However, when you consider that we need to pay up for Tyreke, Cousins and eventually Robinson, we really can't do that with these broke owners.

IT is signed up for the next 2 years for a real bargain (all up around $1.6 million) and he would be a great change of pace guard off the bench. We could be better off spending those $8 million we have invested in Thornton for a SF.

If we had rich owners who are able to invest in the product on the floor, we wouldn't be having this debate. We have a lot of salary cap room and if we are allowed to spend, we could get a really good team for next season.

As for T-Will, I would LOVE to get him back but I very much doubt Maloofs will spend the money on him. I guess it might depend on who much JT is re-signed for (if in fact he is re-signed)

I have often said that I loved Evans-Williams pairing in a few games this year. Their defence on the perimeter was very good and they had great chemistry.

 

[Spike]

Based on our frontcourt, perimeter D needs to be a priority.

 

[Section 101]

It also comes down to the cost factor. Thornton is getting $8 million which is a reasonable contract. However, when you consider that we need to pay up for Tyreke, Cousins and eventually Robinson, we really can't do that with these broke owners.

IT is signed up for the next 2 years for a real bargain (all up around $1.6 million) and he would be a great change of pace guard off the bench. We could be better off spending those $8 million we have invested in Thornton for a SF.

If we had rich owners who are able to invest in the product on the floor, we wouldn't be having this debate. We have a lot of salary cap room and if we are allowed to spend, we could get a really good team for next season.

As for T-Will, I would LOVE to get him back but I very much doubt Maloofs will spend the money on him. I guess it might depend on who much JT is re-signed for (if in fact he is re-signed)

I have often said that I loved Evans-Williams pairing in a few games this year. Their defence on the perimeter was very good and they had great chemistry.

You can't worry that far ahead for Robinson. He's on a rookie contract for 4 years. The team could be way different by then.

 

[Gilles]

It also comes down to the cost factor. Thornton is getting $8 million which is a reasonable contract. However, when you consider that we need to pay up for Tyreke, Cousins and eventually Robinson, we really can't do that with these broke owners...

Wonder what will be this year's financial results when revenue sharing kicks in tonight?

 

[cuad]

I change my mind. I don't care who gets benched between Evans and Thornton as long as they put the right players around them.

IT / MT / T-Will or Salmons
Jimmer / Evans / Garcia or Honeycutt

or

IT / Evans / Garcia or Honeycutt
Jimmer / MT23 / T-Will or Salmons

 

[andjel]

i do not see that much of an issue of IT-MT-Reke guard trio for now under condition that Reke is not SF for more than couple of minutes.

Opponents have to have their second unit out sometime, and those 15~ish minutes we can have IT-MT as guards.

That being said, IT-MT are great trading assets and if Jimmer ever developes or if we trade any of them for starting SF enabling T-Will to spend some time as SG I am all for trade involving any of them.

 

[ParniValjak]

i do not see that much of an issue of IT-MT-Reke guard trio for now under condition that Reke is not SF for more than couple of minutes.

Opponents have to have their second unit out sometime, and those 15~ish minutes we can have IT-MT as guards.

That being said, IT-MT are great trading assets and if Jimmer ever developes or if we trade any of them for starting SF enabling T-Will to spend some time as SG I am all for trade involving any of them.

As we have seen this season IT-MT backcourt pairing is terrible defensively. They might get their points at one end but their direct opponent take them to the cleaners at the other. If you are looking, like all the normal teams, to have a 3 man backcourt MAIN rotation guys, then ideally, you want at least 2 of those 3 to be above average defenders and in that trio we have it the other way around. Tyreke is the only one with a lock down potential in that lot.

Now if you said IT-Reke-Williams, then we might be on to something but in that case both Reke and T-Will will need to improve their jump shot.

 

[Mass]

It's hard for me to get an idea about Thornton. I wouldn't trade him, because he is a competitor, a clutch player, someone with the attitude to score in the 4th quarter against good defenses. Then, he is on a reasonable contract, and he really seems to enjoy being a Sacramento King. On the other hand, I understand he is not the perfect fit if we want to have a 3 player rotation with Reke and Thomas. We suffer too much when we have IT and Thornton out there together.

Before trading him anyways, I'd like to get a defensive SF and see if they can work together. Udrih wasn't a great defender, but the Beno.Tyreke-MT rotation worked pretty well, even if it was in a limited number of games.

 

[Prince_XY]

It also comes down to the cost factor. Thornton is getting $8 million which is a reasonable contract. However, when you consider that we need to pay up for Tyreke, Cousins and eventually Robinson, we really can't do that with these broke owners.

IT is signed up for the next 2 years for a real bargain (all up around $1.6 million) and he would be a great change of pace guard off the bench. We could be better off spending those $8 million we have invested in Thornton for a SF.

Then ship out both Thornton and IT to solve 2 problems.

Without both MT and IT = no more possibility of being undersized on the back court plus we get our needed roleplayer starter at SF.

Also, I don't really care that much if we lose both, because both seems to be defensive liabilities anyways.

 

[DesertFox]

Then ship out both Thornton and IT to solve 2 problems.

Without both MT and IT = no more possibility of being undersized on the back court plus we get our needed roleplayer starter at SF.

Also, I don't really care that much if we lose both, because both seems to be defensive liabilities anyways.

Jimmer is a defensive liability. MT is mediocre and average at best, while IT is actually a really strong defender, just undersized, limiting him in switches.

You don't ship out both of them unless you know Twill is back and the return is a serious stud. MT is a solid SG, and IT as a very good backup on a 2nd round contract is very valuable.

 

[dmj]

The only thing we need to do with Thornton is have him come off the bench in a sort of 6th man/instant offense role--think along the lines of what Dallas does with Jason Terry. He is too one dimensional for us to give him the bulk of the minutes at the 2.

Right now his shooting efficiency is a solid 54 TS% at 16 FGA, but I think his efficiency would go up significantly if we didn't require him to shoulder the burden of being the go-to player offensively.

 

[Bricklayer]

The only thing we need to do with Thornton is have him come off the bench in a sort of 6th man/instant offense role--think along the lines of what Dallas does with Jason Terry. He is too one dimensional for us to give him the bulk of the minutes at the 2.

Right now his shooting efficiency is a solid 54 TS% at 16 FGA, but I think his efficiency would go up significantly if we didn't require him to shoulder the burden of being the go-to player offensively.

Sure. Now all you have to do is to convince HIM of that.

 

[Sac.1989]

GP should be on it and if hes not willing then all these trade situations and pondering we've been contemplating start being enacted