Kingster
Hall of Famer
What would I do? Let's start with focusing on the long term vision for this team that Perry and many envision - length, athleticism, toughness and ball movement. I would also add that being so far away from any type of title contention there should be an emphasis on younger as opposed to older players. It's going to take some time to get from a C grade to an A grade and over-the-hill types are counterproductive to our goal.
So who are the players on this team who are incompatible with the above vision? Start with Lavine. He annoys the hell out of me. Lavine's low BBIQ, non-defense, non rebounding, iso and gritless game is a bur in my side. Here's one for you: What former Kings' guard had about the same average rebounds per game as Lavine at a similar age? Mike Bibby! So here is 6'2" (if that) non-athletic Bibby scraping up about the same rebs as the 6'5" uber-athlete Lavine. That should tell you all you need to know. Begone, Lavine! Begone! Next for the ax is DeRozan: Isolation game, no defense, gritless, paltry rebounder, and old to boot. Annoys the hell out of me dribbling from the 3 point line into the defender to take his 2-point shots and getting savaged on the defensive end of the floor. . Begone!
To facilitate the departure of the of those two, I'd be calling every team in the league to see what, if any, interest they may have. Hopefully, they are of a like mind to Vivek/McNair and they will be overjoyed in obtaining their services. I'd be looking for length, athleticism, toughness, and picks, not necessarily in that order.
Everything follows from the proper assessment of the market for DDR and Lavine. Why is that you may ask? Because the next question is Sabonis. Is it feasible to obtain the lengthy 3-point shooting defensive athlete that Sabonis requires to be playing alongside him? Because if DDR&Lavine can't get you that guy, then Sabonis is going to perpetually play alongside a non-complementary piece. Long term, to use the fashionable word of the day, that is not sustainable. So, Plan A: Trade DDR & Lavine for a complementary stretch 4 next to Sabonis. And if Plan A is not feasible, there is Plan B: Trade Sabonis. What other option is there? Suffer like Sisyphus, perpetually rolling the rock up hill, only to watch it fall to the bottom, again and again and again....?
The above is a starting point for what must be done. It does not include obtaining a point guard, which is necesary, nor anything pertaining to free agency, but you get the drift.
So who are the players on this team who are incompatible with the above vision? Start with Lavine. He annoys the hell out of me. Lavine's low BBIQ, non-defense, non rebounding, iso and gritless game is a bur in my side. Here's one for you: What former Kings' guard had about the same average rebounds per game as Lavine at a similar age? Mike Bibby! So here is 6'2" (if that) non-athletic Bibby scraping up about the same rebs as the 6'5" uber-athlete Lavine. That should tell you all you need to know. Begone, Lavine! Begone! Next for the ax is DeRozan: Isolation game, no defense, gritless, paltry rebounder, and old to boot. Annoys the hell out of me dribbling from the 3 point line into the defender to take his 2-point shots and getting savaged on the defensive end of the floor. . Begone!
To facilitate the departure of the of those two, I'd be calling every team in the league to see what, if any, interest they may have. Hopefully, they are of a like mind to Vivek/McNair and they will be overjoyed in obtaining their services. I'd be looking for length, athleticism, toughness, and picks, not necessarily in that order.
Everything follows from the proper assessment of the market for DDR and Lavine. Why is that you may ask? Because the next question is Sabonis. Is it feasible to obtain the lengthy 3-point shooting defensive athlete that Sabonis requires to be playing alongside him? Because if DDR&Lavine can't get you that guy, then Sabonis is going to perpetually play alongside a non-complementary piece. Long term, to use the fashionable word of the day, that is not sustainable. So, Plan A: Trade DDR & Lavine for a complementary stretch 4 next to Sabonis. And if Plan A is not feasible, there is Plan B: Trade Sabonis. What other option is there? Suffer like Sisyphus, perpetually rolling the rock up hill, only to watch it fall to the bottom, again and again and again....?
The above is a starting point for what must be done. It does not include obtaining a point guard, which is necesary, nor anything pertaining to free agency, but you get the drift.
It's a different approach than what you like, perhaps. It's not a total rebuild but it isn't just rolling it back, either.
