Who do you consider to be part of our core moving forward?

[rainmaker]

There's non stop talk of who's expendable, and who we'd want/should keep long term. I'm interested in gauging who exactly Kings fans want long term, who they say is part of our foundation, and who they'd like to see eventually moved, traded, or amnestied.

Multiple votes are allowed obviously, given our future core probably includes more than one player. Vote for who you want to see here going forward.

 

[Mass]

There's not stop talk of who's expendable, and who we'd want/should keep long term. I'm interested in gauging who exactly Kings fans want long term, who they say as part of our foundation, and who they'd like to see eventually moved, traded, or amnestied.

The only one I wouldn't trade for anyone is Cousins. I think he is really special and he has to be the core of our rebuild. Then, Evans. I think he is part of the future, but he is not so untouchable like Cousins. Everybody else is expendable for the right offer.

 

[LWP777]

Agree with the above post. The only untouchable is Cousins because he has superstar potential. Evans and Thornton are kind of in the same boat as solid players but not stars. Jimmer and IT are young pieces who could turn out to be special. Everybody else is complete garbage.

 

[uolj]

It's a continuum. I'd trade Cousins for LeBron. I'd trade Evans for a young all-star. I'd trade Thornton for a young star. And the list keeps going with less and less required in return. So it's hard to gauge where "core" ends and "expendable" begins.

 

[bluntsnbball]

if evans comes back next season with a decent jumper/perimeter game, he's untouchable in my book. But until he becomes a complete player, i'll remain on the fence about him. He is simply too easy to guard for some teams seeing as how one dimensional he is.

What this pole did not include was the coach, who i hope is not part of the rebuild moving forward

 

[IfAt1st]

I don't think the poll meant "who is untouchable"?
That's slightly different at least in my eyes.

When you say "Who is core?" I think who should be the building blocks of the team.
And oddly I chose only Cousins and JT.

If anyone thinks I have agendas on here, that conveniently obliterates your position. Because I was one of the biggest critics of JT. But he is exactly the kind of backup big man that works fine with this (almost non-existent) future Kings team.

Build around Cousins, and everyone else is expendable.
But you've got a backup big guy. Now you're only missing 6 pieces.
And actually, in retrospect, I'd add IT as a building block - he's the change-of-pace guard that can help the 8-deep future Kings squad compete again in the NBA. 5 pieces left : starting pass-first initiating PG, starting SG (Thornton would do Tyreke goes), starting defensive-oriented SF, starting defensive-oriented PF, and one more backup role.
So I guess with Thornton they need 4 more.

 

[Bricklayer]

There are only three reasonables, and the third of those (Marcus) kinda needs to be found a workable role or he become expendable. Nothing has really changed this season from where we were this time last year. Bad moves in the offseason kind of made this into a truly wasted season. Just a year gone by and no real change in our situation.

After that I see guys who could have a role going forward as:

JT (hustling roleplayer big/1st big off bench)
Cisco (roleplayer, and vet leader)
Isaiah (potential 6th man, unless Marcus is shifted there, then change of pace 4th guard)

Almost everything else is a bad fit in one way or the other. The Honeycutt/Whiteside projects excepted of course. I would personally say Donte as a good chemistry 3/4 defensive roleplayer on the deep bench, but we all know his tickets been punched outta tone for several years now.

 

[DesertFox]

Essentially Cousins, then 3 out of the 4 guards, one of Cisco/Greene for chemistry/happy 10th man purposes, and then 2 out of the 3 bigmen (obviously not counting Hickson).
I prefer JT over chuck, but Chuck is already signed, and Whiteside is cheap/young and should compete for 4th bigman PT next year.

 

[rainmaker]

if evans comes back next season with a decent jumper/perimeter game, he's untouchable in my book. But until he becomes a complete player, i'll remain on the fence about him. He is simply too easy to guard for some teams seeing as how one dimensional he is.

What this pole did not include was the coach, who i hope is not part of the rebuild moving forward

I wanted a couple more option, but only allowed a max of 10. Hassan and Smart would have been included, as well as Petrie. But given the limit, I stuck to players.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

There are only three reasonables, and the third of those (Marcus) kinda needs to be found a workable role or he become expendable. Nothing has really changed this season from where we were this time last year. Bad moves in the offseason kind of made this into a truly wasted season. Just a year gone by and no real change in our situation.

The trouble with "coring" Thornton is his tendency towards one-dimensionalism. Of the first five guards in the rotation (Evans, Thornton, Thomas, Garcia and Salmons), Thornton is the one who gives you the least when his shot isn't falling.

Plus, I find the notion of "coring" a jump shooter to be utterly distasteful.

 

[SacTownKid]

When I think "core" I think mostly of those two or three guys you build your franchise around, Evans, Thornton, and Cousins are that core. Now I think Cisco, Hayes, JT, Honeycutt, Thomas, Jimmer, and Whiteside can all be valuable parts around that core.

 

[Bricklayer]

The trouble with "coring" Thornton is his tendency towards one-dimensionalism. Of the first five guards in the rotation (Evans, Thornton, Thomas, Garcia and Salmons), Thornton is the one who gives you the least when his shot isn't falling.

Plus, I find the notion of "coring" a jump shooter to be utterly distasteful.

Coring young 20ppg explosive scorers however makes considerably more sense. If you can find a way for them not to interfere with the guys ahead of them in the queue.

 

[boffacheerios]

Blazers just cut Oden. Anyone think we should throw something small at him?

 

[rainmaker]

Blazers just cut Oden. Anyone think we should throw something small at him?

No. We'd have to offer him a contract this summer after never having suited up for us.

 

[Bricklayer]

Blazers just cut Oden. Anyone think we should throw something small at him?

Thread about that in the personnel section, and hey, would love to have him justsitting around for near free on a "if you ever are able to play again" deal. But fact is that seems really unlikely at this point and whether we do it or nto its likely to be irrelevant for our on the court prospects.

 

[boffacheerios]

Yeah, it really would have to be for the 1 year minimum to entice me at all. I'm just so bummed there aren't going to be any new players this year. Sometimes all it takes is a small shake up to get things moving in the right direction. I can honestly see the kings slip into third to last in the league, just above the hornets now that nene's going to DC.

 

[rainmaker]

Yeah, it really would have to be for the 1 year minimum to entice me at all. I'm just so bummed there aren't going to be any new players this year. Sometimes all it takes is a small shake up to get things moving in the right direction. I can honestly see the kings slip into third to last in the league, just above the hornets now that nene's going to DC.

Oden just had another micro fracture surgery last month during what was supposed to be a routine cleanup. I feel terrible for the guy, both he and Roy, but we're not running a charity here.

Correction, we have been running a charity by keeping some non NBA talent in the league, and paying other guys millions who are in no way deserving, and it needs to stop.

 

[boffacheerios]

Oden just had another micro fracture surgery last month during what was supposed to be a routine cleanup. I feel terrible for the guy, both he and Roy, but we're not running a charity here.

Correction, we have been running a charity by keeping some non NBA talent in the league, and paying other guys millions who are in no way deserving, and it needs to stop.

Hahahah right on

 

[pshn80]

Agree with Brick's take posted above. Who we get rid of depends on who we can get. Getting "quality" veterans is difficult for us. To do that you have to have real trade bait or lots of money. We're short of trade bait and apparently money, too. So if the franchise had the chance to get any quality player at any position, an up grade, then we might be in a better position to decide who goes. And when you lose, lose, lose then the values you have go down, down, down. First thing to do for the franchise is to find a veteran with quality, particularly on defense, that we can acquire by hook or crook, then jump quick. Long shot. We may have to wait until our draft picks get older and better. Not a pleasant thought.

 

[gilly420]

The only way Cousins and Tyreke/or Thorton work in my mind is if we get a true #1 option. Otherwise I dont see that combo getting us to the playoffs. We need about 5 amnesty buyouts, starting with Salmons, Chuck, Outlaw.... the list goes on. I feel like I have been seriously robbed after going to the last two games. total bs with no effort.

 

[Bricklayer]

The only way Cousins and Tyreke/or Thorton work in my mind is if we get a true #1 option. Otherwise I dont see that combo getting us to the playoffs. We need about 5 amnesty buyouts, starting with Salmons, Chuck, Outlaw.... the list goes on. I feel like I have been seriously robbed after going to the last two games. total bs with no effort.

You gotta have more forward vision that that. Those guys ABSOLUTELY will be playoff caliber #1 options. At least 1 of them. Championship caliber? Well that's a way off. But I'll eat my shoe if Cousins isn't a 20ppg scorer in this league maybe as soon as next year. Reke's a jumper away from nasty. Thronton already can get you 20 a night if you feature him, although I would not call him a #1 option. Thing is Denver is going to make the playoffs, and we might have the three most talented guys on a combined roster. Who's the #1option on Indian or Philly who's more talented than our guys? There is none. We just nned to sincerely get our act together in all the othe ways. We need to acquire defensive players, we need to play full sized. We need to grow up. But lost in the much is the fact that the talent is already here.

 

[Gary]

Cousins and Evans if Evans works out at SG and gets a consistent outside shot.. If not then just Cousins.

 

[Gary]

The only way Cousins and Tyreke/or Thorton work in my mind is if we get a true #1 option. Otherwise I dont see that combo getting us to the playoffs. We need about 5 amnesty buyouts, starting with Salmons, Chuck, Outlaw.... the list goes on. I feel like I have been seriously robbed after going to the last two games. total bs with no effort.

I have season tickets to this crapfest!

Anyway, I think Cousins and Evans can work together. My problem with now is I think Thornton is playing well and I don't think he should be benched just to put Evans at SG and you all know how I feel about Evans at PG.

But going forward next year I would like to give Evans a try at SG for about 20-30 games and see what happens. But I think Evans and Cousins could work if they know their roles, and the veterans we get know their roles as well.

A caller on Grants show today hit the nail on the head with a comment. He said we need a Veteran leader who isn't the 8th or 9th man on the bench. I tend to agree with that. I think we need a veteran that's in the starting lineup. Someone who has been on playoff teams and is a roleplayer.

 

[ParniValjak]

Coring young 20ppg explosive scorers however makes considerably more sense. If you can find a way for them not to interfere with the guys ahead of them in the queue.

Easier said than done unfortunately especially if the player in question has the sort of attitude that Thornton has shown (I am having a stinker, my shot is not falling but I need to get my own so get out of the way)

For me Its Cousins and Evans. Thornton becomes expandable for the right piece (shot blocking PF or C, or a SF that brings it all together...Batum type). Of the role players, I would like to keep JT as the 3rd big in the rotation, Cisco bring the much needed leadership and has a scrappy game with a good shot. IT is the energy guard off the bench in similar fashion to Bobby Jackson. I like Jimmer's shot but he REALLY needs to improve in other areas to have a long and productive career. He becomes competent in other areas and he makes the game so much easier for himself and the big 2 in Cousins and Tyreke.

I think Greene also is a good deep bench 3/4 defensive role player to have but the problem is, the Kings see him as a 4 and like you said, he seems to have had his ticked punched out of town for a while now

 

[rainmaker]

A caller on Grants show today hit the nail on the head with a comment. He said we need a Veteran leader who isn't the 8th or 9th man on the bench. I tend to agree with that. I think we need a veteran that's in the starting lineup. Someone who has been on playoff teams and is a roleplayer.

Really think Hinrich is attainable, fits that role, and isn't too expensive. But we can't continue to be cheap asses about it and try to get discount vet leadership. Always end up overpaying for it, ala Chuck.

 

[ParniValjak]

Really think Hinrich is attainable, fits that role, and isn't too expensive. But we can't continue to be cheap asses about it and try to get discount vet leadership. Always end up overpaying for it, ala Chuck.

The think with Kirk is that he just might be getting too old and at this stage of his career, he might be thinking of joining a contender to get some bling bling.

Outside of that, I think for the 2-3 years he could be the leader type. Can play PG or SG, with the ball, off the ball and can defent both backcourt positions.

 

[kingsnation]

My core going forward: DMC, Reke, IT, Hayes. That's all. Unless MT can be moved to the 6th man role. I don't want him as our starting SG of the future... I just don't see us having success with that.

DMC and Reke for obvious reasons. IT is definitely a keeper for our bench. I like Hayes for a 4th or 5th big type of guy. JT and Cisco would've been included but I just feel this team needs a new culture and new faces - as much as I love them, they have just been a part of our losing culture for too long. Time to move on.

 

[rainmaker]

The think with Kirk is that he just might be getting too old and at this stage of his career, he might be thinking of joining a contender to get some bling bling.

Outside of that, I think for the 2-3 years he could be the leader type. Can play PG or SG, with the ball, off the ball and can defent both backcourt positions.

I don't see another PG UFA I like nearly as much. Lin is an UFA, and from the Sac area, but I don't like the fit as much given how much we need defense, leadership and a respected vet. Wouldn't even need to play Kirk more than 25 mins per.

What scares me is the apparent interest in Aaron Brooks by Petrie, and I read again today that Petrie is still interested. A guy like that, another short, shoot first combo guard is the last thing we need.

 

[ParniValjak]

My core going forward: DMC, Reke, IT, Hayes. That's all. Unless MT can be moved to the 6th man role. I don't want him as our starting SG of the future... I just don't see us having success with that.

DMC and Reke for obvious reasons. IT is definitely a keeper for our bench. I like Hayes for a 4th or 5th big type of guy. JT and Cisco would've been included but I just feel this team needs a new culture and new faces - as much as I love them, they have just been a part of our losing culture for too long. Time to move on.

That's one heck of an expensive 4th or 5th big. 22 million over 4 years?! OUCH!!!

 

[kingsnation]

That's one heck of an expensive 4th or 5th big. 22 million over 4 years?! OUCH!!!

Don't get me started on that signing/contract or Petrie in general. Whole different thread. :/ haha