Why get rid of Salmons?

[MJ2827]

This is bothering me, has been since I heard the rumors. I do not see why the Kings would want to trade John Salmons.

In my opinion he is the best all around player that we have. Kevin Martin may be the high scorer but I have to agree that anyone who takes that many shots in a game is bound to average close to 30 PPG. He's having the most productive season he has ever had for one. He actually plays defense. He can pass, he can score, he hustleswhat more can you ask for? He may not be a true number 1 on the team but neither is K-Mart, but he makes one hell of a roleplayer. Kind of Doug Christie-esque.

Talks about trading him for an expiring contract for cap room is ridiculous to me. I hear the talks about how other teams are interested in him to help them out and we can aquire an expiring contract like Robert Horry or some crap like that. 6 Million is not that much more room. They talk how Salmons can help any team that needs to cross over the line and become a top tier team. Why can't the Maloofs/Petrie let him do that for us?

I mean can anyone tell me why everone talks about trading him off like its the best thing to do? It seems like no one wants to keep him but me. Let me know please.

 

[beb0p]

Kind of Doug Christie-esque.

That's like comparing Kenny Thomas to Chris Webber because they both shoot 18 foot jumpers and rebound.

John Salmons is the guy who pounds the ball and stagnate the offense (although he's not the only guilty party), who refuses to provide help defense, and never in his life has taken a charge or tried to put a body on a bigger player and fight for a rebound. In truth, Salmons is the kind of player who may be useful in fantasy basketball but he doesn't do the little things that help a team wins in real basketball.

There are a few guys like that around the NBA, none of them ever helps a team reaches the next level; and all this rumors of playoff teams being interested is just that, rumors.

That's not to say Salmons doesn't have talent, he may even have more talent than Dough Christie; but I'd rather watch a less talented player work his butt off to complete than a guy like Salmons who half-assed his way to another stat-padding game. But that's just me.

 

[NoBonus]

I think if you look at this from a number of angles, this is why:

From John's perspective: He is now on a re-building team, years spent rebuilding while he is in his prime are wasted years for John; same deal for Brad, why stick around for another year or two of rebuilding when once your deal is up, you are just going to sign somewhere else. Wouldn't you hope for a different situation?

From my perspective:
1. John is a ball dominator (like Ron Artest)... when he gets the ball, the team passing stops and the FG% drops. He takes the Kings team out of games by keeping the ball from players who could contribute more; he feels he should dribble and drive or shoot an outside jumper every time the ball touches his hands.
2. The Kings do not need John Salmons. The Kings are in last place with him and will be in last place without him. Why keep him around for another year when his minutes could go to a developing prospect and without him, the ball continues to move to the prospects.
3. Salary relief. If the Kings can get salary relief by trading John for an expiring contract, why not? Money is tight right now and I think the Kings want to spend their cash on other things (i.e. prospects)
4. Attitude. Though I have no proof in front of me, just rumblings here and there, John supplies no leadership to the young Kings (see Kenny Natts comments about vets not doing their parts) and tends to get a bad attitude when he does not get touches. Remember how terrible he was coming off the bench for the Kings and how he is only productive as a starter? Attitude.

 

[MJ2827]

I said he was kind of Doug Christie-esque meaning he plays all aspects of the game. No where near as good as a defender though. Don't get me wrong lets put a jersey on Christie and send him back out there.

But I see him as a roleplayer he does what he does well. I don't see how anyone can say he half asses it.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

This is bothering me, has been since I heard the rumors. I do not see why the Kings would want to trade John Salmons.

In my opinion he is the best all around player that we have. Kevin Martin may be the high scorer but I have to agree that anyone who takes that many shots in a game is bound to average close to 30 PPG. He's having the most productive season he has ever had for one. He actually plays defense. He can pass, he can score, he hustleswhat more can you ask for? He may not be a true number 1 on the team but neither is K-Mart, but he makes one hell of a roleplayer. Kind of Doug Christie-esque.

Talks about trading him for an expiring contract for cap room is ridiculous to me. I hear the talks about how other teams are interested in him to help them out and we can aquire an expiring contract like Robert Horry or some crap like that. 6 Million is not that much more room. They talk how Salmons can help any team that needs to cross over the line and become a top tier team. Why can't the Maloofs/Petrie let him do that for us?

I mean can anyone tell me why everone talks about trading him off like its the best thing to do? It seems like no one wants to keep him but me. Let me know please.

I think it boils down to the following:

1 - Age - Salmons is already 29 and this team is 3 years away from having a chance at being a real threat. This means Salmons will be 32 and declining by the time we are truly ascending. Contrast that with KMart who will be 28 by then and will have at least 4 more prime years left.

2 - Attitude - Salmons seems to be playing for his own stats right now and is not seen as a team player. That can be poison for a team like ours trying to instill good team play into our young players. One of Kevin Pritchard's great moves with the Trailblazers was selling Zach Randolph for .30 on the dollar to keep his antics away from Oden, Roy and LA.

3 - Role - Salmons pretty much needs to dominate the ball to be effective. Maybe he can play off ball and would be willing to for a chance at a ring. However, with us he sulks and griples whenever he is not our primary creator. This takes possessions away from the younger players we need to develop. Again, contrast this with KMart who can play off the ball very effectively.

4 - Trade Value - Salmons is actually desired by winning teams because of the very reasons you mentioned. That means that not only can we try to get cap relief for him - which can help us shape our team around our current young uns and future draft picks - but we can also aquire another young player or more draft picks.

 

[Sptsjunkie]

I think if you look at this from a number of angles, this is why:

From John's perspective: He is now on a re-building team, years spent rebuilding while he is in his prime are wasted years for John; same deal for Brad, why stick around for another year or two of rebuilding when once your deal is up, you are just going to sign somewhere else. Wouldn't you hope for a different situation?

From my perspective:
1. John is a ball dominator (like Ron Artest)... when he gets the ball, the team passing stops and the FG% drops. He takes the Kings team out of games by keeping the ball from players who could contribute more; he feels he should dribble and drive or shoot an outside jumper every time the ball touches his hands.
2. The Kings do not need John Salmons. The Kings are in last place with him and will be in last place without him. Why keep him around for another year when his minutes could go to a developing prospect and without him, the ball continues to move to the prospects.
3. Salary relief. If the Kings can get salary relief by trading John for an expiring contract, why not? Money is tight right now and I think the Kings want to spend their cash on other things (i.e. prospects)
4. Attitude. Though I have no proof in front of me, just rumblings here and there, John supplies no leadership to the young Kings (see Kenny Natts comments about vets not doing their parts) and tends to get a bad attitude when he does not get touches. Remember how terrible he was coming off the bench for the Kings and how he is only productive as a starter? Attitude.

Dang, beat me to it by a couple of minutes, nearly an identical list too. Funny.

 

[beb0p]

But I see him as a roleplayer he does what he does well. I don't see how anyone can say he half asses it.

Just watch him play defesne and count how many times he should've slidded over to help his man but didn't, how many times he could have stood outside the circle and draw a charge but decided not to, how many times he purposely paused for a split second en route to helping a teammate so he could pretend he was late and didn't have to contest a bigger player, how many times he decided not to even attempt to reboud when he saw a bigger opposing player is already in position, and how many times he should have clog the lane but decided to stay home with a bad shooter to conserve energy.

And then tell me he wasn't half-assing it on defense.

In turn, not only is Salmons not a good role player, he basically refuses to do many of the things that would make him a good role player. He does a few things well, I'll give him that. He doesn't do enough to help you win games.

 

[NoBonus]

Dang, beat me to it by a couple of minutes, nearly an identical list too. Funny.

Wow! At least we know we are in agreement!

 

[Mad D]

Salmons is a win-now role player on a win-never team.


also..
statistically Kevin is taking one more shot this year and is missing the additional shot (about 7/15 last year and 7/16 this year while still going to the free throw line about 10 times a game). That one extra shot still wouldn't make him anything near a 30 point scorer unless you expect him to shoot above 60% for the season.

 

[Gary]

Salmons is a good player, but does not fit our style. He is a good individual defender as well. He needs the ball to be effective. I think he can help a bubble team make the playoffs, and a contender contend immediately. I think teams might be a little weary about Salmons because he does not play well off the bench and tends to take a while to get a shot.

 

[Entity]

Salmons is a good player, but does not fit our style. He is a good individual defender as well. He needs the ball to be effective. I think he can help a bubble team make the playoffs, and a contender contend immediately. I think teams might be a little weary about Salmons because he does not play well off the bench and tends to take a while to get a shot.

Doesnt' fit our style??? Not that care about keeping John around. Just wondering exactly what is our "sytle"? Because it looks like a backyard game everytime I watch us play which is every game BTW.

 

[kingsnation]

Salmons is a win-now role player on a win-never team.

True...

and here's the thing about John --->

He is a role player trying to be a superstar.

He wants to go where he can be the focus and the lead guy.

Kobe. Lebron. John.

 

[wonjaeyou]

Yes, Salmons is the best all around player we have. matter fact, HE IS THE BEST PLAYER in Kings uniform over Kevin Matin IMO. But I don't mind trading him because he is a win-now player. Kings need future player, not win now player. That's why we traded Ron, and that's why we have to trade Salmons. I don't want to trade him for pieces of crap though.

 

[wonjaeyou]

Just watch him play defesne and count how many times he should've slidded over to help his man but didn't, how many times he could have stood outside the circle and draw a charge but decided not to, how many times he purposely paused for a split second en route to helping a teammate so he could pretend he was late and didn't have to contest a bigger player, how many times he decided not to even attempt to reboud when he saw a bigger opposing player is already in position, and how many times he should have clog the lane but decided to stay home with a bad shooter to conserve energy.

And then tell me he wasn't half-assing it on defense.

In turn, not only is Salmons not a good role player, he basically refuses to do many of the things that would make him a good role player. He does a few things well, I'll give him that. He doesn't do enough to help you win games.

Are you kidding me?? Salmons is the best defensive player we have. He might not be good at help defense but you can't talk about Salmons defense because there is no 'Defense' in Kevin Martin's play book. He gave Weaver a career night yesterday. How bad is he's D!! If you want to talk about how bad Salmons plays on D then you should talk about how bad of player Kevin Martin is overall

 

[kingzallday]

Uh? 9 points a Career night?

 

[beb0p]

If you want to talk about how bad Salmons plays on D then you should talk about how bad of player Kevin Martin is overall

Ok. KMart, Beno, Mikki, Brad, Brown are horrible defenders; and at times, JT, Spencer, Bobby, Shelden, and Garcia; are almost equally horrible.

Did I miss anybody?

 

[Gary]

Doesnt' fit our style??? Not that care about keeping John around. Just wondering exactly what is our "sytle"? Because it looks like a backyard game everytime I watch us play which is every game BTW.

Should have clarified.. Natt didn't really say what style he wanted to play, but Theus wanted an up tempo team and style of play, and I don't think Natt was going to change any of that. But you are right.. Our up tempo game looks really amateur.