Why Isn't Sasha Playing?

[Caccia]

Every player on the Kings gets an assigned development coach. The team needs to bring in a track specialist to help Vezenkov learn how to run better. If sprinters can do it, improving year upon year, so can he. Vezenkov tends to run on his toes, which gives him an awkward gait and slows him down.

 

[upinsmoke]

Every player on the Kings gets an assigned development coach. The team needs to bring in a track specialist to help Vezenkov learn how to run better. If sprinters can do it, improving year upon year, so can he. Vezenkov tends to run on his toes, which gives him an awkward gait and slows him down.

He looks like he's playing in Lugz.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I don't get the griping about JTA - he's on a 10 day contract. Sasha is on a 3 year contract. Clearly we're evaluating JTA right now.

We're evaluating a lot of things in preparation for what many are hoping/anticipating to be a major trade. Among all the dozens of possibilities is they are keeping Sasha hidden so others don't demand him in any trade packages.

 

[iowamcnabb]

Sasha’s best path to playing time this year with the kings is probably a Lavine trade that leaves us a forward short.

 

[macadocious]

Every player on the Kings gets an assigned development coach. The team needs to bring in a track specialist to help Vezenkov learn how to run better. If sprinters can do it, improving year upon year, so can he. Vezenkov tends to run on his toes, which gives him an awkward gait and slows him down.

I was pointing this out to my friend at the N.O. game. Once you see it, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

[LPKingsFan]

All of the debates about his role in the rotation are one thing, but being the only player to receive a DNP-CD in a 25-point win has to raise an eyebrow, no?

 

[Remi]

All of the debates about his role in the rotation are one thing, but being the only player to receive a DNP-CD in a 25-point win has to raise an eyebrow, no?

No, if you will consider forthcoming trade deadlines....

 

[pdxKingsFan]

If things have gotten bad to the point we're considering moving on from him you would think we would showcase and not bury him but what the heck do I know?

If we've decided to move on AND are burying him, that's really something. It's really impossible to contemplate that given what we have seen from his shot and his movement on the offensive end.

 

[iowamcnabb]

I know I'm living in should land, but what have you done for me lately?
Nothing? Then have a seat on the bench.

I really don't care what he's done in the past. He got paid and he sucks now. The past is the past.

I know he's a nice guy. Let’s make him our community ambassador of goodwill and move on to someone who can contribute on the court.

What he has done for you lately is tie for the team lead in three point percentage at 41 percent ( shooting is probably the highest priority on a Monte built team) has 17 games with 12 or more points even though he was asked to take a back seat to Keegan as the fifth option and has the lowest total amount of turnovers in the entire NBA. Oh and he is one of the most durable players in the game and has the trust of the coaching staff.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I don't get the griping about JTA - he's on a 10 day contract. Sasha is on a 3 year contract. Clearly we're evaluating JTA right now.

We're evaluating a lot of things in preparation for what many are hoping/anticipating to be a major trade. Among all the dozens of possibilities is they are keeping Sasha hidden so others don't demand him in any trade packages.

My complaint, is that Edwards is a longer better wing defender than Anderson. Neither is much of an offensive threat and Anderson is definitely not a better offensive player than Edwards. So the question is why keep signing this guy, when they already have a better young defensive wing option, who might develop into something more, if given some time to play

 

[iowamcnabb]

My complaint, is that Edwards is a longer better wing defender than Anderson. Neither is much of an offensive threat and Anderson is definitely not a better offensive player than Edwards. So the question is why keep signing this guy, when they already have a better young defensive wing option, who might develop into something more, if given some time to play

The only thing that makes sense is Brown and staff think JTA is the better defender.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

The only thing that makes sense is Brown and staff think JTA is the better defender.

I guess we'll see if they extend him beyond this 10 day. I see them delaying and potentially wasting an opportunity to develop a young defensive wing

 

[dude12]

I mean it’s not only Brown making decisions, I think Jordy definitely makes recommendations on defensive matchups during the game. You can see both coaches mulling over strategy during games.

I think teams know what Sasha can do. Tape is there. I believe that maybe there is the possibility of a deal and he would be a desirable piece to another team so Sac is icing him and not risking injury.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

My complaint, is that Edwards is a longer better wing defender than Anderson. Neither is much of an offensive threat and Anderson is definitely not a better offensive player than Edwards. So the question is why keep signing this guy, when they already have a better young defensive wing option, who might develop into something more, if given some time to play

Edwards is another piece that we have time to make a decision on. JTA is now on his first of two possible ten-days. It's possible Brown thinks he has something with him and is trying to make the case.

I'm not feeling that a home run trade is needed before the deadline as I am looking for a second golden era not a flash in the pan like we had between 94 and 96. But I seem to be in the minority on that - so I don't get why those with more urgency are opposed to us doing every single piece of due diligence to make sure that is a 3 for 1 type of trade takes place we don't have bodies to fill in the missing spots.

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

Edwards is another piece that we have time to make a decision on. JTA is now on his first of two possible ten-days. It's possible Brown thinks he has something with him and is trying to make the case.

I'm not feeling that a home run trade is needed before the deadline as I am looking for a second golden era not a flash in the pan like we had between 94 and 96. But I seem to be in the minority on that - so I don't get why those with more urgency are opposed to us doing every single piece of due diligence to make sure that is a 3 for 1 type of trade takes place we don't have bodies to fill in the missing spots.

I am all for making a trade this year if is makes very good sense for us... but not at the cost of risking any long term success, and not for the purpose of trying to win it "this year". But I would trust Monte to make that decision.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I am all for making a trade this year if is makes very good sense for us... but not at the cost of risking any long term success, and not for the purpose of trying to win it "this year". But I would trust Monte to make that decision.

I'm not opposed to something that makes sense but I don't like "<star> wants out of bad situation" or "team sucks and will be fire saling, <star> is available" and how we are always linked. Have any of these deals worked well for the acquiring team recently? KD has likely LeGM'd the Suns out of their window and Beal hasn't helped any, Dallas does not appear better off with Kyrie, the Ringer and others have been moving Spida out of Cleveland all season, Minnesota is having success this year after looking terrible most of last year - but last year Ainge was hailed as the clear winner of that deal so I think it is ring or bust for Minny.

The Domas deal and early returns on OG are saying possible win-win trades but almost all of the deals speculated right now feel far riskier.

It feels like a few less dramatic moves could rebalance the roster while still giving us future flexibility.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

I'm not opposed to something that makes sense but I don't like "<star> wants out of bad situation" or "team sucks and will be fire saling, <star> is available" and how we are always linked. Have any of these deals worked well for the acquiring team recently? KD has likely LeGM'd the Suns out of their window and Beal hasn't helped any, Dallas does not appear better off with Kyrie, the Ringer and others have been moving Spida out of Cleveland all season, Minnesota is having success this year after looking terrible most of last year - but last year Ainge was hailed as the clear winner of that deal so I think it is ring or bust for Minny.

The Domas deal and early returns on OG are saying possible win-win trades but almost all of the deals speculated right now feel far riskier.

It feels like a few less dramatic moves could rebalance the roster while still giving us future flexibility.

The "always linked" thing is likely a method by McNair to keep the Kings in mind and communication open in general. Probably a good idea

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

I'm not opposed to something that makes sense but I don't like "<star> wants out of bad situation" or "team sucks and will be fire saling, <star> is available" and how we are always linked. Have any of these deals worked well for the acquiring team recently? KD has likely LeGM'd the Suns out of their window and Beal hasn't helped any, Dallas does not appear better off with Kyrie, the Ringer and others have been moving Spida out of Cleveland all season, Minnesota is having success this year after looking terrible most of last year - but last year Ainge was hailed as the clear winner of that deal so I think it is ring or bust for Minny.

The Domas deal and early returns on OG are saying possible win-win trades but almost all of the deals speculated right now feel far riskier.

It feels like a few less dramatic moves could rebalance the roster while still giving us future flexibility.

I agree with the last two sentences especially. This is what I would trust Monte to do. Moving a lot of assets for a disgruntled aging star is not something I see Monte doing... at all. More like a strategic, high value move for a key piece. After all, what we've learned in these first 35 ish games is that we have our big three. We need complimentary pieces. This was important to validate this first third of the season.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

The "always linked" thing is likely a method by McNair to keep the Kings in mind and communication open in general. Probably a good idea

Not sure if it is McNair most of the leaks are coming from other teams or the media because they like to portray us as a desperate market.

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I agree with the last two sentence especially. This is what I would trust Monte to do. Moving a lot of assets for a disgruntled aging star is not something I see Monte doing... at all. More like a strategic, high value move for a key piece. After all, what we've learned in these first 35 ish games is that we have our big three. We need complimentary pieces. This was important to validate this first third of the season.

Yeah there's a lot more of "who should stay here" and "who can we definitely move on from" happening right now. Especially when Brown himself said coming into the season that we wanted to right the defense even if short term it meant we took a dip from last year's historic offense.

We laid the foundation of something special last year. Right now we are leveling out the cracks. In a big build it is probably the least exciting part of the project. The 99-00 season was also a small step that felt like a step back from the excitement of the 99 strike season but really laid the foundation for the whole golden era. This year we are also marginally below 3 in the standings right now, but we actually have a better record than we did at the same point in the schedule. So we're actually outpacing that metric.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

Not sure if it is McNair most of the leaks are coming from other teams or the media because they like to portray us as a desperate market.

Really? How do we know that most of the leaks over the past few seasons have come from other teams?

 

[Vinny Basketballerino]

Yeah there's a lot more of "who should stay here" and "who can we definitely move on from" happening right now. Especially when Brown himself said coming into the season that we wanted to right the defense even if short term it meant we took a dip from last year's historic offense.

We laid the foundation of something special last year. Right now we are leveling out the cracks. In a big build it is probably the least exciting part of the project. The 99-00 season was also a small step that felt like a step back from the excitement of the 99 strike season but really laid the foundation for the whole golden era. This year we are also marginally below 3 in the standings right now, but we actually have a better record than we did at the same point in the schedule. So we're actually outpacing that metric.

Yup. And this Bibby trade was a levelling of the cracks. We might need something similar.

 

[The_Jamal]

My complaint, is that Edwards is a longer better wing defender than Anderson. Neither is much of an offensive threat and Anderson is definitely not a better offensive player than Edwards. So the question is why keep signing this guy, when they already have a better young defensive wing option, who might develop into something more, if given some time to play

It's a trust thing. JTA played with the Warriors while Brown was there. We've seen him try to play Javale. Kz Okpala was on the national team. It's pretty common that all these vet coaches have a core group they trust and if you're outside that circle, you have to force your way in. Sort of like how Keegan did his rookie year. How Keon is a bit this year

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Really? How do we know that most of the leaks over the past few seasons have come from other teams?

I would venture a guess that "Kings trying to trade Barnes, Huerter and Mitchell" did not come from Monte because in the event all are not moved it spoils the relationship with those players.

Also the utter shock that the Haliburton deal caused would lend itself to Monte keeping things tight. A lot of the Kings new-media (twitters, bloggers, youtubers) like to complain that Monte doesn't give them anything like it is his job to feed them content.

Most people also haven't done well projecting his draft board.

From my view he's got leaks on lock. I could be wrong?

 

[pdxKingsFan]

Yup. And this Bibby trade was a levelling of the cracks. We might need something similar.

Bibby trade was a big move 3 years in.

The first few offseasons involved a lot of guys many may forget were Kings.

 

[ShastaKingsFan]

It's a trust thing. JTA played with the Warriors while Brown was there. We've seen him try to play Javale. Kz Okpala was on the national team. It's pretty common that all these vet coaches have a core group they trust and if you're outside that circle, you have to force your way in. Sort of like how Keegan did his rookie year. How Keon is a bit this year

Yeah, I realize why he does this. Just don't agree with it and hope he can get it out of his system by season 3

 

[kingsboi]

Every player on the Kings gets an assigned development coach. The team needs to bring in a track specialist to help Vezenkov learn how to run better. If sprinters can do it, improving year upon year, so can he. Vezenkov tends to run on his toes, which gives him an awkward gait and slows him down.

an exercise physiologist or a strength and conditioning coach can teach him the biomechanics of proper running, running on toes is a good way to put more strain on your knees

 

[Livinthedream]

Ironically, sprinters run on their toes.

I'm glad we brought Sasha over, but we probably shouldn't have to figure out how to develop a Euroleague MVP. All he really has to do is knock down open 3s at a decent clip higher than the league average percentage. Be great at something so that Brown can exploit it.

With that said, I think Sasha will get more opportunities and he'll be fine once those wide open 3s become automatic.

 

[ick300]

He started good , played in my eyes stable defence , messed up one rebound and missed an open look for the 3pt , which was in and out , will go in at least 7 out of 10 times ..
Was it that bad he did not deserve to at least start the 4th quarter as well ???
That is a completly honest question guys , i am traying to evaluate Vezenkov honestly , which is very hard when you are wearing the pink glasses as me, so i would like to hear you opinion as well ...

 

[pdxKingsFan]

He started good , played in my eyes stable defence , messed up one rebound and missed an open look for the 3pt , which was in and out , will go in at least 7 out of 10 times ..
Was it that bad he did not deserve to at least start the 4th quarter as well ???
That is a completly honest question guys , i am traying to evaluate Vezenkov honestly , which is very hard when you are wearing the pink glasses as me, so i would like to hear you opinion as well ...

I was surprised he didn't come back in but Brown got ejected and the team just ignited to erase that 10 point and I think you had to ride that.

Shame about the FTs.

I think he's about to get some more time if Keegs is out for a bit.