Worst case scenario is Drummond.... Right ?

[Bricklayer]

SHC tweeting that Drummond is coming in for a workout on Thursday.

That one I would pay to see. If he indeed shows he can hit a 15 footer and take guys off the dribble as he says, and as the high school stuff seems to indicate, it would go a long way for him with our front office.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

That one I would pay to see. If he indeed shows he can hit a 15 footer and take guys off the dribble as he says, and as the high school stuff seems to indicate, it would go a long way for him with our front office.

According to Amick it's a solo workout, so maybe he can take a chair off the dribble.

 

[ParniValjak]

According to Amick it's a solo workout, so maybe he can take a chair off the dribble.

Or an assistant coach!

I am a little bit sceptical that Drummond is not working out against other teams. Maybe we want to get an individual workout and then bring him back again for another look against other players in a group workout.

Scott Howard Cooper does not believe that we will draft Drummond and sees him slipping all the way down to Detroit @ 9. Apparently too much of a risk for us to consider @ 5.

This has got me thinking, if we are not that keen on Drummond (and I am not going to question GP on this as his draft history speaks for itself), and Drummond is liked by teams below us, could we see the Kings trade down, cut a bad contract (eg Salmons) and pick Henson at a lower pick?!

Seems to be the financially driven decision that Maloofs would want and while Henson's potential is not high, provided that he can put on 20-30 lbs over the next 3 years, he could be a nice fit next to Cousins for years to come. Would make sense and allow us to re-sign JT AND go after a SF in the free agency because we would need to get to the minimum again (next season at 85% of the cap). We have long liked Batum and I could see us doing something like this to free up enough money to go after Batum whose agent has said he will sign with the first good offer he gets and not wait for Portalnd to sort other things out and offer him a contract.

 

[Bricklayer]

I am a little bit sceptical that Drummond is not working out against other teams.

To the contrary, he was calling out Anthony Davis for 1 on 1 workouts. I remember Reke doing the same thing a couple of years back. Didn't know much about him at the time, thoguht it sounded arrgoant. As it turned out it was a stroke of genius as obviously no PG was going to be able to guard him 1 on 1.

 

[Dime Dropper]

I believe Cousins had a solo workout for us a couple years ago. Could be wrong, but I think he worked out alone first, and then they brought him back for a group workout. Could have happened the other way around, though! I'm sure if Drummond impresses they will bring him back for a second look. Would be very interesting to see how he competes against other bigs.

 

[Gilles]

I think Cousins will be in the gym for sure. After all this could be his frontcourt partner for the next 15 years. They should go at each other.

 

[Bricklayer]

I think Cousins will be in the gym for sure. After all this could be his frontcourt partner for the next 15 years. They should go at each other.

Think somebody else mentioned you're not allowed to do that or some such.

 

[Gilles]

Appoint him assistant coach for the day.

 

[Boogie-havoc]

I still say we need to stay as far away as possible from this kid. Scared the living crap out of me everytime I watched him play this year.

 

[SacTownKid]

That numbers actually is very jaw-dropping to me - that is a big vert for a guy carrying 280 pounds. I tend to look at the no-step vert for big guys because how often do they get a running start for blocks or rebounds? Drummond's no-step is 31.5" - no one weighting 270+ has ever registered a no-step above 30". Shaq might have been able to do that but he didn't have a no-step vert (his max vert was 36"). Dwight Howard's no-step was 30.5" (he was 240 pounds). Cousins's no-step was 23.5" on a 290 pound body. So Drummond's vert is pretty sick to me. Whatever some of us think about his bball skill or work ethic, the dude is a freak of nature.

Yeah, good standing vert. Standing vert > max vert.

 

[Mass]

Since I believe Beal will be picked before us, it means that we will have a shot at MKG, Barnes or Robinson. Even if we don't like Drummond, I absolutely don't want to trade down in this draft. Too risky, I don't want to trade down and see that MKG was available at 5. Keep our pick, and get one of those 3 guys.

 

[ParniValjak]

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that Petrie will not pick Drummond even if available. He will likely pick someone that people will mostly be disappointed in only for the pick to become a good player for us.

 

[Tetsujin]

The more I think about it, the more I am convinced that Petrie will not pick Drummond even if available. He will likely pick someone that people will mostly be disappointed in only for the pick to become a good player for us.

You never know. He went with Cuz even though we were all convinced he would go for Monroe (then again, we weren't counting on Cuz falling to us).

 

[ParniValjak]

You never know. He went with Cuz even though we were all convinced he would go for Monroe (then again, we weren't counting on Cuz falling to us).

The difference is that Cousins was always considered to be highly skilled, a super star in the making with a passion and hunger for the game. The only thing standing between him and the stardom are perceived personality issued. Cousins was a very productive player at Kentucky as well.

Drummond is a different case. He is all potential. He hasn't produced at college as expected and his passion and hunger for the game is questioned. He has the body, length and athletic ability but he has not put it together and he has questionable drive.

Those are pretty big question marks. You can have all the talent in the world but if you don't have the desire to improve and love for the game, you will never get there. Cousins was always going to pan out, it was just a question of whether you have a Derrick Coleman/Ron Artest type personality or Kevin Garnett type personality.

Talent, desire and production was never an issue with Cousins. With Drummond, talent is not in question but everything else is.

Its a risky pick. The one that I am willing to take but I am not convinced that Petrie will. With the purse strings well and truly tightly dictated by Maloofs, and organisations desire to get as much money as they can (won't spend but want a good revenue), we will be looking for a guy that can come in and have an impact straight away. Either that or trade down to shed a bad contract or 2 and free up cap space, re-sign JT, make a play for a free agent that fits a need and draft a kid that fits the team and not necessarily the most talented.

Just a hunch on my part but to me Drummond is not a Petrie type pick. Petrie is successful in draft because he always goes for players that have been bery productive at college level. The risk factor is pretty low but the ceiling is not very high either, unless of course he has top 5 lottery pick.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

How good was favors coming out of college? Wasnt there a knock on him that he didnt produce well out of georgia tech? Drummonds my pick if hes available. Theres just too much upside not to take th risk. If he pans out, we'd have a fearsome front court causing all kinds of teouble for opposing teams.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I'm cool with trading down for Terrence Jones or Meyers Leonard, preferably Jones.

 

[Uncia03]

I believe Cousins had a solo workout for us a couple years ago. Could be wrong, but I think he worked out alone first, and then they brought him back for a group workout. Could have happened the other way around, though! I'm sure if Drummond impresses they will bring him back for a second look. Would be very interesting to see how he competes against other bigs.

I do remember that New Jersey had a work-out where it was Favors vs. Cousins.
From all accounts Cousins ended up winning that workout, but New Jersey went with Favors since they already had a center in Brook Lopez and Favors wasn't seen as being as big of a risk.

I was worried that they'd end up taking Cousins over Favors since he outplayed him in the workout, but fortunately the other factors played heavily enough to allow them to pass on Cousins.

I don't know if we were in attendance during that New Jersey work-out, but I wouldn't be surprised if we were there.

 

[Hallama]

I'm cool with trading down for Terrence Jones or Meyers Leonard, preferably Jones.

I'm ok with choosing between MKG, Beal, Robinson, or Barnes @5. Beal being the biggest problem to deal with roster issues. If it's Robinson, Barnes, or MKG, I'm taking one of them and being very happy with it.

Actually, if Beal is left, I might take a risk on Drummond at that point.

 

[Vlade4GM]

I'm ok with choosing between MKG, Beal, Robinson, or Barnes @5. Beal being the biggest problem to deal with roster issues. If it's Robinson, Barnes, or MKG, I'm taking one of them and being very happy with it.

Actually, if Beal is left, I might take a risk on Drummond at that point.

I'm more Robinson, Beal, then Gilchrist. I'm more okay with Drummond than Barnes, but that's not saying much because I wouldn't touch Barnes even with a late lotto pick.

You know, everyone is saying Beal creates roster issues, but Gilchrist pretty much assures us that we'll have two garbage shooters in our lineup with him and Evans.

 

[Bricklayer]

I'm more Robinson, Beal, then Gilchrist. I'm more okay with Drummond than Barnes, but that's not saying much because I wouldn't touch Barnes even with a late lotto pick.

You know, everyone is saying Beal creates roster issues, but Gilchrist pretty much assures us that we'll have two garbage shooters in our lineup with him and Evans.

More to life than shooting my friend.

 

[Kingster]

How good was favors coming out of college? Wasnt there a knock on him that he didnt produce well out of georgia tech? Drummonds my pick if hes available. Theres just too much upside not to take th risk. If he pans out, we'd have a fearsome front court causing all kinds of teouble for opposing teams.

Favors had a reputation for great work ethic and character. His production at GA was diminished a lot by the very poor guards he played with (and also by his undeveloped skills).

 

[ElRey]

I'm more Robinson, Beal, then Gilchrist. I'm more okay with Drummond than Barnes, but that's not saying much because I wouldn't touch Barnes even with a late lotto pick.

You know, everyone is saying Beal creates roster issues, but Gilchrist pretty much assures us that we'll have two garbage shooters in our lineup with him and Evans.

With MKG, you will get a lock down defender and rebounder who you can stick on the other team's best backcourt player, whether its their PG, SG, or SF. yes, he can guard PGs.

 

[Kingster]

I'm more Robinson, Beal, then Gilchrist. I'm more okay with Drummond than Barnes, but that's not saying much because I wouldn't touch Barnes even with a late lotto pick.

You know, everyone is saying Beal creates roster issues, but Gilchrist pretty much assures us that we'll have two garbage shooters in our lineup with him and Evans.

So with Robinson you have a guy that could conceivably be your #1 pf over time, but probably not next year.

With MKG you have a 3 who is not the best outside shooter and who is not compatible with Tyreke. I just don't see two shooters of their ilk in the lineup when Petrie has said that outside shooting is something he wants to improve in this lineup and a casual observer can see outside shooting is needed.

With Beale you have a 2 who is an outside shooter who takes Tyreke's position (imo).

If you take MKG or Beale, then I think there's a high probability of a trade; the trade would involve either MKG or Beale or Tyreke.

The more I think about it, if Robinson and MKG were both available, I'd take Robinson. There probably isn't a lot to choose in ability between the two.

 

[Vlade4GM]

More to life than shooting my friend.

Two core spots on the team (two of the perimeter positions) would be locked up to players that are probably never going to learn how to shoot adequately because their mechanics are awful. Shooting may not be everything, but no one on that list is clearly better than the other to the point that I'll accept that fate. I like Gilchrist, but I think he's getting extremely overrated, as is this whole draft class.

If you want to build around Cousins, surrounding him with two perimeter players that can't spread the floor and create space down low is a horrible idea. So unless you want to trade one of them (and I've never been that attached to the idea of building around Evans) I'd take Beal over Gilchrist.

 

[funkykingston]

If I had to fill the SF position with someone from this draft I think it would be Jeff Taylor. Reason being, he's an ideal fit and more importantly I think he's undervalued and could be acquired pretty easily leaving the 5th pick to upgrade the frontcourt with a rim protector.

In fact, if Petrie likes Drummond enough to gamble on him I hope the Kings make a play for a pick (uncharacteristic of Petrie, I know) to grab Taylor in the late teens or early 20's. Perhaps use Jimmer as bait if he's still got enough cache to bring back a first rounder.

I've wanted the Kings to nab a Bruce Bowen type player. One that could be tenacious on defense and hit open shots while not demanding the ball. Taylor's continued improvement in his long range shooting and his impressive defense (as good or better than MKG in my opinion) makes me think he could be that guy.

He and Drummond would be a nice haul IMO. The only downside is that I don't see Drummond being a true contributor for a few years which this team doesn't need.

 

[Boogie-havoc]

MKG positives are the off the court, work ethic, leadership and winner personality he brings, all while being a willing Defensive catalyst - things we absolutely lack in a roster like ours.

If he wasn't an exceptional person in those aspects his draft stock to me, would be alot lower - and I think his value to a team like the Kings is higher then for others due to that.

 

[Telemachus]

How good was favors coming out of college? Wasnt there a knock on him that he didnt produce well out of georgia tech? Drummonds my pick if hes available. Theres just too much upside not to take th risk. If he pans out, we'd have a fearsome front court causing all kinds of teouble for opposing teams.

The problem with Favors coming out of college had nothing to do with his passion for the game or a lack of motor. He was playing in a system at Georgia Tech that was dominated by guard play, and their guards were average at best (and didn't like to pass). While there were some problems with the system at UCONN, Drummond was still given plenty of opportunities to demonstrate his abilities and failed to do so.

 

[Telemachus]

I'm cool with trading down for Terrence Jones or Meyers Leonard, preferably Jones.

This kind of a move would work for me too. I really like Jones at Ky, and think he is going to surprise a lot of people when he gets to the NBA. His biggest problem is figuring out whether to play the 3 or the 4, but I think he can be a very good player at either position (so I'm not worried about it).

 

[Bricklayer]

This kind of a move would work for me too. I really like Jones at Ky, and think he is going to surprise a lot of people when he gets to the NBA. His biggest problem is figuring out whether to play the 3 or the 4, but I think he can be a very good player at either position (so I'm not worried about it).

That however almost never happens, and has been the kiss of doom to many a player. You're one, or the other, or you're the dreaded tweener. And that 3/4 tweener is one of the baddies, because the requirements at the two positions are so radically different you are talking about somebody lacking major skills at either spot (normally can't rebound/defend the interior/post play as a PF or can't ballhandle, hit the jumper, stay with quickness, pass as a SF). My relative passivity about Jones is based on ignorance -- I simply did not pay much attention to him in college, and he rarely gave me reason to do so. But I do know the NBA, and he's going to have to figure out what he is or he's headed down a dangerous path with few high level success stories.

 

[Telemachus]

That however almost never happens, and has been the kiss of doom to many a player. You're one, or the other, or you're the dreaded tweener. And that 3/4 tweener is one of the baddies, because the requirements at the two positions are so radically different you are talking about somebody lacking major skills at either spot (normally can't rebound/defend the interior/post play as a PF or can't ballhandle, hit the jumper, stay with quickness, pass as a SF). My relative passivity about Jones is based on ignorance -- I simply did not pay much attention to him in college, and he rarely gave me reason to do so. But I do know the NBA, and he's going to have to figure out what he is or he's headed down a dangerous path with few high level success stories.

Jones played mostly as a 4 this season and was an excellent defender for Ky. However, he played mostly the 3 his freshman year and had no problems 'til teams realized he had almost no right hand when dibbling (something he fixed this season). He had the ball-handling & quickness to play the 3, with a good enough shot as well. He also had the size and strength to play the 4, with even some post moves thrown in.

I do agree that he will have to pick a position at some point, but it doesn't have to be right away (and will likely have something to do with what the team he goes to needs the most). I should point out that KG started out his career playing the 3, but spend most of it at the 4 (and has even played the 5 at times).