[BostonKingzParticipant]

When I really think about it. What is this Sacramento King’s team missing? A GOOD pg? I think Kyrie Irving is the answer, if Sac lands the number 1 draft pick that instantly makes them better because we all know the Kings’ growing need of a floor general. And if they dont land Kyrie they could easily pick up Brandon Knight, and he brings to the table alot of what Irving does. That solves your pg problem.

They would have 3 major building blocks to a dynasty with Evans, Cousins, and either Irving or Knight. All three players in my opinion have oppurtunities to be special. I firmly believe Cousins will be one of the best centers in the league for many years to come, Evans needs to be bumped up to sg because it is clear pg is not his natural position, but he is a good player that rebounds like a small forward, has the court vision of a pg and has got the moves like A.I. and can get to the hole ANY time he wants too. All he needs is a jump shot and he’ll also become a great player.

The Maloof brothers have stated recently that they are willing to spend alot of money on this upcoming free agency period. They need to resign Sammy D and Marcus Thornton, those are top priorities, Sammy D is a good mentor that can help cousins improve his game, and his small attitude problem, and on the court he is a great defender that can lock down nearly anybody in the paint and is a GREAT shotblocker, just ask Amare Stoudemire. Thornton as well, but its obvious why, hes getting alot better in his all around game, when he got to Sac he has been making smart passes and plays, increased his rebounding quite a bit, and has been shooting LIGHTS OUT! Not to sound biased but he is also quite clutch in late game situations.

They need to sign a good small forward in this years period, other than pg, that is a GLARING spot in the kings’ rotation that needs to be cleared up. If they cant sign anybody in free agency, the Kings have good young talent that I think they could trade to pick up an established veteran at the 3 spot.

With all those problems solved and all the kinks worked out, you have a great Sacramento Kings team, although young. I think they could make a playoff push next year.

 

 

[kobyzParticipant]

draft Brandon Knight in the first round

draft  Jon Leuer and Rick Jackson in the second round

sign Wilson Chandler to big long contract

trade Omri Casspi for a future pick

sign Marcus Thornton to extension

sign Samuel Dalembert to reasonable extension

Brandon Knight/Beno Udrih/Pooh Jeter
Tyreke Evans/Marcus Thornton/Jermaine Taylor
Wilson Chandler/Francisco Garcia/Donte Greene
DeMarcus Cousins/Jason Thompson/Jon Leuer
Samuel Dalembert/Rick Jackson/Hassan Whiteside

[TheFactionCoalition.comParticipant]

If the Kings get a PG I don’t think they will have a glaring weakness, I think instead they will be one of those teams that is good at every position, but not good enough. Take the Grizzlies, they don’t really have a glaring weakness, but as well as they are playing I would not consider them a threat to win a championship. I think there are a lot of teams better than them, and they just don’t have that superstar. Randolph is playing really well, but I don’t think he’s a superstar.

If the Kings want to make it deep into the playoffs they will need to bring in an all-star FA or make a trade. If Thornton’s play in Sac is indicitive of what he’ll do next year, I think they should move Evans to the 3. Yes he isn’t as tall as most 3’s, but he is strong, tough, and has long arms. Most SFs these days can hit 3’s, but if you have a strong SG and a PG that can shoot, you have to hope Evans will improve his J enough to be decent. He will also be able to take any 3 in the league off the dribble. Line-up becomes:

Dalembert

Cousins

Evans

Thornton

Rookie PG

They have a pretty complete bench with Beno, Thompson, Casspi, Greene, Garcia, Jackson and Whiteside, so where do you realistically upgrade? This is the problem I think the Grizzlies will have in assessing and upgrading for the future, every piece is good but most can be upgraded. Sac has trouble bringing in FA’s, but they would have to do whatever they can to bring in an all-star SG or C right? You could go for a great SF, and move Evans to SG, but that’s a terrible position for someone that can’t shoot. And are you losing a major piece or two for a nominal upgrade?

I think it’s better for a team that is growing to have a glaring position weakness, because then they have an obvious problem they can go solve. For instance OKC had a glaring weakness at the 5, then they got Perkins. I don’t want to say the problem was solved over night, but it kinda was.   

Kings def have a bright future, but a championship is all the team and the city has in mind after those Webber era teams never won one. Before the Webber era I think the city was somewhat content just being a contender, because we hadn’t even had that much before, sorta like Memphis right now. After that taste though, a team that consistently makes the playoffs, just isn’t good enough. 

[KayjayParticipant]

You’re the man, that sounds like a plan that would make my Kings raise some noise in the West. And as much as I love Omri Casspi, they drafted him he isn’t going to work out. We need immediate production. Which is why I’d agree with trading him. Either way, I’m loving the play offs, but can’t wait to see what we do in the offeseason.

Btw: Faction, the Detroit pistons won a championship with out a single superstar.

[HitsterParticipant]

Beno Udrih is a good PG but probably better coming from the bench as an impact player and isn’t really a pass first PG which the team needs, so logically they try to get Kyrie Irving in the draft which they will probably need a top 2 pick to do so. If they stay where they are at number 4 then Brandon Knight could be a good option and Udrih will probably still be around to let the younger PG develop.

As regards Cousins, the decision where he plays long term may well affect what they look to do with Sam Dalambert, for if Cousins is seen as the long term 5 then looking to tie up Big Sam to a long term deal would seem strange and Sam is likely to get MLE offers from a few contenders anyway. If Cousins is considered a PF for the next 3 years at least then look to resign Big Sam for a competitive amount, if not then maybe look to do an S and T to move him to a contender and get a sweetner back in return.

If the Kings did land a lottery pick then they would have to look at Derrick Williams as an option although Irving is the main one, if they happened to get 3rd pick then they could see where Knight’s draft stock was and maybe trade down a place or two to get him.

Also I’d look at Jan Vesley who could be a lockdown SF thus giving them a perimeter defender and if Dalambert remains then great size at 3 to 5. If they are unlucky with the lottery then maybe Motiejunas as a finesse big man alongside Cousins could be considered.

FA’s will be hard to attract at the moment given their current lack of success and uncertainty about their location but with one good draft pick, the young core could become very attractive to good FA’s in the next year or so and one way or another the team will probably get to a new arena be it in Sacramento or if they move to Anaheim.

With so much cap space also Geoff Petrie could take on a few contracts and stockpile draft picks particularly with the loaded 2012 draft to consider.

[TheFactionCoalition.comParticipant]

KayJay- I didn’t say it hasn’t been done in the past or can’t be done in the future, but in this era? I don’t see that happening.

[CalipariParticipant]

I mentioned the possibility of Paul Pierce getting traded here:

http://www.nbadraft.net/forum/ainge-has-hots-green#comment-347138

Why not to the Kings? They send Thompson, a future pick (2013?), and a contract for Pierce. That fills their 3 hole, they get fortunate to land Irving in the draft, and they look like this:

Dalembert/Whiteside

Cousins/ Draft Pick or free agent signing to mentor Cousins

Pierce/Casspi/Greene

Evans/Thornton/Garcia

Irving/Udrih

Very well could be a playoff team in 2011-12, and they are set for the future as well, with nowhere to go but up.

 

[BothTeamsPlayedHardParticipant]

"The Maloof brothers have stated recently that they are willing to spend alot of money on this upcoming free agency period."

They only have $30 million committed, which assuming a similar CBA means they’ll have to spend $13 million just to get to the salary floor.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

I don’t know if I would consider Cousins attitude problem  "small", seems like he’s got a lot of growing up to do.

[festar35Participant]

 Do you think Thornton will be willing to go back onto the bench and play behind Evans?

[HitsterParticipant]

"The Maloof brothers have stated recently that they are willing to spend alot of money on this upcoming free agency period."

They only have $30 million committed, which assuming a similar CBA means they’ll have to spend $13 million just to get to the salary floor.

As Both Teams rightly states above the Kings need to spend up to the salary floor but they could do that my taking on a expiring deal or two as having to spend that much on FA’s who would not help the team improve would be pointless. But they can surely add a decent MLE FA or two to provide a veteran presence to a young team.

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