We continue our Season Review series, in which we look back at how the season went for each Sacramento Kings player. Today we look at Keon Ellis.
Keon Ellis had a storybook season, going from a two-way contract to a postseason starter for the Sacramento Kings. Crazier still is that despite a few solid stretches in sporadic opportunities throughout the year, nobody really saw this coming. Sure, Ellis had good minutes off the bench, like the 15 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist in 14.5 minutes against the Houston Rockets. Ellis entered the game as the Kings were badly losing their second straight game against the Rockets, and made enough of a positive impression to earn him rotational minutes for the next six games. But Ellis failed to hold onto that spot in the rotation, and spent most of the season being juggled in and out of lineups. And in Mike Brown’s defense, Ellis wasn’t lighting the world on fire in some of those early opportunities.
Fast forward to March, when the Kings lost both Kevin Huerter and Malik Monk to injuries. Ellis found himself starting for the Kings and completely transforming the team. Ellis’ swarming defense was a revelation, and was a key factor in the team’s sudden defensive improvement. In February the Kings had a defensive rating of 118.0, and a net rating of 5.2. Ellis started playing more significant minutes on March 1st, and took over as starter for the injured Kevin Huerter on March 20th. The Kings finished March with a defensive rating of 110.8 and a net rating of 5.2. April saw those numbers continue to improve, with a defensive rating of 106.7 and a net rating of 6.6.
Ellis finishes the season with 21 games started. In his games as a starter, Ellis averaged 8.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.6 blocks. And while defense is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Ellis, it’s equally impressive how he contributed on offense. Ellis shot 41.7% from three for the season, but even as Ellis became a starter and his attempts increased, his efficiency didn’t wane. As a starter Ellis shot 40.4% from 3 on 4.5 attempts per game. Ellis is a bona fide 3-and-D player, the exact type of player every team tries to find.
Going into next season Ellis is going to be one of the best value contracts in the NBA, earning $2.1 million. The Kings will have a club option the following season as well.
Ellis was one of the great surprises and bright spots of this Kings season. I can’t wait to see what he does next.
All hail our Gangly Overlord!
The kid has got it. Once he stops passing up shots, things are going to get better and better.
KCP 2.0?
Really looking forward to the work he puts in this summer and comes into next year guns a blazing. The starting SG spot is his to lose at this point.
If Keon starts and the Kings can find another solid defensive wing to come off the bench to play with Huerter, and hopefully Monk, this team would look a lot better.
Paying Huerter, Monk and possibly Barnes to come off the bench isn’t an appropriate use of the salary cap, IMO. I really don’t see a world where the Kings keep both Monk and Huerter.
My gut says Huerter sticks around until after the Monk situation is settled. If Monk walks, Huerter stays for scoring off the bench.
I was thinking Barnes would be the one to go. Huerter was a major cog of the offense during his 1st season with the Kings, and was just off last season, so I could see them trying to regain that magic.
I don’t think all 3 will be on the roster next season. If they are, then something probably went wrong.
Huerter isn’t going anywhere because his value is very low, and he’s coming off an injury. Unless there’s a GM stanning for him, Huerter will be on the roster opening night. He may not be around next March, but his value must be rebuilt, and if he comes back strong, there’s no reason to trade him, save for a deal that brings back a player who can shore things up where the roster is thin.
Ideally, you can acquire a player better Barnes, a bigger power forward, a floor-spreader, ideally. My hope is that Barnes late-season aggression and effectiveness is a point of emphasis over the summer, and that if he stays, that’s the Barnes we see on a consistent basis. I’m not mad if Barnes is still here, or even the starter, but we’ll see what happens.
If I was betting, I’d say that Monk is gone. There will be offers, presumably over four years, and to stay in Sacramento could cost him $20-30 million over its lifespan. I hope he stays, but that’s a lot of zazz, zing, kapowza. Call it what you want, in any language it spells mazuma in the bank.
For the record, I never said “zork.”
I’m not sure Huerter’s trade value is much lower than it has been. His numbers were down this year but still very much in line with his production in Atlanta. He’ll be healthy by the start of next season and it’s on an affordable contract.
I agree. He’s a shooter. People want shooting. .
Heurter had better be gone. If Monte is intimating/saying he’s ready to get something done and that he believes they have assets- Heurter will be traded.
Monte needs to move and trade pretty much Any and all he can. No hanging onto shit he thought was good for this team.
And how low are you willing to sell to get rid of a player who has a career of being an above-average three-point shooter?
Monte ain’t gonna give Huerter away just to make short-term thinkers happy.
Couldn’t the Kings dump Huerter to a team like Philly, Detroit, or Utah who all will have huge amounts of cap space this summer? We could do what ATL did with Utah last year via the John Collins trade where the Hawks basically gave Collins away plus a 2nd round pick. If we did that then I believe we’d then have enough cap space to resign Monk to a deal worth his current value right? Then either package Barnes, Davion, and the 13th pick to get a new starting PF or use the pick to draft a PF like Tidjane Salaun (if he’s still there at 13).
Tidjane Salaun is my draft day crush for this Kings team. He’s the type of player they need at the position they need.
He could truly be a steal, but he looks to be two years from being in an NBA rotation. He may well be worth the delayed gratification, but his floor is about six miles below Earth’s surface.
His value isn’t low. That’s just perceived by you. His “value” is steady. He’s a shooter, a proven one. The nba is not confused about who Huerter is. Many teams could use a Huerter including the kings. The problem for the kings is they now have a better option to Huerter in Ellis for less money and a much bigger need in other areas.
one of Barnes or Huerter needs to go in order to keep monk and hopefully acquire a starter level PF or SF. In my opinion Barnes would be better than Huerter off the bench but I could be wrong. One of them needs to move into a 6man role and light it up!
I see Huerter as a better trade chip than Barnes after comparing contracts and age. IMO Huerter should be a trade chip along with say Lyles and Mitchell tyo find a good player to start. Barnes if not then coming off the bench would help the lackluster bench a lot.
I think they’ve both got pretty good value, Barnes as depth for a team expecting to get to the playoffs, and Huerter for a situation like that, or any team that wants to add a shooter. A rebuilding team might have interest there.
Hell, Barnes was 38% from three this season, making him not Judge Smails.
I’m on the same page with you.
I still feel Barnes, Huerter, and even Duarte and Mitchell, aren’t going anywhere until the Monk situation is resolved. The only exception may be one or two of those guys attached to the #13 in a trade.
I agree that there is very little chance that Huerter, Monk (on a new deal), and Duarte all come to camp. That is just so much redundancy and salary with the emergence of Ellis.
My butt-pulled guess: Barnes, Huerter, #13 for Kuzma and Kispert. Monte then pays to keep Monk.
Ah, jeez, not Kispert. He’s basically a smaller, slower version of Keegan Murray, except that he can’t defend against mild criticism, let alone NBA players.
I’d just assume let Vezenko have those minutes, he’s shown improvement on the defensive end. No one will ever confuse him with Herb Jones, but he works at it.
It’s not ideal but you keep them all and bring them off the bench if needed until you can trade one of them. Improving your bench is never a bad thing
what do you think about Ryan Dunn as a possibility at #13? it’s a weak draft class overall. if his shot never improves, he’s still a defender that can be played in certain situations.
I like Ryan Dunn but I think his shot is too bad for a lottery pick. Move into the late first round or early second to grab him. His shot is measurably worse than KZ Okpala’s.
Keon doesn’t pass up shots. IMHO.
He was a joy to watch this season. Once he becomes more comfortable in the system and gets more reps with the starters, I think he blossoms even more.
Lookin forward to seeing what more Keon Ellis can bring. Likeable guy, and I have no doubt he will put in the work this offseason to come into next in even better shape.
Not every player can be the star that a system revolves around. Some players gotta be a good cog in the machine. Ellis isn’t a star, but man is he about as perfect of a 5th starter you can ask for. Defensive playmaker, moves the ball around and can score if you shy towards someone else. This also plugged up the defensive weak spot we had on the perimeter, which eases the burden on Domas a ton.
And Fox and Murray.
Great complimentary player. Has obvious limitations in his ability to create, but with guys like Monk and Fox, he doesn’t need to do that. He needs to play defense and sand in the corner to receive kick outs and hit open shots. He did enough to keep himself on the floor. I’d probably keep him in the starting lineup and move K-von to backup, although I could see the argument for either.
Maybe he’ll be Doug Christie 2.0 going forward, with perhaps a higher ceiling than Doug when it comes to the 3 aspect of being our 3 and D guy. I could live with that!
I see him being somewhere betwixt DC and KCP. Not as good as a defender as DC and not as good of a shooter as KCP but just somewhere in between which is a really good 3 and D to have, especially on his contract.
DC was also a good facilitator … not sure that is in the cards for KE.
Keon was about 3:1 assist to turnover this season, so I think he’s going to capitalize on those opportunities.
a pleasant surprise on small sample size. Teams with solid scoring in 4 slots can afford a defensive first guy, like Bown on old Spurs, Dort on OKC. Not sure if Kings have the other 4.
His value seems to be more as a starter actually. Numbers not bad but inconsistent and no one was seriously guarding him.
Needs more diversity in game and like Keegan will not take a layup.
But… a serious keeper.
If Kings had an established scorer at the 3 or 4, he could start and be very valuable. I know this is an unconventional take but I think Kings need more offense- a guy who can get his shot. Too often they relied on Fox (or Monk) to get a shot but need more of that. The rest can shoot sometimes but only with help. This increases Keon’s value.
and I do believe as well with the convention thinking that Kings need more length, more 3/D, and more rim protection. Lots of needs.
I noticed a lack of scoring from the “dunkers spot”- no cutters and a lack of scoring on lobs (DS can’t jump)
Can Monte pry a big name away for the Kings? Can C. Jones develop into a creator on offense? Can Keegan make more progress?
Can the Kings get a better bench? Monk was great, Davion had flashes but JaVale, Duarte, Sasha, Edwards were all lacking.
Suns, duds, LAC and LAL all have issues- will they move off of salaries?
Draft- poor unless get lucky or use in trade.
Prediction: despite being a stupid team, Minnesota will win it all. and Micah Nori- ex-King- is the coach !
You’re starting to sound me. I like. Always appreciate your comments. I’m sorry Dalton will be gone before #13.
Thats funny how fans are like “if Monk this, if Monk that…” presuming a possible return to the team. Dude is gonzo like garbonzo, gonzo garbonzono beans, a prerequsite to perfect hummus.
Excuse my while I LOL, holding out hope against hope Monk resigns, similar to how I LOL with Buddy Yield waiting 7 years to participate in the post-season then losing his minutes to Cam Payne. LOL.
Buddy Yield has scored 2 points ( a wide open 5 foot bank shot) on 1-7 FGs in 29 minutes in the extremely compelling series vs Knicks, with a minus 18 plus minus. LOL.
I kind of would like to see Buddy get a chance and perform. Only out of pity.
Buddy Yield has been reduced to a cheerleader, the bravado and arrogance squelched, the reality of his impotence paramount. Buddy Yield was largely defended on this forum while I relentelessly mocked him. LOL. I almost always have the last laugh.
Now onto the next footnote in Kings history:
Malik is gone. We don’t want him and he wants the money. He loves us, but he doesn’t love us more than the almighty dollar. He doesn’t love us like bling, Gucci and Versace. And he loves the idea of starting more than SAC, after getting jilted for 6MOY, a role we will NOT promise to him prospectively.
WHY WOULD WE RESIGN MALIK WHEN WE CAN JUST DRAFT DALTON KNECHT, the more talented scorer, far cheaper, the white Curry?
Dalton Knecht is the FUTURE. Malik is yesterdays news.
McGenius knows what to do!
Even if Dalton goes Top 12, we are well advised to peddle the pick to a team who wants a prospect of this caliber of player, a possible game changer, that is, what they deem to be equal or superior value. The 13th pick in a weak draft only gets 9M over their first two seasons guaranteed, a great flyer for a rebuilding team or ANY team that holds their own evaluation prowess in high regard.
The underachievement and stunning disappointment among the first round participants is rampant. Moves will be made, hasty and desperate like when the Suns paid a ridiculous sum for KD, the fake superstar after they got trounced by the Mavs at home in Game 7.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, like paying Malik, who cant guard and shot 30% from threes for half of a season, 100M dollars.
Let someone else be desperate.
Their desperation is our gain.
McGenius strikes again!
The aforementioned LOL is not unlike the LOL of Suns and Pelicans going 0-8 in their playoffs, and LAL going a combined 1-12. I understand the playoffs are about matchups and you cannot draw direct inference from one matchup to another but if hypothetical performance vs OKC was anywhere near comprable we are better off with the 13th pick.
For us to have beat OKC, 8 vs 1 seed, Keon and Keegan would have to combine to average like 35 PPG, since Chet would have taken away a lot of Domas gets done at the rim, and OKC has multiple defenders to throw at Fox. I am bullish on both players but I do not think they were capable of this. And unless you think Keegan and Keon could average 35 PPG, or Davion and Lyles could outperform all their recorded history, at best we would be out in 6.
The 13th pick is sweet place to be. There is NO reason why the Wizards would not be insane to jump at an offer of #13 and HB for Kuzma. That’s not a bad deal for us, but we can probably do better, keep or trade.
We should maybe consider Julius Randle on the cheap, since the Knicks are ready to move on, add a star more compatible with Brunson (KAT, Donovan, etc) with their incredible post-season so far, everything our team should aspire to be, a vision for Fox to aspire to be, a city falling in love in heart and mind with a team without Randle, a ball hog with high usage, bad assist to TOV and a bad three point shot.
Julius Randle has one year left at 30M before a player option. He turns 30 in the fall, None of this reason to be generous in any trade proposal. But what is appealing to me about him is the guy is kind of an asshole. We need an asshole. His physicality is also conducive to the relaxed rules from the refs, allowing the physicality. The new rules are made for Julius Randle.
If the price is right, extremely cheap, I am on board with adding Randle, Our guys are nice. Too nice. An asshole would be a welcome addition. The biigest asshole in the NBA is Draymond Green. But his game has deteriorated and even if it hadn’t and there were too much overlap with Domas as a passing hub in the half court, I would not want him anyway. Randle is the next biggest asshole, on the court anyway, and this basis enough to ponder.
Buddy Yield was largely defended?
Is the Casual or the Normie who declares obvious ignorance in an open forum?
I hope you intentionally went with Yield…or maybe you don’t know his name?
Go ahead and engage in revisionist history if you want, idc. In other words, lie.
The popular sentiment and this forum as whole more or less declared the reason Buddy YIELD was underperforming in his final days as a King was because he was being asking to perform outside his comfort zone. In other words, excuses were made for him.
I was called a HATER for proclaiming facts,
The logic was rather twisted and perverse so it is hard for me to regurgitate this twisted and perverse perspective but it basically amounted to “Buddy was asked to do more than what was fair of him, so his performance was excusable”.
There was a lot of “Buddy needs to be with a team where he is allowed just to catch and shoot”. This sort of bullshit. And Buddy needed a more defined and specific role to excel. The failure of the team and his was not his fault.
Then after we disposed of him as salary filler, a blessed moment, the Normies and the Casuals effectively espoused, thank goodness he is gone.
From excuse bearing to good riddance was the collective stance. I am not griping about this by the way. The masses are usually wrong.
Fast forward to today, the masses want Malik back. I don’t. I am right. Again.
What happened to you?
Enjoying your comments today! Keep bringing that fire 🔥
I think he is stealing your tricks?
Honest question, why would you want Randle next to Sabonis? He’s like the C+ version of Sabonis or even Antoine Walker 2.0. He doesn’t play defense, takes way too many ill advised shots, usage is through the roof, and assist to TO% would be worse on the team.
I’d be pretty happy to get Randle, depending on price. He spreads the floor adequately, and had the self-awareness to drop his 3PA by one-third as he is below league-average there. He rebounds like a madman, and isn’t a ball-stopper, averaging over five assists per game. He missed a hunk of games this season, but historically, he’s been pretty durable. When he was drafted, I thought that he’d be to small to be effective at power forward, but he has no quit in him, and can play small-ball center.
Randle has two years left on his deal, the last a player option. He was an all-star this season, and assuming he’s sound physically, he could play within the offense, which keeps the ball moving. Working with Mike Brown and playing with an engaged defense, I think he’d step up his game on that end, as we’ve seen with some of the current roster that aren’t particularly renowned for their defense.
He’d let Keegan move down to the three for most of his minutes, which means Murray is often going to be defending and be defended by smaller players. It could allow for another significant step up in his game.
All is dependent on price, but I think I could talk myself into really liking having Randle on he roster.
I agree with everything you just said there. Well done.
it’s a very solid gamble to take. Acquiring him makes the starting unit better and the bench better.
He does play defense. Would he take too many ill advised shots as the 4th or even 5th option of a Kings starting unit? Maybe. Hopefully not.
this comment is sort of like what would happen if Ailene Voisin mutated with a fly and then contracted rabies.
It needs a few semi-erotic sentences about Peja to be a Voisin product.
I like a significant amount of the stuff you said here. I had not thought about Randle as an option. I have to say, I like it. I don’t believe he is a bad defender as you said. His fit next to Domas is interesting. A change of scenery for him could do wonders. He can get his own shot which not many on this kings team can do. He comes cheap and isn’t a long term investment. It’s a solid gamble to take that could make this team exponentially better for a low cost. Let’s analyze for a moment. To get Randle one of Huerter or Barnes would have to go. I’m my opinion Huerter makes more sense for the knicks. Davion Mitchell is the perfect NY Knicks player. He fits that squad in attitude and defensive intensity. So… Huerter and Davion Mitchell for Randle. Which also makes more sense for the Kings. Randle becomes the starting PF, Barnes moves to the bench becoming the 6th man to replace Monk. In a perfect world Monk is back and starting. Keon is the perfect relief for both Monk and Fox as your back up guard. That kings team is much better than the one we just watched for an entire season. If the Randle experiment fails I think it fails with the kings still being better than this years squad. Is that a true failure? Not really. But if the front office thinks they can do better then Randle is gone after 1 year and they invest that big chunk of free cap space into a high caliber free agent to take his place in the starting lineup the following season. I think the Knicks like that trade and I think it’s a smart trade for the Kings.
in my opinion.
Skip the reality of him being a role player and send him straight to the Hall of Fame.
Keon can follow the same career trajectory as Derrick White, if all goes optimally. who scored like 38 points the other night, outperforming Tatum and Brown, the highest paid player in the league, in a pivotal playoff game.
It is only the Normies and Casuals who want to define a player like Keon and put him in a box based on his undrafted status. It doesn’t matter your origins. It matters your most recent performance in most recent and relevant context.
Saying what Keon can or should be is the equivalent to saying what Marvin can be or should or should have been based on being selected #2.
I didn’t care Marvin went #2. Thats why I was saying he sucked while others around here were penning posts titled ” The Redemption of Marvin”. LOL.
It is interesting Huerter has player 12,000 minutes, while Keon has played barely more than 1000 minutes and yet there are those who want to define one against the others, timewise.
Keegan has played 5X the NBA minutes of Keon and his career is in its infancy. That is further proof that what fans think Keon is or who he will be is premature and limited by a negative bias.
There is such a thing as late bloomer. I am a late bloomer. Keegan is a late blooomer. Dalton Knecgt, hopefully the next and newest Sacramento King, is a late bloomer too.
Dalton Knecht . My bad, typing in the dark, Can’t see keyboard, guessing where the letters are, mostly spot-on , like Keon from deep.
My bad…your rant got strangely confusing with Marvin and Keegan and late bloomers….
Marvin was not a late bloomer. If anything it was an early bloomer.
Wtf are you talking about?
Marvin bloomed?
Marvin is an “it”?
is it ok to refer to people as an “it”?
corrected below, relax
Marvin was a non bloomer. Trashketball player
Normie or a casual….got it.
His stats and actual play show he is a role player. I guess the Normies and Casuals don’t watch him play or look at stats.
Who said anything about how he ended up here?
Maybe you did?
He is a pleasant surprise…not the savior.
I guess Normies and Casuals see him that way?
I am not saying Keon is a savior.
I am saying that it is premature to draw any conclusions or put any limitations on who he can be.
It was obvious to me for example the guy had untapped offensive ability, more than just a defensive specialist.
His stats do not show he is a role player. Maybe his basic stats do.
But thats where the Normies and Casuals cease their inquiry.
Advanced stats show that Keon is an impact player.
Thanks for proving my point, normie.
Wow….
”His stats don’t show he is a role player. Maybe his basic stats do.”
Bold and solid.
Why call people names?
Most people don’t write gibberish then openly insult people.
Is being normal an insult? You’d have to edify me on this if you can. I have never been normal in my mind or identified as normal, but I think a lot of people think that being normal is a good thing. Normal is better than being weird, isn’t it, at least from the normie perspective.
Regardless, I am not trying to offend you or hurt anyones feelings.
The advanced stats show that Keon is NOT a role player. That is my point.
When the team just catapulted up the defensive ratings once the move was made, by definition that makes Keon more than a role player in my view.
We went from middle of the pack defensively to Top 5 in the NBA solely due to Keon, and our offensive rating did not suffer. And yet in your mind Keon is a role player? You may want to rethink this “normie” take.
You ok?
Seriously…
Let me try to help you out here man. Genuinely. Is normie an insult? The way you are using it, yes it is. You could replace the word normie with any other word and it would come off as insulting the way you are using it.
the way you are using it is this: I am superior to you normie’s. Key word in that is not normie but superior. You are talking down to a bunch of strangers and bragging about yourself being of a much higher caliber of human being. It’s not a good look. I like a lot of your comments, I like the Randle trade idea and I don’t deny the fact that Monk is replaceable (however I hope he stays).
the point is, you are very clearly insulting people’s inelegance while simultaneously throwing a parade for yourself. So yes, Normie, the way you are using it comes off as insulting.
and for the record: weird > normal
Just to set the record straight, our head coach did not start Keon until Huerter had his arm pulled from its socket by Desmond Bane and because said player did not spend enough time in the weight room strengthening the proximate joint muscles. .
It was not a strategic decision to start Keon, it was a default option. Now the coach, and pretty much everyone else, as it relates to next season and the starting SG spot is like, “ITS KEON’S JOB TO LOSE.”
I don’t know about you but I would feel a little better about the lead decision maker if he had the foresight and foreknowlege equal or better than this guy over here, this fearless keyboard warrior, to come to the same obvious conclusion before the masses.
Where were the Normies BEFORE the swap needed to happen? I was on an island. Now it is common knowledge. Keon is better than Red Diva. This coach, did not have the BALLS or GUTS, to do what was right before it was forced upon him. This is our leader?
I am getting Darvin Hams Vibes, about be fired in La La Land
Could we have played beyond the Play In if the head coach of the team had my mind, contemplating countless interations of the possible options, and their relative merits, and proceeding accordingly regardless of the blowback or second guess?
Coaches are paid to care less what the Peanut Gallery thinks, Does ours care less? I don’t know. It is only out of the kindness of the heart of the GM, and little else, he will be employed in 2024-25,
I do not think our coach should be canned. But it is too bad Jodie Fernandez was over eager to get a head coach position. He could have had the LAL job or SAC job if he had a little more self restraint and patience
He jumped at the money, instead of the optimal opportunity, just like Malik is about to do. Wait and see. The new coach of the Nets could have been the new coach of the Lakers. That is a FAIL and my book and why his departure is not as unfortunate as it may seem.
The head coach is going to return next season. Thats about as excitng as another year of HB.
Not enough time in the weight room is clearly the problem.
The Normies clearly are super human in strength.
It would have taken massive cajones for MM to terminate MB and hire Jordi. I think it would have been the right move. MB’s coaching history speaks for itself. He’s a coach to set the foundation but not take you to the next level or over the top.
I don’t disagree that it could/would be the right move, but I do think there’s something to the idea of continuity – especially with this disparate franchise which saw too much change for nearly two decades. Stability, professionalism, and work ethic seem to be staples of model franchise like the Spurs. I like that (for the most part), all three of those qualities are embodied in the athletes, coaches, front office and general employees.
You think Jordi would take the job if Monty fired Mike Brown to give the job to him? No way. Jordi would walk in solidarity and then become the head coach of another team somewhere else.
Yes, Keon is a disrupter on defense (man to man, deflections, steals) and yes, that makes him a better fit than Red Velvet in the starting line up because of the other important stat that has not been mentioned: Wins!
IIRC, Sacramento was 8-0 or 9-0 when he first started games. This evened out – I think he ended up 13-4, but I am sure someone, somewhere has that info).
All the other stats are nice – the shooting percentages, the defensive stats, even the plus/minus – but if he is contributing to winning basketball, the other stats diminish in priority.
He’ll get better! He had an impressive amount of confidence on the court since he won a starting spot with only the hiccup in the last game of the season against the Pelicans. I expect him to continue that improvement. Now, if he can emulate his former Red Tide teammate (Herb Jones) than even better (and maybe he almost has. I would be very happy to see Herb Jones in a Kings uni, btw).
I’d like to see better ball handling so he can play some PG when Fox sits or is out, and also so he can drive the ball more to keep the defense honest when the 3s aren’t dropping. (Same with Keegan).
Maxey is what we needed and need Fox to be.
Sometimes it seems Fox may be behind four Kentucky products . SGA, Maxey, Booker and Murray .
Sometimes?
Would any of those teams trade said players for Fox today?
Nope.
The regression from Fox two years ago during the LTB season to this past season was weird and unexpected. I think he is who he is at this point and won’t reach the level of the four mentioned players.
Remember the Fox vs Ja debate? That seems like it was a decade ago. How the mighty have fallen and another group of perimter stars has rightly taken the mantle instead.
Instead of comparing Fox let Fox be Fox and surround he, Sabonis and Murray with really good players. Monty knows this and IMO is working hard to do this. Don’t have to be all stars but have to be good and fit in the system. I would like them to be young up and coming not old and declining.
PS Who won clutch player of the year last year, Least we forget.
You can’t compare the two. Fox is his own man and player and does what he does best. I am glad he is a King.
I just don’t see a much higher ceiling. He’s always a bit out of control, lacks facilitating and vision, lacks a consistent shot, lacks point guard ball control… great effort, great heart, solid defense… Better size and somewhat better shooting than Davion with slightly weaker defense. I just think this team is too close to being great to hope a future 7th-man becomes a legit starter.
No, Keon is a much better all-around defender than Davion is.
Davion looks like he plays defense, Keon actually plays defense.
Lol, that’s too harsh on Davion. His style of defense may fit better with a rim protector behind him. Keon is just a much better fit with Fox and Domas.
If Davion was 6’5″ with the same build, opponents would shoot in the single-digits when guarded by him. He makes so few mistakes.
Keon is wiry-strong, and having once had that build, it may be tough to add much weight for the next couple of years. He’ll continue to get stronger though, and once he adds some (hopefully not too much) bulk to his frame, man, I wouldn’t want to see him in front of me while I was holding a basketball.
Keon. making winning plays.
Completely OT, and I don’t know why this popped into my mind right now, but I would love a TKH feature where you can mute certain commenters.
An AI feature that summarize the essence of posts over 4 paragraphs into 4 sentences would be cool!
Love his game, definitely a starter…I would not understimate him, he is very smart and tough, will improve
We need more guys like him, come on MM. It’s not a question of money, but a question of talent evaluation, watching the playoff these days, many great guys were/are easy to get : Oubre, Hartenstein, PJ Washington, Gafford, Alexander Walker, Naji Marshall…
Naji Marshall would be a great addition. 6’7, loves playing defense, shot the 3 well this season.
no objection here
Other than those role players, I think we definitely need another All-Star broadline player…….
Monte need to works on his magic…
Look at the Knicks, they just have one superstar and one great defender, otherwise just dogs/great role players…we need more of the latter imo
Badge Legend