Much like Davion Mitchell’s entire career with the Sacramento Kings, the 2023-24 season was a weird one for the third-year guard out of Baylor. Mitchell has always felt like a Mike Brown player. Coach Brown has spent much of his tenure in Sacramento talking about defense, toughness, and what the Kings need to do to improve on that end. Mitchell, in theory, represents a lot of what Brown has been trying to get his team to play like. And despite that, Mitchell has had a difficult time earning Brown’s trust (and playing time). I think Davion took a step closer to carving out a real NBA role for himself this season, but it still wasn’t perfect.
If we can rewind to the 2023 playoff series against the Warriors for a moment, Davion’s career in Sacramento was at a bit of a crossroads coming out of Game 7. Mitchell, again, in theory, is one of the better matchups for Steph Curry on this roster. Monte McNair drafted Davion 9th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft because of his defense, and here the Kings were, in a playoff series against an all-time scoring guard, and Mitchell was essentially benched for Terence Davis in a do-or-die game. I came out of that series with an overwhelming feeling of well, if the Kings aren’t going to trust Davion in this moment, what is he here for?
Couple Davion’s Game 7 benching with his slow start to the 2023-24 NBA season, and I thought his run with the organization was just about over. Through January, the first 36 games of the season, Mitchell was repeatedly benched, picked up a few DNPs, and his minutes were very sporadic. From February 1st through the end of the season, his final 36 games, he was on an offensive heater and one of the more consistent Kings contributors.
Mitchell’s first 36 games: 12.5 MPG, .377 FG%, .269 3P%, 1.0 REB, 1.7 AST, 0.2 STL, 3.6 PPG
Mitchell’s last 36 games: 18.1 MPG, .503 FG%, .429 3P%, 1.7 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.3 STL, 6.9 PPG
I’m going to be honest here – I don’t know what to make of those splits, and I still don’t know what the future holds for Davion in Sacramento, but he’s in a better position heading into the offseason now than he was last year.
It sounds too simplistic, but that 3P% really is everything for him in his current role with the Kings. You’ll often see Davion listed as Sacramento’s backup point guard, but that really isn’t the case. Malik Monk is the primary ball-handler for the bench unit. Davion’s best opportunity to make an offensive impact for this squad is rarely with the ball in his hands, but if he can a trusted shooter, that opens up the door for more playing time considerably.
Off Night is a good defensive player, but his inability to contribute offensively has been his downfall. For 36 games, we saw Davion display a legitimate offensive NBA skill consistently for the first time: shooting.
Is this the new normal for Davion, or was it just a prolonged hot streak? Does he factor into the Kings’ plans moving forward, or was his run to end the season just enough to give him some positive trade value, and McNair is going to move him this summer? These are the questions I can’t answer, but they are the ones I’ll be thinking about all offseason.
Yeah, can the real Davion please stand up?
I really hope it is the one of the second part of the seaosn. It’s easy to root for a guy who busts his ass on D like Davion does. If he can hit more than 38% of his 3’s, that’s great.
he’s a good bech player to have, but his lack of size limits his options, sadly, and if we can’t retain Monk I am not sold on Davion’s ability to quarterback the team.
how about Baylor Scheierman?
In al honesty, I stopped spending time on watching and analyzing prospects and predicting how they will translate to the NBA and which team they will go to. It’s just so difficult to predict that I don’t bother. I somehow got less and less interested in it since 2018. Don’t know why.
Every year, talented, intelligent, experienced and extremely hard-working people like Vlade Divac can get it wrong. Then why should I bother?
I’d prefer to stay quiet and later ruthlessly ridicule people over the busts they publicly endorsed. And I predict there will be plenty of those.
Nice strategy!
Saves loads of time.
Leaves no evidence, unlike John Hollinger’s system.
And helps me feel good about myself and settle scores with other commenters.
Thank you
fair enough.
there are a couple guys who will likely be available at 13 who I think could “quarterback the team” as you put it. Feel free to ridicule my endorsements. One played at South Dakota State in the Summit League for 3 years and is currently projected to be a 2nd rounder. The other is 6’3″, mostly played off the ball in his one year at Duke, and I read somewhere that he paints his nails.
The TikTok stuff and the nail painting kind of made me not want him at #13. Maybe I am becoming an old man now, but it’s just not something that I want my ball players doing.
That stuff never bothered me, as long as the main focus is on basketball and improving as a bb player.
Did it bother me that Dame raps? No. Did it bother me that Bagley raps? Somewhat, I must admit. Fair? Maybe not.
that’s an honest first impression, but stepping back and looking at it objectively, who cares about painted fingernails? As long as they are cut short so that they don’t interfere with playing sports.
I think it’s more that “its a thing” instead of just being a part of him.
like Jimmer Mania? hmm. I suppose that could be a possible outcome also.
however, he plays with physicality, is strong and gets rebounds. and it would be easier to play with Sabonis than Cousins.
so weird, a comment about nails leads to a possible Jimmer comp.
Let’s say Monk leaves, and Huerter/Mitchell are traded. All of the sudden your third guard is Duarte, unless you pick someone up. If it were Heurter/Mitchell/Lyles, for Grant/Brogdon, I think they improved despite losing MM. All told they added less than $15 mil. to this upcoming season, above the tax, but below the 1st apron, and their starting five would be: Sabonis-Grant-Murray-Brogdon-Fox, with Barnes, Ellis, Vezenkov, as the next three off the bench, barring further deals.
This trade, as constructed, would save Portland, a tax team, about $21 mil. this coming season, and over $120 mil. over the next 4 years.
Brodgon would be a nice get but I don’t know if he can give you starter minutes. He’ll be into his 9th NBA season and he has always been an injury riddled player. The former RoY (I can’t recall any other second round pick who won the award) will be almost 32 at the start of next season. He’s owed $22.5M next season and then is an UFA.
If he would accept the role, he’d be the first off the bench and thus replace MMonk, with Keon Ellis remaining in the starter 2 role and like Monk, I’d expect to see him for tight game closing minutes – he can defend, score and is a career 87.3% FT. I think he’d mix well with De’Aaron, though no one could supplant that Wildcat Strike Duo (Fox and Monk).
Which reminds me – what was the deal with the Charity Stripe and Malik Monk this season? He “dropped” to 83% from the previous season 89% but the misses at the line seemed to happen at inopportune times – yips? He doesn’t seem the type; but how else to explain it?
Agreed. Starter or no, I like the three guard line-up-Fox, Ellis, Brogdon, and if Monk leaves I think it increases the likelihood of them doing a bigger deal of this type.
IMO Keldon Johnson would fit great next to Fox. If Monk goes bring over Ellis to replace Johnson. Keldon would be the #1 scorer off the bench which would be great. If Monk stays then Ellis back to point guard from the bench and Johnson to start at SG. Johnson isn’t that far on statistics than Michal Briges would cost a lot less only 24 and has a great declining contract. Has been Spurs #1 scorer for last 4 years.
Johnson sounds really good to me
We would have to take back Grant’s contract. Rather have Collins. On the cheap.
Love Brogdon when healthy which is almost never .
Fair point, but guys do tend to fight through injury a bit more in a contract year. Especially when their next contract is probably their last!
And he’s to old. Doesn’t fit MM’s timeline.
The timeline only applies to long term deals. Len isn’t too old for another 1 yr contract. McGee wasn’t too old. He just didn’t work.
You could turn around instead of Mitchell use Duarte. They have almost the same contract. How you have Mitchell at Point guard.
For salary purposes, yes Duarte and Mitchell are almost inter-changeable, but though Mitchell is a bit pricier, I’d expect him to have more value generally.
I don’t get the question about Mitchell at PG.
I really like Jared McCain at #13.
Yeah, I think he has untapped upside as a pick n roll ball handler. His off ball game already looks great. I’m not predicting Steph Curry, but a Mike Bibby type of outcome could happen.
what about the former Jack Rabbit? this is the money question and since your name is Jack, you must answer.
I don’t like the prospects of anyone in this draft cracking the starting backcourt for Sacramento as a rookie. Or even the rotation really. He looks pretty good. Don’t expect him to take Monk’s place this season, or Ellis’. Other than that I like him too.
He wouldn,t have to be a starter and wouldn’t have to take Monk’s place I’ll leave that to Keldon Johnson. That would place Ellis next to Fox’
There’s still a chance the Keldon Johnson thing could fall through. I also think he’s better at the three. Pass on the rookie guards.
He is 6’5′. Better suited as a SG. Play Murray at the 3.
I’ve got to admit Jack, your trade ideas are WAAAAAY better than anyone else’s!
Eddie- BS is a good college player. Unclear about NBA prospects. If this draft was deep he would be clear second round. He will go between 13 and 45 the Kings picks.
Way too much risk at 13 but a good risk at 45.
with 5 years of data as a 6’7″ shooter and playmaker, including 2 years in the Big East, wouldn’t there be less risk?
Definitely a tale of two halves of the season. The first half he was virtually unplayable, while the 2nd half he was a solid contributor. I’d imagine the real Davion is somewhere in the middle.
The fact is, he’s an undersized off guard who is a good on the dribble defender, but gets shot over with ease. He can’t really run the offense in a backup PG role as he dribbles the air out of the ball, isn’t an elite passer, and can’t really create his own shot.
There is probably a role for him in the league, but he isn’t ideal for the way the Kings are built. The Kings desperately need rim protection, length, playmaking, and legit shooting. Davion really doesn’t have any of those qualities.
If I had to guess, his expiring contract is movable in a trade package and if Monte can’t find a suitor, Davion hits RFA next summer and the Kings don’t bring him back. As for much of the rest of the roster, his immediate future hinges on what happens with Monk.
Agree, believe Davion has more value in the league than Huerter or Barnes . Contract, age and proven D . May develop into a TJ McConnell. Better than TJ in 3rd season?
TJ has always been an effective playmaker, while Davion hasn’t shown that once.
Davion’s one debatable skill, on ball defense, is preferred when the player is long and can defend 3 or more positions. He’s just too limited offensively and likes size to make his one solid skill worthwhile.
True that TJ has always been a better playmaker but not nearly the promise as a 3 pt threat at same stage or current . If Davion goes to Suns could be horrible for Kings
I just have to ask this. Are you the real Rik Smits (you mentioned once before you live in the Netherlands)? If you are, why do you follow the Kings of all teams?
the numbers make sense. in the offseason, he changed his trainer and changed his game to try to play like Steph Curry. The low three point percentages are because of the types of threes he was taking. He was benched for a while after he airmailed a corner three (I think it was Jan 7 against the Pels). When he returned to the rotation, he changed his shot selection to be primarily spot-up threes. The good thing is that from the offseason he improved his shot mechanics on that shot. Last season, he had a dip in the set shot, looking like the Incredible Hulk or something. Fixed that and now he can sink them at a very good percentage. Another good thing from the offseason was a more versatile layup package if he’s in a position near the rim with a size disadvantage, eg., lefties high off the glass. Some of the new dribble moves on the perimeter looked bad in the preseason and were discarded by the time the season began. But he did add new a hesitation-move option on his straight-line drive, which he flashed at the end of the season and it worked well. I also think that in a late shotclock situation, the things he worked on last offseason will help, eg., a side-step three.
That being said, on offense obviously a 40% three point shooter who shoots a variety of types including pull-up threes, on the move, maybe a step-back three, etc. has a lot more value on that end of the floor than a 40% shooter on open spot-ups who might hit 25% of the other types.
Looking at the season as a whole, Davion shot 37.1% on Catch and Shoot threes, and shot 32.4% on Pull Up threes, but he also took mostly C&S threes last season so I’m not sure we can strictly say it was due to shot selection.
as stated above, he improved his mechanics on his set shot from three during the offseason.
That’s cool analysis and all, and he still is a career 32.7% shooter from 3, lacks size and length, and struggles against bigger players (and most of the league is bigger than him).
Most of the league is bigger than Cory Hart, Marcus Smart, and Jose Alvarado.
Cory Hart? You mean Josh Hart? Both Hart and Smart around 6’3-6’4 and have 6’9″ wingspans. Davion is 6’1 with a 6’4 wingspan. Quite the difference in the NBA.
Jose Alvarado is the outlier in your scenario. About the same measurements as Davion. I haven’t seen him play much, other than the clips of stealing the ball after an in bounds play and some pesky ball pressure against the Kings.
Cory Hart? Ouch! My bad. But guys do play above their listed size.
Guys definitely do play above their size, and Davion is not one of them.
I liked you better when you were backing your arguments with stats, even if you were winning.
He wears his sunglasses at Off Night.
Let’s look at the NBA playoff teams: 6’1″ or less
Boston – Payton Pritchard
Indy – TJ McConnell
Knicks -Miles McBride (Jalen Brunson listed at 6’2″)
Cavs – Darius Garland
Minny – Mike Conley, Jr
Nuggets – Collin Gillespie
Mavs – Brandon Williams
OKC – no one, shortest 6’3″
Jose Alvarado is 6’0″
There is a place on even the most winning squads for talent at any height, even the 72″ (6’0″) Davion Mitchell.
The player we saw the last third of the season is evolving nicely. He is showing confidence in his shot and had some stretches during the last fifteen games where he would look for his shot, even in the mid-post -with pull ups and drives that he avoided much too much in earlier season games.
He is a pest defensively- but limited – just like TJ McConnell and Alvarado are, though they have more point guard skills (McConnell) and more 3 point threat (career 34.2% – Davion 32.7%).
Career back up? Yes, that’s a fairly straight line. I don’t see Fred VanVleet, or Boston Prime Isaiah Pizza Guy Thomas.
You won’t replace Davion with a guy who will outwork him. Maybe it’s my bias, but I see a guy who will improve each season.
It’s tough to be a bench player who can’t energize the offense. With the player we saw finishing the Kings season, I see some of the scoring punch that is needed, beginning to emerge. Keon Ellis, however, really outshines Davion and that places Off Night further down the bench unless he can come in and put some pop in the offense.
Well said, thanks
IMO Alvarado is better than Mitchell.
Alvarado has definitely been better
If we end up with C.Hart, it’s definitely gonna be a worse off season than last one, haha.
Monte McNair doesn’t get enough criticism for wasting a lottery pick on a backup PG, especially when we had two better PGs already on the roster at the time. A complete waste of an asset for a team that barely has any.
Davion hasn’t shown any indication that’s he’s anything more than a backup PG. I have my doubts he’ll be on the roster next season but also don’t think we’ll get much for him in a trade.
I tend to agree, but looking at the 2021 draft, every player taken before Davion has proven their worth, then things really drop off for the rest of the lottery. The next real talent wasn’t taken again until Sungun, Murphy III, and Jalen Johnson, but they were outside the lottery.
I know many of us around here had eyes for Sengun, especially since the Kings starting C at the time was Holmes, but I’m not sure any of us could have predicted the other talent taken after Davion.
I would argue rather that Davion has shown his worth when given the opportunity, (Curry last season playoff series?) and that he, along with the rest of the guard line-up has been mis-used (Monk glued to the bench?). One might speculate that neglecting such valuable assets may be why Monte hasn’t rushed to extend Brown.
He appears to play good defense, but I think it’s more like he runs around with lots of energy on the defensive end. The numbers don’t show him being a good defender, he can really only guard one position, and he doesn’t rebound well.
It’s time to move on. Kings need size, and Davion is the shortest of them all.
I disagree with all except your key point, which is it may be time to move on from Davion.
Davion has the worst Defensive Rating on the team, aside from Jordan Ford and Filip Petrusev.
He had one of the worst on/off numbers on the team.
The lowest Total Rebounding Percentage on the team, 4.8%!!
Also in the basement for steals percentage.
Sure, he may apply some ball pressure and force the opposing PG to give up the rock earlier than normal, but the numbers don’t back that up, at all.
Yeah. Davion is a very good on-ball defender against other point guards, and is pesky at chasing his man around the floor off-ball. But other teams can easily target him with screens and forcing switches, and Davion doesn’t have the size to switch onto bigger players. It’s a limitation that has nothing to do with effort or ability, it’s simply a size thing.
Yep, I never questions his effort. His ability is there but highly limited by his size on most nights, which tells me it is time to move on.
I’ve already conceded, it may be time to move on, but my eyes, and his rep. tell me Davion is a good defender. You have strong stats to back your argument, and I’ve seen his short-comings as well, both offensively and defensively. I think he may be one of their best trade chips, and I don’t question whether he is worth his option or not, do you?
I think he’s a solid trade chip still, but not as a standalone player. He’s a good piece to have for a larger package.
Agreed. Likely combined with a larger salary (Huerter?) for a team looking to cut salary. Ellis has really kind of made him expendable.
For clarification, By expendable, I mean Davion, but it could apply to Huerter as well.
Pickup the option for sure, and package him with something else to upgrade the roster.
You responded before I could, and thanks for the input.
I wonder how much of that is scheme. One of Davion’s main strengths is his ability to navigate screens and stay with his man.
But Brown’s schemes were very switch-heavy, which negates this strength.
Thanks again
is this some sarcasm or running joke that I’m missing?
Or are you genuinely grateful for my smart-ass posts?
In this particular instance, I feel like you explained something I wasn’t able to.
But mostly I just like you being a smart-ass.
Thanks!
You were correct and many seems to miss the obvious regarding his D .
According to my calculations, the Kings can take back up to 62.5 mil. salary (+ 20%?) in trade for Mitchell, Huerter, and Lyles. That would put them about 182 mil. before re-signing Monk, and already above the first apron.
The best comp. I can come-up with for that big of a swing is Mikal Bridges and Ben Simmons. coming in at a combined 63.3 mil.. Who would be owed picks in this trade?
I would probably be willing to add a 1st rounder (with protections,) maybe 2. I think Sac might be the unique situation where Simmons could re-establish his career, in line-up that could carve out minutes for him, despite his offensive shortcomings.
Hamlet1989, I enjoy your comments but it’s a long reach: Ben Simmons in Sacramento to revitalize his career?
Personally, I rather would trade back for Marvin Bagley III than the former #1 pick and All-Star, Simmons.
If ever a player needed to be waived – it’s Ben Simmons. I wouldn’t want him anywhere near the rest of my roster.
If that is what it would take to get Mikal Bridges, I’d give it a second thought, though you still haven’t addressed the Sac lack of size problem.
Totally understand your reaction. The silver lining would be the $40 mil. slot it would open up next offseason, most of which would presumably go toward extending Bridges.
That sure is one massive expiring contract!
I probably would prefer the Blazers trade above, even if Bridges is the best player, because it leaves more options to make further moves.
I also feel like Brogdon fits this roster pretty well.
Here are the rules for salary matching in trades
Mitchell, Huerter, and Lyles totals 31.2M so you have to use rule #3. That means they can take back 125% of 31.2M which is 39M.
I think the Kings can make this trade under those rules.
There are loopholes that have been created to help teams take on salary others need to dump, such as trading part, or all, of the MLE. I believe they have a trade exception, and another will be created if they lose Monk.
They also can add Duarte, and/or Edwards for salary filler.
Edward is a free agent.
Here is a trade that could work:
Barnes, Huerter, Vezenkov, Duarte and Mitchell for Simmons and Bridges. But I doubt we could get Bridges without giving up Keegan Murray.
I might consider that because I love Bridges. Still the Blazer deal makes more sense, I think. I really threw the Nets deal out there as an extreme example of just how much salary the team could actually take on if they really want a big swing. The Blazer deal might represent about as big of a deal as I would consider. I’m really thinking this team will pretty much “run it back” and rely on internal growth, which may not be the worst thing. We saw Ellis turn into a starting 2. If we see Edwards, or Slawson, Sasha, if someone (or 2) pops, this roster starts to look pretty good, and they didn’t give up assets to do it.
I’m not sure relying on internal growth is wise when your two best players are at their peak. The only players that have shown growth are Keegan and Keon. Other role players like Huerter, Barnes, Lyles, and Mitchell either showed regression or stagnation, and that doesn’t even take into consideration the idea of Monk not returning.
If the Kings return with the same 8-9 rotational players I wouldn’t expect much, if any, improvement on 46 wins.
I’m not talking about exactly the same roster, but I expect the move to be “around the edges” again, with the biggest deals going out being Huerter, possibly Barnes, maybe just Monk. Again, if Monk leaves, maybe some bigger deals. If he stays, maybe just Huerter, maybe not. I think they like Barnes more.
I wouldn’t expect the “around the edges ” approach to be highly popular.
The way the West is starting to be constructed with the same rotational players I doubt the Kings would win 46 games next year.
They draft Edey, re-sign Len, let McGee walk. They trade Huerter/Lyles/Mitchell & 2 seconds for Grant/Brogdon. Murray takes another step forward. Ellis takes another step forward. Fox takes another step forward. Sabonis takes another step forward. They re-sign Monk, 4 yrs. $77 mil.. Barnes settles into a more consistent role off the bench. Brogdon settles into playmaking, 3-point shooting role off the bench..
Better size. More defense. Better balance. More experience. Better depth.55 wins plus.
The Blazer trade would seem to make a lot of sense for both sides. Why will it not happen? 1)Same conference 2)you just never see these kinda deals happen 3) Huerter/Lyles for Grant is easier, however unlikely. We would be fine with Mitchell, especially if Monk stays, but I think they want rid of Brogdon and his money more so than Grant, and I just would like to see him with this roster.
Barnes, Lyles, Vezenkoz and 2 seconds for John Collins
Huerter, Mitchell, Duarte and 2 seconds for Keldon Johnson( maybe a first)
Retain Monk
Pick up Jalen Smith in FA
Keep your #13 and #45
Starters: Fox, Johnson, Murray, Collins, Sabonis
Backups: Ellis, Monk, Jones, Smith, Len
Draft McCain with #13 #45?
Here are Stats for Grant and Collins ( 2023 2024 )
PPG G-21.0 C-15.
RPG G-3.5 C-*8.5
FG% G-45.1 C-53.2
3P% G-81.7 C-79.5
The one that we really need is rebounding. Collins by far
Another is contract. Collins wins this one by a long shot.
PS disregard FG% Sorry Should have been FT%
PS Grant is 30 Collins 26.
I like them both, but I’m not sure I don’t like J Smith better than either, especially at the MLE, especially because it wouldn’t cost any assets, and, as an RFA on the outside of Indy’s rotation, and them having seemingly moved on from him with the trade for Siakam, he is realistically available.
6′ 10″ 7′ 2′ wing span shoots the 3 at 40% ( great for a big man ) can protect the weakside rim and only 23. He has started for the Pacers in the past both at power forward and center. He needs to play more and for the Kings makes a good backup PF ot center and also can spell Collins when need be.
Are you sure Utah wants all three of the forwards we apparently don’t? For their starter? Even with a couple low 2nds? That sounds REALLY good!
Ainge wants to move on from Collins. Barnes or Lyles as a replacement and Sasha as the experiment. If he doesn’t want all 3 he also could trade one or two.
I see your point. Did a little shifting around but with the same outcome. I like adamsite’s trade of Huerter and Lyles for Collins. Might have to add a couple of seconds. Then trade Barnes and Mitchell a first and 2 seconds for Keldon Johnson. This would work out better.
What if Edey becomes a slightly-less-mobile, harder-to-move version of Wemby? All these teams that can pass us up or already have are built around these super-sized defenders and we don’t want to miss the boat. The league is getting bigger again, and more physical (see the late-season officiating) and the Kings were already small.
Oh yeah, use the MLE on J Smith.
I was thinking Edwards had another year, your right FA. But, I also forgot Colby Jones, who signed, and could have value. Or even Ellis, who would also presumably add significant value to any deal.
You don’t give up Spock for Bridges even if it was straight up. No way.
Neither Bridges nor Simmons can fit into any of our exception. You can not add exception into trade for salary matching.
You’ve got this down.
To trade for Bridges and Simmons?
You will need about 50M salary going out.
My bad, I meant the Blazers trade.
For the Nets trade you could throw in Barnes but they may be out at that point.
And for those who haven’t heard, Edey is Wemby without the skinny.
Is he a…French Canadian?
Si. I mean we. I mean oui?
I couldn’t help but notice two standouts from the Knicks were former Kings. Both were let go for nothing in return (if my memory is correct – a big if). Couldn’t we have kept DiVincenzo two years ago and not traded for Huerter? Was he a RFA or just a FA? And Burks I believe was just let go or used as filler for a trade. To be fair, DiVencenzo didn’t blow the doors off while with Golden State but he sure found a role as a tough, a..hole of a player we hate unless he’s on our team. I also know he was as much done with the Kings as they appeared to be with him but that didn’t have to happen. Burks just keeps on playing and we lost him for nothing. Take back the trade for Huerter, and we keep our draft pick next year (along with this year) and we have two tough players filling holes on the roster. We talk a lot about finding these types of players but we had them and lost them for nothing.
From what I recall, Donte didn’t want to return to Sacramento. He wanted a bigger role and signed with the Warriors a few days after the Kings traded for Huerter and signed Monk. He made his intentions pretty clear and Monte went a different way. Hindsight is 20/20 but at the time I’d imagine the vast majority of us were totally cool with Huerter and Monk coming to Sac two years ago.
Burks was a free agent and was just a blip on the radar is Kings history. It was 5 seasons ago and he’s also bounced around a good 1/3 of the league.
I remember Donte not wanting to stay in Sac but thought it may have been more about how he felt he was being treated. Burks I forgot was that long ago. And, I agree, we wouldn’t have traded Huerter for Donte straight up last year and that hindsight is 20/20.
Donte was a bit of a disappointment here as well as Dubs . Thibs and Nova boys brought out his best . Yes, he is much better than Huerter or Ellis . Missed opportunity .
I wanted them to keep DVD at the time, but I was satisfied that Monk was probably as good. DVD has been really good, but I’d still rather have Monk.
The more Davion plays and a bigger role seems to lead to better production . I feel he is ready to be a legit backup and 20 plus minute player on a winner . May not be the Kings .
As stated in the article, his shooting is really the swing skill for him and it hasn’t been good. Brown has a quick hook for non-shooters,(and he should) but shooting, more than any other skill in the game is about confidence. Davion needs to go somewhere where they believe in him and most of all, have patience for him.
I also think he plays better when he gets to stay on the court for while.
Time in the game reflects the confidence of the coaching staff.
Davion, a couple of other players, and the G-league team for a real power forward.
Is J. Grant a real power forward?
He is more real than what we have now.
Is he better than J Collins?
U would 2
I had to!
John Collins, you are now a King.
I like Collins, but his rebounding has to be a concern.
And the problem with doing a deal with Ainge, besides he never seems to do even trades, is that with cap-space behind him, he’s going big game hunting with the draft picks he’s gonna demand from the Kings. Sac’s looking to trade contracts, not picks. In order to dump a couple contracts, Monte needs another GM looking to dump even bigger contracts, and that probably means someone with their backs up against the repeater tax.
Ainge builds winning teams.
Maybe MM should pay attention?
Ainge joined Utah as CEO Dec 2021.
They started the rebuild that following Summer (Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, as well as Bogdanovic, JIngles, Mike Conley, Jr, Royce O’Neal all gone from the 2021-2022 roster).
Two seasons in – what are your expectations for year 3? Play-In? Playoffs? How far?
He has consistently outperformed any Kings GM in his career.
maybe
Ainge gave up an expiring/retiring Rudy Gay and a 2nd round pick for Collins. He’s not getting a first rounder for him.
I’d offer Huerter and Lyles for Collins. That’s a solid return for Ainge’s 2nd round pick. He gets 2 smaller and more movable contracts to go “big game hunting.” Kings get to move Barnes to the bench to back up Keegan and Collins, hopefully retain Monk, use their #13 on a bench piece (da Silva, Flip, Holmes, etc.) and still have their MLE to use in free agency.
That’s a solid offseason, IMO.
Sounds good
I agree. I still woud like to go after Keldon Johnson. IMO would be a great SG next to Fox.
Ainge is very willing to trade Collins. We could get him on the cheap end.
That would be fantastic!
He rebounds better than Kuzma.
He averaged 15 and 8 last season. That’s seems pretty solid to me and would be second on the team.
I’m with you Adamsite. Collins would start next to Sabonis. This would work really well. Now go after Keldon Johnson who the Spurs are to the point of putting him on the bench. Only 24 and for the last 4 years have led the Spurs in scoring. He is also a really tough dude and loves to take it to the rim.
I’ve argued for him myself on this very site.
Also rebounds better than Grant and has a real good contract. Only 26.
J Smith is 24
You have got to be kidding. This year he averaged 8.5 rebounds per game.
That is good
Him or someone like him.
Kel’el Ware?
I did not figure the Davion Mitchell season review for the biggest explosion of trade/draft comments. Better get in my two cents.
1. Huerter and Vezenkov or Lyles for John Collins. I thought he’d been around forever, but he’s only 26! Check out his highlights especially defense. Who knows if Utah would take it, but that’s not what hypothetical trades are about!
2. Draft Cody Williams and Oso Ighodaro or Harrison Ingram. See Tankathon highlights. Cody does it all, just a bit skinnier than brother Jalen. Oso is great for the dribble handoff offense.
3. Backup center: Free agent Xavier Tillman. Tough, Draymond-junior type (MSU also) who switches on anybody.
Meanwhile, Fox lifts weights; Sabonis, Ellis and Mitchell shoot 500 3’s a day; and Monte RE-SIGNS MONK. 50 wins and 5 seed here we come!
Oh, and try to ignore how well Indy is doing. They didn’t so much ‘win the trade’ as they ‘kept trading’ whereas Monte stopped two years ago. Get to work!
Siakam has taken Indy to the ECF, but do you really think he would have propelled the Kings to the WCF? Winning the Eastern semis is about equal to a g-league championship. If they beat Boston though…
Disagree here.
If I were a betting man I wouldn’t put a lot of money on Sacramento beating Indy in a 7 game series.
And I don’t know about WCF, but it is hard to get better results if your roster is not improving, and getting Siakam would have definitely improved our roster.
Mocking other teams’ play-off result while we haven’t won a play-off series in like 18 seasons is a bit like ridiculing other commenters’ projections of draft prospects while never having any projections of such players yourself…
I smart-ass dis-agree
I really like Shannon jr, maybe not at 13 but wouldn’t mind seeing Monte trade down for him maybe at 19ish? He’s an older player with defensive skills, athletic as heck and can create/shoot lights out. Has great size also, for a SG. Keon back to the bench, I’d like more size from the SG spot. Trade for collins as some have suggested is a good move also IMO.
I still like Holmes, ware or filip at 13 if nothing else.
Starting to lean towards ware however if 13pick happens.
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