The Sacramento Kings take on the Phoenix Suns in Summer League starting at 5 PM PT. The game will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center, and will air on NBATV.
Use this thread to discuss all the action, and if we don’t get a new thread up for tomorrow, you can also use this thread to discuss Kings vs Rockets, which tips off at 6 PM PT.
Go Kings!
Any, ah, extrajudicial feeds, maybe from international waters?
If this is the way Murray plays this year, he’s gonna be a joy to watch.
Finally have an open thread. Ask and ye shall eventually receive.
Anyone out there still think the Kings made the wrong choice going with Murray? He’s been the most consistent, and consistently the best player in Summer League.
Yesterday there was an article on how he’s scored 20+ points 5 times (now 6 times) and the rest of the top 13 lottery picks have combined scored 20+ points 6 times.
At this point I’m wondering if it’s a necessity to get rid of Barnes so that his presence isn’t a speed bump in Murray’s development.
I am of the firm belief that Harrison Barnes could be the best thing to happen for the rook. A true pro, a gentleman and a champion. Seems like a tailor made mentor to me.
I can understanding getting something from Barnes but I see him the same way. They have a really similar game offensively my opinion. Seems like the perfect player to soak up knowledge from. Never the most athletic or most explosive but crafty and can get you a bucket, HB is a baller
They do have similar games. That’s why it’s important to give Murray full opportunity to seize the 3rd option role. Barnes has been remarkably inconsistent in everything but professionalism. I think Murray will bring more consistency on the court.
My worry is that Harrison Barnes won’t teach him much, but to be inconsistent, and eat up potential minutes and touches that could go to Murray, and his growth.
keep both, play both. Murray not ready to guard SF’s.
Barnes hasn’t faired all that well there, if we’re being honest.
Murray is a stretch 4. I think he would work well with Patrick Williams. I still think we need a SF. Someone mentioned a trade for Trey Murphy 111. At 6’8″ he can shoot the 3 and is a very good defender. I like that.
I would love to keep Barnes but a couple of things made me want to make a trade. He has an expiring contract. He is over his prime. He does have lapses where he doesn’t score or rebound. I wouldn’t trade forCollins instead my favorite trade would be to try and get Patrick Williams from the Bulls. He can shoot the three. He plays really good defense. He is only 20 years old but plays beyond his years and would be a stretch 4 along with Murray. He fits the timeline.
This would be an awesome trade and not unfeasible considering how open the East is. The C’s made the Finals this past season and I found them unimpressive, specifically offensively. So I do think teams will be looking for solid vets to increase they’re chances at a deep playoff run. In that sense, HB is an asset. I hope MM is shrewd enough to turn HB into a player like Pat Williams that fits the timeline of the current core.
It’s not necessary to trade HB because of Murray. It is necessary to trade HB if he has indicated to the FO that he doesn’t plan to resign here or plans to test the waters.
You’re going off of SL. The answer to who should have been selected betwixt Murray and Ivey won’t be known for 1-3 years. Just let it play out sans making proclamations off of these top five picks playing against players who will never be in the NBA (maybe twenty percent of them cycle through).
Yes, I’m going off of his SL (franchise best), as well as his performance in college, as well as my bias that we draft him in the first place, and his perfect fit on the team. I’ve always wanted to pick Murray. So far it looks like the right move. Apparently there are some who are still holding out that it might be the wrong move in 1-3 years for them to be right. And that’s why I asked the question.
Keegan looked nice with his 21 and 10 in 23 minutes. Have they upgraded the Summer League MVP trophy this year?
Don’t know who that Keegan guy is, but if he can hit 30-foot three-pointers, he’s got a shot at making the squad.
Keegan’s dad is one classy parent . Big step forward .
A new nickname “the anti-Bagley”
That’s a horrible nickname. It would be awesome if we could never associate Bagley and Murray together for any reason, really. Outside of they were both drafted in the top 5 by the Kings. That’s quite literally the similiarity.
Their fathers are their fathers, simple as that.
Bizarro Bagley?
People really tried to knock his age but just watching Keegan play, it’s hard to imagine him not improving more. Him, Hali, and Sabonis would have been fun in an alternate universe
I 100% knocked his age…as such maybe we should expect him to do well in summer league being a top pick with that age. Maybe that’s unfair.
That said, thus far I totally misjudged him. He looks to have room to improve and yet still is wildly effective. I wasn’t against the pick overall, but was definitely indifferent draft night. I can’t say Im indifferent anymore.
I can respect that. I’ve been watching him close since maybe December just dominating in college and was dreaming of grabbing him around 6-8, expecting no luck in the lottery haha. He has an efficiency level to his game, just seems to make the right play. I’d understand grabbing Ivey too but I’m ecstatic to see him as the 3rd option, alot more open looks than he’s been seeing
Agree with the last part of that for sure. He definitely seems like a guy who will greatly benefit playing with better players. He’s making contested threes pretty regularly right now. He should get 3-4 WIDE open looks a game once he starts playing with Fox and Sabonis.
I wasn’t quite sure of his ceiling because of his athleticism and shot creating ability. Also, he’s not a playmaker much at this stage and he’s not really a guy who is likely to defend 3’s & 4’s (if such a thing exists anymore).
OTOH, I did like his versatile scoring ability (his shooting has really impressed me in SL), his rebound and get up the floor ability, and I liked his maturity.
In a lot of ways, he’s as advertised IMO. It’s just that a lot of people didn’t think he would succeed at the NBA level because those eye popping highlights aren’t there and his athleticism doesn’t jump off the page. He’s a challenging player to understand for a lot of people.
If there was such a thing on draft day, I was neutral-happy with Keegan Murray. I wondered if there was a ceiling there that maybe I didn’t see as I didn’t watch enough games (or any) or even live tapes. The one thing I can definitively say for sure is I would have rather the Kings drafted Keegan Murray than Jaden Ivey and I’m glad that McNair and the FO chose Murray over Ivey.
Last but not least, when it comes to prospects I’ve learned I don’t really know what a players ceiling truly is, and it’s damn near impossible to assume growth and such. It’s easier to do so with younger age players, but that’s due to time. I have a lot greater confidence that Keegan Murray can max out his abilities in Sacramento than Jaden Ivey, and that if nothing else makes me happy about the pick.
Agree with everything. Especially knowing a players ceiling it’s hard just because like you said, if they don’t have the highlight reel plays or athletic abilities that some do. It doesn’t take into account work ethic and the desire to be better which I think Keegan has in bulk just from hearing how he speaks of himself. Overall I’m just happy he’s on the squad
Keegan Murray.. meh!
at least the top 5 players in this draft will do very well.
Ivey will be great.
Keegan will be great and a far better fit. Cannot have both- had to take one or the other. This was not at all a bad choice.
Q and Ellis look good too. I like Ellis for the last possession of the quarter- come in for 32 seconds and play defense.
6. Mathurin. Maybe others lower down too.
Ellis can shoot the 3 also. I really like the guy.
This might be a really good draft. There might be 3-4 All Stars plus another 6-8 solid rotation players. It feels like there’s quite a bit of talent this year even if there isn’t that ‘franchise guy’ strictly speaking.
yes, it does go deeper than 5 but I was stressing that I think all of the top 5 will be good. Often, one of the top 5 fails or at least under-performs. There will be others under 5 who will be very good as well, including Mathurin..
That wouldn’t shock me to see the top 5 all be really good picks.
Odds are of the top 6, one or two end up being All Star to Super Star caliber players. The rest will be solid starter to rotational players, it’s just the statistical odds of it. For the top five or six to be great would be borderline unprecedented. I’m assuming by great you mean All Star plus caliber players.
There are multiple interpretations to the term “great”. I had a more generic local perspective, like” man, we like player X, he is playing great for us. He should be an All Star but the national media ignores us” That kind of “great-plays well, is consistent, starts, contributes significantly.
We could have a more universal interpretation of the terms and include great= all star.
I don’t think there are super stars in this years draft but some all stars and a lot of solid players.
The Grizzlies with Dillon Brooks, Desmond Banes, and David Roddy are going to have the toughest group of wings in the league.
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