The California Classic is back! This year’s event has games in both Sacramento and in San Francisco, and the Sacramento Kings are sporting two squads so they can participate at both locations. Why are they doing this? Don’t ask me!
The full schedule:
| Game | Day | Date | Away | Home | Local | ET | VENUE |
| 1 | Sat | 7/6/24 | L.A. Lakers | Sacramento | 1:30 PM | 4:30 PM | A (SF) |
| 2 | Sat | 7/6/24 | Miami | Golden State | 3:30 PM | 6:30 PM | A (SF) |
| 3 | Sat | 7/6/24 | Charlotte | San Antonio | 5:30 PM | 8:30 PM | B (SAC) |
| 4 | Sat | 7/6/24 | China | Sacramento | 7:30 PM | 10:30 PM | B (SAC) |
| 5 | Sun | 7/7/24 | Miami | Sacramento | 1:30 PM | 4:30 PM | A (SF) |
| 6 | Sun | 7/7/24 | L.A. Lakers | Golden State | 3:30 PM | 6:30 PM | A (SF) |
| 7 | Sun | 7/7/24 | China | Charlotte | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | B (SAC) |
| 8 | Sun | 7/7/24 | San Antonio | Sacramento | 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM | B (SAC) |
| 9 | Tue | 7/9/24 | San Antonio | China | 5:00 PM | 8:00 PM | B (SAC) |
| 10 | Tue | 7/9/24 | Charlotte | Sacramento | 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM | B (SAC) |
| 11 | Wed | 7/10/24 | Miami | L.A. Lakers | 4:00 PM | 7:00 PM | A (SF) |
| 12 | Wed | 7/10/24 | Sacramento | Golden State | 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM | A (SF) |
The Kings have two rosters, one for each location.
SACRAMENTO KINGS ROSTER PLAYING AT GOLDEN 1 CENTER
SACRAMENTO KINGS ROSTER PLAYING AT CHASE CENTER
The San Francisco roster’s only notable name is Jordan Ford, who spent last season with the Kings on a two-way contract and is currently an unsigned free agent. The Sacramento squad features new two-way players Isaiah Crawford and Isaac Jones, as well as Keon Ellis, Colby Jones, Mason Jones. Keon Ellis will hopefully stand out as being too good for Summer League, after starting play-in games for the Sacramento Kings last season.
We will not be covering every game of the California Classic, so use this as an open thread to discuss all the games.
Go Kings!
PS. We are continuing to monitor the DeMar DeRozan situation and will have an article up as soon as something happens.
Still no news about Carter’s injury, is there?
The way the Kings (do not) communicate about injuries is annoying.
Starting to make sense why we fell on draft day
The Kings announced and acknowledged the shoulder injury, told of further evaluation by their own medical staff and that preliminary reports are that they feel it is not a major injury but they are holding Devin Carter out of the California Classic. No word if holding out of Vegas Summer League.
I don’t get the impression there is much secrecy at play here. Caution yes, subterfuge, no.
Just my opinion.
Sure, but how long does it take to do do that further evaluation and report on it?
Maybe 3 hours? With imaging and doctor review. Add in the Kings deciding to release the information, maybe weeks?
This and why does it matter? He’s not playing this weekend and won’t have an opportunity again to play until next weekend so at the earliest, I wouldn’t expect to hear anything until mid to late next week.
It doesn’t matter to me. Unless there are some league rules for injury reporting during this portion of the season, then they don’t need to announce anything.
Drew Timme!!! I always wanted him to be a successful NBA player.
Kings Jonesing at The Golden1
(Colby, Mason, Isaac)
I am hoping/expecting some extra offense from Keon and Colby. Not last Cal Classic Keegan 35 ppg level, but 20-ish.
We’ll see.
Get that Rock Richmond Trophy inaugral flag!
Seeing Colby and Keon lead an offense and show self-creation would be nice. Need Keon to sustain/improve offensively, and Colby needs to make some big strides with his shot and overall awareness on the court
https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/1809632331944108522
Derozan meeting in person with kings brass.
So probably a few hours, at least, before any more news?
Or days, it only says that he’s meeting with the Kings this weekend, that could mean tonight or tomorrow, how knows. I’m kind of surprised by this actually, I’m impressed that DeRozan is interested in Sac. I’m also concerned about how much he’s going to cost.
Just hope it’s not a leverage situation to make the Clippers or LA up their offers.
I agree there!
If Derozan is truly talking with teams he should be doing this.
I hope Keegan scores 70 this time!
For USA Select team?
https://www.nba.com/kings/news/keegan-murray-named-to-2024-usa-mens-select-team
Here’s some numbers I ran right quick with the transformative moves imminent. I do not attest to their accuracy. I am a wordsmith, not a Capologist, though I am probably better at math than you.
Including Devin and his 4.7M cap hold, we are at 12 roster spots and 164M of active salary.
The tax line is 171.3M. We are 7.3M under the tax line. Any S&T for Demar will hard cap at us at the 1st apron of 178.6M. By sending out Huerter (17M) we will be able to offer Demar up 24.3M (17M + 7.3M) as a first-year salary and remain under the tax line. This is not super important however, as I will explain.
By contrast, the Clippers, reportedly chasing DD, are at 170M active salary, only 1.3M under the tax line after losing PG. I don’t see how they create the requisite dollars to offer Demar a first year starting salary of 20M without sending out Powell (19M) or Mann and PJ Tucker (23M combined). Unlike us, LAC would have to sacrifice guys they’d rather not lose (Powell, Mann).
The Heat are another team rumored to be in the market for Demar. They are at 181M of active salary, 10M over the tax line, and over the first apron by 2.5M. They would have to find a taker for Duncan (19.4M / 19.9M) or Terry Rozier (24.9M / 26.6M) to get into the DD sweepstakes.
RUNNING THE NUMBERS IT IS CLEAR.
I DO NOT SEE ANY OTHER VIABLE SUITORS.
DD (24.7 PPG and Clutch Player of the Year Runner Up) TO SAC CONFIRMED!
While Dunleavy panicked and signed Buddy Yield, overpaid for Slow-Mo, who will put GSW fans to sleep, and Pelinka was ceded managerial control to LeBron, guaranteeing 8M to his unqualified untalented son, and Sam Presti choked and took damaged goods (Topic) instead of the superior prospect (DC), our GM was (slow) cooking
Our dump to Toronto prepared us for this moment. Chef McNair (slow) cooks while this forum spirals and misrepresents and slanders our fearless leader. We have +6M in spending power than the Clippers and +17M in spending power than the Heat before factoring the exodus of contracts, namely Huerter (17M / 18M), HB (18M / 19M), Powell Duncan (19.4M / 19.9M)
Next, I want to explore next the feasibility of Demar plus one more impact player.
Demar + Kuzma (23.5M / 21.5M / 19.4M)
Demar + Cam Johnson (23.6M / 21/6M)
Demar + Markkanen (18M)
Demar + DFF (14.9M + 15.4M)
There’s NO way we are adding Demar and BI (36M). We could not take BI into our space, send out HB and Huerter, and offer Demar more than a first-year salary of 12.6M without exceeding the first apron, which would violate S&T rules. Demar is not taking 12.6M.
This fanciful notion, Demar and BI, or dream if you prefer, is dead.
Our projected space and spending limit is simple, requires exiling HB and Huerter, and staying under the hard cap. We are likely to go over the tax line with remedy possible before or at the deadline, if the owner mandates, to collect his portion of the tax revenue.
The difference between being a taxpayer and recipient is 7.3M. If we spent all the way to this 1st apron (178.6M), we could get under by dumping Lyles (8M) or Duarte and McDaniels (11M combined) at the trade deadline.
Exceeding the tax line (171.3M) temporarily seems mandatory if we want to be a serious player. It is the cost of doing business with designs on being an elite team.
How much spending power we have if find new homes for HB and Huerter equals:
Outgoing salary (34M)
Amount below 1st apron (14.6M)
Sum = 48.6M.
With this number at our disposal, let’s look at the MAX first year salary we could offer to Demar and accept a second player into our space.
Kuzma (23.5) + Demar (25.1M)
Cam (23.6M) + Demar (25.0M)
Markkanen (18M) + Demar (30.6M)
DFF (14.9M) + Demar (33.7M)
It is interesting how a 3/75 deal to DD, his alleged asking price, would still enable us to fit Kuzma and spend right to the limit. Is this a coincidence or premeditated, you be the judge.
Markkanen is the most cap friendly trade candidate until he gets a Max after next season.
Why would Ainge relinquish a beloved player in Utah and entertain our dead money for the Finnisher? He owes a 2025 or 2026 pick to OKC if they finish better than Top 8 or Top 10. It behooves them to be bad to retain their draft capital. Ainge loves his draft capital.
The Jazz may have to invent a phantom injury for Markkanen if he leads them to too much winning. Or they can remove all uncertainty and accept a trade that includes Keegan or Kuminga if they conclude neither will not be the source of much winning.
Would you deal Keegan for Lauri if it meant a lineup of:
Starters: Fox / Keon / DeRozan / Lauri / Domas
Backup: Devin / Malik / TBD / Lyles / Len
We would need one more wing defender and you have yourself something special.
The pertinent hypothetical that does not have to be answered today may not be whether Keegan will become better vs Lauri. He is already the superior defender. If you could land Lauri without giving up Keegan, you ultimately cannot afford both, and a new deal for Fox, so you must choose one.
It is moot to entertain a Markkanen trade without Keegan on multiple levels primarily because Jazz are not budging without him. In a world where Aingle relents you get two years with them together. The question our FO may be asking themselves as we speak is whether DD and Lauri on a max has more appeal than DD and Keegan on a max starting 2026-2027.
Let’s talk windows. The windows of DD Fox Domas and Lauri are aligned, the next three years. The window of Keegan is misaligned, two years away from a 3 to 5-year window of peak performance. Yet he is our best wing defender who may never flourish as a scoring option behind DD.
I wish Lauri was a better defender and fit Browns motion offense better, more of a DHO type player, but he is a walking bucket. Fox is a walking bucket. DD is a walking bucket. When not shooting blanks for threes, Malik is a walking bucket.
Opponents would be defenseless to stop us, and we have another Keon level defender in Devin. If you put a gun to my head to trade Keegan for Lauri, knowing that we have DD in the bag, and reviewing the numbers above, I would be hard pressed to pass.
A related question is are we committed to Keegan first and foremost, or helping our three best players (including DD) dominate the league?
DD changes the calculus, as clutch as Fox, footwork like a ballerina, a Mid-Range Merchant. He makes pushing your chips more tempting.
Our GM is cooking. Dinner is about to be served.
UPDATE: Apparently, Huerter could be on his way to SAS. Zach Collins, anyone?
Always appreciate anyone referencing Doctor Who on this site. Sarah Jane Smith is a personal favorite.
Help me out a little. Do your math on John Collins. A almost perfect fit next to Sabonis. 8.5 rebounds a game. Protects the rim especially the weakside. Shoots the 3 over 37%. Won’t hinder Fox DeRozen or Murray on offense. Can play at the rim. Don’t need much else and you can get him without using a first round pick. PS he is within Monty’s timeline.
Agreed! Much better than going after the smoke screens, who were never attainable– Ingram and Lauri. He’s the best player we could have gone after to remain financially well-balanced and develop as the core team we wanted– Monk, Fox, Sabonis, Keegan, Carter, and Ellis.
Another epic comment K4E.
With Greg seeming to be the only writer left on this site, perhaps you could start dropping an article once in a while, seems like TKH could use the help.
KH to SAS makes a ton of sense, they want and need shooting around Wemby and Paul. Landing Zach Collins in this trade would be nice to fill those backup Domas minutes as I see Len as an end of bench big. Zach is still only 26 and makes $7 mill a pop, not bad.
Monk reiterated his desire to start, I still think he comes off the bench, especially if DD is traded for.
Starters:
Fox
Ellis
DeDerozan
KM
Domas
Bench:
MM,Carter, Lyles, HB, Collins, Len.
I would still pick up Paul Reed with our MLE. Could replace Barnes if we happen to trade him for Collins
John Collins that is.
i would move Ellis back and insert John Collins at Power Forward. We need his rebounding and rim protection.
Isn’t it the consensus that a power forward is needed in general?
Yes, but the rumors have been showing that Monte went after the wrong players. The best options would have been John Collins, Portis, Zach Collins, and Cam Johnson (less desirable, but fine). I’m not sure how we get our “best fit” players if we go all in for DD and lose Hueter and Barnes, leaving us with very little to trade away.
We end up with another entertaining team that cannot take the next step because they have a guard playing power forward.
Sounds like Lyles may also be in the deal from latest reports which would presumably free up some space.
Say we trade for Collins in a separate trade for HB and KH and Lyles are sent out in the DD trade.
Starters:
Fox
DeRozan
KM
J. Collins
Domas
Bench:
Monk, Ellis, Carter
Z Collins, Len
Would still need to add another backup big (Reed?) and a third string true PG imo.
Who is reporting these things? My social media is non existent.
Stein, Haynes.
DeRozan has arrived in Sac. Let’s see if MM can close the deal.
MM and maybe MM can help. Hopefully , we won’t have this deal turn upside down. If so, they’ll bring in WW as well.
I would move Zach Collins up to bachup center then pick up Reed using our MLE. Now: Monk, Carter, Ellis, Reed and and Collins. Len would then be third center. I really don’t think you need a third point guard. Monk, Carter and Ellis can also play point guard if need be.
I could be mistaken but I think a sign and trade only hard caps the Kings at the first apron if they aggregate players and bring in more salary in the trade. Trading Huerter and Duarte allows for DD to sign for up to $22.5m to hard cap the Kings at the second apron instead.
This seems to make more sense when compared to salary cap in reality.
Yes please!! I would love to keep Barnes, so that we can trade him for a 4/5 that can shoot and defend– both Collins would be nice.
You read my mind. If we HAVE to go after DD, trade away our only assets in Huerter and Barnes, and include the Spurs, then I certainly want Zach Collins. A player like him helps our financial future. The DD salary scares me a bit, even though we would get better as a team. More money in the future, the growth of Keegan, and getting a defender/shooting 4/5 seems more important to me. This is why Collins would help Keegan’s growth, moving him to the 3 and letting DD play the 2. Without Collins, it’s highly likely that Keegan is the stretch 4 and does not strengthen the dribble penetration, shot creation of sorts, and solid defense against smaller players.
Excited to get another look at Colby Jones! Would like to see some improvement to his shooting and ball handling. It’d be great to see him absolutely ball out this summer league as it’d be a sign that he may actually be developing into a rotation player, which would alter the calculus on how this Kings roster moves forward. I already know who Keon Ellis is and what he can be expected to do, but it’ll be fun to see him, too.
I am excited to see the kids too!
Colby tore up the G-League when he played last year (20pts/gm on splits of 51%/38%/54% with 8rebs and 5asts – the 54% FT% is a bit worrying, but he shot 68% in college). IMO, while he is still capable of looking good during the “chaos” play we often see at tourneys like these, he is even better in an actual system where he brings all his intangibles in addition to the things he will be asked to do in his system-role. He won’t force anything though unless the coaching staff tries to make him uncomfortable by asking him to do something new.
I have a feeling that DC and staff are going to have Keon work on his 3pt fake-and-drive game because next year teams are going to be flying out on him to prevent his 3PAs (as a 42%+ shooter from 3). I think he’ll purposely include a few floaters and mid-range shots into his offensive repertoire during the tourney.
Out of Jones, Ellis, and Carter…I see Carter as being the future backup PG so I wouldn’t expect the staff to ask either Ellis or Jones to be the lead guard unless they just want to see how they do in that role.
We know Colby thrives in a system, so I think “chaos” play is exactly the kind of situation where I want to see him getting more reps. His self-creation, handle, and shooting are the things that will determine whether he’s an NBA player or not so I’d like to watch him improvise tonight.
I don’t expect any growth out of Keon, but would be pleasantly surprised by anything extra we get out of him. You’re right that his 3 will be more contested this season, but if he can hit them at a consistent rate he’s already a 20+ MPG 3&D wing. Terrific find by Monte.
Carter is probably the best ballhandler and playmaker of the trio, but I don’t see him as a PG. He’s a wing ala Hart, Caruso, Brown, etc. Maybe he can play there in a pinch, but that’s not his true position imo.
And I forget to mention Crawford! The collegiate numbers and measurements really pop off the page with this kid. Exactly the type of player we need if he can prove worth any minutes. Not expecting much but could be another diamond in the rough.
It would make sense for Demar to come to Sacramento this weekend with the Golden one center hosting the California Classic. He gets to tour the facilities, get a feel for Sacramento basketball, and being a hoop head, see some young guys. It’s up to Monte, Fox, and Sabonis to sell him the vision. I know Fox will tell him about how the Kings are an integral part of Sacramento and he will beloved by the city as soon as he signs. All indications are pointing to a big 3 here in the Capital City. Still have room for one more impact move and we go into to next season as contenders. Maybe.
Wonder if Fox sees him has a roster change worth staying around for?
I think fans are looking too much into Fox turning down an early extension. It makes no financial sense for Fox to agree to extension now when he could potentially sign a super max extension next off season. There is no incentive for him the extend now. After acquiring Derozan, their next move should be to convince the hawks to drop the pick protections so they have more options to facilitate another semi big trade. Having access to trade their 2027 pick is a better option than trading their 2028 or 2030 pick.
I think it is entirely possible that Fox wants to win. I see this as a positive because in my opinion until now he has never talked seriously about winning. He will get paid a whole bunch of money either way. Championship rings and All Star teams will not be in his future here. The organization he plays for determines that more than he does in many ways.
I like the idea of getting the pick protections back but how is that done?’
Why would Atlanta ever do that?
A couple of reasons. First 2025 is considered a very deep draft. Second, if they don’t get the first round pick in the next couple of years I think, it transfers to two second round picks. So there’s really not any good reason for them and not to drop their protection if we asked for it now. In fact, if we’re not trying to trade it, it doesn’t make any sense for us to even ask for the protections to be dropped.
Ok. That makes a little sense.
Atlanta has an asset or at least a potential asset in the protected first round picks. So they have zero reason to give them up.
Atlanta wouldn’t be giving up the pick, they would just agree to drop the protections on the pick. Meaning by dropping the protections, they will get the 2025 pick no matter what place the kings end up in the draft. Right now it’s top 12 protected in 2025 and top 10 protected in 2026. All this does is allow the kings to be able to use the 2027, 2029, and 2031 picks in a trade. Without the protections dropped, the Kings can only use their 2028 and 2030 picks in a trade. So by asking ATL to drop the protections, they have more draft assets to use in a trade. They also have a sooner pick they could trade because the further in the future the pick is, the more riskier it is to trade for the Kings because who knows what the roster is going to look like by then. By 2028, the Kings could be in a full rebuild and that pick could be a #1 overall pick. In order for all this to make sense, you have to know that teams are not allowed to trade back to back year’s 1st rd picks and that you can only trade your picks 7 years in the future.
Today in your hands you hold $500.00. If you give me the $500.00 now because I ask for it you might get the $500.00 again later but it isn’t guaranteed.
Please give me the guaranteed $500.00. Just to be nice.
You might get it back later?
Am I seeing it correctly?
Or is it because if the Kings don’t get first round picks those years Atlanta will get zero picks?
So potentially the Kings could give Atlanta a second round pick now in lieu of the future protected picks?
Can those deals approved by the NBA in the original trade be altered?
The analogy is wrong from the outset.
Using your analogy of the FRP being $500 –
ATL holds the $500 but can’t spend right now, it might even be worth much less than $500 the longer they hold it, but it will never be worth more than $500.
SAC and ATL can agree to drop the protections, making sure it is both worth $500 and spendable right now. It benefits both teams if SAC is reasonably certain it will convey in 2025 anyway.
It’s not confusing or complex at all.
There is ZERO downside to ATL agreeing to take the protections off; the only potential downside is for SAC as the $500 owed to ATL is reduced to only $100 (or two 2nds) if the Kings are one the worst 12 teams in the league next year.
Yeah…see what I wrote in one of my other posts regarding my confusion. It is not so simple. Atlanta has the leverage.
As I said, I am very glad Monte has someone other than me to sort it out.
I think it is more complex and confusing than both you and I realize.
Hopefully it works out.
Although it would benefit the Hawks to agree on dropping the pick protections, it will still most likely cost the Kings at least a 2nd rd pick. ATL has the leverage if the Kings need the protections dropped in order to facilitate a trade. Also your right, it would make no sense for the Kings to even ask for the protections to be dropped unless their plan is to use the freed up 1st rd picks in a trade.
I am glad Monte has someone other than us to sort that out.
LOL
Derozan and the Kings both have limited options at this point. This is the situation the Kings understand and are typically in.
I like the idea of some change. Maybe Derozan gets this team a few more wins?
It’s a solid signing if the price and trade is right…but I don’t get how this is being made into a major signing.
We can argue about the fit, price, etc. But this is a six time all star, two time all NBA, player who played the most minutes of any NBA player last year, and who plays a position of need for the Kings. He’s definitely the top free agent now and was one of the top free agents at the start of free agency.
So, I guess it depends how your define a major signing, but this is pretty big. Not Paul George big, but I would definitely consider it a major signing.
Among the biggest FA signings ever for the Kings.
What free agent that has an All Star appearance has signed with the Kings?
Chris Webber.
who arrived via trade (Mitch Richmond- Washington).
He re-signed as a Free Agent July 2001 ($123M/7 yrs largest at that time).
I don’t feel like the only old person here now. Thank you for remembering this as well.
The guy that to this day says he would have never played here if it was up to him at the time.
That’s the thing with the Kings though. No one ever WANTS to play here, until they get here. The love from the fans they get, win or lose, is probably the best in the nba. Other factors at play but look at Malik taking way less than he could have to stay. When CWebb got here, we were one of the worst teams in history of the league damn near and he ended up staying
I agree that they get love win or lose. It should probably be a little less comfortable in my opinion. Webber ended up falling love because he helped build a great team and a great few years.
If you are a free agent now does that opportunity exist here?
Vlade came here after Webber and crew started turning the tide. Nostalgia is great and history is a good teacher.
Turn the tide and some free agents will answer the phone.
Brad Miller.
Who came here in a trade for Scott Pollard.
Indiana signed him and then traded him to the Kings.
Which seems similar to what happened w/DeMar.
Exactly the same for all practical purposes.
A good trade.
Only Vlade!
Yes!
The man that took this team to the next level and became an All Star here.
Vlade is an awesome person and took this team to a whole new level as a player. I like seeing him around when I am that the games. He is bigger than the Kings yet he always represents the Kings.
Rajon Rondo comes to mind.
His first in a series of one year deals when most thought he was done. Loved watching him play here. A taste of the championship elite here in Sacramento.
He could probably push Fox for the starting job today.
Yeah, I sure wish we had been able to retain him for more than that single year. He was delightful to watch.
He was a player that wanted to win. He was chasing rings and had every ability to do it as well.
He was limited here and he knew it.
Yes, it’s major to get a guy like, but maybe not an amazing GM move. He is going to help us win, so I am happy to some extent with plan B.
Plan A was always to not overspend and to get taller and lengthier from a defensive and offensive standpoint. The fit is a bit off, the finances aren’t the best, losing 2 trade chips in Barnes and KH would not be ideal, and less development for Keegan is not ideal. I would give Monte a B+ at best, so I should not complain so much (an A would be John Collins with a Zach Collins backup or something with a little better fit).
He’s a signing that is at or a little better than Monk level. Probably a top ten player in this FA class, and maybe top 5 after you back out the re-signings like LeBron, Siakam, etc.
He’s not the pristine fit that a stretch 4 would be. But he would represent a “DeMarked” improvement to the talent level of the roster. And if the outgoing is negligible, hat tip to Monte and the FO for getting it done.
A true four instead of a stretch four is the reality this team needs.
Maybe this works?
It is up to Monte to sell the situation and reality of this team to Derozan.
24ppg sf that is super clutch and doesn’t miss games is not a major signing?
True!
I take it back. He will likely be an upgrade over whoever he replaces in the line up.
DeMar’s the top remaining FA. His fit isn’t perfect, but it sounds like the price to acquire him will be low enough that he should improve the Kings.
And allow us to go after a big power forward.
It is not a major signing. It is Derozan with limited options and Kings with nobody else left to choose from.
Maybe he is an upgrade?
I like him as much as whoever he will replace. The price for Derozan is going to be much more than what the fans here think is fair. Reality is different. Monte hopefully is dealing in reality.
I don’t think it’s a major signing; it’s a consolation prize for a lack of a better example. The facts are that, if the rumors are correct, Monte went after the wrong guys (BI and LM). Theses guys would cost us a lot of 1st round picks, they would hamper our finances, and even worse, might not want to stay with us long-term. It was a waste of effort, when John Collins was right in front of the office the whole time. Monte seemed to make a mistake and Ainge got a ton of publicity and trade offers, when Lauri might just be the best player for him to sign to a long-term contract.
DD fell in our laps when the Bulls announced that they could not handle a contract with him. The Bulls are lucky to have a chance at receiving some assets in a sign and trade. It just seems like most of the interested teams could not afford $22 million+ and thus could not sign him outright. This is likely why so many teams want to get in a 3-way trade to gain something from the “required trade” at this point.
It’s a better than average trade, but not the best “fit” for our team. We will take the backup option and run, but I would say Monte messed up a bit and is lucking out by not coming up empty handed. This would be awesome for him, as he would look very dumb if we don’t at least get DD.
** pardon the cynicism, but this is my objective take on it be a #2 signing and not a #1 or major signing (DD is sill older than what we really want and that we cannot refute). He’s about 4 years too old, but a pretty good player, who we could trade by February or next summer, if it does not work out.
You want the Ferraris but I already sold the ten I had. You can have this Challenger.
The guy averaged 24/4/5 on 48/33/85 with as many STOCKS as TOs (1.7). In terms of exchange value, Huerter and a couple seconds for this kind of player beats the hell out of multiple firsts + players for BI/Kuz/Cam. It’s such a good deal, in fact, that you’d STILL have the assets and cap flexibility to be able to pursue a Kuzma or Cam or Collins later in the season.
I know he’s not the player we all envisioned, nor the position we all envisioned him at, but this is a very good player potentially coming to Sacramento for very little. Of course, you’re gonna have to spend big to win big at a certain point, but the Kings aren’t there yet.
Selling the farm for a BI or Lauri or whomever was not going to be the difference between this team winning a title or not. In the meantime, Monte is continuing to identify opportunities to add talent on the cheap. If he can reel this deal in, the team will have most of the draft picks and most of the rotation players they brought into this offseason, with Carter and DeRozan thrown on top.
Fox/Monk
DeRozan/Ellis/Carter
Murray/Colby
Barnes/Lyles
Sabonis/Len
Looks like a 50 win team with excellent depth to me. Along with some prospects in Carter, Ellis, Colby, and Keegan (yes, even Keegan, since DeRozan can play next to him or just as easily fill his spot) that a team might actually be interested in trading for. No more of Barnes/Huerter/Davion and picks. Those four guys might actually reel in that elusive Big Fish.
Just for fun, here’s your trade deadline splash you’ve all been waiting on in this universe:
Barnes+Keegan+draft capital for Lauri
Fox/Monk
Carter/Ellis
DeRozan/Colby
Lauri/Lyles
Sabonis/Len
Not saying this is gonna happen, or that it’s necessarily the route I’d pursue, but it’s just the kind of thing that Monte would make possible by completing this deal. I call that a MAJOR signing.
Does Huerter and a couple of second round picks get Derozan?
That seems very light and in favor of the home team fans.
DeRozan is a free agent. The Bulls could lose him for nothing in theory. But since teams don’t have enough space to sign him outright, a S&T needs to be executed. So the Bulls will get compensation, but don’t have the leverage to demand much. For reference, the Klay Thompson S&T was two second rounders back to Warriors. Picks and cap relief is market value.
They still have to trade him. Other teams were looking at him as well.
I like the term “a few more wins” Leaves space to add what you want.
Is there still a roster spot and money left to add a guy that will get the other 10 or 15 wins this team needs?
Your trade scenarios and potential roster constructions have always been truly unique. I have admired and appreciated your contribution here from afar for quite some time.
Meanwhile, Kings (who are these guys team) about to beat the Bronnies by double digits at the Chase Center!
Is it the Kings or a bunch of guys wearing Kings jerseys?
I think Jordan Ford wore a Kings jersey last year, but didn’t recognize anyone else.
If I was a low level agent that represented undrafted basketball players I would worship Monte and Vivek. These two are my sugar daddies.
What other organization pays twenty or thirty un drafted low value players every year?
Every player that I can find I will put in a Kings shirt and get paid. I will take my low level agent cut and make good money representing JUCO and and AAU guys.
I think every NBA team now has an affiliated G League team and fields a Summer League team. Lots of undrafted, low level players get paid by NBA teams other than the Kings.
True a bunch of G League teams associated with a bunch of NBA teams.
It just seems to me that the Kings go deep into the building of summer league teams looking for players. Like a constant open door try out for the last four seats on the bench. Those last four spots recently have been up for grabs for summer league type guys.
Pretty sure every team fills out the end of their benches with two-way contract players—up to three per team as of last season. Even the champion Celtics used Neemias Quetta for some regular season games.
Quetta was well beyond summer league and timed out of the Kings roster.
Why is it that the Kings are playing six games with two rosters in this summer league tournament they created?
Everyone else involved is playing half the number of games with half the roster.
In my opinion this organization has placed a monumental amount of resources in the summer league and un drafted player realm compared to any other team. This year and in the last five or ten years.
Just my opinion. Is what it is.
I’m down with it. They get extended looks at players to determine whether they think there is any NBA quality to be found among the undrafted FA’s. Hard to argue with the results – Keon is turning out to be a major bargain. Obviously, some of the value in their focus on summer / G league will contingent on finding an occasional Ellis type. But it’s a low cost route to try players out.
I am down with it as well. The focus of this organization is different and they get different results because of it. They seriously use the summer league to try out guys for the last four seats on the bench.
Totally. In the years before the G League existed, I wished there was some kind of system similar to baseball’s minor leagues where teams could develop players. Granted, there’s a huge difference between a 26 man roster in baseball where everyone contributes and a 15 man roster in basketball where really only 8-10 players contribute.
But how many times did the Kings face teams this last season who were barely fielding a team with enough players not to forfeit? Also, there are plenty of examples of G League players who’ve forged excellent NBA careers.
In baseball, the Dodgers have been one of the best teams by developing talent in the minors. I personally kind of like the idea of the Kings getting out ahead of that curve in the NBA and placing an emphasis on development.
If they could be more like MiLB that would be great. More players available to go up and down. Allow a guy like Duarte to play for few weeks in the G League to sort his game out.
Etcetera.
I have no idea what resources are required to field summer league teams, but I’d guess that by NBA standards they would hardly be “monumental”. From Vivek’s standpoint, he probably offsets some of the expense by way of extra bookings at the Sawyer at a time when not much else would be going on downtown.
Monumental meaning two times more than any of the other teams. Not anything deeper than that.
I may have exaggerated. Winning twice as many games is monumental though so not so exaggerated.
Your opinion seems very dismissive and flippant towards young players. The cost of fielding two teams is negligible at best.
I like that SAC has two teams for this little tourney before the LVSL tourney. This is good for the players who generally don’t get floor time in front of a ton of scouts, its good for the 2nd team coaches who get a chance to grow and develop, its just good for basketball.
Not at all intended to be flippant or dismissive. It is what this organization represents in basketball. Always an opportunity created for the unknown players. Always bringing a positive basketball world to this city.
They are bringing entertainment and the basketball culture to Sacramento.
The vast majority of NBA teams solely focus on winning play off races.
It could just be that your point is not getting through the way you intended.
Look at the comment above:
You pointed to several positives and then ended it with a vague and unrelated shot at the FO insinuating that by trying to find young prospects with potential that they somehow aren’t also trying to field a team capable of wining a playoff series.
By being flippant at the end, you dismiss all the earlier positives.
This is the most in depth psycho analysis I have ever faced.
Is this the standard here?
What I said was pretty simple. Not flippant. My opinion based on my experiences and what I understand this team to be.
You see it differently. No big deal.
The CA Classic is all about finding players for the Kings, the STOCKTON KINGS.
Why on earth would you have a problem with the team you support looking under every rock for that possible diamond in the rough that somehow got over-looked or who wasn’t ready yet earlier in their career?
If they show well, they get signed to the Stockton Kings and get a chance to further develop, maybe even get a shot with the big club down the line.
I don’t have a problem with it and I have never said it is a problem. It is an intense focus of this organization. That is what I said.
They do not.
They use the Summer League to develop young players, regardless of where they sit in the rotation. Did Keegan not play? Did Mitchell not play? What about Jones, Ellis, or Carter?
The rest of the SL roster spots are to get looks at other players with potential that could be sent to Stockton for further development, the FO is just trying to get a pipeline of development going. This is what responsible organizations at the top level do in any sport.
Are the top NBA teams doing this the same way the Kings do it?
I understand you find this to be very important and it is for some situations.
And in SF:
Sac Kings Team 2 (guys you never heard of, ever) vs LAL with Bronny James, Dalton Knetch
Sac 108 LAL 94
Sac wins all 4 Quarters.
Sac led by Adonis Arms, who played one year at Texas Tech and was undrafted 2022. He’s kicked around G League, last with Memphis Hustle. The 6’6” Arms goes for 32/11/5 in his 32 min and a +30.
For Lakers: Bronny James (under 22 min, 2/9 FG, 0-3 3FG for 4 points), Knetch 3-12, 1-4 3FG in his over 26 min for 12 pts, both were -15.
Later today (tonight) Sac Team 1 plays China.
6″5 with a reported 7ft wingspan. Dude’s 26 years old but he can ball. Would like to see him on the big leagues if he can maintain that kind of play, albeit in very limited minutes.
Adonis Arms is an absolutely amazing name.
Without ever seeing him he sounds mythically large.
Is there a true four playing four China that might defect?
Charlotte just released Poku…22 y/o 3/4 with upside. Wouldn’t mind a swing for end of bench to develop
We definitely need to fill up the bench with some 4/5 with some length. Players that we can develop for cheap are also nice to have.
I’d throw the BAE at him once this DeRozan deal is sealed
KINGS SF Team:
I like all the guys below for Stockton and I hope they get added to SAC’s LVSL Team.
Jordan Ford (31) 6’1″, 6’5″ WS, PG.
We are all familiar with Ford, he is an old school small PG who does a decent job of protecting the ball and getting the team into its offense, he is not a good defender and lacks anything truly special (although he is a 40%+ 3pt shooter) which will limit his ceiling to the G-League unless a team needs an emergency PG. With that said, he is a great player to have on a G-League team when you trying to teach a system as he won’t turn the ball over and is always looking to get others involved and in the right position. Can also get his own shot when needed.
Adonis Arms (45) 6’6″, 7’0″ WS, SG/SF.
Easily the best player on the court today. Looks like a 3-level scorer with a little post-up game, scored on dunks/layups/mid-range/and a couple of 3s. Most of his shots were self-created and on several occasions he finished through contact (dude seems strong) and has varying moves to finish around the rim. Rebounded well and shows some flashes of playmaking as well. Went undrafted in 2022, played for Denver (2022) and Memphis G-league teams (2023).
Antoine Davis (36) 6’1″, no info on wing-span, PG/SG.
NCAA’s 2nd leading scorer of all-time (behind only Pistol Pete Maravich). He is the sole all-time leader in 3PAs (38%+ on nearly 11 3PAs/game).Volume scorer, good 3pt shooter, good in the PnR, and nice self-creation skills. Like most volume shooters, needs to work on shot selection. Went undrafted in 2023.
Yvev Pons (35) 6’6″, 7’0″ WS, SF/PF.
Can legit fly. Career 33% from 3 (college and pro) and looks to have good feet. Tons of raw athleticism, needs development, is not afraid of contact, plays physically. Former SEC defensive player of the year (2020). Went undrafted in 2021, played in France (2022) and Spain (2023).
Adonis Arms reminded me of Terrance Williams, who I really liked during his short stint with the team back in the day.
They both play with a violent nature, as a defense-first player who can score some, Arms reminds me of an early-career KCP.
DeRozan coming!
Happy now, bitch?
Haha, who’s the bitch in this situation? I’ll play along and be one. I’ll be happy if/when this thing gets locked in. I’m hoping they’re working on expanding the S&T scope to somehow get Zach Collins in a Kings uni. After the S&T is consummated, I hope they’ll act quickly to use the MLE or remaining expendable assets to procure a PF.
3 years for $70 mil– that’s a better deal than much younger, rising studs!
Awesome! Sure wish we had given up Huerter in that deal instead, but I’ll take Barnes outgoing.
Barnes to SA and Duarte plus two second rounders and cash. Monte earned his money on this one, as now we can trade Hueter. I was Huerter was gone instrad of Barnes, but I’m sure most GMs would want Barnes for a few reasons (better contract to move, more versatile post up game, good career 3pt, plays a lot of games), and a bonafide leader who never complains.
Barnes to San Antonio, glad they found him a good place to land.
Duarte to Chicago.
I guess McNair couldn’t close the deal on anything else today. Loser.
No more having to hear Kings fans complain about Duarte! I wonder who’ll be their whipping boy now?
Super stoked for Barnes. He lands in a situation where his veteran leadership should be really appreciated. What a great Sacramento King he has been!
I am going to miss HB, he was a great Sacramento King!
I’ll never forget HB receiving that long football pass from Fox on the endline before hitting that game-winning sideline 3 over Dean Wade and Collin Sexton then patting him Sexton on the ass as he walked by. It was cold.
Wish he stayed and KH was traded.
Godspeed Harrison, a classy gentleman and a great leader by example on the floor
Badge Legend