The NBA Summer League marks the beginning of the Darius Acuff Jr. era in Sacramento. The No. 7 overall pick headlines a seven-game July slate for the Kings, opening with the California Classic warmup in Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas.
Here is the schedule
- Sat, July 4 — vs. Brooklyn, 2:00 PM in Sacramento
- Sun, July 5 — vs. Golden State, 2:00 PM in Sacramento
- Mon, July 6 — vs. Milwaukee, 7:00 PM in Sacramento
- Thu, July 9 — vs. LA Clippers, 8:00 PM in Las Vegas (ESPN)
- Sun, July 12 — vs. Washington, 5:00 PM in Las Vegas (Prime Video)
- Tue, July 14 — vs. Brooklyn, 3:00 PM in Las Vegas (Prime Video)
- Wed, July 15 — vs. Boston, 5:00 PM in Las Vegas (ESPN2)
Three of the seven opponents feature a top-six pick. Interestingly, two of those players were taken right before Acuff (Keaton Wagler and Mikel Brown Jr.). The Kings and Acuff get a shot at going up against the No. 1 overall pick as well in AJ Dybantsa.
It also will be interesting to see how Acuff fits next some of the other young Kings players like Maxime Raynaud, Nique Clifford, Dylan Cardwell, Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban.
OT: Interesting. I think he ends up in Minny on a vet minimum.
Orlando probably wants to win a playoff series and more. This might be a good Domas trade if we get what we want from the following: Wendell Carter, Da Silva, Bitadze, Suggs, and Jett Howard.
I think ORL at some point has to consider breaking up Franz and PB. The two don’t gel well and are handsomely paid.
Franz: 5/$224
PB: 5/$239
Those are two massive contracts tied to two dudes who haven’t elevated the Magic in the playoffs.
There’s a sh!t ton of bad contracts across the NBA that are astronomical in number.
Paying max money to non-stars is a recipe for disaster.
I feel both of those guys are incredible basketball players, but I’m not sure they are alphas that lead a team deep into the playoffs. If you put one of those guys next to Luka, Jokic, Ant, or even Brunson…look out, because that’s a contender.
Therein lies the dilemna for teams. Paying non super stars max money. Fox is another good example. He simply should not be making anything close to max money as someone who’s probably at best the third best player on a contender.
OKC paid all three of their big 3, obviously SGA deserves it, I don’t think Chet or JW are worth their contracts. We already saw this playoffs JW was unavailable and Chet got cooked by Wemby.
I can go on with these examples as we have a few on our roster as well. Philly and those dumb contracts Morey gave to PG and Embiid – both of whom have a long and proven track record of unavailability- were dumb at the time and only look dumber now.
I think FOs, including ours, are begining to realize that in this apron era, you can’t be overpaying non-elite players, and the whole big 3 era is over.
Orlando declined Howard’s option for the upcoming season, so he’s a UFA. Given the FA market, he may come cheap as a young wing still with the potential for some upside.
Yeah, I’d take a chance to see how his 3pt shooting and defense can be,
Orlando is having some cap issues, and moving on from Isaac helps them a bit. Be a good backup to McDaniels in Minnesota.
Yeah, this is just a cap issue for Orlando. Isaac is only guaranteed $8M of his $14M. They are probably going to stretch that $8M to get below the tax. He had completely fallen out of the rotation down there, so I’m guessing he gets the vet minimum on his next deal, if there even is a next deal.
Max Money is easier in hindsight- of course.
Anthony Davis – great great player but injuries are his calling card. How do you gamble on health? At 33 and his track record, his current contract is awful value. But he wouldn’t stay with LAL unless they exchanged the good risk for the bad. It was foolish then and is more so now.
Dallas decided that same deal with Luka. (Cooper Flagg was a major bailout and they still have Kyrie to deal with) But, of course, Luka’s younger, so the risk goes down. When healthy, like (younger) AD, a supreme talent. Not available for the playoffs, so the Lakers head into the postseason led by a healthy 41 year old. Nico Harrison infamously decided NOT to take that gamble (Note: Warriors hold #1 and #10 highest paid contracts and neither player healthy for the Play In)
LaMelo and Charlotte on a lesser scale, but they signed him on hope and … he’s in Charlotte – like Sacramento – who else are you going to sign? Zion? Ja?
Max money is mad money much of the time – certainly, it’s what separates the teams and GMs. Let’s see how nimble OKC is – and what the players and agents determine is loyalty to their commitments.
Best current Max Money signings? SGA? Jokic? Steph? Booker? Jaylen? Jayson? Giannis?
It’s easy to point the finger at the worst ones. Which ones do you like?
I’d of been all for this a few years ago, just too old for this timelines now
Looking forward to these SL games…they’ve become some of my favorite games of the year.
SL is the only time of the year when this team doesn’t look like they’re light years behind the rest of the league.
The Kings are the 1960s Celtics of Summer League
It says something about this organization when a big chunk of it’s fans are looking forward the most to Summer League because it’s the only way to realistically taste some success.
Thanks, Vivek.
King’s fans have it rough. It’s been two decades of this nonsense with one successful season mixed in which was oddly dismantled right away by MM and Vivek.
My theory (tinfoil hat if you will) is that Doug Christie, a Vivek plant, was scheming to take over for Brown, and created a schism between Fox/Brown vs Domas/Monk.
I also believe DDR was a classic Vivek acquisition and MM had little power after the Beam Team season.
Whatever, the constant in all the dysfunction is Vivek (and Matina)
Yes- Vivek AND Matina. Who else signs Vlade, Peja, BJax, and Doug Christie to organizational positions? Matina through Vivek. Ranadive has no ties to the Legacy Kings of 25 years ago. Matina does.
Vivek follows up with Anjali to even the score. Nepotism and Favoritism. It’s the mark of insecurity that headlines all Sacramento Kings decisions.
I repeat myself often. I repeat myself often.I repeat myself often. The NBA is the responsible party at this point, by allowing such egregious tomfoolery to continue unabashed. We fans are held hostage. Yes, we can choose to not watch, but that’s just silly.
SELL THE TEAM.
I’ve lost a lot of respect for the NBA being “responsible.” There all about profit over everything else, including integrity. Gone are the days of Stern growing the brand and making it a fan experience.
This whole Kawhi and Clippers scandal is being swept under the rug and now the new owner in PDX looks as slimy as they come. He’s poised to kill an amazing fanbase and franchise with his policies. He just recently stated he would not help with the renovations of the MODA Center and that it should be entirely publicly funded. The writing is on the wall up there and the relocation clock is ticking.
All of this makes me feel that Vivek and his antics will continue to be overlooked. He has value to the NBA as being a minority owner and his ties to India. It’s the only reason he’s still around.
The NBA isn’t saving Sacramento. Vivek will neve sell unless he willfully decides to sell.
The only thing that can save this franchise is Acuff becoming Dame 2.0. There’s no other player on this roster that projects to be a star. No star FA will ever walk through that door. We’ll likely never pick high under Vivek unless absolute luck strikes with the lottery.
It all rides on Acuff and I believe he’ll be a superstar and save Perry’s arse.
Agree, and I only wish he would sell. But the other owners are exactly like the asshole billionaires running this country. They don’t give a shit about anyone and they only care about their money.
we just gotta hope somehow this owner gets distracted like James Dolan did.
Was reported by a number of sources that all of those moves were made by this stupid owner.
I mean every time it’s him. He had to stick his greedy little hands in there.
and it’s a total bummer that Doug is running this team. He is not a professional head coach. Certainly not at this point.
Vivek is a turd and Monte didn’t dismantle the team. That was Vivek. It’s always the shit owner.
It’s a distraction to blame others for what is the owners fault.
It’s always this owner. To bad he won’t fuck off already
Not letting Monte off the hook. If all those terrible decisions were 100% Vivek’s doing, then Monte can grow a pair of balls and tell all. Until then, F them both.
For the first time since the Beam Team, I’m excited to watch this young team and their #7 pick compete in the summer league.
I hope somewhere, LaBradford is smiling. Miss that guy.
He had to get a second job to payoff those maxed-out credit cards.
The next shoe to drop will likely be DeMar DeRozan and his $10M guarantee, also likely to be stretched (two seasons or three?).
For Orlando – here’s a wild one:
Franz Wagner + Anthony Black
For
Keegan Murray + Malik Monk + Devin Carter
(works with NBA Trade Machine)
Murray is a low usage used to be 3 but good D starter to match with Banchero, Monk gives them much needed offense, DC is a developing young player.
Wagner is a nice frontcourt match for Sac, though oft injured, Black is a 6’7″ Guard, a strong defender who has a team option and would pair nicely with Acuff.
Noway. Rather have Murray than Wagner,
In a vacuum Wagner is a better player, but when you consider contracts, I’d rather have Keegan.
Both players have regressed since their first few years. I’ll take the cheaper bet to get back to the mean.
Kings need stars. Keegan is at his best, a really good complementary player, given his complete lack of playmaking and inability to get to the line.
Wagner is a year younger, and just a season ago scored 24.2 ppg, with 5.7 rebs and 4.7 assist. He can be a second star on a good team.
So even if Franz isn’t a Batman, he can certainly be a Robin. Keegan can be an Alfred…
If Acuff is supposed to be the man, I’d target Suggs on that Orlando team. He’s on a good descending contract, and an excellent defender to share the backcourt with Acuff.
I think Orlando sees Black as their future backcourt mate to Bane and would like to move off one or more of their long term deals. Maybe an Hunter (expiring) package and a pick for Suggs?
Black is on the last year of his rookie scale and is extendable right now, but Orlando really can’t afford another long term deal. IMO, either Black or Suggs will be moved if they are intent on keeping Paolo and Franz
I don’t think the first round pick would be worth it (I don’t think they want anyone other than Sabonis), so I would take Suggs, Carter, and DaSilva for Sabonis. I would be curious if they ask for a first-rounder (I would not give that up), I would settle on 1-2 second rounders to close the deal for Orlando. Carter can start or play 4/5 off the bench, Suggs can play about 25 minutes with Acuff (Nique and Carter would play some 1/2), and DaSilva is part of the reason for the trade (to see how he develops).
Franz: 5/$224
I’m not buying that. He hasn’t proven to be a $45 mill a year player.
keegan: 5$140
Keegan is better value at $28 mill per.
But neither is worth their contracts imo.
Orlando would want at least 3 first rounders added to the Kings package.
Might be – and that’s too high a price, IMO. would you do 2 FRP? 1?
Just my opinion, but trading Hunter is likely a non starter for SPSP (6 pillar Scott Perry) – as he was already bashed for Dennis Schröder/Keon to get DeAndre Hunter. It would mark a trend and an undesirable label to his choices.
Keegan signing, less so.
IMO, Hunter is an expiring contract and approaching 30. He’s really not part of any future here, just a placeholder. He has no ties here virtually every other 29 pastures are greener.
Now, if Perry works out some sort of extension this offseason for Hunter, I’d change my tune about him being a Perry type guy, but until then he was just a correction to a bad Dennis deal to get an expiring contract.
As to trading first round picks, it’s not my fancy. I feel this team has really no business trading away the future for win now dudes. If it’s a singe pick for a solid upgrade for someone not on a max, I’d consider it.
Is Franz better than Keegan? Yeah. Is he worth nearly twice the price of Keegan plus picks? I don’t think so. If Keegan can stay healthy this season and becomes more of a focal point of the offense, while putting up a solid 15 and 7, I think he’d be better value to contract.
Meanwhile the Cavs are rumored to be looking to offload Schroeder (if anyone will take him) and are not likely to bring back Keon.
The Keon ship sailed when they chose not to extend him. They simply can’t afford him.
No picks = no Franz, and that is perfect. We can’t take on players for 35+ million when we are a trashy, developing team. Any re-signing of Hunter needs to be 20 mill or less over no more than 3 years.
Thank that gods.
Could they be gathering pieces to still pursue Sabonis?
I hope CHA is targeting Domas.
I absolutely love what they are doing this offseason.
Sold high on Lamelo. Got a steal in Naz and all those picks.
And guess who is the prototype player you want next to Domas? Naz. He shoots 40 per from 3 and could space the floor around Domas.
White
Kon
Miller
Naz
Domas
That’s a legit 5 in the East.
That is a nice starting 5. Domas would most certainly help with their rebounding and playmaking as neither White or Naz are great at those respective skills.
Sadly, I think that would mean Grayson Allen would part of the package coming to the Kings due to his contract, and I’m not fond of that dude. I’d insist on Salaun being included.
Yes, I think Sabonis would really help in the development of Kon and Miller on O.
He makes a ton of sense for CHA.
Sabonis for Grayson Allen, Grant Williams, and Trajun Salaun works financially and saves the Kings almost $5M.
For that haul, I would rather keep Sabonis. The trade above is a must for me unless we get 2 first-round picks. Diabete and Kalkbrenner would need to be included if we don’t get picksm while Williams is trash at this point and Allen should be on a team trying to compete, so no thanks.
It’s obvious to say that we cannot get fleeced here. Wiliams and Allen = a huge waste of Sabonis’ talent and help developing Acuff.
If CHA throws in one of those Minny swaps, I’d do this deal in a heartbeat.
Salaun for sure, Diabete, Kalkbrenner, and McNeeley + any financial filler. We would waive Hayes, stretch DDR, and try to sell Monk/Hunter very fast.
HUGE sigh of relief.
Two bullets dodged.
Just came in to say that. Bridges got traded, don’t give a shit where (but my preference would be the North Carolina Penal League) just that it wasn’t the Kings.
Should we authorize Perry, to let Vivek out of the Maloof phone meeting closet? Nah. Keep him in there.
https://x.com/shamscharania/status/2071291133062263247?s=46
Thank goodness we don’t have to think about the possibility of Bridges being on this team.
The Hornets ditched two douchebags this offseason, that in and of itself is a win.
Dodged the Miles Bridges bullet, thankfully.
I like Booker, he doesn’t deserve this.
Punches are more of his fancy.
Dhillon Brooks and Miles Bridges walk into a bar…
Correct me if i’m wrong (i always am), but isnt today the deadline when Zach can opt in to his PO?
I think it’s June 29th.
Per KOC:
Sources say that regardless of what happens with DeRozan, the Kings have attached draft capital to players in offers to other teams as part of an effort to cut salary.
I don’t like the sound of this. Vivek’d.
Vivek is about making money for himself, not about making a quality product for the fans.
I sure hope not. Crippling the future for short term gains.
Unless they are getting some good young players back in return that are cheaper and saves money, sending out picks is just dumb.
Lavine opted in and water is wet.
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