Two Sacramento Kings players spoke out recently about this season. DeMar DeRozan and Jake LaRavia are in two very different points of their careers. One is a 16-year veteran and future Hall of Famer who has experienced a lot of success and is interested in winning now. The other is a 23-year-old trying to find his place in the league. Because of that, the lens DeMar DeRozan and Jake LaRavia respectively viewed this season through is quite a bit different.
That being said, let’s take a look at what they said.
Let’s start with the positive, shall we?
LaRavia did an interview with Basketball Insiders and sounded like he enjoyed his time in Sacramento, complimenting the fans and playing up the connection he made with Doug Christie. He also left the door open to coming back even with his complex contract situation.
“I really did enjoy being there in Sacramento, even outside of the coaches and the players, the fanbase there was amazing. I could see going back there as an option. … Me and Doug kind of clicked pretty early, just because he liked the way I play. He likes those energy guys… I thought I had a really good relationship with him. … I had even told [the Kings] in the exit interviews that they gave him [Christie] the head coaching job, I’d look forward to going back there even more. … I found my groove and I was doing everything on the court, which is what I strive to do every game. It’s not just scoring and playmaking, but it’s defense, hustle plays and all of the little things… I was able to carve out that role off the bench as that energy guy.”
LaRavia averaged 6.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and nearly 1 steal per game in 19 minutes per game in Sacramento.
The article mentioned the following teams LaRavia would be interested in: Kings, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, San Antonio Spurs and the Denver Nuggets.
The complicated part with him is his contract situation. The Memphis Grizzlies declined his team option before trading him to the Kings, which makes him an unrestricted free agent. As a result, the Kings can’t match offers and can only extend a salary of around $5.1 million.
Now to DeRozan.
He appeared on the Run Your Race podcast and spoke on what a challenge this season was with the Kings, going so far to say that he is still processing it all. He noted the constant changes, instability and lack of team identity as reasons.
“It was a lot of firsts from the standpoint; like you said, it was just a lot that transpired, a lot went on, from firing coach to trading their franchise player, just so much stuff that just transpired, man, that I never would imagine. You know what I mean? That was a first. Just from my experience of me just being a leader, just trying to keep everybody just locked in for the most part, I try to just be that and be in a moment and try to figure out how to get through whatever it is we need to get through, make whatever we need to do work. So, it was a challenge. Still a lot, even to this moment, still trying to just process everything that went on.”
DeRozan, who averaged 22 points (47% from the field), 4.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds this season, elaborated more.
“It was so new because even getting Zack [LaVine] and knowing like, all right, damn, you’re walking into a lot of stuff that transpired, too, this year. That even in the midst of everybody that’s here, we’re still trying to adjust and figure it out, too. It made it tough at times trying to establish something with the new guys coming, too, because we’re still trying to figure out. … That’s what made it even more difficult at times, where we had moments in spurts where it was great, then you had moments in spurts where it just was tough. Rightfully so, looking back on it because everything changed so much whether if it was defensive schemes, offensive schemes, rotations, then we had to deal with injuries. Malik [Monk] got hurt at the end. So, it was just a lot that was going on that was tough to comprehend in the moment. … Everything was just tough. It was just tough. We came out with the year that we came out that nobody wanted. But just us having to find what our identity was going to be made it tough on us.”
You can’t disagree with anything he said here and you have to feel for the guy at this stage in his career considering how productive he still is. I am sure it was very tough, and it probably makes it tough on the Kings to attract other players when you have a guy like DeRozan talking this way about how things were run this season.
It has been reported that the Kings are exploring trade options for DeRozan, which would probably be best for both sides at this point.
We will have to see how things play out with LaRavia, who showed a lot of promise in his 19 games with the Kings. He plays hard and makes winning plays, and the more guys you have like that on your team the better. It will just be a matter of if other teams saw enough in him to push the Kings out of the picture money-wise.
i really like LaRavia.He brings a lot to the table for the Kings. I hope the Kings can retain him for more than 1 season.
The Kings can offer 5.1 million… right now. I can see a reality in which the Kings retain DeRozan for another season, but I don’t find it very likely. Depending on how they maneuver that they could absolutely open the door for additional funds to use. And they’re going to need to because they need a lot more than Jake LaRavia and if all they have to spend is 5.1 million…
there just seems to be a huge contradiction in Kingsland: blow it all up vs. make improvements and keep pushing for success like making the playoffs- without blowing it up and the second choice is where the contradiction lies. Perry said we need a PG, others have pined for a top 15 PG. To get a top 15 PG, you have to blow it up, start at the base level and in so doing the team will not be competitive. Getting y that PG- Young, Morant, etc. would cost enough that playoffs are not possible. We had 3 top PG’s-Hali, Fox and Luka and messed all that up Three!
The best way to get a topflight PG is to draft that person but oh! no pick this year. Options- get a second tier PG- Jerome, T. Jones, don’t trade the farm, , finish low, draft high for a PG but that’s a crap shoot. The Kings have no one to trade that would bring in a topflight PG- there is no reverse DS for Hali trade here.
I suggest the very first option- and this is a high, high risk- move them all, go down to the studs and start over. Get below the cap and get in the bottom 4 – although that is not the road to success as it was in the past. Tanking is less successful. OKC beat us to the punch there. DDR has to go while there is value, Lavine is deadweight. Somebody will want DS and Monk.
the double speak of we want to make improvements and compete coupled with we need a top 15 PG is just BS.
Many of us agree that blowing it up and going full youth movement is best option but it just won’t happen with Vivek as owner.
Yeah, it ain’t happening with Vivek as owner and that is why I don’t waste my time with that fantasy.
Vivek wants the Kings to be “relevant” (which they aren’t), and thinks that the 9th or 10th seed is relevant in the NBA.
Just read where a 3 way trade between the Hawks, Raptors and Kings. The Raptors get Sabonis and the Kings get Quickly, Poelti and Walker. You get your point guard. Poelti and Valancuinas together isn’t bad and Walker is a young up and coming SG. Yahoo Sports has a four way where Heat get DDR Pistons get Collins, Jazz get Rozier Miami’s 2027 first and SAS first. Kings get Tobias Harris. Last I have Monk a 2027 first and our #42 second to the Pels for Herb Jones. Retain LaRavia.
Starters: Quuckly, LaVine, Murray(#3 where he should be) H. Jones and Poelti
Backup: Carter, Ellis(my choice for next years 6th man of the year) Harris, LaRavia and I. Jones and JV as backup center.
All just hypothetical but who knows what might happen. You have scorers and defenders.With Carter Murray Jones and LaRavia as defenders that’s pretty good.
Unfortunately, due to his contract status (MEM declining his option prior to the trade), the Kings are capped at offering LaRavia $5.1MM regardless of their available cap space.
I hope he returns, I would even prefer LaRavia to retaining Lyles and I’m big Lyles fan. Part that is that I think IJ could soak up those Lyles minutes.
The truth is, he is worth more than $5.1 and someone will pay him more than that, especially in a shallow free agent pool.
Not to mention pretty much all the teams he said he was interested in would be way more attractive to go to, as a lot of those teams like San Antonio and Detroit are on an upswing.
He could get more from those teams he listed, for sure. San Antonio seems like a great fit.
I agree, but I still hope they make him an offer right away as those other teams will likely have to wait for other dominoes to fall in FA first.
He may come back if he likes it enough here though…would just have to sacrifice for a year. Kings could give him a 2yr w/ a player option for the second, and then give him an extension he deserves next off season.
I don’t want slow processors on this team.
I am a 16 year (give or take) fan of this team, and I have long moved past it and am focused and ready to face the changes, turmoil and disappointments of the upcoming season.
I will soon let y’all know that I’m in the best shape of my life. Right after I finish this donut.
I’ll expect to see the obligatory mid-summer gym pics
There goes Vivek’s dream of having Intel Celeron be the team’s new sponsor.
Nerd!
Hey! I resemble that remark!!!
I have no idea if LaRavia is on the radar of any other front office. But all it takes is one team to make a higher offer, and then I don’t see him staying. If I’m LaRavia, I’m asking Monk how signing for less is working out for him in Sacramento.
There are other ways to retain LaRavia. Offer him a 2 year with the second year an option.
His agent will strongly advise him to take a deal elsewhere for multiple guaranteed years as opposed to one guaranteed year in Sac. There is very little chance he leaves that kind of money on the table to return to this shit show.
Even if he wants to stay here?
Ultimately, the agent works for the player. If the player wants to stay, then the agent should do what he can to get the player the best deal possible. I hope he wants to stay because I think he is the type of player the Kings need.
Why would anyone stay in Sac at one year at $5.1M when someone else may be offering something like 3 years at $20M? No player should leave guaranteed money on the table. He could blow out his knee in the first week next season and never get paid again. Take the sure thing and don’t pull a Bonzi Wells.
But he said he enjoyed being here in Sacramento!!!
Are you implying that he just was polite, or being media-savvy?
I had an epiphany this morning while doing my daily check-in at TKH. We are a peer support group and we’re going to need to really embrace that aspect of the site this season.
I wish we still had JLV here. He was an MVP of support groups.
The site broke JLV years back. If he were on the site now, I don’t even know if he could stay positive with all the negativity and pessimism surrounding the Kings.
My pessimism has transitioned into accepted hopelessness.
..and a touch of apathy.
add a pinch of purgatory.
I have become silent—almost
Did the site break him or did the Kings break him?
The team (Vivek) broke our spirits.
When did he disappear? I remember him going back at bit at str but haven’t thought about him outside of the beam team year and how he probably loved it. Did he show up around those times?
To Vladivek: Hello! My name is Iñigo Montoya. You killed my fandom. Prepare to die!
Have fun stormin’ the castle!
It’s so much cheaper than your typical therapist too!
First of all, thanks for these recaps, Blake. In a slow NBA news cycle I appreciate you finding these interviews and analyzing them for us.
From what I understand, agents are just as much apart of trade talks as GMs. Often times it’s the agents who put the details together to get their players where they want them, especially big name players. If I were Perry, I’d let DDR’s agent do the legwork here. I imagine DDR wants one last shot at a title and might even be willing to take a diminished role on a contender to do so. Contenders are also likely looking to massage their payrolls down while remaining competitive. I can see a situation where DDR is sent off to a team like Denver, Warriors, Celtics, Cavs etc in exchange for a salary dump by those teams. The return would be minimal for the Kings, but it might come with som future 2nd round picks.
Just a couple of butt pulled examples: DDR and TD for Jrue Holiday or DDR and Monk for Porter Jr and Nnaji
The Celtics trade cuts their cap down by $7M and gives them a wing in DDR while Tatum is out. Kings eat a long and expensive contract in a rapidly aging Holiday, which would likely come with some future draft capital.
The Nuggets trade gets them below the 1st apron and out of Porter Jr’s deal. They also get two scorers in DDR and Monk to remain competitive. Monk could be valuable to them, especially is Westbrook leaves. Kings get a big outside shooting wing to pair with Keegan and Sabonis.
Will any of these happen? Doubtful, but they do get DDR to a contender, those contenders cut salary, and the Kings get players they can use.
I could see the Nuggets accepting that deal. I think they are one of the teams that wants to shed salary, badly. Nuggets don’t have much draft capital, which would be nice to get something in return. But the Kings would address the starting PF spot, and maybe Nnaji would replace Lyles. I think Nnaji might be a guy with some untapped potential that just didn’t fit in Denver for some reason.
Kings would still need a starting PG and a backup PG, so that creates some issues.
I feel it’s going to be damn near impossible to fill all the holes this summer, which is one of the main arguments for a total rebuild. The Kings do have serviceable guards, but what they don’t have are large wings. They currently employ just one: Keegan. Folks may have varied opinions of what is more pressing, a wing or a PG, butI think I’m currently in the camp of “get a wing.” The Kings may be able to find a service stopgap at PG with MLE, but what they really need is a long wing to pair with Keegan and Sabonis.
I agree. Get the wing when you can, find a decent PG to fill in for the time being. MPJ and Nnaji would fill the Wing/PF slot and buy some time for the “PG of the future” to either develop or be brought in.
Wild that we just traded two of them hehe. Thanks Vivek
Not great moves. Moving Hali, I can understand the reasoning at the time. But they stopped adding to the roster after the 22-23 season, which was a huge mistake.
The return on the Fox trade was not what the team needed to sustain any form of long term success.
You could get Tre Jones for our MLE. He fits ever box on what the Kings need and want. Trade Monk a first and our#42 for Herb Jones. The Pels are putting everyone on the trade block even Murphy. Now you have your point guard and defensive big wing. That probably puts Murray at the 3 where IMO that’s where he should be. Carter, Ellis, Murray and Jones. Pretty good defensive bunch. And if you can get LaRavia it even makes it better.
If instead of Jones and you still have DDR then DDR and Monk for MPJ is also a good fit. I had a four way trade where DDR is traded and we get Tobias Harris. Then you have to decide on MPJ or Herb Jones and Tobias Harris. Tough decision.
Would love to DDR and Monk for MPJ and Nnaji. You have Domas, 3 snipers, (Levine SG, Keegan F and MPJ at PF), but you need a PG. Why not resurrect Ben Simmons to start on the cheap. He distributes, and plays D. Let Devin Carter get backup PG minutes. We are prob gonna lose Jake, which sux…
From what i have read, the C’s likely need to attach a First to Holiday in order to get a team to bite.
The Nuggets are going to try like hell to turn MPJ into mulitple rotation players. We actually have some players that fit what they need (perimeter scoring). I think both DDR and MM would be appealing to them. I’m not sure I want to be in the MPJ business though. He’s a walking injury and in many ways just a spot up 3 pt shooter. Hard pass imo.
Porter Jr does have his issues, but he is exactly the kind of player to pair with Keegan and Sabonis. He also has just one more year on his deal after next season and is currently a depressed asset. If you are just giving up DDR and Monk for Porter Jr, I’m 100% behind it.
Doing some research I find he doesn’t defend, runs out to defend the perimeter with no causion, loses his man a lot my just looking around etc. IMO I would rather use Monk as per above to get Herb Jones who every year he has been in the top ten on all defensive catagoties. Pair him with Murray and you have 2 back to back really good defenders. If we keep LaRavia along with Carter and Ellis look out. Still have DDR which in a really easy 4 way trade we also get Tobias Harris one of the steadiest players around to backup Murray or Jones.
Dude, Monk is not getting Herb Jones. A non-defense playing bench player is not going to net a starting long all-defense wing, even if you include a future first. The Kings would be giving up nothing defensively by moving DDR and Monk for Porter Jr. but are getting a long 3pt shooting specialist who can also rebound.
And can’t play defense.
Let’s see what happens this summer. If we can’t get Jones then I would do the trade for MPJ.
OT: Good article over at the Athletic (pay wall) on how Presti built today’s Thunder beginning way back in 2007 with a trade involving Steve Kerr as GM of the Suns.
Basically Kerr was told to cut salary in PHX and needed to move Kurt Thomas. The only team that could eat his deal at the time was Seattle. Kerr was forced to send picks to Presti to get him to take on Thomas’ deal. One of those picks was #24 in 2008. It ended up being Ibaka. After good years with Ibaka, Presti flipped him to Orlando for Oladipo and the #11 pick in 2016. That ended up being Sabonis. Presti then flipped both Sabonis and Oladipo for Paul George in 2017. Then, as we all know, Presti flipped George to the Clips for a little known SGA and a shit ton of picks, one of which ended up being Jalen Williams in 2022.
From one pick in 2008 for eating a bad deal from a team desperate to cut salary, to SGA, Jalen Williams and even more picks coming. Prest is a mad fucking genius. Perry should take note.
Perry is not the main person who should take note.
I agree. Whom did you have in mind. lol.
Some dismissive little chap.
This makes me think back to not retaining Petrie, or listening to his advice on the skinny Greek kid. That 1 pick alone(with more to follow) would have changed the franchise in a similar way for the past however it lasted. Obviously the thunder are set up for the next decade but retaining a gm had value for them when they could have also cleaned house going to okc.
Deck chairs, a change in buoyancy, and some really cold and salty water.
Or something like that.
OT: How do you think Towns and Sabonis would pair together? Offensively I think it would be fairly dynamic. Defensively…ehhh, probably terrible.
You are right on the defense.
Not the biggest fan of it, but I get the idea. My perfect front court pairing for Sabonis would be Bam, but that would mean sending Domas to Miami, because they aren’t shipping Bam out.
Should the Kings look to reset, Domas for Rozier, Jovic, Ware, and Jaquez Jr. is a package I could get behind. Kings get a young center and two young wings. Rozier is just a PG place holder. Heat then have Domas, Bam, Herro, and Wiggins. That’s a solid core.
And you still might get MPJ. Let me do some research and I will get back to you. Sounds it might work.
OK I’m back.I like the trade that sends Sabonis to the Heat for Rozier Jovic Ware and had to plug in Highsmith for Jaquez Jr. to make the trade work. Don’t have a problem with that. Ware is young but talented and if we still get MPJ then he would help out on the boards. Jovic and Highsmith both are good bench players. I still for now like Tre Jones as our point guard.
Starters: Jones, LaVine, Murray, Porter Jr and Ware.
Backups: Carter, Ellis,Highsmith,LaRavia, Jovic, I Jones, JV and Rozier.
I can live with that. Thanks Adamsite.
It works with Jaquez Jr. as well. I’d prefer him due to age and rookie scale contract. Ware, Jovic and Jaquez are on rookie, team controlled, deals. Highsmith is a UFA after next year. For me, it’s about stocking the asset cupboard. Those three would have value even if the Kings eventually flipped them.
Okay I see your reason.
I don’t see how Bam and Domas work. Neither are floor spacers, and they seem to both operate in the high post area. Defensively, yeah, Bam would cover a lot of Domas’s deficiencies.
I agree, they are too similar.
JJJ is a better pairing and the type of big that slots in nicely between Domas and Murray. A stretch 4 who can defend at all three 3 levels.
They’re tough to find available, but there are players like this that could be had (Obi Toppin, Jabari Smith, Tari Eason) but will be expensive in terms of assets to acquire.
I guess I envision Domas operating out of the elbow with Bam in a lob position with shooters all round them. This also doesn’t take into consideration that Domas is basically an outside threat now at 37% over the past 3 years. He’s evolution is following a similar path as Brook Lopez. I’m sure Spolz can figure it out.
My issue with Domas shooting 3s is that defenses don’t care if he shoots or not because his volume is low (2.2/game this season) and he only takes WIDE OPEN set shots. It’s not an aspect of the offense that needs to be schemed for, and I don’t think his shooting affects the game all that much.
I am sure there could be an offensive scheme that incorporates his 3pt shot more, but as of now it’s not really a factor, imo.
So many critical off seasons, so little time.
Sam Veciene has posted his offseason preview for the kings on his game theory podcast. I encourage everyone to listen he’s still one of my favorite analyst guys.
HolyMoly –
Thibs out in Knicks Land.
Poor move IMO. Most wins since ’97 and 1st Conference Finals since ’00. And I don’t feel like the team quit on him or stopped listening. In fact I’d say KAT had the best season of his career. And who out there is better to replace him?
I’d love for the Kings to get Thibs for our lead defensive assistant, but that’s never going to happen.
I’m shocked with this one. The Knicks over achieved this season. The NBA is wild.
Maybe they’re bringing JVG back?
Speculation seems to favor Malone.
Not sure that’s an upgrade, but he does have that NYC attitude.
His Dad (Brendan Malone) was a legend at Power Memorial Academy, a powerhouse NYC high school basketball program (and where the then Lew Alcindor, later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar first found fame). Brendan Malone then went to become an Assistant with Chuck Daly in Detroit in 1988. He passed at age 88 in 2023.
Michael Malone was an NY Knicks assistant early in his pro coaching career (2001-2005) before moving on to a host of assistant positions and then getting his first Head Coaching job with a team in Northern California, who foolishly fired him. When asked about this franchise leadership recently, Malone was known to say “no class, no balls”.
That’s a lot of trivia to say that Michael Malone has some very strong New York ties.
And they owe him $30M guaranteed on an extension that doesn’t begin until the next month!
So very Kangz of them. What a stupid organization!
Dolan and Vivek—birds of a feather!
So Malone as HC, and Mike Brown as lead assistant then.
Jman called it.
Could be the Knicks version of how the duds moved on from Mark Jackson to Kerr to take the next step.
I’ve said it from the moment Brown got the award. The COY curse is real.
you have many times. And each time, there is more evidence to support this claim.
Ok – I have to ask a silly question:
being RikSmits and all, I think I know the answer, but best not to assume.
Call the NBA Finals series: Who? and in How Many?
Actually, my fear is that it will be one-sided affair and OKC wins 4-1.
I hope I am wrong, but I think having a superstar (SGA) will make a difference and I’m of the (old) school that great defense trumps great offense. But maybe Carlisle will coach a masterclass and Daginault will be fired in the offseason.
Expectations are a bitch.
For me, I’m just hoping for some incremental moves that show Perry is moving the team in the right direction. I guess I have low expectations. Moving DeRozan would help, but I’m not sure Vivek will give Perry the flexibility to do so.
The current NBA trend is firing successful coaches with established winning records.
The Kings are ahead of the curve by cleverly avoiding that problem!
Basketball 3.0
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