The Kings Herald Show returns with a new Sacramento Kings head coach to discuss. Jerry Reynolds, Will Griffith, and Tony Xypteras talk through the Mike Brown hire, from Joe Dumars’ exit to Mark Jackson’s candidacy, and everything in between.
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I’ve become more excited for Brown than when he was first announced as a candidate. Experienced and proven defensive-minded coach. It’s what this team needs. I also hadn’t realized how young he was considering how many years he’s been a head coach in the league. Is he the best coach in the league? No, but at least he’s not the worst, which is definitely what we’ve just moved on from. I think if Monte makes the right personnel moves this offseason, he can be the one to end the drought. McNair/Wilcox/Brown is a competent trio to lead this franchise back to relevance imo.
The world is upside down.
I went from being a pessimistic hater to an optimistic salmon swimming against the raging river of pessimism because I am really excited about Trey Lance and Mike Brown!
I think the Trey Lance backlash is going to be large and ugly. I see a struggle to be effective.
Given the hiring of Brown what will the Kings do in the off-season. Here’s what I predict. They will either make a deal with Detroit for Jerami Grant or a deal with Atlanta for Collins.
Barnes, Holiday, and their 2022 first top five protected to Atlanta for Collins.
Mitchell, 2022 first, Holiday, Harkless, Holmes to Detroit for Grant.
Not the path I would chose but I predict something very close to one of those trades will occur. I prefer the rebuild path which I’ve laid out previously.
I’m good for the Collins trade but definitely out on that second one for Grant.
If they don’t get a big trade but some small ones that free up cap space (Holmes and Len for example) I’d love to see them throw a solid/overpay to Bobby Portis. I think he is the best FA fit next to Sabonis, fits the current timeline and comes from a successful culture.
I’d prefer them to not do anything drastic at the guard position and hope all the focus is on the SF/PF spots.
I think a guard rotation of Fox, Mitchell, DD and TD is enough for a playoff team. Forward spots of Barnes and no one seriously needs to be addressed.
I’m not sure what Grant does for you that Barnes doesn’t except that he’s two years younger.
Here is my take on this.
Starters are Mitchell, Fox, Grant, Johnson and Sabonis. Bachups are White, Divincenso, Martin or Warren, Murray or Eason, Queta or Koloko
Smallball 5-Mitchell, White,Divincenso,Martin and Murray or Eason.
(D) players- Mitchell, Grant, Murray or Eason, Divincenso, Johnson, Martin and White.
We would keep this years picks but have to give up 2023 and 2024 firsts. You have to give up something to get something. I believe this group(almost all under 26) could be a playoff team. Monty wanted defense and he gets it. Shooters at least some shooting over 40% on 3’s.
Cam Johnson is Buddy Hield 2.0 if you haven’t noticed.
Cam Johnson shoots over 40% from three and plays better defense than Buddy ever thought he could.
Have you watched Cam Johnson play defense? Like I said Buddy Hield 2.0.
During the playoffs I’ve tried to pay special notice of Johnson. I think his defense is pretty good. I have also read some comments on his defense and a lot of it is positive.
Yep, his defense is fine. Roughly average.
Like it , but why would the other teams have any interest in these deals ? Just don’t see it from their needs .
Pistons want to trade Grant . The 2023 first would be in their favor. The Celtics have always wanted Barnes to bolster their front court, and I hear that the Suns due to money problems might be willing to trade for a first round pick. I think we need to keep Divinsenso and Martin or Warren would bolster the backups although Warren is a starter but we would have to invest in a player(a very good player)who hasn’t started or Eason second. I like either player as both play really good defense and are power forwards.Both Martin and Johnson shoot over 40% from three. This is what Monty is looking for.
Those aren’t bad ideas but again at best they’ll get you to a lower level playoff spot with no draft capital and cap space left to improve beyond that. Wait and see where the draft lottery balls fall and then proceed. It’s not going to happen but a total rebuild is necessary. You just can’t have two players on max contracts who are not top 35 players and then not be willing to spend beyond the salary cap and expect to construct a roster that can compete with the upper end teams in the west. The only way you get the top end talent necessary to compete in the NBA is through the draft or by buying it which is not presently realistic for the Kings.
You could get a nice haul by trading Sabonis to Portland, perhaps snatch Pritchard and Nesmith for Barnes, and then get another nice haul of draft picks for Fox. Still like Sabonis to Portland for this years first, 2023:first, Josh Hart and salary filler. You could perhaps walk away from this draft with Murray, Mathurin and Koloko. Pick up some young talent like Pritchard, Nesmith and Hart, and have a bunch of draft picks and some cap space for the future. That’s really the way to go.
Those are not trades I’m advocating but ones I’m predicting. We are going to follow the same failed practice they’ve employed for a decade. Either overpay for a marginal free agent like Portis or Monk or make a trade that gets us temporarily better but not significantly better and then leaving us with little draft capital or cap space to improve subsequently. You can see this coming, a temporary sugar high with no long term plan.
Understood. Wasn’t holding you responsible. Just asking the question in general.
A Fox and Monk back court isn’t bad. It’s worked before. Why not now? College be damned, that back court works.
On the same note, I’ll take Zach Livine.
Eh, kinda working in college isn’t the same as working in the NBA. I mean, with those two who’s going to guard, well, anyone? If the Kings were to sign Monk, he’d probably be best used as a high minute 6th man.
I don’t think Portis is a marginal FA but ymmv
Grant is a much better and more versatile defender and runs the court better. Having said that i’m not into giving up prime draft capital for Grant. If we were just a piece away from being a playoff team that can makes some noise, I’d say okay but Grant won’t help significantly with this roster.
I agree. I feel he basically duplicates Barnes but costs $2M more next season, and each only have one year deals. I don’t see him as a needle mover.
Another thing that always bothered me about Grant is his departure from Denver. He left a championship contender, who were willing to match the Pistons offer, to go play from Detroit. IIRC, it had something to do with him wanting a larger role. In Detroit he got to be #1. Why does a guy leave a championship caliber team, and equal pay, just to be the #1 option? I guess I have an issue with that when it comes to team play.
Would he want to come to Sac and be the 3rd fiddle to Sabonis and Fox?
I heard on either “The Mismatch” or “Hoop Collective” that Grant wanted the larger role, and really wanted to play for a black head coach. This was mentioned near the trade deadline when there was talk about him going to Portland before CJ was traded.
Maybe he valued those things over potentially winning a title, idk. Either way, he doesn’t do much to help the roster, and trading 1st round pick for him is not ideal.
Yeah, the big question for me is if he would embrace going back to a role that’s much more like the one he played in Denver. Somehow I don’t see him being happy with that. Especially with the Kings.
Exactly, plus ufa after this next season. I’m not giving up anything important for him except a protected first next year and salary filler.
Heaven help us if we overpay for Portis. That’s been the same failed tactic we’ve performed for many years. Every since Reynolds mentioned Portis on a pod cast the bandwagon repeaters have jumped on it.
What is overpaying ? Do you have any knowledge that McNair cares what is discussed on TKH . Portis would be better than any current 4 and makes less than Harkless . Guess I am bandwagon but see zero facts about overpaying .
Better yes than what we have. I’m not looking for a little better, I’m looking for a long term sustainable winning team. Add Portis to this present roster and do you really think the team will be competitive in the west.
Who at 4 can you get that is better without giving up assets like draft pick and Barnes ? I agree on getting a better talent if possible but not at the expense of the few assets available .
Your locked into a traditional positioning paradigm. That’s where Vlade was which caused him to draft Justin Jackson and to over spend grossly for a bunch of marginal free agents. We need basketball players that can shoot, rebound, distribute, and defend. Check out the Warriors lineup and do you think they really concern themselves about who’s going to play the 4 if there’s really such a thing anymore.
Portis does all very well and plays two power spots . Don’t worry his value will be established by the league and Kings won’t be able to get him .
As usual, we’re too late on Portis. The Kings have to make that move 2 years ago. Now he’s going to be pricey and have options. The Kings need to be looking for the next Portis.
How about Holmes, Davis and Holiday plus our 2023 first round for Gerimi Grant?
Because Detroit probably wouldn’t do that deal.
Fuck Detroit. I wouldn’t do that deal.
Let me add this to the OC as an And1: I do not understand the attraction of Jerami Grant whatsoever.
Don’t really care if we Grant or not.
The attraction to Grant is that he is better than about 60% of the players on the Kings.
Grant actually belongs in the NBA.
Not sure if this article had been shared but it confirms what a bullet the Kings just dodged. Although this raises questions in my own head about why Mark Jackson was ever a coaching candidate to begin with, considering this was known by people in the NBA before the interviews started.
https://www.knbr.com/2022/05/10/mark-jackson-reportedly-used-homophobic-slurs-said-rick-welts-and-jason-collins-were-going-to-hell-as-warriors-head-coach/
So what? Something was said 8+ years ago.
If you are not going to take something he said while coaching the Warriors seriously, they you shouldn’t take any of his coaching from 8+ years ago seriously either.
You can’t have one without the other.
It was 8 years ago. People like the culture, change. I really doubt you hold yourself to a similar standard for things you have said in a private conversation.
Yeah, I’ve never called someone a
when asked if I’d be willing to work with them. Give me a fucking break with that locker room talk b.s. That gets you fired in any professional setting.
You are clearly not one with a cool head. You use a vulgarity so easily; I find it impossible to believe you have never said anything out of line in a private setting.
You don’t know me.
I don’t use homophobic, racist, or sexist language around co-workers in regards to other co-workers. I don’t even use that language behind closed doors in a private setting.
Do I drop f-bombs when I stub my toe, joking around with friends, or on this blog to express a point? Fuck yeah, I do.
Again, you are quick with the vulgarity, it shows you lack a cool and calm demeanor.
I stick with my observation.
Got it. You call out my language that is directed at no one, but dismiss a homophobes remarks in a professional setting clearly directed at someone. Seems hypocritical.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/26/health/swearing-benefits-wellness/index.html
https://www.discovermagazine.com/health/worried-about-your-foul-mouth-swearing-could-actually-be-good-for-you
I would say other things, but I don’t want to exhibit a lack of cool and calm demeanor.
You’re giving this guy his opportunity to be a sanctimonious grand stander. Obviously these are embellished rumors otherwise he wouldn’t have been hired as an analyst.
Ooo, I’m always looking for good examples of logical fallacies! This is a quality example of an Ad Hominem argument. The conversation is about Jackson, his statements, and what those statements say about his coaching and character. It has nothing whatsoever to do with Adamsite’s ease with “bad” words. Regardless of whether or not you find Adamsite’s word choice “vulgar” or not, the topic at hand is the “vulgarity” of Jackson’s words and outlook. Personally, I find Jackson’s statement significantly more vulgar than Adamsite’s. As such, I wonder what you much think of Jackson’s “cool headedness.” Since, you know, that would actually impact his performance as a coach.
Maybe so. We have seen people do lots of good work after doing/saying bad things.
Speaking of which, pray tell what has Mark Jackson done for the last 8 years to demonstrate such change, contrition, growth, etc, let alone commitment to wanting to earn another head coaching job?
Sorry to cause such a disagreement here but I found it was pertinent timing since the article was so recently written. I am ready to talk Mike Brown ad nauseum and move on from Mark Jackson, although all of idea of Jackson being a candidate at all through these articles is troubling for an organization like the Kings. It likely points to much deeper seeded issues in the organization that are not going to go away, even while Mike Brown is here. Perhaps I’m pointing out the obvious but there is nothing dispelling what an awful human being Mark Jackson and article after article conveying as much.
He is not the Kings coach. No need to get full on KaNgZ fan and defend some jackass that doesn’t belong in the NBA.
Harry Giles has so much potential……
If Bagley can stay healthy he might be an average bench player six years in….
Mark Jackson made a few mistakes. He isn’t the Kings coach but he should be. Mark Jackson would have won 32 games. Instead we only one 31 games…..
GO KANGZ!!!!!!!!
Hey, I haven’t even brought up the quote from Steph Curry yesterday proclaiming that it felt like he had been traded to the Kings because his 3 pointer wasn’t falling and Mike Brown had subbed in as coach!
Hey, he was right!
Has it begun?
Kinda seems like he is still with the Warriors!
Oh it’s begun. Notice how the Warriors are getting stomped by 50 points against a team missing it’s best player? Coach Brown is already about that Kangz Life.
They were down 50 in a series clinching game? That doesn’t sound right at all
Solid hire and hope for two legit starters added before October or win total will be very similar and in battle for 10th .
From Jerry Reynolds lips to God’s ear.
I have to concur with Jerry. This team does not have s bonafide star. This current roster is no better than 9–10 ina Healthy Western Conference.
Mike Brown won’t fix that. The team could win a few more games with better defense. But, that doesn’t mean they have the talent to win 50 games. Brown was chosen because he’s defensive minded, Of course comes from the Dubs, and Monte needs to save his job. Brown’s claim to fame is coaching Prime Lebron. The Majority of Brown’s W-L Percentage is directly correlated to James. There is no James and No Kobe on this roster. May I dare , not even close.
Hiring a an Asst will require patience, forethought and a reboot of the roster. That would never happen. Kings are always looking for shortcuts to winning. Look how successful that template is.
Like every summer, Some Kings fans will be deluded into thinking Sac are are real players in Free Agency and Trades. Salivating at the thought of Portis, Wood, Monk, Collins, Robinson, etc. The Kings have little in the way of assets and cap: Holmes, Barnes and some scraps. More realistic bargain options: Caleb Martin, COdy Martin, CJ Elleby, Theo Pinson, Justin Champagnie, Forbes.
The Top 8 in the West will be brutal next year if healthy. Pels, CLips, NUgs, Suns, Memphis, Minny, MAvs, and Dubs are all locks if healthy.
/That leaves Portland , Lakers, Jazz, Spurs amd Kings to fight over play in’s 9-10.
Brown can only do so much. Barring some major trades, this team cannot improve significantly with this roster.
Great points and why Grant and Collins are over valued and not worth the assets and salary they would require .
As it stands right now, the Jazz are clearly as much or more of a lock than some of those other teams. We’ll see if that’s still the case after the offseason.
Who’s watching Mike Brown lead the Warriors to a 50 point drubbing with the opposing team missing it’s best player? Oh he’s ready to coach the Kangz alright!
The defensive genius looks lost . Kangz it is . Dubs best get Kerr back quick .
Yeah you made some really good points regarding the coaching hire. Does anybody really think Brown is going to make a significant difference. The Kings success comes down to the roster they construct and that’s where the attention should be focused.
Yes, I do. I like the hire, and I’m not buying any hyperbole. There are times when a guy with previous experience comes in and is a better coach than he was previously. I think this is one of those times.
That doesn’t mean that Mike Brown, new head coach of the Sacramento Kings, is just going to automatically extract more wins out of this roster. A new head coach is the first, among others, of a number of important steps. Align your GM and HC on the same TL contractually wise, is another step. Figuring out where you will be drafting, what trades you can make, what free agents you have a shot at are others.
This is a multi-step process. But what’s the point of talking about fake trades that may or may not align with reality? What’s the point of talking about FA’s that may or may not align with reality?
That’s why I don’t do that. I tend to take the approach of ‘the Kings acquire who they acquire’ and comment after the smoke clears.
Besides the draft and trades (I doubt FA is much of a factor for Sac at any point let alone a team that doesn’t have any significant amount of cap room this particular summer), internal improvement will be incredibly important. Fox, in particular, has to be better. Sabonis could improve a thing or two along the way. Mitchell will need to take a step. Figure out where you are at with DiVicenzo. Shuffle the roster and configure it more effectively around Fox and Sabonis than it was post trade deadline.
These things are doable? Yes. Will they be done? Proof is in the puddin’. I realize waiting sucks, but as fans that’s all we can do. I do have confidence that Monte, Wes and even Brown will be prepared for the off-season and have a plan in place for when trades, the draft, and even after that FA comes into play.
We shall see.
I’m glad you like the hire, I don’t mind it because it really doesn’t matter. When it comes to coaching the typical fan fabricates a lot of things in their head. It’s kind of like money ball, for years and years even the perceived best managers in game thought many things were true until the advanced data proved it was hogwash. Once again the marginal difference between each NBA coach is virtually non existent and the data is overwhelming. If you’d like to keep thinking otherwise, have at it but Mike Brown vs Gentry is not going to make a difference. Let’s hope management makes a couple of shrewd moves to improve the roster or better yet let’s hope they have a plan that produces a sustainable winning roster. Remember on money ball when the media kept singing the praises of Art Howe when in reality he had nothing to do with the teams success or failure. This is what will happen with Mike Brown. If the front office somehow provides him a quality roster he’ll be perceived as doing a great coaching job if it doesn’t you’ll hear the same comments on this blog and in other publications about the coaching being the problem. In reality it all comes down to the roster.
Totally agree on the coaching point .
My dream starting line up for the Kings:
PG – Andy Sims
He always has a point.
SG – Marty
He always shoots, albeit with his camera
Center – Rik Smits
He’s Dutch, so minimum 7’0″
SF – 1951
His career misses is only 1951
PF – Adam Site
He doesn’t back down on any argument!
I leave the reserves fo you guys.
We’re talking waist circumference, right?
TBF – 1951 in this context means 19 points on 51 shots.
One interesting point that Jerry raised when stating that he was not happy with the process to search for a coach was about the timing and speed of the process. I haven’t heard that point raised previously.
The Kings didn’t even wait until the end of the play-offs to see if other coaches would become available, which is an especially good point if you take into account that they clearly decided to pursue guys with HC experience.
Hurried or premature decisions (Joerger hire, Walton hire, Vlade premature extension, Fox’s premature max deal – on which Jerry commented several times) seem to be a bit of a Kings staple.
Sorry, I’ve been informed that having concerns about the hiring process is just clickbait
Maybe, but none of the coaches currently still in the playoffs are on any sort of hot seat. It seems any and all assistant coaches are getting interviews while still being in the playoffs. Apart of Quinn Snyder, who’s already out of the playoffs and doesn’t look like he’s getting fired, who would be more available to interview between now and the end of the season?
I guess part of me is kind of happy they did this first. There are no should’a, could’a, would’a guys that were hired before the Kings got their opportunity to interview. I also like that the coach is in place long before the draft. Monte can now evaluate prospects knowing what Brown brings to the table. Maybe Brown can even give his input into the draft prospects.
It will be interesting to see if any big name prospects come in for workouts before Brown is done in the playoffs.
I’ll add, in a hypothetical scenario, were the Lakers and Hornets to go out and hire the likes of Ham and Atkinson before the Kings made a hire because they were “waiting until the end of the playoffs,” there would be folks on here calling for Monte’s head. A better deal 2 days ago, if you will.
Doc Rivers?
And yes, I know; he may not be the cure to what ails the Kings.
I mean, he’s not even a real doctor.
Doc wasn’t sure he had the heart to go through rebuilding in Boston. What would his heart tell him about whatever we’re going though here in Sac?
And how can he continue his tradition of getting summarily out-coached in the playoff if he doesn’t make the playoffs?
How awesome is it we got to see last night what the Kings will look like with Brown leading the way!!! This coach will be different for sure!!!
Defensive genius we have been informed . Oh well, more Kangz ahead .
You know Vivek’s in Monte’s office today thinking he has a point to make about Mark Jackson. Monte’s sitting there thinking “Dismissive little chap. Dismissive little chap. Dismissive little chap.”
We just wouldn’t be Kings fans if we didn’t over react to tiny sample sizes.
The 1st two comments are doing a bit, right? RIGHT?
For the sake of my sanity, I choose to say yes.
As opposed to how the Warriors looked Monday? Or does that not fit the narrative?
Come on Guru. The win was in spite of him because he is just stewarding good players.
The lose is his fault because he let those same good players have bad games.
Ah. Got it. Thanks for keeping me up to speed ’51!
At this rate, the Kings will be .500 next year! I’ll take it!
Is Steph coming too. Asking for a friend that is not that confident of the defensive expert today.
Actually it was bad Grizzlies play down the stretch that gave the game back to Dubs.
Yeah, I’m going to go ahead and just disagree with you there. The Grizzlies werent incredible or anything, but the Warriors came back on them and took the lead with 45 seconds to go. They looked like a team that had been there before and the Grizzlies not.
The Dubs took advantage of their opportunity Monday, and I didn’t watch much last night because the game was so bad so early after I flipped onto the game.
This is also my strategy for watching the Kings.
Understandably so. It’s really ridiculous that the NBA schedules a day off between Pacific and Central teams like GSW and Mem. I get why, but at the same time it becomes a big problem when you have a 2-2-1-1-1 format.
Thoroughly enjoyable podcast. Thanks Will, Tony and of course, the great Jerry Reynolds.
They do a great job, I agree!
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