The Knicks are really Knicks-ing at a time where the Kangz are really Kangzing and this is all I really need to say… really. Cut the preview here, Greg because I’m happy to let whatever writerly integrity I’ve ever earned ride on this game being a weird-ass clash of two weird-ass teams giving some little weird-ass moments of hope while ultimately disappointing their weird-ass fanb- okay I’m cutting the comparison there. Yes, Sacramento fans are a bit kooky after a record setting 16 straight years of incompetence… but in the NBA’s Arkham Asylum, they’re less the Professor Pyg or Victor Zsasz and more, Gentleman Ghost (at best) or Solomon Grundy (at worst).
Hey speaking of villains, it looks like Tommy Thibs might not long for the NBA world after wearing out another stint in yet another city and while I’m sure he’ll find himself getting himself another job as a head coach somewhere far down the road… tonight might be the last night to see him in Sac as a head coach for a good long while. #FreeCamReddish…..AGAIN!
Let’s talk Kings basketball!
When: Monday, March 7th, 7:30 PM PT
Where: Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA
TV: NBCSCA – Mark Jones (play-by-play)
Radio: KHTK Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
Grin and Barrett: I’m sure I’ve mentioned this here or on the podcast with Jerry and Tony at some point but the New York Knicks are my absolutely nightmare for how the Kings could turn out in the next few years – selling their soul for a big name head coach and a short term playoff burst and then… dragging the franchise yet again through a streak of mediocrity right through the lower tier of the lottery. Sure that first year with a guy like Thibs is magical and it truly was a nice seeing New York rising up behind the Knicks again, just like it was nice seeing the Wolves make the playoffs and Minny rise again but… what are they going to be left with when they tell him to pack his bags at the end of the year? The hope Julius Randle can regain is MVP level form under someone new? Maybe Obi Toppin gets time to develop and grow with a coach that understands who he should be in this league? It stands to reason for me that outside of pissing off their fanbase and giving Thibs far too long a leash, the main thing they can show for these last few years is that RJ Barrett seems like he will be an incredible player in this league… and that’s, that’s really it.
It looks all too scalable to what the Kings are going for right now too, right? Domas is Sacramento’s Julius Randle (though acquired at a much higher cost) and Fox is the young guard that shows flashes of stardom like Barrett. Now I’m not directly comparing either of those two sets of guys – they’re all different players in slightly different stages with much different highs and lows than each other. I’m more looking toward the blueprint – good, maybe great guard paired with a highly skilled big guy and in need of a coach that can light a fire under the team’s collective ass. The Kings ran the semi-grumpy tactician route with Dave Joerger, then course corrected with all-smiles no-tape Luke Walton and the narrative has now shifted back to the Kings needing someone with experience who can raise this ship from the dead and… suddenly I get a little nervous.
Obviously there’s only one Thibs in this league, he’s a character all to himself with few others to compare him to. I’ll also add that for every established vet with Thibs like nerves around them, there’s a guy like Indiana’s Nate Bjorkgren, who seemed equal to the task in terms of being a bully and just a strange overall coach in general in his one season with them… this problem isn’t just with established coaches obviously. But, those willies are there the same: that instead of a foundation of success being set to ensure a long period of success in Sacramento, the Kings might pick someone more willing to employ a gimmick, ridding them of a pesky 16 year streak, providing a boost in ticket sales and.. and… and… then starting up a whole new run through the lotto, two or three seasons down the line. These Knicks make me nervous about the thin needle that Sacramento has to thread in the coming months and years. Unlike New York, I fear a less populace, but even more loyal fanbase like Sacramento has been during this stretch wouldn’t return if the Kings went back into the can after a stretch like the Knicks have had over the last two seasons. They’ve seen too much, lived too long to waste their time on another stretch like the one we’re in now… and one season of hope followed by a season from hell could be that final nail in the coffin. The Kings will have to absolutely NAIL this off-season’s new coaching hire (and draft and free agency and…) and…I don’t envy McNair and Company’s job they’ve laid out for themselves in the summer to come and teams like the visitors tonight are some of the reason why.
Prediction
Kings hire a Gregg Popovich clone and all my whining the last few seasons will have been for naught. Kings are getting the #1 pick this year anyways.
Kings: 119, Knicks: 111
Let’s go!
These games are so important now!
.
Back home we’re now facing the Knicks
With it clear that we still need a fix.
And ‘gainst the Clips in LA
The Knicks blew them away.
Now they’ll count on us throwing up bricks!
The Nix can certainly count on us throwing bricks.
I feel there are very few teams that would be willing to swap situations with the Kings, but are the Knicks one of them? A quick breakdown:
Sabonis > Randle
Fox > Barrett
Mitchell = Quickly
Holmes = Mitchell
Gentry < Thibs
Kings draft capital < Knicks draft capital (they have Mavs 2023 pick, top 10 protected)
Who has the better future?
I feel like Mitchell = Mitchell is more accurate.
this is a trick question, they will both fail.
In all seriousness, currently every team below the Kings in the standings have more future draft capital than Sac. I doubt teams like Houston, OKC, Detroit, Indy, or Orlando would swap places with us. All have more future picks and young prospects on their roster still on their rookie deals. The Kings have…Davion, and that is it.
Sabonis might give the Kings the edge in terms on “now” but those other teams aren’t about now, they are about next season and beyond. Houston has Green Sengun and picks, OKC has SGA, Giddey and picks, Detroit has Cade, Bay and likely a top 3 pick this year, Indy has Hali, Duarte and 2 picks this year, Orlando has Suggs, Anthony, Wagner, Isaac and picks. Hell, even the Spurs who only really have Murray, have THREE picks in this year’s first round.
Right now I can think of only two teams that might be willing to say, “yeah, we’ll swap you the entire roster and future assets,” and those two teams are the Knicks and Wizards. The other 27 teams pass.
you are correct.
and NYK as example of making a vet splash and then fading is also correct.
I just hope that the Kings move is more akin to last year’s Bulls move when they kept LaVine (FOX) and traded for Vuc (DS). Dropped Markenon in off season and added DeRozen !, Caruso and Ball, and they drafted Ayo- one slot above Quetta (which shows the value of draft order)
Acquisitions of these were one-sided. Barnes was a one-sided acquisition. More of those. NYK acquisitions were Kemba and?
While the teams mentioned above have more current draft capitol, Kings can catch up with exchange of vets (Holmes and ? Barnes for future picks.
DS is still middle aged in NBA life and can be useful for 10 years.
it is grim. (S)He who hits the homerun will win.
Agree for now ! Some of those teams will get no help from the draft and be in the lottery again just like the Kings and some will get help like Cavs and Raptors and be playoff teams !
Umm, you forgot Detroit has Bagley, former #2.
Really good analysis but I don’t think the Wizards would swap places with us.
Knicks team arrived this morning via Amtrak to G1C
At least the Knicks are fun to watch.
Sarcastic?
Nope. The hopefulness about the Kings is gone. Trying to retain righteousness. … Sorry for the negative waves. Not gonna get over unloading Haliburton. Those wounds run pretty deep.
Time to end this shit show of a season. Just watch Sabonis highlights. Cannot lose enough now.
Play for draft position and work on next season.
Then tune out ABB.
No one is making you watch. Come back once the season is over.
Do you see this season as a success?
Should we run it back next season?
Maybe get a better draft pick?
Badge Legend