Well, the Sacramento Kings are in Philadelphia today and looking to head off their sixth straight loss against the team they’ve been rumored to be wheeling and dealing with the most. Yeah, sure, someone dropped to Woj that the Kings are totally, absolutely done in their pursuit of Ben Simmons and Darryl Morey is a mad man asking for Monte McNair’s first born, but it’s smokescreen season, the Kings aren’t smart and the Sixers aren’t going to waste an MVP level season from Joel Embiid in the hopes that James Harden prefers Philly clubs to Brooklyn clubs.
Between now and a deal that makes Kings fans go absolutely batshit, there’s a game to be played and vengeance to be had. Search back into your memory hole to earlier this season: the Sixers missing their entire starting lineup and some key pieces to their bench… a 25-12 fourth quarter… Tyrese Haliburton scoring zero points in thirty three minutes…. Oh there you go! You found it!
Yeah, the Sixers are as healthy as the Kings were in that horrible loss and winners of thirteen of their last sixteen games so… fingers crossed I guess.
When: Saturday, January 29th, 4:30 PM PT
Where: Wells Fargo Arena, Philadelphia, PA
TV: NBCSCA – Mark Jones (play-by-play)
Radio: KHTK Sports 1140 AM
For Your Consideration
More y Less: Does anyone else feel rather, oh how do I say this, contently fatalistic about the coming trade deadline? Like, I’m certainly not feeling defeatist about it – Monte McNair will absolutely do SOMETHING to try to shake things up before the deadline and that team will be something new and different to talk about for 10-20 games. It’s just, being a believe in the power of mathematics, I don’t really see the swaps necessary to fulfill any of the promises this franchise put forward at the beginning of the season. The Kings could swap Buddy to the Lakers for the THT package, Harrison Barnes and something to the Hawks for John Collins, Fox and a whatever picks or players left for Ben and Tobias Harris and for all those move, for all the dust needing to settle, I’d just be like “oh okay! Something new and different to see grab the 11th seed!” Obviously, there’s a better chance that none of those deals happen than one of those deals happening much less them all happening but, I guess what I’m trying to say is… this season is shot, bled out, fly riddled, sun dried, discovered, mourned and entombed. Monte McNair rushing in now with some putty and embalming fluid isn’t going to suddenly bring it back to life.
And I’m fine with it. Certainly not happy, just in the acceptance stage of grief about this version of the Kings. Something will get done, a player we’re familiar with will leave and the world will go on with the Kings still looking from the outside in – spirits haunting team calendars and your DVR till April, watching as the teams they were better than on paper, in reality play deeper into the year than they have in decades. I won’t place an ounce of blame on Daryl Morey’s ego, or other teams’ offers, or a vast conspiracy to screw the Kings. When year after year, 29 teams can consistently do these things and one team can’t, it’s on that one team to catch up or die. The ‘21-22 Kings are dead and worse, unworthy of resurrection. Not even Simmons, Sabonis, Collins can change that.
Operation: M.C.N.A.I.R. Update:
So, we’ll get back to our regularly scheduled “A Thing To Read, Watch, or Do” on Monday for the Knicks game, but I’ve got to spend my time talking about this for a second. For those of you who missed the last game, I’m doing a little something to fight off the general dystopic feelings that come from this version of the Sacramento Kings. I’m calling it Operation: Money for Charities & Nonprofits As Incompetence Restitution, or Operation M.C.N.A.I.R. for short, and the general idea was that we (meaning anyone crazy enough to join me) would donate money to charity after every Kings loss for the rest of the season. It takes the edge off these losses and is the kindest form of protest I could imagine.
Okay, so now that you’ve heard the elevator pitch, I’ve got to hit you with the results. I’m a one man operation, these donations are rolling in, even on the off days as people become aware of it and some people have elected not to mention the exact monetary amount they’ve donated BUT from just what I’ve been able to track via Twitter and these comment sections, since posting this on Wednesday, we’ve raised just under $500 for various Sacramento charities. While I’ve dropped the charity of the night after the game on Twitter and in the recap comments, we’ve seen donations go far and wide: anti-recidivism, dog shelters, soup kitchens, lupus foundations, WEAVE and on and on.
I assumed I would be the lone idiot, spending his money while the Kings struggled through the rest of the season, tossing his pennies into a wishing well that was constantly giving him the finger. To see a bunch of you share it, commit to it, spend your capital on a message like this – I shouldn’t have been surprised and still, to say I was is a vast understatement. The apathy of this fanbase and this website extend only to the edges of the actual basketball product and these last few days have been a testament to that. I’ve seen the heart and power all of Sacramento holds in even just a few days of Operation M.C.N.A.I.R. existing and I’m so glad to say that we are going to roll through the rest of this season, through thick and thin, helping those that we can, in celebration of a team that seemingly can’t help themselves.
I haven’t felt this Sacramento Proud in a long time. I hope you all feel it too.
Prediction
Joel Embiid has nothing on the true MVP big man lurking at the end of the Kings bench. Neemias Queta goes for 25-10-8 after a surprising move from Alvin Gentry to start the youngin. Daryl Morey calls McNair after the game and offers Simmons for Queta and a protected first. McNair turns him down before flying into the Philadelphia sky like Neo at the end of the Matrix.
The alarm goes off in Monte McNair’s hotel suite. It’s 2:30pm. The game will be starting soon and he’s got a phone call to Alvin Gentry he’s suddenly got to make.
Kings: 118, Sixers: 114
The Sixers can’t wait for this game
‘Cause the Kings defense is so lame.
They could give Embiid rest,
Won’t be needing their best.
Still no McNair trades—such a shame!
The Kings are so very very bad
but there is no reason to get mad.
Donate M.C.N.A.I.R. some cash
When the Kangz play like trash
And walk away happy instead of sad!
Absolutely love the M.C.N.A.I.R project Will.
Such an amazing way to turn shit and frustration into happiness.
In a world where assholes amd idiots try to divide us all this brings back the feeling of community and helps me recall that this country isn’t only propagated by hatred, miss information and self absorbed morons.
Thanks Will
Is there a charity to put Vivek on a plane outta Sac forever?
A bus would be cheaper, no?
Yes, but a plane is faster.
I appreciate that Amonk!
Whoaaaa, who knew Jman & Smits were the same person. The only question left is which is the real one and which is the burner account.
LOL. No, I’m just a copycat.
It’s an underdog story!
And the underdog ’bout to kick they ass kicked.
Not if Spam Risk McNair and the Robocallers have something to say about it.
Great band name
.
In about ten days this team will be remade in the McGenius image ! Not much different 🤣
McNair will flip all our bigs for more guards. Vivek takes over coaching duties and he watches Lamelo Ball’s high school highlights and we model our offense after it.. Maybe if we actually don’t bother to play defense, the defense improves.
It was my understanding that the team had so many centers that any move to have fewer would be better.
The goalposts around are on wheels with the best possible ball bearings in order to facilitate their constant erratic movement.
My prediction: Simmons suits up, posts a triple-double. Sixers win by 60.
At halftime, Kangz trade Fox for Danny Green because Vivek thinks he’s the next Steph Curry.
Will not be surprised if there is no trade by the deadline at this rate. Also will not be surprised if there is a trade that with no real value and essentially rearranges the chairs on the titanic.
short of a reasonable trade for Simmons I’d be happy with knocking this team down to the studs for draft picks in return.
“ I’d be happy with knocking this team down to the studs for draft picks in return.”
literally, WE ALL WOULD!!!!!!
and yet for some unknown ineptidudious reason it never happens and will never happen.
You mean like in 1990, when we got 4 firsts, and none of them amounted to anything?
No studs for sure. #7 pick Lionel Simmons did get off to a good start to his career, but his knees didn’t hold up. The Kings flipped Travis Mays for Spud Webb, so that was a bit of win with the #14 pick. #18 Duane Causwell would have an 11 year career because he was tall back when that meant something. #23 Anthony Bonner was a scrappy fan favorite that lasted six years in the NBA.
It was the kind of draft yield that would have helped a good team. That is, you could have seen any of those guys as complementary players for a lot of teams. Alas, they were almost all miscast here in Sacramento as being something that they were clearly not – franchise saviors. Sound familiar?
That whole draft was just filled with role players, I think Toni Kukoc was significant really. Elden Campbell had a long career, but so would have Jason Thompson in the 90’s. Antonio Davis had a decent career, but its hard to argue there was anyone available in the draft that could have changed direction of the Kings franchise at the time.
Lol. We got the L-train and Causwell!!!
Making up a nonsense word using “inept” as the root is irony at its finest.
🤜🤛
“Well, the Kings are in town to see if they can steal one away from Philly…”
Here’s the postgame headline…”Kings 86ed by 76ers”
see what I did there.
Morey’s postgame presser – “We were going to give Embiid the night off, but since Monte publicly screwed up my trade leverage, we decided to beat them by 86 tonight.”
“The Gang Cracks the Liberty Bell”
It would seem to be than just a “sore ankle,” but this is the same medical staff that schelved Marvin for months with a “sore foot.”
Out due to “pending trade request.” Cue Sims in 5…4…3…2…
What do you expect from Kaiser?
I didn’t know feelings were stored in the left ankle.
I think his heart and pride are there also
I think the Kings spent way too much time with Daryl + Monte bro talk and there will be no big deal.
I heard Memphis wants to add to their depth at the deadline. They have 3!, yes 3, first round picks this year, and their pick profile is better than the other multi-pick losers. Grab one of those (the top one) and try to buy another late first round pick from an over the cap contender. The Griz did that and got Bane (and he is not that bad)
OKC and Memphis each have 3 first round picks.
OKC likes picks but Griz want depth for this year. They own LAL pick at #14 or so and Utah and their own.
Any Kings trade with LAL cannot include a 2022 first rounder. Kings could get a 2023 pick but the trade would have to wait until draft over. (Septian Rule)
Even if Kings gave up their own #1, they could, in part, recover with the Griz pick. I like picks though because they are free.
The top 4 draft power rankings are OKC, Orlando, Houston and Detroit (then Sac because of 2 second round picks) It is no accident that these 4 teams have the best draft power rankings. They have a serious tanking head-start.
If Simmonds and his hefty price are off the table, jettison Barnes, Buddy and Bagley- they will not be part of a winner for age and ability reasons. Memphis could really use Buddy or Barnes for this year. They are in an unusual situation- have a high pick to move and are a deep contender.
I do believe that Monte mourns the loss of Wagner in last year’s draft. A few more losses and that could have been the Kings.
Kings have moved to a tie with NOP and Pacers for the slots above the Bad Bottom Four. That’s 5 at best, 7 at worst.
Badge Legend