I know the current focus should be on the Play-In, and possibly the playoffs, but I’m going to jump the gun. No matter the outcome of this season, the Kings will have many big decisions ahead this offseason. My brain has been much more focused on the upcoming offseason than whether or not the Kings will earn the right to get swept by the Thunder. So for each offseason decision I thought I’d do a quick rundown of what I would do, a backup option (or two) of what I would do, and a prediction of what I think the Kings will actually do.
Front Office
The Kings have already seen Wes Wilcox depart, just months after being a key player in the decisions to move on from De’Aaron Fox, and in the return the Kings got back for Fox. Now, the Kings face a crossroads. Do they stick with Monte McNair, or move on?
What I would do: I like Monte McNair as a person, but I think it’s time to move on. I would look to bring in a big name with experience, relationships, and the gravitas to make Vivek actually limit his meddling ways. Bob Myers would be my option number 1. I don’t know how much of Golden State’s success should be credited to Myers, but Myers checks all the boxes. He’s a big name, he has relationships throughout the league, he’s been a successful GM before, and Vivek would probably listen to him. “This is what we did with the Warriors” could be all it takes to get Vivek to listen.
My backup plan: I’d be keeping a close eye on Minnesota. There’s a question of whether Tim Connelly will stick around, especially as new ownership finally, officially takes over. Connelly built successful teams in Denver and Minnesota, and I’d happily hand him the keys here. I don’t know if he has the same level of gravitas to keep Vivek at bay, but I’d still be thrilled with him. Of course, he may not even be available, but I think there’s a chance. David Griffin was fired by the Pelicans on Monday, so he would be another good option. While I haven’t loved all of his move (I think he tends to overpay on trades), I think he has a good track record overall.
What I think the Kings will do: I will not be shocked if they keep McNair around, while allowing Vlade Divac a bigger role and even more influence. They’ll probably add a new assistant GM, and it’ll probably be someone power-hungry who will undermine McNair and/or Vlade in an attempt to usurp them. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Kings chase Calvin Booth here either, as they pursued him in their last GM search before Booth withdrew himself from consideration. I wouldn’t be particularly excited about Booth. I think he’s got a great track record in the draft, but I haven’t been impressed by the his management of free agent and trades. The infighting and feuding that reportedly happened in Denver would be par for the course for the Kings.
Head Coach
I won’t be shocked if Doug Christie sticks around for another year, and honestly wouldn’t be overly upset about it. Doug has done some good things in his time as head coach, and we’ve seen him be successful with a good roster. But Doug has also shown some limitations, especially since the trade deadline. If Doug can’t optimize the current roster, it becomes a question of whether you change the coach, or the roster, or both.
What I would do: I really like Doug Christie, and I really hope he can be successful. But in this imaginary world where I’m making these decisions, I would like my new GM to pick his own head coach. Crazy concept, I know, but I think it’s worth trying! Personally, my top candidate would be Taylor Jenkins. He’ll be one of the top coaching candidates this summer (assuming he doesn’t want to take a year off) so he may choose a more appealing situation, but I really like the way Jenkins coached over the years. His teams always fought, were always prepared, and he seemed to maximize whichever players were on the floor. Before this season, when management dictated he change his offense, Jenkins also ran a Pick-and-Roll and DHO-heavy offense, which we know can be successful with Domantas Sabonis.
My backup plan: Mike Budenholzer. Bud isn’t a perfect coach, but I think he’s a good coach. (Note: I originally had a much longer section here about whether or not he’d even be available, but the Suns fired him Monday morning. Hilarious.)
I would also happily take a Michael Malone reunion, but I don’t see that happening. Malone has taken every opportunity he could to take shots at Vivek and the Kings over the years, including in the aftermath of Mike Brown’s firing.
What I think the Kings will do: They’ll keep Doug Christie. He’s Vivek’s guy, and he’s cheap, and the Kings are paying Mike Brown a lot of money to not be here.
Roster
First things first, we have to assume the Kings will not tear it down and do a full rebuild. If they were going to do that, the time for that path was before trading Fox for older and more expensive “win-now” players. Vivek is always going to be a win-now owner, so I’m going to operate under than premise.
What I would do: I would decline Keon Ellis’ team option, making him a restricted free agent, and use the RFA leverage to secure Ellis on a multi-year contract. I’d offer Jake LaRavia the most I was allowed (due to CBA rules, the Kings are limited to a first-year salary of $5.1 million due to Memphis declining LaRavia’s option last summer), and hope he has enjoyed the city and the fans enough to sign the deal. I would then work on finding a trade partner to move DeMar DeRozan. I love DeRozan, both as a player and as a person, and he’s been exactly as advertised since coming to Sacramento. Unfortunately he’s just a bad fit for this roster. I think he should be tradeable thanks to his production and a reasonable contract, but you’re not getting a star name back. That’s ok. I would aim to get a real point guard or a forward with size back. For free agency, I’d be targeting those same positions. I think Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis can work together. But you need more size and defense and facilitators around them. Point guard is the biggest need. If I can get a decent point guard who isn’t a negative on defense, I think this team could be ok. As an aside, because I’m still bitter, Stephon Castle would be the ideal point guard to pair with Ellis and LaVine. I would not shop Sabonis unless he forces the issue. I’d also make it very clear to Monk that he will be a 6th man for the Kings, and I would only shop him if he was unwilling to accept that role.
My backup plan: I would try to flip LaVine. Denver had interest last summer. Obviously they have a new front office, but maybe that can be rekindled. Even if it meant taking back multiple lesser players, I think the added flexibility of breaking that contract up into multiple pieces would be beneficial. I’d still try to trade DeMar in this scenario, as I think he’s a bad fit with Sabonis. I don’t see the Kings going this route, as they clearly prioritized LaVine in the Fox deal.
What I think the Kings will do: The Kings will chase Kevin Durant, Kevin Durant will not be interested. The Kings will then make a run at whatever big name becomes available, regardless of how well they fit this roster. They’ll get so close to making a big deal. Then they’ll run back this same roster with only minor tweaks, while talking about how they maintained flexibility and about how this team should be better now that they’ve had more time together.
The scenarios for the “what the Kings will probably do” makes me sad because it’s probably close to reality of what will happen.
I’m sure that Vivek / Fisher marriage will work out just fine.
Considering there’s only one game left this season, I fully support getting a head start on the offseason discussion.
I know we suck, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we landed the 8th seed and went on to get swept by the Thunder.
I would be absolutely stunned if we win on Wednesday. The Mavericks are going to be mostly healthy (minus Kyrie) and as such are simply the better team.
But Domas owns AD.
LOL. All good things must come to an end, and the door definitely slammed shut on that stat this year, as AD went undefeated.
The best thing that can happen to this franchise this offseason is Domas demanding a trade. At that point, the Kings would have no choice but to usher in a rebuild which would include a new GM and HC. Domas deserves better than this owner/FO.
But the likely scenario is they bring back the core (Lavine, Domas) and we’ll be in the running for another play-in level season, which is the most depressing and pointless position to be in in the NBA.
Even after the lackluster return with the Fox trade, I still think there’s a fair amount of assets to initiate a rebuild. Combination of Domas, Lavine, DDR and Monk would net a good amount of picks, expirings and young players and we could build around DC, KM and KE. This is would be a much more exciting scenario than running it back with the same team next season.
Vivek will never sign off on an actual rebuild.
They’d trade Domas for Trae Young.
Jesus, that was fast.
Bullet dodged!
Is there still an avenue where we keep our pick?
Only if we jump to the top 4 in the lottery.
There is this extremely narrow window to 12 –
Dallas makes the playoffs, so GS/Mem winds up at 14. Mia/Chi makes the playoffs – if Orl falls, they are 13. If Atl falls, the Kings are tied for 12-13 with them, which then leads to a coin flip.
Extremely unlikely, but not impossible.
see, see, we haven’t hit bottom
another challenge for the M.I. Team! The Kings should hire Ethan Hunt!
Would have had a better chance to keep the pick if they had just rested the starters against PHX and taken the loss. No coin flip with ATL would be necessary in that situation. A win or loss yesterday wouldn’t have changed a damn thing for play-in seeding. Dallas got that memo, but Kings went full Kangz.
So you’re telling me we’re landing Cooper Flagg?
We’ll pass on Flagg and draft Boogie Fland.
Greg for GM!
Come on Greg, you’ll have to start wooing Anjali asap!
That’s the spirit.
I mean, I would love to be able to say one day: “Greg ruined my marriage but saved my franchise.“
Greg –
Please don’t woo
A golden trifecta of comments here. It’s what keeps me coming back.
I’m OK with Christie coming back for another year as long as we can get a very good lead assistant that has some creative offensive chops. The offense has regressed since Jordi Fernandez has left. I think there are some coaches that might be a good fit if they don’t get made a head coach, David Adelman, Kevin, Young Brian, Keith, Terry Stotts, and maybe Micah Nori also like Chris Fleming and Mahmoud Abdulfattah. Definitely need to trade DeRozan. He is a solid dude and excellent player just a bad fit. We need to figure out how to complement Sabonis and Lavine and still give Murray touches. I think he gets under utilized and lost on offense. I’m trying to figure out trading partners and teams that would want a DeMar DeRozan. Maybe Indianapolis would be willing to give up Jarace Walker and Nembhard. Kings definitely need a defense minded forward that can block some shots and make the threes or another player with similar size and ability to Keegan Murray and run with two good sized forwards. I agree we need a point guard. I often wonder if this team would’ve been better off keeping Barnes and not trading for Demar. I think you would’ve seen an improvement in scoring from Keegan and better all around performance as we had too many ball dominate starters
There’s a lot of good HC candidates available this offseason.
Bud just got terminated…Durant got yet another HC terminated.
Adelman, Stotts, Jenkins, Berrego, Vogel.
Malone lol
Joeger lol
Mike Brown lol
A forward thinking franchise would have never let Jordi out the door.
I agree with you about Jordi.
Mike Brown had just unanimously won Coach of the Year (the year prior), has been a coach in the League for over 20 seasons and has accordingly earned the respect of his colleagues, and had finally broken the Sacramento playoff drought after 16 record setting years.
You would have fired him, eaten his salary and hired his Assistant Coach and called it forward thinking? (and that is assuming he would have stayed to accept the position over his Head Coach, and turned down the Brooklyn Nets job or any other offering to stay in Sacramento).
You are a bold one, General Kenobi
The inability to make big boy decisions is why this franchise is in the rut that it’s in. A FO needs to be proactive, not reactive. Constantly being reactive is how you get a ham sandwich and empty points chucker for your best asset.
Players seem to keep quitting on Budenholzer as a HC. So the Kings should probably stay far away from him, unless it’s for an assistant position.
Who quit on Bud other than a poorly constructed Suns team? He’s missed the playoffs just twice in 11 years as a head coach. One was this year with the Suns and the other was his final year in ATL when they did a full rebuild on him. His final year in ATL had starting group of Schroder, Taurean Prince, Bazemore, rookie John Collins, And Dedmon. No one was getting blood from that stone.
If you gave me prime Jrue, Khris and Giannis I’d get you to the playoffs a couple times for sure
He won an NBA title with them bur doubt you would .
coach bud burner confirmed
The team needs a lead offensive assistant and a lead defensive assistant. Both sides of the ball have been abysmal for long stretches this season, and the defense has been in the gutter going back years now.
Bud’s issues were not skill related but star related with the Bucks. Giannis got pissed at him literally because Bud didn’t play his brother more. He also had some personal problems because his brother was killed by a drunk driver. In Phoenix, I don’t know how any coach deals with a roster that has three players who are NBA players and two of them have uncertain health issues. If you were to dream, the best coach for this franchise is Udoka who would toughen this bunch up. Not sure if Bud does that; Jenkins likely does.
The Kings have fought back against some bully ball but they don’t instigate it and the players on the current roster aren’t built that way. They are all soft except for Domas, JV and Lyles and Lyles may be difficult to keep. But none of the players are enforcers. An argument can be made that taking a run at acquiring the bad boys like Morant, Bridges (Charlotte variety) and Dillon in exchange for our flashier players gives a needed edge and I don’t care if they have off-the-court problems unless they are given 25-game suspensions. The West is a pretty boy division and I’d like to see what a tougher team can do (like Houston). It’s not a path to the NBA Finals, but it’s a path to maybe a 50-win team. The Kings have a lot of talent on the team, just a bad fit. That means there are many pieces that can be traded, including picks. Depending who’s running the front office, there are lots of possibilities.
I’ll all for getting some enforcers on the team, it’s something we’ve lacked since forever. One of our own got stomped during a game and no player stood up, still befuddles me.
As an aside, I wonder if a Fox / Morant trade would have been on the table this year. That’s a trade that would have made sense for both teams in many ways.
Bud would be an interesting hire. My first choice is Jenkins but Bud would be a close second. Pretty crazy that 3 recent Finals winning HCs are unemployed (MM, Vogel, Bud).
Keep Lyles!
Jeff Van Gundy could be a HC candidate that would improve the defense. I don’t think he’d fool with this clown show though.
He would if he was Head Coach and President of Basketball Operations or GM.
yeah just burn it all down from top to bottom
The only good news about Domas potentially leaving is that this team would be forced to finish bottom 5 and go full rebuild. Unless they trade him for an older expensive “win now” player like they did with Fox and oh shit they’re gonna fuck that up too….
In a season of late dropping shoes (Taylor Jenkins in March, Michael Malone in April) and now Mike Budenholzer, I expect more footwear fallings. Nick Nurse in Phila. is another that wouldn’t surprise anyone. I have to say I am surprised Quin Snyder still captains the Hawks. I don’t know what happens to Chris Finch should the TWolves have a mini impact and fail to get out of the first round.
Suffice to say, a lot of good HCs will be available this offseason, but we’ll run it back with DC.
If Nurse gets fired, I expect the Kings would try to bring Bobby Jackson back to join Doug’s staff.
This comment needs to be purple. I laughed so hard. This site is the best.
Morey said yesterday or the other day that he and Nurse are coming back.
That is a shame. A strong part of me wants Milwaukee to hire him so he can be the Lead Assistant to Doc Rivers.
For the Sixers – then went from Doc Rivers, to Nick Nurse – I think that their next hire should be Tech Winters.
Doc to Nurse to Jimmy Intern, Dave EMT or maybe Candy Striper
Until this franchise drafts the next Kobe Bryant we’re just enjoying a great building with great fans while listening to our broadcast team talk about that play that happened two plays ago.
We’ll trade him for Vlade
Kobe was drafted at 13. Haliburton was drafted at 12.
Haliburton isn’t Kobe, but we had our franchise player who wanted to be here and who had character and decided to trade him away.
Pacers made it to the ECF last year and this year are 33-13 since the calendar flipped.
This FO has fumbled away countless opportunities, the latest being the trash return for Fox.
Trading Haliburton was a HUGE MISTAKE that no one on here wants to talk about. He is a franchise player…not Fox…not Domas…I’m taking Hali every time. Kid is a star, Monte is an idiot.
On TKH we talk about front office incompetence EVERY SINGLE DAY.
This.
Franchise player on Pacers is Siakim and with a ring to prove it .
I fully expect both Doug and Monte to be back next season. Vivek isn’t about to hire another head coach with Brown still cashing checks, and don’t forget Monte had a multi-year contract extension signed in 2023. You all think Vivek is going to pay both a an ex-coach and ex-GM at the same time? Christie is going to be cheap and Monte is likely heading into a lame duck end of contract situation before being let go late next season.
I agree with Greg’s last paragraph, It’s going to be the majority of the gang returning with lots of spin by local media like “time to gel” and “Integrate Doug’s vision” bullshit. The Kings will end up with some Dennis Schroder type PG on an MLE deal, have no rookies to root for, and we all will grin a bear another wasted season of mediocrity before Domas asks out at some point in the next 10 months. Tell me I’m wrong.
You’re Wrong!!!
I don’t believe you are wrong.
(pictured above) Jeremy Lamb and Anjali World
“I’m on top of the 9-10 Play-in Matchup!”
I’ve been afraid to write Schroder as an option because I don’t even want it out there in the universe, but that’s about what I expect them to end up with.
Yeah…sorry about that. It seems it’s the Kangz destiny at this point.
To be fair, Vivek has twice paid ex-GM & ex-coach contracts at the same time, with Pete/Mike/Natt & Vlade/Walton. Though, I guess you could technically say that Vlade just changed jobs from GM to center court arm candy, remaining with the org.
It’s probably going to be Doug but Jenkins would add some grit to this team, which it needs in the worst way.
My fear because who even cares anymore, is that we pair Domas up with Booker in the desert while taking back Beal. 2 scorers! Beal played pg a bit in phx!
Ideally I’d love to see if you could pry away Gordon from the nuggets. Perfect pairing for joker would be pretty damn good for Domas me thinks. Not sure what it would take.
Demar would be a great 6th man for some team that needs a bucket getter with the stars needing a breather. Just not a great fit here like others have said countless times
Yup, I’d be hovering over the Nuggets right now if I were GM. IMO, one or even two of Gordon, Porter Jr, and/or Murray will be moved this summer. There is just too much money tied up in their big 4 and the owner has proven he doesn’t want to pay the big bucks to win. I too would love to poach Gordon, but I’d imagine Denver would want Keegan in return. I’d pass on that.
Agreed, feels like big roster changes this offseason in DEN. Can’t keep wasting away prime Joker years. They badly need depth, and oddly we can kind of provide it.
DDR and Monk for Porter Jr. and filler works…just saying.
DDR and Monk is almost a dollar for dollar match to Trae Young. Just saying.
DDR and Monk for Jordan Poole and Holmes works… just getting them all out there.
I totally expect the Kings to make a run a Poole. That’s such a Vivek move.
A LaVine and Young backcourt with Sabonis as your big? We’d need a new and more embellished name for that kind of matador defense.
Give me the 6’10” Porter, who shoots 40% from deep, to pair with Sabonis and LaVine. I’d prefer a nicely designed offense of cutting and excellent three point shooters around Domas as your point center. Keon, LaVine, Keegan and Porter Jr. does more for me than Young LaVine, some other wing, and Keegan.
It would still be nice to have a pure PG like Young, but a Tyus or Trae Jones on the full MLE would be easier had than a 6’10 wing who is an excellent shooter and underrated rebounder.
MPJ is good. Always seemed to me that he should be a much better defender given his size and length. But still a net plus in exchange for DDR and Monk.
DDR for Andrew Wiggins? Is Wiggins still good? Does he play defense, or was that just a fluke during the title season with the Warriors?
I like this trade.
I really think Jaden McDaniels from Minnesota would be a good add. Their new ownership group might be looking at cutting long term salary, and he has 4 years left on his deal.
DDR and a 1st for McDaniels would allow them to stay competitive next season, while shedding salary and getting a pick.
Keegan, McDaniels, Sabonis would be a solid front court. Lavine and a PG would round out a nice starting 5.
Adamsite what say you on Ty Jerome. Probably get him with our MLE. He would be a great point guard. Look at his stats and he can play defense.
I get that Ty has had a wonderful season, but I’d prefer some other franchise overpay for is his recent successes as opposed to the Kings. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a fine player, but he’s a 6th man. I’d chalk him up to as much impact as Monk, meaning he’s not moving the needle for this team as it is currently constructed.
Agree, Jerome is a terrific player with great stats on a big winner . Is ready to be a starter on a playoff team .
This trade is going to happen.
DeMar would be super in Los Angeles for either team, the Knicks, or Boston (and who in Sacramento wouldn’t be happy with a Peyton Pritchard for DDR trade)
I’ll take that too.
Is VD still being allowed to influence the direction of the organization? After his disastrous time running the organization?
That has Kolokotronis written all over it. He ought to remain persona non grata in Sacramento. He was terrible in every aspect of the job; drafting, trading, hiring dipshit head coaches, not showing the Kings’ draft board to the entire world, just everything. If the afflatus from his brain is given any weight at all, none of the other moves matter.
I definitely see the value in hiring a guy like Myers, everything you’ve stated makes sense. I do wonder, though, if the logic you apply to keeping Doug Christie around might apply to the GM job. Sacramento is still eating Brown’s salary (and ought to choke on it), and may not want to do the same with Monte’s. If it’s either McNair or DC that has to go, I keep Monte.
I’ve stated elsewhere that I feel that McNair has been every bit as good as he’s been allowed to be. The organization is in far better shape than when he began, and he’s been successful when needing to hire a coach. I can’t recall if he has one or two years left on his deal (maybe it’s three, I’m barely conscious), but there’s likely value in allowing him to run the show a little longer. Naturally, if you can get a name GM with the juice to actually run the damned show, I’d go along with it. It’s not my money.
Your take on the future with DeRozan and Lavine also seems sensible. I do like both players, but if you’re building around Sabonis, Lavine is the clear choice to keep. If you can flip Lavine for anything that will help a rebuild, I agree that it’s the smart move.
And if you can get the right return for Sabonis, that’s something that ought to be strongly considered. I certainly don’t want to see him go, but you also don’t want to end up in a situation where you can be lowballed as with Fox. (I miss Fox.) I’m not sure that Valanciunas is the guy you want as your starter for the next few years, although you could do worse. JV on the roster opens the doors that would remain closed with Alex Len as your backup, and no offense to Len, the man busted his ass.
Should you be able to get a young rim-running shot-blocker and a starter-level point guard as part of the return for Sabonis, I’d find that tempting. You’d end up with a center who’d likely be less-proficient running an offense and playmaking, but who would still be good for ten boards a game, and would be a real deterrent to attacking the rim. I’ve not thought about any names to fit into the scenario, but these guys aren’t super-rare.
As to the coach, I think that committing to DC is an admission by the organization that it’s not entirely serious about trying to improve. DC may be my all-time favorite Kings player, but I’m not convinced yet that he’s a head coach. Between Budenholzer and Jenkins, I’d lean toward Bud. He was fired because Phoenix’s League of Extraordinarily Injury-Prone Gentlemen had the kind of season that was entirely predictable. Jenkins, a very good coach I think, got bounced with ten days left in the season. Even though Memphis made all kinds of moves last summer that suggested they’d lost faith in Jenkins, it’s still kind of weird bouncing him so late in a pretty successful season. Either the situation had become intolerable, or the Grizz were worried that the team would make a deep run, and it would be tough to justify canning the coach in early June. I have no insights.
The idea of throwing the kitchen sink at Dan Hurley is tempting. With his record of success calling all of the shots on very successful teams, I doubt he’d take a job where he’d be undermined. I mention him because no other names occur to me right now, although I’m certain that there are several others who would make fine hires.
I’ve spent so much time on this that I’ve likely forgotten other aspects of the piece, but it is excellent, and solid arguments could be made on all of your ideas.
I miss Fox, too. He is one of the rare guards that is in the top 20th percentile on both ends of the floor. Very difficult to replace and the synergy of his skillset with Sabonis’ is obvious in comparison to DDR. Not putting enough 3&D wings/forwards around Fox & Ox is the chief failure of the McNair era and has set the franchise back perhaps a decade.
I think if we had kept Fox, he would have opted for season-ending surgery (he did in San Antonio after Wemby went down and it was clear they wouldn’t make a playoff). Then he would have had different trade value by likely requiring a sign-and-trade and a team having to deal with Rich Paul and Fox choosing his destination, i.e. San Antonio. I’m not a huge fan of Lavine and think we could have done better, but we didn’t have a ton of leverage on San Antonio at the time. Other than that, Monte made good trade deadline moves in getting JV, LaRavia, and even Fultz, who was a worthwhile swing to take. Monte couldn’t have made those deals without the Fox/Huerter trades. So you could say we traded Fox and Huerter for LaVine (and his massive contract), JV, La Ravia, Fultz and picks that gave us size and hustle we didn’t have before the trade. Considering the pressure the Kings were under, it wasn’t too bad of a return. Monte, even if feeling Lavine pressure from Vivek, did fairly well at the deadline all things considered. I’m OK keeping him and I don’t think there is another competent GM willing to put up with Vivekery.
Great analysis, Greg! While I agree with you a lot in terms of what’d be ideal, I unfortunately don’t see a lot of realistic options to improve the team.
I doubt Bob Myers or Connelly would come here. Outside of those two, I think we’d be making a lateral move. Im not against firing Monte, I’m against ending up with a worse GM. I should mention that I don’t attribute the trade for Lavine (the franchise’s fatal mistake) to Monte, but Vivek. With regards to the rest of the personnel choices over the years, I’d probably give him a C+/B- overall. Booth doesn’t seem better than that and who cares if Vivek is the one making decisions, anyway. I dont even like Bob Myers or think he’s that great but he’s the only one I’m 100% convinced Vivek would turn the keys over to completely.
Ideal: Myers or Connelly
Reality: McNair or Booth
As for coaches, Malone is the best coach available and never coming back to a Vivek franchise ever. Budenholzer is perfectly mediocre and wouldn’t meaningfully improve anything. Tbh he mightve gotten fewer wins out of this team than Doug this season. Taylor Jenkins is a culture setter and would implement a tough defense and an offense around Domas. Perfect. Unfortunately, I imagine he’ll have better options.
Ideal: Malone, then Jenkins
Reality: Doug by default?
As for the roster, first things first: Lavine isnt going anywhere. I’d also like to move Demar and rebuild around a young, long, defensive minded core of DC/Keon/Murray/Laravia to play with Zach, Monk, and Domas. Unfortunately, Domas nor Monk may want to be here next season. If Domas asks out, it changes everything we understand about this team and its future. And depending on how much Keon costs, Lyles may get forced out too.
Ideal: Laravia takes a 1+1, Keon gets a value deal, Lyles returns, Demar nets a rotation player, roster is reshaped with clear vision around Domas.
Reality: Laravia and Lyles bail, Keon is a bit pricey, Sabonis asks out and is quickly followed by Demar and Monk.
Overall –
Ideal: Maybe it works out?
Reality: Basketball Hell. It was always Basketball Hell. It will continue to be Basketball Hell.
No coach is without their flaws and Spoelstra ain’t walking through the door. IMO, both Coach Bud and Jenkins would be an upgrades over Doug, but they’d also come at twice the price, which is why Coach Christie is who we are going to get.
I 100% expect the Kings to have the lowest paid coach in the league next year, and that his little to say about the coach, but everything to say about ownership.
I recall that before Mike Brown got his extension, his initial contract with the Kings was among the cheap.
I think you may be right.
Monte Christie…what a sad combo, I want a real GM and coach. I fear neither are. I just want some long 3 and D wings and a big point 3 and D point guard. Give me shooters that can defend. That’s what you need to win in today’s NBA, some good team defense and three point shooting.
This team looks lost as ever to me, I’ll change my mind when I see different. Get a real GM and let him hire a good to great coach, it’s simple.
I hear no mention of getting rid of Monk, give me someone who plays defense and isn’t inefficient and all over the place on offense. Him and DDR both need to go. Get rid of Lyles also, dude has been mediocre to mid his entire career. Keep JV, dude is a beast, something we been missing.
I like Keon but he shouldn’t even be starting. Get a real point guard and a guy that plays defense like Keon and is a wing with size. Keon can be on the second unit and sometimes play end of games. So many obvious changes to make, McNair is an absolute clown and ass hat. I can’t believe anyone thinks he has done a good job.
I see Keon as possibly 6th. man of the year candidate. He will still see his minutes.
Greg, I hope Vivek sees them as ‘choices’. Certainly DeRozan was a choice, and one they won’t get back. Nobody’s taking him. I was all pumped up for last off season, and the results from last July to this trade deadline make me skeptical. I love your ‘what I think they’ll do’ projections. The cheapest way forward is ‘Doug, Monte, and bench tinkering’. That’s my ‘what I think they’ll do.’
The only guys worth keeping are Murray and Ellis. Sabonis, maybe, if we actually find a complementary front court partner, although he’s probably too old to be a featured part of the next great Kings team.
Christie should go, Monte should go, Lavine/DeRozan/Monk should go. Let’s burn this thing down and start anew. Imagine starting with the premise that you don’t acquire any bad defenders.
IMO Sabonis, Monk and DDR should go. LaVine stays because of contract and because he is a really good shooter. I love all three but if Sabonis wants out so be it. Monk and DDR will also get you some players. I am 50 50 on Carter.
Light The G-Beam!
Stockton Kings win the series 2-1 to take home the crown as
G-League Champions 2024-2025
CONGRATULATIONS!
It’s like Sacramento winning the title, but with more drive-by shootings and incest.
We are an awesome Division II franchise! G-League Champs, Summer League Champs, WNBA Champs!
Where’s the WNBA team you promised Vivek?
Mason Jones
G-League Finals MVP
CONGRATULATIONS!
Hey Kings Fans!
There have now been 3 Mikes fired from NBA coaching this season
Mike Budenholzer (owed $10M/season x 4 remaining)
Michael Malone (owed $12M/season x 2)
Mike Brown (owed $10M/season x 2)
Suns will have 4 Head Coaches in 4 years! Still paying 3 of them, 4th has yet to be hired.
And Bradley Beal still has his no-trade
clawsclause in their salary capThe fact that James Jones GM for Suns still has a job proves who is making decisions for the Suns . Inept owner . Sound familiar ?
So if we were to follow trends and forecast using math and science, Vivek is going to hire Bedenholzer as the third Mike that he will fire. Then the spell to open up hell will be complete.
Budenholzer to the Kings, confirmed!
And then we can go Bibby!
That hiring activates the demonspawn spell. Damn you, Kfan
Tim Connelly is friends with Malone, zero chance he’s even taking the Kings phone call.
As constructed, its’ a middling team. I’m in complete disagreement this is a bad spot, the Kings are finally on par with 15-20 other NBA teams and not 2 levels behind this position for perpetuality. They are are a good move and half way from being a strong team. If they make no progress, at least they are competing for a bottom end playoff spot next season. If they really blow their offseason its the lottery with a chance to land a star player which pushes them towards the upper tier.
I think this position is so unfamiliar to Kings fan they don’t understand it. IMO, the blowup/rebuild crowd is insane but’s a familiar spot for most. Can’t accumulate talent fast enough in the NBA draft process which is why teams get stuck in there for years. It’s more poignant to mention these kids are getting good NIL money now, the talent is about to start staying in college, it’s terrible 2-3 year window to be in the lottery.
I can blame the team for the Mike Brown firing, but I cannot blame them for Fox, he peaked two years ago and wanted out. Current roster formula doesn’t work but that’s a typical NBA problem. They still have above average flexibility to make moves, plenty of teams on their tier are in worst shape. The franchise has basically morphed into Utah or Indiana which to me is welcome change after 40 seasons.
Since we’re not going to have our pick, we’ll have our full future slate to trade come July. What if we go after Ja Morant? He’s a problem child who I would hate to root for, but Ja gives real star power, Lavine is an ideal 3rd banana, and if we just trade a boat load of picks in this move, it lets the Grizzlies move on.
If not Ja, I like Trey Young. Agreed on the coaches (Christie, Bud, Jenkins, Adelman in that order).
I have no thoughts on GM. It won’t matter until Mettina and at least one of Vlade or Vivek are no longer involved.
Ja and Trae are heavy usage players and need the ball in their hands. If we were to use Donas as the conductor of the offense, it will still be a wonky fit, though less iso is good.
I think they should look to Boston for either Jrue Holiday or Derrick White. They have to be happy with Payton Pritchard at an incredible contract and really need to save some money. Having Jrue and White make a combined 60mil when they already in tax hell means one is very likely gone. Demar has a contract that helps them and they clearly have the star power to relegate him to a bench role that would still help them/him finish his career. Jrue age means likely don’t have to attach much, White would be huge get, probably have to give up ’26 first (I do it).
Nembhard is another PG target that fits into a Demar contract, also could look to ATL with their fat trade exception to help with multiple things.
White/Nembhard
Keon
Lavine
Murray
Sabonis
Carter
Monk
LaRavia
Lyles
Jval
That feels like a very very solid team in the west
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