The Sacramento Kings are actively shopping the 13th pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, according to a new report from The Athletic’s Anthony Slater and Sam Amick. While we’ve heard rumors that the Kings were shopping the 13th pick for weeks now, Slater and Amick also report that the Kings were close to a deal for Alex Caruso last week, and that deal would have included the 13th pick.
The Kings already tried to use it for a significant roster upgrade. They were close to a trade for defensive ace Alex Caruso last week, according to league sources, offering the No. 13 pick to Chicago as the key chip. The Bulls, to the surprise of many within the league, instead opted to send Caruso to Oklahoma City for Josh Giddey.
It’s no surprise that the Kings are shopping the pick. The Kings are absolutely in improve-now mode. Falling short of the playoffs last year was a big disappointment, even if the Kings record wasn’t much different despite a much tougher Western Conference. It’s also not surprising to hear the Kings wanted Caruso, especially after last week’s reports of Sacramento’s interest. Caruso has been a trade target we’ve loved around here for a while. Caruso is a little older than Sacramento’s core of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and the newly re-signed Malik Monk, but Caruso provides and ideal balance of outside shooting, basketball IQ, and hard-nosed defense.
Worth noting: Slater and Amick report that the Kings could still be interest in Zach LaVine, but would need to be incentivized (read: draft picks or other good players) to take on LaVine’s massive contract.
What’s sadly unsurprising is hearing that the Sacramento Kings, once again, were near a trade for an impactful player only for it to fall apart at the last second. The Kings have failed to make a major acquisition at the last two trade deadlines, and all of last offseason. The Kings are regularly reported as being close to deals, only to have another team swoop in and match or beat Sacramento’s offer. The Kings front office is chasing the exact right types of players, but they are perpetually unable to get deals made. If the Kings are truly aggressive in trying to improve this team, that’s going to mean doing what it takes to complete deals. No team wants to lose a trade, but failing to do anything is still losing, just slower.
It should be a busy couple days as we lead up to the first round of the draft on Wednesday.
Let’s hope that the rest of the off season is not just one big cone of silence.
The deal was 86-ed!
(there was a betterdeal two days ago!).
Why are deals bypassing the Kings? Is it a sports agent thing?
A bit of point of contention:
Why isn’t Keon Ellis considered a Core player? He’s a starter and he’s signed on for the next 2 seasons.
In this case, I think that Giddey > 13. Now, would the 13 + (say) Huerter be better? Maybe (maybe not), but I’m not sure that I would want to give up that much to get Caruso.
Exactly, don’t get fleeced just because you want a deal for deal sakes. I’m glad monte at the helm
It’s because the Kings are too Fucking conservative. It’s like they refuse to risk anything because they don’t want to lose what they have?
This is not the approach that lands deals. Gotta be willing to part with almost anyone.
They keep taking about not wanting to sacrifice the future with bad deals. Well, the future is already here.
Do something! No more excuses. Like, why not add more to the deal with Chicago.
and this also might speak to the notion that Monte has brought in players that aren’t wonderful assets.
I have a sneaking feeling we make a legit move this week. Just wait and see.
I hope so.
Something needs to happen.
So if Chicago likes Giddey (and they obviously do or they would not have made the deal), what is the deal that puts the Kings out in front of that? If I’m Chicago and I like Giddey, the deal would have to be the 13 and Ellis, and if I’m the Kings I’m not making that deal. I would do the 13 and Huerter, but I don’t know if the Bulls do that deal.
28 teams did not trade for Caruso or Giddey. The Kings were one of those 28.
Exactly. And what if the Giddey deal was only available for a short time, sobthe Bulls had to make a decision quickly?
The 13th pick is a gamble, Giddey they at least know what they are getting.
Ellis is untradeable. Haliburton can go but not Ellis. No way.
Ellis is absolutely tradeable. The question is, would you trade him and the 13 for Caruso? I would not. Your mileage may vary.
It then comes down to cost and contracts. Caruso has 1 year left at $9.8m, and then need think about will he re-sign. Also 31 next season.
Keon is younger, makes substantially less (not as good a player as Caruso).
13th pick has value as well. Probably better used to get a PF like ABB has mentioned that the Kings need to get anyway.
Spend the assets on a more pressing need, like a starting PF.
We need a power forward….but I can trade two undersized shooting guards for three more undersized shooting guards.
Maybe we get lucky with 13 and get another point guard?
Power forwards are hard to find.
Not for Caruso. For a real power forward…most definitely.
For sure.
And make no mistake – I get the impatience that is felt around here, and agree with a bit of it. It has always seemed to me that Monte has his valuations and refuses to budge off of them, and if that is true it is to the detriment to the growth of this team.
The 13 and Ellis for Portis or Jerami Grant? I’d do it. The 13 and Ellis for Collins or Kuzma? I’m probably less enthused.
Ellis? No. #13 and Davion? Sure. And, dollar 4 dolla, I also like Grant better than Kuzma. On their current respective contracts? I’ll take Kuzma.
Huerter, Mitchell, and #13, for Kuzma, just makes so much sense on so many levels for both sides.
I hope the reality of change is now acceptable. It is necessary to win.
Don’t take the bait, the obtuseness on his part, deliberate or not, is very real, and very thick.
Ding ding ding! Every article here is flooded with about 15% of the total posts by that person and they have to have the last word on every thread.
We seriously need an ignore function on here. It’s frustrating when one person makes it hard to wade into any comments section these days.
No doubt. I just counted 25 posts by that one person. At this time, there are a total of 115 across all participants. Most of that person’s posts are repetitive, too. An ignore function would be really appreciated.
26…27..
Nice to meet you.
Boo!
Return matters. 13 plus keon for Caruso is terrible
That is a shit trade.
13 plus Keon plus X plus y plus whatever to get a real power forward is entirely possible and ok.
I thought Keon is a G-leaguer—in your opinion.
He was.
Did you change your mind? After writing that he was a G-leaguer about 300 times, did you decide that you had been wrong? Do you find it difficult to admit error? If so, maybe that’s a problem.
I wrote many times about pinning the hopes of this team on G leaguer. Accepting that as the best they could do.
If only they kept Queta!!! What could have been?
Ellis is an average player so far. Kings are an average team. I think the goal should be championships.
I wrote about that often and clearly.
Do you find it difficult to read what is written?
Easy to be you.
Pump the brakes lol
Not even that disappointed anyway, was a fan of getting Caruso up until the deadline but with Keon’s emergence, Caruso is kind of redundant…we have the next Caruso, and is younger/cheaper. Should be going after long athletic wings, or a shot blocking PF like Collins to play beside Domas….if Collins was better of course lol
I think Ellis is considered a core player by the FO at least. A big part of that is his production vs cost, as Ellis’s play on the court gives you a productive player at a bargain price.
Under the new CBA, players like Ellis that can give you production on the court while also costing almost nothing salary cap-wise is extremely valuable; it’s was why Caruso is currently so valuable leaguewide, you can drop him in any roster config and get All-NBA Def production for less than the standard MLE. I bet his value drops considerably if he signs a new contract at $25M+.
Also why Ellis can bring talent in a trade.
Good place to be.
Giddey is likely a much better player than anyone they could get at 13, no surprise here.
I disagree. I see Giddey as being a player with some high-quality attributes (playmaking and court vision), but one that you have to build your entire team around due to his inefficiencies…he doesn’t shoot well (at any level) yet and he has never heard of defense.
There are definitely better players at 13 (like Carter or Ware) who could help rebuild that team. The problem is that Chicago refuses to rebuild or commit to spending any real money to get better. They plan to bring back DeRozan and P. Williams, move off of Lavine and Vuc somehow (I don’t think they’ll be able to) and run it back with White and Giddey in the backcourt moving Ayo back to the bench (big mistake IMO), DDR at SF, PW at PF, and someone at C (most likely Vuc) with little to no depth besides Ayo & Drummond (if he comes back). A play-in team AT BEST, but still a massive money-maker for the owner who seems to have no interest in putting an actual contender together.
He is a known quantity. Not a bad choice for a rebuild team.
McNair is very disciplined about sticking to his valuation of players once the valuation has been made. If he determines a player is worth X, and another team offers X+1, he will not bid X+2 to make the deal. It’s why he has never (to this point) made a significant trade mistake or FA mistake, but also why he seems to get outbid regularly. He refuses to “overpay” (in his estimation) for a target.
Seems like it.
But at some
point he must feel the pressure and time ticking and take a swing.
I’m not very interested in almost.
Right. But the time to overpay is now. That’s just how it goes Monte.
It reminds me of being in fantasy football league. you think you can get what you want without giving up really what you think you should give up.
IMHO, Monte’s approach is what got the Kings out of the cellar and into the ranks of Teams That Can Be Taken Seriously… and that’s no small feat. “Not shooting yourself in the foot” is a great strategy to move from bad to respectable, and it’s something sixteen years’ worth of previous FOs in Sac were unable to accomplish (not to mention several current FOs in other cities around the league). That said, I agree 100% the approach needs to become more aggressive now that a foundation of competence has been laid. I don’t fault Monte for playing it safe last offseason–there were enough signs that this was the right, or at least a right, thing to do–but I will if he repeats himself this time around.
The time to overpay is never
Overall, I agree with you. But in fairness, if a team is one piece away from a serious championship run and that piece becomes available, go ahead and overpay a little. The Kings are not one piece away.
Totally agree.
Still the same team and missed the playoffs again.
The positive is we didn’t give up Davion, Duarte, or Jones for a player that improves the team. The rest of the NBA was willing to give that much. The value isn’t there though. Too much.
Giddey is 5x the asset of those players you listed. Step back from the ledge
No ledge in sight.
Sarcasm.
Maybe 4x the asset?
We agree. That is allowed. You are ok. Breathe.
Honestly, what “player that improves the team” were you ever going to get for Davion, Duarte, or Jones last season? You want a trade exception and a pick swap with that, too? Last I checked, Vlade isn’t the GM of another NBA team that you can call with this offer.
That is my point.
None of those players are going to get anything needed in return.
I’m not sure how the Kings could have traded away the #13 prior to the draft. They only way they’d be allowed to do that is to acquire another first this year. Could the possible deal have included the Bulls #11?
It might be another reason it didn’t happen. It couldn’t happen until draft night and the timing might have tipped the scales.
Who knows?
The #13 is $12M/3 years, Josh Giddey is 24, finishing his rookie deal, and has just this season left at $8.3M, then RFA. And maybe Marc Eversley (Bulls GM) hates draft picks (because why else didn’t he insist to include some draft capital from OKC, who is overflowing with picks. They have some crazy number of picks/swaps possible next season).
Or it could have been there was a deal discussed in terms to happen on draft night, but then Monk re-signed and the Kings pulled the deal. Maybe the Kings didn’t miss, but instead went in another direction?
Monk signing early changed everything. At that point, no need for LaVine for example.
Yup, and it made Monte’s job a hell of a lot easier.
Because of fit, I would give up #13 for Caruso.
From the Bulls side- Giddey looked better than #13 or any of the players they would get for either Caruso alone or Caruso + LaVine.
Giddey 21 i believe
And his romantic interest definitely isn’t!
Chicago, Chicago. That toddler town!
Technically you are correct, according to the CBA but they would “trade” #13 in theory, commit to it, that is, and the official trade occurs after the pick is made. That gets around the Septien Rule. Pick for another team in other words.
Caruso is a good player but you lose #13 and where does he play? SF with Keegan going to the 4 spot? That is a small team. And it is tough to play Caruso and Keon at the same time since neither has to be guarded. IMO the trade included both Caruso and LaVine for players + #13 but not a pick swap.
Bulls split LaVine and Caruso and took a guy they wanted Giddey.
I would rather have Kuzma- not because he is necessarily a better player, but he can play WITH Keon. Kings need a guy who can go get a bucket- a guy other teams have to guard.
Just not sure a rookie at #13 will or can make an impact. Going into the season with HB and a fractured Huerter does not feel good.
IMO Kings talked to Malik and said these were the deals pending. Not straight out tell him but hints through his agent.
I loved the idea of Caruso at the 2023-24 trade deadline. But for all the reasons you mention, I don’t see how he fits with the Kings now that Keon has (hopefully) solidified a spot in the starting lineup. I’m personally glad this deal didn’t happen. I’d rather use the 13 in a deal for an HB replacement than to pick up a good but somewhat redundant player.
I agree, with Ellis’ emergence, a player like Caruso isn’t as critical. What is critical is addressing the starting PF position and that’s where MMs focus should be these next few days.
Exactly. I have no problem with kicking the tires on a player like Caruso. I am also happy that they aren’t so enamored with him that they made a dumb play for him.
yes. Caruso redundant with Keon. Not the same but close. Kings need a 3/4 with length. Don’t waste the #13 on neither of those.
A true 4. No more shooting guards that are willing to playing the 4.
Caruso is a 38% career shooter from three, 40.8% last year.
Ellis is 42.2% for is career, 41.7% last season.
If the conventional wisdom is that neither need to be covered, I’d argue that the conventional wisdom is about is useless as it has generally proven to be.
I agree there, too. Teams don’t feel the need to cover Ellis yet because he’s not known around the league. Keep shooting 40%+ and you can be damn sure they’re going to have to cover him.
OT: Amick over at the Athletic (paywall) just posted a subtle little bomb (IMO) about Fox. He has heard Fox WILL NOT sign an extension this summer because he wants to see how things play out with the roster.
Keep in mind, Fox may be eligible for a an even larger max deal if he makes All-NBA this next season. That is fine and all, but in my opinion it could also mean the Kings go into next summer with Fox having only year remaining. If this season goes sideways and Fox doesn’t have an extension in place, the Kings run the risk of him walking in UFA in 2026.
I didn’t include that tidbit because to me it’s very dumb.
Fox not extending has nothing to do with the roster and everything to do with the WAY bigger sum of money he can get if he makes All-NBA this season.
Oh, I totally get why Fox would wait. He’s banking on himself, which is totally fine. It was Amick’s (who I respect greatly) exact verbage of:
That is what made me do a double take.
Whether true or not, the Kings can’t keep sitting in their hands, imagining this roster has what it takes. Not willing to go into tax threshold.
Make moves now or the Kings will never move forward.
It just feels like this stubborn approach that they like their team and think they have enough to make a run. That’s what they thought last year.
Given the number of discussions they’re already involved in this offseason, it feels a little reactionary to assume they like the team and think they have enough to make a run. It’s clear to me that they aren’t content with this roster at all.
First, they should have made moves last year and there were so called discussions last year too.
If they really see that what they have isn’t enough they’d do more/offer more for Caruso etc.
it’s not reactionary. I’m only posting what I see from this FO. Conservative.
Time will tell. If they make deals this summer, fine. But they are behind the 8 ball
I cannot imagine a deal for Caruso is impossible.
It’s all speculation from reporters getting intel from somebody involved in the situation. We don’t know what was offered, what was coming back, how the timing of the deal would work because they can’t trade the pick until it is selected, etc.
At least it seems like the right players are being targeted. Eventually something has to happen, but giving up too much might not be the way to go (see Phoenix and Bradley Beal for example)
At least Phoenix tried to win.
It is proven that this roster doesn’t do anything in the West.
They tried, and it went to crap as a lot of people thought. Now they are a 2nd apron team, almost no draft picks, have 1 aging star, another that gets hurt all the time, and bitch ass Devin Booker. Bleak future.
Yes. They actually did try to win by changing a roster that had proven it wasn’t going to make a run.
They have more talent than the Kings. They can build around the talent or trade the talent.
A deal for Booker/Beal or a deal for Barnes/Sasha/Davion/Huerter?
Don’t want Beal. And can they package players in trade? are they not over some apron or in some tax bracket that precludes that?
I don’t want Beal either.
If you were looking for player would you take Davion or Beal?
They have assets other teams are willing to trade something for. They are in a tight spot but with some creative deals they get back to a new reality quickly.
Do you want maybe the worst contract in the league for a guy that plays 50-55 games a season?
That’s a hard to deal to unload given that Phoenix has no other assets.
From a contract standpoint no. For a talented player that might push a team over the edge in the right direction for a playoff push yes.
Someone will do that deal to win.
The Suns are going nowhere fast. Bet it!
How about the Kings for the last two decades?
Keep running it back.
They’re also royally f’kd with no chance of competing for a title in the forseeable future, the younger teams in the West have past them by and they have no assets to improve the team and are stuck with the worst contract in the NBA (Beal).
How are the Kings stacking up in the West?
Run it back.
Durant sucks. Definitely a liability worth nothing. Sasha for KD.
Stay out of the playoffs or make a choice to get better. If it doesn’t work try again.
We need to get HB out of the starting lineup. Caruso doesn’t move the needle for me in terms of taking the Kings to the next level is all I’m saying.
I agree they should have made moves last year. And they need to do something this year. I’m just not losing sleep over whiffing on either Caruso or Lavine / Caruso.
I agree with you on that. I like Curuso a lot but maybe they need different positions. I hate Lavine
Going back to my mantra (I feel like I am Jack, always repeating) Keon is a wiz on D. He inspires Fox, D is better, but teams don’t guard him. Cannot have 2 guys that teams don’t guard. HB + Keon= bad. Keon + Caruso= bad.
Get a 3/4 who is a threat, and this allows Keon to m optimize his talents.
Discussions and actions are not the same.
I like Caruso. Do you?
Yeah….
Should we get him?
Maybe….
Ok, let me call them and talk about it.
He still there?
Nope.
I completely agree and actually appreciate this type of honesty from Fox. He wants to bet on himself but also wants to play for a winner and in meaningful games. I think a lot of players feel this way, but not many will actually come out and say it.
Glad if this did come from Fox that he is being honest. Way better than signing the extension and then forcing his way out via trade if things go south.
Also now he puts the Kings officially on the clock-which we can all agree is a good thing. Make moves or I’m gone.
Fox is smart. He wants to win. He can get paid and win.
I honestly don’t think Fox is the key piece of this team. Fox leaving might actually break open the gates that allow this team to build a better roster.
Not sure I agree about Fox but this is exactly the attitude the FO needs. Anyone is available in pursuit of making this team a championship contender. That’s how it works.
Stagnation has not worked.
I’m sure someone told him that. That doesn’t mean it’s true.
What is Fox telling you?
I haven’t heard from him lately.
Maybe Fox truly does want to win?
More money but remain a King for eternity. Not many players desire that deal.
Exactly. It makes sense for Fox to wait until next season and at the end of the day the Kings can offer more than any other team. Not to mention, his bff just resigned so Fox isn’t planning on going anywhere anyways.
And also, we haven’t accomplished enough team success with Fox as the francshise player these seven years for me to care if he wants to test the waters.
What if we can keep the #13 pick and still improve this team. My proposal.
Barnes, Mitchell, 2024 second, 2025 second, 2027 first for Kuzma.
Lyles, Vezenkov, a second for Zach Collins.
#13 pick DaRon Holmes.
Use MLE to get Naji Marshall
Starters: Foz, Ellis, Murray, Kuzma, Sabonis.
Backups: Monk, Huerter, Marshall, Holmes, Collins.
Kuzma is not going to be dealt for second round picks.
Who wants Veznekov?
Lyles and Barnes are worth something to another team.
Here is my dog food that my kids won’t eat. I will take your filet mignon.
if you look again at the above comment for Kuzma 2 seconds AND A FIRST. Thatis good enough.
Also if not Kuzma then John Collins. Might be a better fit anyway.
Barnes and Mitchell are not going to replace what Kuzma does.
Two seconds…one this year and one next year. These two second round picks will definitely not be anything close to Kuzma.
The first round pick is an unguaranteed pick in three years. Meaning they have the slight opportunity of finding someone as good as Kuzma or better in three years.
For two years they get worse and pray that in three years they find the one in a million superstar.
Not a deal.
Your filet mignon cost way to much and unfourtunaely it came burnt.
Cooked on high heat knowing it is the best possible outcome.
Never perfect but one has to do what is known to work.
I thought Caruso would cost a first round pick at a minimum, and yet he was dealt for a guy who was benched in the playoffs. Maybe the league is tipping back and away from the Rudy Gobert trade price.
Kuzma is best used as a 3rd to 4th best player on a good team. He’s currently marginally better than peak Harrison Barnes. Maybe he won’t cost a first after all?
Thank you.
I think it all it tells us is that picks in this draft aren’t worth a whole lot. I also think Josh Giddey is a much better player than one playoff series would indicate. He’s 21, was excellent two seasons ago, and his three point percentage has gone up every season. The Bulls want to rebuild and I’d easily take Giddey over the 13th pick.
I don’t think Kuzma is worth a first. I doubt anyone gives up a first for him.
Kuzma is worth a comparable player and some filler. Second round picks not getting it done.
You feed your kids dog food? Gross.
Bored?
The Kings “could” still be interested in LaVine? I think I’m going to throw up.
Huerter, Davion, Duarte, Sasha for Lavine probably makes the Kings better.
Duarte and Sasha are non-factors for winning basketball. Davion is a highly replaceable undersized backup PG.
Huerter is mostly one dimensional offensively, and defensively on par with Lavine.
Not saying I would do that deal. Lavine does provide the team with another multi-dimensional offensive player, but he costs a shit ton and has injury concerns.
The problem with that deal is that the only player in that group any other team desires is Huerter. The rest are contracts they have to get rid of shortly.
And I think Chicago would gladly take the salary relief as Davion and Duarte have 1 year left, as does Sasha (his 3rd year minimally guaranteed I think). That gets them out of like $80m of salary after next season with Lavine off the books.
Huerter has 2 years left at like $16m/year. If the Bulls want to cut salary to go acquire bigger fish, then they have to space to do that next offseason.
After next season is the key to that statement.
Why wait year?
If they want to improve now they need salaries that expire now. They are not looking to lock in an absurdly low quality roster for a year.
They can’t get salaries that expire now. The Bulls have to take salary back, that’s how the CBA works.
They can do better than players they don’t want that they have to carry for a year.
Lavine’s value is basement level low, so the offers probably won’t be much better .
I understand your take on the Lavine possibility and I don’t want him here.
I just think the Bulls can find a much better and simpler process to get rid of him.
I don’t want him either. PERIOD.
I don’t really want him either. I do think if the Bulls could have moved for better, they would have moved him for better.
Maybe they want to keep him and see how it works when they are all healthy (which will be never).
Let’s just hope the players/picks the Kings have get a better PF to help next season.
Go get what is obviously needed and see what happens.
We all know that the deal Monte makes will come out of freaking left field and catch everyone off-guard. It’s the Monte way.
So when Evan Mobley, or Julius Randle, or Cam Johnson, (example players, not what I think will happen. Don’t come at me) end up in a King’s uniform this next season, I won’t be surprised.
As Joe Gibbs used to say when guiding Washington to Superbowls…..”let us ???? pray”.
Id love Mobley. Though the kings don’t even need an all star/etc. just a couple pieces that fit
The players listed were just random names I thought of. No way Mobley gets traded to Sac.
I realize that. Just fantasizing.
I think it is time to allow the fantasies to become a reality.
Why not?
I agree.
it was only a few days ago when most of us were thrilled that the Kings re-signed Monk.
I think it’s okay that the Kings did not get Caruso and still have the 13th pick.
I don’t quite think it’s fair to put it on Monte. If most of the league would of taken 1st and filler but chi chooses to roll with giddey it is what it is. I don’t want to get burned just to make a deal.
Conversely, it’s comforting to read that the Kings won’t overpay on deals, particularly since there’s no information regarding the matching salary that Chicago wanted.
If the Bulls value Josh Giddey over a late lottery pick, I’d feel no obligation to give away more to make a very poorly run organization happy.
I’m not upset about this. We don’t know what Chicago was asking. I’d rather draft an athletic PF at 13 than bring on Caruso.
Eight player rotation: 2 bigs: Sabonis, ?
3 wings: Murray, Barnes, Lyles
3 guards: Fox, Ellis, Monk
Len can’t be relied upon for regular rotation minutes. If they can improve with another wing, play Lyles behind Sabonis. Obviously they can improve many spots, but as the roster is now, the hole in the rotation is backup big.
Improved rotation: Sabonis, Lyles
Kuzma, Murray, Barnes,
Fox, Ellis, Monk
Assuming they trade Huerter/Mitchell, and #13 for Kuzma, they can re-sign Len and Edwards to be 9th and 11th, Jones is probably 10th. Now that the rotation is set with veterans, draft BPA, and let the rookies endeavor to break their way in. No pressure, no unrealistic expectations. Then try to trade back into the end of the 1st round (picks are rumored to be available) with Duarte/Vezenkov for anther bigman prospect, that’s 12. Second round pick makes 13, and a couple two-ways makes a full 15. Or Monte can use the MLE if there’s room under under the cap apron. Naji Marshall would be great on a reasonable deal.
That’s kinda how I’m seeing it right now.
Just spitballing here…
What if we could trade down out of the 13th for two later picks? This seems like a weaker draft, but with some good potential down the road.
I really would like to see us pick up Ryan Dunn. Perhaps his offense can develop, but I’ve read that he is similar to Thybulle, who a lot of people wanted the Kings to trade for.
Play two hands instead of one. Could work?
Dunn makes Thybulle look like Reggie Miller.
Or he could be Tony Allen with rim protection.
I find it unfair to favor offensive threats who play no defense over defensive stoppers with no jumper. Both have value, IMO, but there is one thing that we know wins championships. Defense.
I’ll also add, Dunn is projected late first round to early second round material. If you can get that kind of defender, regardless of his offensive problems, on that kind of rookie deal, I think you have to take it.
I’ll just point out that Herb Jones shot 44% from the field, 28% from 3 and just 60% from the charity stripe in 4 years at Alabama. He’s now an all-nba defensive team member and is slated to take Ingram’s spot in the rotation. He was also 2nd round material that couldn’t shoot.
I was mostly kidding.
In another post I was stating how much I like Dunn’s game.
I may be in the minority here. But Ellis is not a starter for any playoff team in either conference. He just isn’t. He’s a good defender who really hasn’t proven anything on offense. If that’s you’re starting 2 guard going into the season. I would say he’s massively overrated by Kings fans as a whole. Hes a nice back up. A starter. Not seeing it. At all
That’s totally fair and a small sample size may prove you are right. I would just look to the stats as a team when he was starting for the Kings towards the end of the season. He’s by no means a star, or even a primary offensive weapon, but the team showed significant improvement on the defensive end.
I don’t think he’ll ever be more than a 12ppg player, but his defense at least hints at a Crauso, Thybulle, Smart type of POA impact. If the Kings can get that kind of defensive production at his cost, it’s an absolute win. Think Doug Christie 2.0
To put it bluntly, he makes Davion Mitchell’s perceived defensive attributes seem average, but Ellis has also shown to be a significant threat from deep. A legit 3 and D off guard is what Fox needs next to him and Sabonis needs to kick out to. Time will tell, but I’m willing to give it a shot.
I look at Keon as a force multiplier (much like the names you mentioned above). Maybe his nickname should be “Fulcrum”.
Yes, much like Christie, he’s a sum is greater than their parts “multiplier.” Fingers crossed.
I wonder how his scoring changes as the scouts figure him out?
True, and I guess that’s in the wait and see perspective. Can he and the coaching staff adapt? It seems teams “figured out” Keegan and DHO a bit this year. Every year is an adaptation and evolution. I’m optimistic that both Keegan and Ellis can notch it up, and I have a feeling Monte is as well.
I think most NBA players hit that wall when other teams figure them out. The good ones develop other tools. One dimensional players are exposed,
That will be interesting to see, but I don’t think they can do much about his scoring opportunities. Most of Ellis’ points came from side or corner catch and shoot 3s.
Unless someone can figure how to prevent spacing, there isn’t much a team can do except get longer (looks at NOP).
At least there is hope.
Average player that isn’t a scorer at this point.
Much more than anyone ever thought he was.
If Holland is still on the board at 13, I hope they draft him and keep him.
I don’t hate trading for Kuzma, but I don’t like it. I don’t think he cares about winning that much, and while that is not an absolute imperative in a player to be acquired for a certain role, it is required in a player the Kings are giving up assets for.
I don’t hate trading for Collins, but I’m mostly indifferent to the idea. I don’t think he’s a better player overall than Barnes, but I do think he is a better fit at PF between Domas and Murray. I also think Collins could be had for less and if HB could be retained in the trade, then I would feel better about it. HB is still a good player and I think he’ll be even better in a lesser but more clearly-defined role at this stage in his career.
I still think trading for T. Eason is the best play. Maybe trade the 13, Huerter (or Davion if they prefer), and whatever additional assets (most likely a few 2nds or maybe Sasha) to make it worth it to Houston to move off a good young player they aren’t using. HOU could use a reliable sharpshooting wing (unless they get Sheppard) and they have a glut of forwards. Eason is an excellent fit for this particular roster and his contract is by far the least expensive of the three (Team Option of $4M in 2025 and $6M in 2026).
If there are enough savings available through any draft-day moves, I really hope they find a way to sign Simone Fontecchio through FA.
Eason would be a nice get. Fontecchio should be gettable for the MLE.
If Huerter goes out in a trade, I would hope they draft someone to try and replace him at #13. I like Ja’Kobe Walter for that.
I agree on Eason, If not Simone then Naji Marshall.
Naji is good too, would not be upset at all if he were added to the roster.
Focus on Brandon Ingram. That’s the target. We’ll soon forget about Caruso if that happens.
Yes please.
No thank you. Obviously BI is a good player but he wants a contract worth $40M-$50M/yr since he is asking for a max $208M/4yr contract that NOP refuses to offer him.
-Paid like a star, wants to be the star on offense, but not really a good fit for this team (doesn’t rebound or play defense consistently) despite increasing the overall talent level.
-BI wants to test FA next year and won’t sign an extension in 2025.
-The Kings would have to give up quite a bit in draft assets for a one year rental.
-If we just HAVE to overpay for a F, then I think Jerami Grant is a better fit.
-If the plan is just to bundle salaries of players the Kings don’t want to keep long-term like Barnes, Huerter, Duarte, and Mitchell (along with draft assets) for the sole purpose of getting BI for a one year playoff push and then letting his salary come off the books in 2026, that is something I can get behind.
I think this is Monte’s crossroads. Ingram definitely provides an offensive skillset that the Kings lack (much like LaVine) but it comes at a cost of defense.
Does Monte want to simply outscore opponents or give a solid attempt to stop them? My hope is that he somehow falls in the middle. I do know that offense sells by putting butts in seats and eyes on screens.
Ingram and LaVine just don’t fit into the defensive mindset that wins championships…but maybe that’s not this franchise’s goal?
Jerami Grant and Harrison Barnes some very similar stats. Grant has a much higher usage, thus the 6ppg more than Barnes. Barnes is actually a slightly better rebounder, while Grant has a higher assist and block rate.
Grant has a reputation as a defender, but I am not sure if Grant really is a difference maker…and he is much more costly.
I’m a no on Grant. Much prefer Portis.
I agree that Portis is the best option of veteran PFs (over BI, Kuz, and Grant), I just can’t imagine the Bucks letting Portis go. He’s too important for them, especially if they lose Lopez, because as dope as Giannis is, he doesn’t like to bang down low.
I agree on Ingram but just don’t like hiscontract. Scares me. I thought maybe Lyles and NcGee and #13 for Portis and #23.
this is expected.. the fact of the matter is the Kings don’t have many assets to acquire a big piece without including one of theirs. Only chance we got is if no one else wants the player (ie Lavine)
“Kings could still be interest in Zach LaVine, but would need to be incentivized (read: draft picks or other good players) to take on LaVine’s massive contract.”
I would consider taking on LaVine’s contact even if it was just a straight swap for salary filler, with us trading off nothing else. Sure, his contract is expensive, but his skill set would benefit the team. I don’t see the Bulls doing that, though.
Badge Legend