Last offseason, Sacramento’s biggest priority was shoring up the point guard position following the departure of De’Aaron Fox. General Manager Scott Perry tried to solve this issue by signing Dennis Schröder to a mid-level contract, and then bringing in veteran and former MVP Russell Westbrook on a minimum contract. It only took three games for Coach Doug Christie to move Westbrook into the starting lineup, and he ended up starting 58 of the 64 games he played for the Kings last season, averaging 15.2 points, 6.7 assists, 5.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in about 29 minutes per game.
Schröder was shipped out at the trade deadline with the Kings floundering and regretting that contract, and now it seems the Kings also don’t want to bring back Westbrook either. According to Jake Fischer in a recent livestream for Bleacher Report:
“At this point, no disrespect to Russell Westbrook, but I haven’t heard that the Kings would want him back really in any fashion.”
The Kings did draft rookie Darius Acuff Jr. with the 7th overall pick this year, and seem primed to give him the keys to the car and plenty of opportunities. However, Acuff is a 19 year old rookie, and the only real point guard on the roster. If the Kings don’t bring back Westbrook, that would likely be asking for Malik Monk, Nique Clifford and perhaps even fellow rookie Emanuel Sharp to handle the backup Point Guard duties. Given that the Kings aren’t likely to contend for anything, that’s probably not terrible in the short term.
The Kings roster currently sits at 13 players with 2 two-way contracts in Jonathan Mogbo and Adam Flagler. I wouldn’t completely rule out a Westbrook return, but I get it for both sides if the Kings and/or Westbrook decide to move on. Westbrook came to this situation hoping to help a playoff team, and instead found himself in a full rebuilding situation. At this point in his career, that’s probably not what he wants to be doing.
I was not a fan of the Westbrook signing when it happened, but I did grow to appreciate Westbrook’s heart and hustle as a bright spot in an otherwise dismal season. There’s a reason that he has so many devout fans after all, and hopefully he can join a contending team. He clearly still has gas in the tank. Best of luck Russ!
Repost from previous thread: LeBron going to the 76ers.
LOL, ok. Maybe Russ will sign there as well.
Yeah, that team isn’t getting past the second round. If LeBron thinks Luka dominated the ball, now he has to compete with Brown, Embiid and Maxey. They’re putting together a fantasy basketball roster, and there’s only one basketball to shoot.
He won’t have to worry about Embiid most nights.
I actually don’t agree with that. Everywhere LeBron goes the team gets better. Or at least he knows how to play well with others.
Last year he took a backseat to Luca and Austin Reaves in the back end of the season.
I don’t think people give LeBron enough credit. I’m not sure why people are so irritated with him. Hes an incredible basketball player and there’s no reason to think that the Sixers won’t become a good team. That’s what I believe.
Ego. Flopping. Complaining on every call or non-call. Throwing a tantrum in Boston and dropping to his knees. Doesn’t take accountability when winning doesn’t happen. Declaring himself the GOAT.
I’m not irritated with LeBron. I just think he’s going to a team with a bunch of guys who need the ball, and it seems like he’s in part leaving the Lakers because Luka needs the ball. The Sixers will be a good team, but they’re not getting past the second round, with or without LeBron. Too many shooters and not enough basketballs.
Okay, now I am REALLY curious what that Heat presser is about.
With LeBron’s passing, I can see this working – although I suppose most fans now want the Sixers to blow up spectacularly.
Edgecomb is a young stud. Philon looked good as well.
I think Philly will be fine and the parts will integrate.
I don’t think they’re favorites in the East though. I’m dubious regarding what 42 year old Lbj and oft injured embiid will look like in April/May.
Interesting, but not nearly as big as the Westbrook news.
I’d add Russ to the coaching staff, but not the roster.
Needs more players to dominate the ball. They should sign DeRozan and Russ.
I’d like to see Russ on a contender as a bench piece. Great player near the end, he should try and chase a ring.
This stupid fucking owner thinks he’s, what is it two minutes ahead or two weeks ahead I don’t remember, but he’s always two or three years behind.
Nobody wanted Russ. And now they’re finally realizing- oh he’s not helpful to this team.
Nobody wanted Lavine either with that contract.
Morons
I don’t think we have to worry about Russ coming back. For one, he wants minutes and the Kings appear to be all on board with Acuff taking control.
Two, the Kings are currently over the tax line and sniffing the first apron. Even a vet minimum deal puts them over, at least until they officially stretch DDR or make other moves.
Now that LBJ has allowed the league to restart, I expect some
more minor moves across the league, and hopefully those include the Kings.
If by some odd circumstance Russ does retune, I just may tune out for the season. I’ve already cut cable and have been scaling back the apps, no need to add more to watch Russ and Zach each take 20 shots a night.
Perry pretty much said Westbrook wasn’t coming back in one of the interviews he did. He said something about Westbrook outplayed the contract he had last year and he deserves an opportunity somewhere else. I took it as Perry wasn’t interested in bringing it back either.
A penny for Morey’s thoughts right now lol.
Gansey has quickly turned a dumpster fire into a contender. GMs matter. Just look at how quickly Dumars has shat the bed in NO.
It’s why I have no optimism about the Kangz besides Acuff. Perry and Vivek aren’t turning this thing around.
I’m in the camp that’s not ready to declare Philly a title contender. They have little depth beyond their 6th man in Anfernee Simons and Embiid’s health is always a concern.
Seriously, check out their depth chart. I don’t know half of those dues. Philly is going to have to stay healthy and hit on on cylinders to make a title run.
I’m a bit shocked he didn’t go to Cleveland for one last run. IMO, he has a better title shot there. Maybe he does a Cavs farewell tour the season after next?
I don’t think they’re legit title contenders against OKC/SAS, but they’re certainly one of the faves to come out the East imo.
Yeah he does have that player option to split after one year and head elsewhere.
As an aside, the ripple effects of Stevens not including Hugo or Baylor in a Giannis trade is real. Decent chance James teams with Tatum and Giannis in Boston. Instead, BOS’ two rivals end up coming out ahead.
BOS doesn’t really seem to have a pivot either. I mean that roster looks pretty mid, especially as the East continues to improve as a whole.
I disagree that they have no other depth.
Dean Wade is a great piece off the bench. Adem Bona is a solid hustle backup C/F. You mentioned Simons as a scoring bench option with experience. If Philon continues to shine as he did in Summer League, I think their bench will be just fine.
Agree to disagree then. Bona is their Dylan Cardwell (Cardwell might actually be better). Wade is the Trey Lyles, and Simons is their Monk. That’s not great depth for a 8 man rotation, IMO.
If they are gonna rely on Bona to play starter minutes for the 40+ games Embiid is likely to miss, they aren’t getting far. Sixers relied heavily on Drummond last year to fill in for Embiid. That all falls on Bona now.
I imagine Sixers brass are crossing all their fingers on Embiid’s health.
They were 21-23 in games that Embiid missed last season, according to AI (no not Iverson, the other AI).
I think they’ll have a good chance to reach the Finals.
I’d say he found himself in the exact opposite of a rebuilding situation. He found himself in a team self-destructing situation.
Very savvy offer sheet by Presti and OKC. Denver is in a pickle to try and match, especially if they are to try and keep Payton Watson. As for OKC, Jones falls right into that Aaron Wiggins role, and he’d come at nearly half the price.
Is OKC under the cap? Curious how they can offer a contract. Dis the Dort deal allow them more flexibility?
Yup. Fucking Sam Presti is the man.
Meanwhile, Perry is playing chess with checker pieces on a Ouija board.
Damn.
And the Nuggets matched…
I wonder what will happen now and if they’ll make other moves. They are paying 32 million in extra taxes because of it.
I don’t know how they will be able to retain Payton Watson now without going deep into the tax and apron.
Part of me wonders if it was Presti plan to put a conference rival into a cap pickle. Denver is totally capped out, about to hit the 2nd apron, and still needs to add players to their roster.
And their future draft capital is sparse, to say the least. They likely need to split Cam Johnson’s $23m contract into two rotational players.
Braun’s contract is seen as being bad, and they are likely stuck with it for a bit. I don’t think he is a bad player, just overpaid.
Braun is still a good player who had an off year in large part due to injuries. He basically had a Keegan year.
I feel the problem for them is Aaron Gordon, who is more expensive, older and can’t seem to stay on the court anymore.
Two teams to keep on eye on are the Hornets and Grizz. Both have too many rostered players to start the year and are going to have to ship some guys off. However, they can’t aggregate any of their newly acquired players until mid-September. It wouldn’t surprise me to see one of them trade a few guys for Gordon, Braun, or Johnson.
To boot, I still think there is a chance Sabonis ends up in Charlotte for some combination of their many players (Allen, Williams, Mann, DFS, etc.) Again, it can’t happen until mid-September.
I kind of like that a Westbrook Kings jersey will always be a fun reminder of an absolutely shit year.
Owning a Kings Westbrook jersey will be like owning an Olajuwon Raptors jersey or a Ewing Magic jersey. It will be some random trivia question someday.
The Vivek era is littered with them.
Yep.
Kings have waived Isaiah Stevens on his two way deal. They now have an open 2-way spot. 2-ways don’t count against the cap.
Maybe Sutton showed enough to get that spot. Flagler didn’t do anything impressive, so I think he can go as well.
I’d be fine with that, but I’d also be fine with just waiting and giving him an exhibit 10 camp invite to see if he really earns it. There is no real rush to fill that last spot, and it might even be wise to leave it open in case of some injury. There may also be some guys with legit NBA talent that may be available later this summer.
IMO the Kings might be looking at a point guard to backup Acuff or maybe patience has paid off and Jonathan Kuminga might be ready to take the Kings MLE on a prove it basis for two years the second year as an option. If he pans out then next year you negotiate his contract.
Such a Kangz player, Kuminga.
Pillars, shmillars.
Pillars, cones, it’s all the same.
The reality is the Kings can’t afford the MLE. They can stretch DDR’s $10M and give a portion of the MLE (butt pulled from memory around $6M) but I don’t think Kuminga wants that.
Honestly, I don’t really want to give Kuminga much of anything. I’ve been getting the vibe that the league thinks of him as the Cam Thomas of wings.
Kuminga is the Hassan Whiteside of Cam Thomases.
I know you guys don’t like Kuminga but looking at his evaluation IMO he checks a lot of boxes for the Kings. A one year contract to prove he can be a good addition and it would only cost the King’s their MLE(15.088 mil) would to me a good decision. Give him a chance and if it doesn’t work out then bye bye but IMO I think he would be a great fit between Murray and either Raynaud or Sabonis.He complements Murray, who would now be a 3, as he is a slasher and tough inside player allowing Murray to shoot more threes and roam. He would also help Murray as a help defender giving Keegan more freedom as a defensive player. At 23 hasn’t got in his prime yet. I would give him that chance.
Kuminga has failed (benched/not always in the rotation) on both teams, Warriors and Hawks. He doesn’t space the floor (which Keegan has also struggled to, aside from his rookie season). He doesn’t play defense. He doesn’t pass much. His FT% is low.
He is also the same size as Keegan, per basketball reference. I just don’t see the desire to add someone like him. He thinks he should be the star player, but he is just a role player, and an inconsistent one at that.
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