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Would Richaun Holmes take a discount to stay in Sacramento?

In a recent interview Holmes discussed how much he loves Sacramento, and how important off-court factors are in free agency.
By | 40 Comments | Apr 14, 2021

© Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes recently sat down for an interview with Alex Kennedy of basketballnews.com. They cover a wide variety of topics, including Holmes’ defensive play, how he’s developed his game over the course of his career, what it was like being on the Process 76ers, and what it would mean to end the Kings playoff drought.

There were two sections of the interview that really stood out to me. The first was Richaun talking about how he feels about Sacramento:

€œAh man, it’s been great since the moment I got here, really. Everybody, from the front office to the fans on the street, has shown so much love and shown their appreciation for the way I play and just gave me an opportunity to really grow here. Sacramento is a place where I’ve really grown as a basketball player, but as a man as well. I just have some great memories from these last two years and I really can’t say anything negative about the whole situation in Sacramento. Everything has been so positive and I’ve grown so much and everybody has shown so much love and the atmosphere was crazy when the fans were in the arena, so there have just been so many positive things about playing in Sacramento.€

Nothing too surprising there. Holmes has spoken glowingly about Sacramento ever since he arrived. But that, combined with his answers to a few later questions, got me thinking. Kennedy asked about Holmes’ upcoming free agency and what he learned from his last free agency experience.

€œI think during my last free agency, I just learned how to gauge the situations that are best for me and my family. Just understanding the situations that I’m going to put myself in as far as living conditions and things of that sort, just understanding everything about choosing where you’re going to play next, understanding the impact that it’s going to have and how big of a decision it is and how much thought you really want to put into it — not just for yourself but for your family as well.”

Kennedy followed that up with a question about how important family situations and off-court factors are in free agency. Holmes responded:

€œWell, I think a lot of people don’t realize that we have personal lives and are humans too. The location and where you are, it’s very hard to leave certain places when you have roots there and your kids are in school and things of that sort. It’s hard to pick up and leave. That’s a component that goes into it, and it’s something that a lot of players think about. You have to think about how your family is going to take the decision and [consider], €˜What’s best for my family? What does the family want to do? What do they think?’ It’s very important and it weighs heavily on players [and it impacts] a lot of decisions that are made by players. How the wife or your brothers or your parents may feel about it — that’s always something to think about.€

Obviously we don’t know what Holmes or his family want the next stage of their lives to look like, and we all know that money matters in free agency. But these quotes paint a picture of a guy who might consider more than just money when making his final free agency decision.

Jerry Reynolds has discussed the idea of the home town discount on a recent episode of The Kings Herald Show, and I think his take is probably the most accurate. Jerry has said that he thinks Holmes would give Sacramento a hometown discount, but that discount would likely be limited to around $1 million per year. That’s a lot of money to most of us, but a modest discount by NBA standards.

I believe that if the money between Sacramento and another city was equal, Holmes would probably be inclined to stay. If the money was close, I think Sacramento would still have a chance even if they were slightly lower than the other offer. I don’t believe Holmes would take a huge underpay to stay in Sacramento.

Of course, this is all speculation at this point. We don’t know what cap machinations Monte McNair will do and how much money the Kings will be able to offer Holmes. And we don’t know what the market will look like for Holmes. Actually, we don’t even know when free agency will start this summer, we only know that the Finals will be over by July 22nd.

Stay tuned.

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andy_sims
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April 14, 2021 8:58 am

It’s tough, because regardless of whether or not Holmes decides to stay, the team still needs a usable & mobile center-sized center to bang with the Embiids, Adamses and KATs of the league. It doesn’t matter a whole lot if this player is much of an offensive threat, as long as he can collect boards, protect the rim, and get some put-backs, that would be enough.

Screw it, let’s just get Evan Mobley.

Hobby916
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April 14, 2021 9:14 am

Get out while you can Richaun. You could be a good contributor and play in some meaningful games with another, more competent, organization.

916ickness
April 14, 2021 9:24 am

Richaun Holmes: a player you just love to love.

Kayte_Hunter_Fan_club
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April 14, 2021 9:28 am

It’s hard not to appreciate Holmes’ work ethic and passion for the game. With that said, we must recognize that he is an average to below average post player and we need to be careful not to overpay. The last thing the Kings need is another bad contract given the Kings perhaps have the worst contract in the league in Buddy Hield right now. We have to sign Holmes with the idea he is a high volume backup with the hope we can upgrade the position in the near future. I previously said the absolute max contract I would offer Holmes is 3 years at $30 mil with a team option in year 3. That would be double his current contract and more than fair. I don’t think there will be a large market for Holmes because undersized post players his age who can’t score from the perimeter are not in big demand.

RORDOG
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April 14, 2021 9:40 am

I don’t think we really need to worry about an overpay. The Kings are most likely not going to create cap space to sign Holmes to a big deal. If he gets an offer for more than what they can afford using the early bird exception, then I think they thank him for his time in Sacramento and wish him the best.

Kingsguru21
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April 14, 2021 10:39 am
Reply to  RORDOG

If he gets an offer for more than what they can afford using the early bird exception, then I think they thank him for his time in Sacramento and wish him the best.

I’m quite convinced the market isn’t super robust. I think the max he gets is 14-15 million a year. Whether he’s worth resigning at that number, or even 10.5 million (the early bird number), that’s another matter.

We’ll see. As always, the proof will be in the pudding.

Kingsguru21
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April 14, 2021 10:47 am
Reply to  Kingsguru21

And just as an aside, but I think we as Kings fans tend to overreact about impending FA. My biggest concern about keeping Holmes is keeping him in the current setup. Defensive rebounding and interior defense are huge concerns moving forward and I do not believe that Holmes as a C offers you an anchor defensively.

Last edited 2 years ago by Kingsguru21
MichaelMack
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April 14, 2021 11:28 am
Reply to  Kingsguru21

I think this is a good point. Holmes needs a partner at the four who is a strong defensive rebounder and can help protect the paint. As effective as the pairing is on the offensive end, Barnes at the four is not ideal to pair with Holmes defensively.

BestHyperboleEver
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April 14, 2021 11:08 am
Reply to  Greg

Situationally, yes. But, as usual, for guys below the star tier fit and role are everything. Holmes is absolutely a solid starter. But, when it comes to building a successful team, starting Holmes means you have to get some traditional C skills out of non-C positions. The question isn’t just “how good is the play.” It’s also “how does this player impact your ability to build a good team.”

RORDOG
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April 14, 2021 11:14 am

what are your thoughts on Jalen Johnson? He seems to fit that description on defense, and can do some things on offense that would make this team more dynamic. I know the shot is a concern though (and the whole quitting multiple teams thing).

BestHyperboleEver
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April 14, 2021 12:13 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

I think he’s really tough for a non-professional to judge. I think his profile and skills are top 6 or 7. But without the ability to interview him and A LOT of people with close experience with him, I don’t think I’d be comfortable taking him anywhere in the lottery.

Kayte_Hunter_Fan_club
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April 14, 2021 12:12 pm

With all of the qualifications you just mentioned, there’s really no way you could make the case he’s any more than average at best. I think you just made my case.

BestHyperboleEver
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April 14, 2021 12:19 pm

Those qualifications describe A TON of NBA players. Including guys like Hield and Barnes. Basically, they’re all fringe starters. Guys that can be starters in the right situation, but you’re better off if you have the talent to push them to a bench role.

Want-to-be-gm
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April 14, 2021 12:25 pm

Isn’t that the point she just made. I mean which of the 15 players she listed would you disagree with. Heck AD, Collins and others who you might consider post players were not even mentioned. I think several in her debatable category are better than Holmes. When you strongly disagree with the average classification then I would have to say Greg is far off on his evaluation of Holmes.

BestHyperboleEver
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April 14, 2021 12:31 pm
Reply to  Want-to-be-gm

Again, it depends on if you’re talking about average for a starter or average for an NBA big overall. I don’t think being, let’s say, 20th among bigs and “solid starter” are that far off of each other. It feels like we’re trying to speak precisely about a highly imprecise categorization. Like the ridiculous 1st-down chains in football.

Last edited 2 years ago by BestHyperboleEver
Want-to-be-gm
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April 14, 2021 12:36 pm

ok can we agree he’s an average to below average starting post player probably below average.

Kayte_Hunter_Fan_club
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April 14, 2021 6:38 pm
Reply to  Greg

You also have to consider this. Right now he’s better than Wiseman and better than Pukuseski and Brown on Okc. I doubt however either of those teams would give up what they have for Holmes. When you say he would upgrade the center position for a lot of teams I disagree unless you’re saying he’d be an improvement over their backup post player. I really can’t think of any team who will pay heavily for him, so I’ll stick with the 3 year 30 mil with a team option in year 3. That would be the absolute max but I’d be trying for 3 years at 21-25mil.

Kayte_Hunter_Fan_club
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April 14, 2021 12:07 pm
Reply to  Greg

First of all I said average to below average. Here’s 15 post players better than him so at best that makes him average. There’s also another 8 that are debatable. Nobody with any sense will want him for more than $10:mil a year. These same discussions were happening when WCS contract was up and as I predicted at the time, there was very little interest in him.

Joker, Embiid, Ayton, KAT, Adams, Lopez, Gobert, Capela, Adebayo, Turner, Vucevic, Nurkic, Valanciunas, Porzinges, Horford

debatable – Wood, Harrell, Allen, Bryant, Poeltl, Zubac, Stewart, Hayes

That’s being very generous to him. When you can name 15 teams he would be an upgrade for, I will concede he’s an above average post player. When you look at RPM he’s clearly below average.

Want-to-be-gm
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April 14, 2021 12:18 pm

I think they have a different definition of average.

BestHyperboleEver
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April 14, 2021 12:22 pm

He’s average-ish (probably a bit below for a starter). Above average for a key rotation piece. Ideally, on a good team, he’s a bench big that you can run out as a PF or C depending on match-ups. As I say below, he’s in that “fringe starter” tier that describes a ton of NBA players, including most of the Kings starters. Relative to the whole NBA, they’re above average. Relative to other starters, they’re below average.

Want-to-be-gm
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April 14, 2021 12:29 pm

Just what are you disagreeing with. That’s basically what she just said. Is it too hard to say you agree with her. Sign him as a fringe starter with the hopes of upgrading the position and he becomes a heavily used bench player.

BestHyperboleEver
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April 14, 2021 12:36 pm
Reply to  Want-to-be-gm

I’m not disagreeing with anything. I’m having a discussion and attempting to clarify positions. Everything isn’t an argument.

RikSmits
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April 14, 2021 1:04 pm

andy_sims
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April 14, 2021 3:38 pm
Reply to  RikSmits

MPFC is an auto-rec.

Otis
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April 14, 2021 12:36 pm
Reply to  Want-to-be-gm

I don’t think he was disagreeing with him/her. I think he/she got mixed up on who BHE was replying to below.

Marty
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April 14, 2021 9:43 am

I feel like if a contender offered him more money he’s gone.

kings4ever
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April 14, 2021 10:19 am

I’d like to see Holmes at the PF, Damion Jones, who has true NBA center size, at C, move HB back to 3 where he belongs, Ty and Fox backcourt, as Buddy feigns an illness while he gets his “head right” after his psychologically disorienting season.

Lets put a sturdy defense on the frontline with Fox and Ty, then we roll. This coach cannot get past his small ball GSW days, it is in his “coaching DNA”. HB playing down a spot, Buddy playing down a spot, you can argue Holmes is playing down a spot too, he is closer to 6’9″ than 6’11. Small ball works sometimes but you cannot be married to it.

And just to clarify, Harkless is the SF in this new lineup, HB is still at the PF.

I am not too interested in what Holmes may or may not take now, it is premature discussion, I am interested in Buddy the Faker, that is the news of the day! What is this alleged illness, who is buying this?! His illness is he got a terminal case of happy-shot-itis with a strain of bricklayer fever.

Something precipitated a leave of absence from the team is my guess, some in-fighting and squabbling as Buddy’s play continues to contribute to malaise and apathy with intermittent moments of inspiration. No mas no mas, take a personal day or week or month, we’ve seen enough.

Fox can razzle and dazzle without him and w/o a stretch shooter. Have the big set the pick or stand in the corner. Fox will draw the defense with or w/o shooters. If he is cut off Ty will get the advantage when he receives the pass and he will find a crease for a floater or lob.

With our big lineup, we OWN the boards and dominate the paint. It is called smash mouth combined with blazing speed by Fox and shrewdness by Ty. What is it that this coach makes the game so complicated when it is not, trying to recreate his “glory days” when there is no one named Curry or Klay on this roster.

The Kings are underachieving and it is only the brilliance of Fox and Ty that has made the season semi-bearable. Why should Fox exert his best on defense when so much incompetence surrounds him! That is the story of the season. The breakout of Fox despite of being surrounded by bums.

Your next story is McGenius operating on the fringes, making value buys and giving the leash to the coach to hang himself, not mandating a youth movement bc that is how the coach argues to be retained, instead let him do what does best — coach badly — no more evident over the last 7-game stretch, when it would have taken a good coach to integrate new players seemlessly.

And again as far as this “sickness” goes, the only sickness related to Buddy is that fans and his teammates and coaches are sick of watching him play!

Since when does a player miss a game with a “undisclosed illness”?! I will tell you when, when you do not want to provide details that can be easily be disproven and refuted at a later date, so you say as little as possible. And when you cannot say he left the team for personal reasons or emotional upset because you need to try to retain whatever trade value you can.

When you have nothing to hide, you are transparent. Could Buddy have a genuine health issue that came up suddenly? Anything is possible but I think the real problem is he is having the worst season of his career and that will wear on anyone mentally and physically.

Also the consecutive game streak of 272 has to be a source of pride, and it would have to be something significant for this streak to come to an end. I think the significant event is not physical, it is personal or emotional, maybe the coach finally suggested a new lineup with Buddy off the bench and he freaked?!

RORDOG
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April 14, 2021 10:23 am
Reply to  kings4ever

If the opposing defense doesn’t have to respect the non-shooting big standing in the corner, then why wouldn’t the opposing team just double team Fox on every possession? Or just completely pack the paint?

andy_sims
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April 14, 2021 11:39 am
Reply to  kings4ever

Since when does a player miss a game with a €œundisclosed illness€?! I will tell you when, when you do not want to provide details that can be easily be disproven and refuted at a later date, so you say as little as possible. And when you cannot say he left the team for personal reasons or emotional upset because you need to try to retain whatever trade value you can.

tin-foil-hats.jpg
RikSmits
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April 14, 2021 10:55 am

Get Richaun, get his mother for free!
She’s a warrior on Twitter.
Great family.

LesJepsen3pointer
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April 14, 2021 1:47 pm

Richuan is a class act and I would love him back on the team.

On the salary stuff, who knows. Part of me thinks Monte McNopay isn’t gonna dish out $ to anyone. There’s a different way to build a roster. Three superstars, one or two starter ish players and a clearance section bench. My bet? 2M is going that way. Clear out Buddy and Barnes when favorable, trade for disgruntled stars, clearance section, and a couple of guys in the middle. If so, he may let Holmes walk, just like Bogi.

andy_sims
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April 14, 2021 2:02 pm

Do you feel that the possibility that McNair may end up not re-signing Holmes is due to some inherent stinginess that dominates his logic, or is there a possibility that having a limited amount of wiggle room with the cap sheet could also be a factor?

I’d hate to think that such a decision would depend on being able to overcome a deep-seated neurosis on McNair’s part.

Carl
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April 14, 2021 2:18 pm

Agree with this take. I think the team is looking at superstars, period, and part of that is being able to absorb salary, which means midlevel players don’t get signed. If Holmes stays, it’s because he’s coming back on a lowish deal. If he doesn’t, McNair bungled this by not dealing him at the deadline.

SmallBallReject
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April 14, 2021 2:19 pm

If Holmes were to give a stay-in-Sacramento discount, I imagine he would also want a trade-kicker. Very much like him at or below his early-Bird rights ($10-10.5 M pa) sounds right, 2-3 years, maybe last partially guarantied. Richaun is valuable, but it is situational.

andy_sims
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April 14, 2021 3:42 pm

If he’s willing to do a substantial discount, they might consider making each year after the first a player option, or at the very least, the final one. It would kick the can down the road for a year, and Holmes could still angle for a big payday in summer of ’22.

I don’t actually know if that’s even possible with an Early Bird signing.

TerzoM
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April 14, 2021 4:32 pm

Money matters

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