Welcome back to Chainmail!
Oh boy, what a couple of weeks it’s been in Sacramento. Let’s recap, for those who may have forgotten a few things.
- Draft time! The Kings selected 22-year old point guard Davion Mitchell 9th overall, as well as center Neemias Queta in the second round. Queta recently signed a two-way deal to take his spot alongside Louis King.
- Buddy Hield is a Laker! Oh, wait, no he’s not! The Kings and the Lakers were thiiiiiiiiiiis close to a deal which would have sent Hield to LA in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell and a first round pick, but the Wizards swooped in and stole the package from Sacramento in the Russell Westbrook trade.
- RICHAUN HOLMES IS BACK IN SACRAMENTO! Even better? His contract is entirely reasonable. Hell, he’s getting paid less than Kelly Olynyk.
- The Kings also re-signed Moe Harkless and Terence Davis…which…yay?
- Aside from Holmes and Queta, Monte McNair added two additional centers to the Kings roster, singing former fan favorite Alex Len to a two-year deal, as well as trading Delon Wright for Tristan Thompson 39 weeks after the deal was first reported.
- The California Classic ended with the Kings at 0-2, but the record was less important than Davion Mitchell’s clear talent. The kid can score and defend at a high level. Emanuel Terry was also impressive, while Robert Woodard and Jahmi’us Ramsey were, uh, turrible. The Kings kick off their Vegas League Summer League run tonight at 7:00 pm.
- Ben Simmons and Pascal Siakam are both reportedly targets of Sacramento’s front office, which comes as no surprise to anyone who has paid attention to the Kings for the last year.
Now, get to asking, so we can get to answering!
Straight up: Starting at the trade deadline, what grade would you give the front office? You can do letter grades, stars, 1-10, 1-100, or create an entirely new metric that no one will understand, and will likely be the thing that takes you down.
1-100.
In other words, a -99 score.
Don’t make me post the Chevy Chase gif.
I was told there wouldn’t be any math.
meth, then?
I’m all about meth.
It does help with math………………………….initially
“I was told there would be no MOOOOON RIVERRRRRR”
Is this like Uber, where if you get 4 stars, you’re fired?
I’d settle for the team having two stars.
Michelin’d!
My Lyft driver (Portland, a few years ago) told me as the cops were pulling us over that he had a warrant for his arrest.
They made him do the sobriety test (walking, etc.) and he passed. Apparently he was drowsy and started swerving while we were driving. (I was drowsy too, so I didn’t notice until I heard the sirens.)
I think it’s kind of like that.
When I drove for Uber, I got my first one star review after about a couple months. Why were they upset?
They were ransacking the car looking for drugs and I told them to knock it off.
I also had a guy try to jump out on the freeway once. I had to tell that story every time a passenger asked why the child locks were on, which ended up being every single time.
Mailbag question:
What does Will think is the plot of Ladybird? He hasn’t seen it, but has seen several GIFs of it. I’d like to compare the plot that has formed in his mind with the actual movie plot.
(I’m guessing he imagines it as a cross between Terms of Endearment, and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby…?)
I have no issues with double posting Lady Bird GIFs. 🙂
That’s insane man. I thought about starting Uber for the first time to make some side money, but the way the average human being is today, I figured it’s not worth the potential risk to my health and safety.
It’s not, and you’ll likely only make a marginal profit if any after you factor in increased gas, maintenance, and possibly even having to upgrade your insurance plan.
95% of people were perfectly fine, even pleasant. The other 5%, though, I don’t think I’ll ever forget.
40 – Would have been 50 before the TT trade, no big moves but no bad moves either.
Now that the FA dust has settled a bit, do you see see Buddy and/or Marv still on the roster by opening night?
Can anyone make a reasonable stab at trying to understand what Monte McNair is trying to do with this roster to date? I can’t seem to find any optimistic logic way to spin it.
Well, there’s your problem. There’s no such thing as “optimistic logic.” In order to have meaning, logic must remain as pure as possible, and not have arbitrary spin imposed upon it.
Coffee seems to have kicked in.
Ok let’s just run with logic then. I say optimistic logic because surely that’s how Monte is trying to operate. Just trying to see it through his eyes and how it makes sense for a better future.
Last year was indicative that Monte had a plan, but Vivek came in and smashed all that.
1st) Monte preached a “transition year” all year and I believe at the start of the season it very much was. Giving up Bogi for nothing was a dumb, but tank move. Replacing Len and Bazemore who had success and brought wins with Whiteside and GR3 seemed like tank moves.
2) Then when the 10th seed was in reach, Vivek trashed the transition year and told Monte to go for it, taking Buddy and Barnes off the market and using assets to acquire Delon and TD.
And now Vivek is back in full swing leveraging more we’ll have to give up to the Sixers or Raptors by leaking this info.
Eh, I’m mostly off the “VIvEk Is RuIniNG EvErYtHiNg” train of thought. Monte’s a big boy. Vlade was a big boy, too. And if Vivek truly is hoping for a big move, how does that make him any different than 95% of TKH, exactly?
Monte’s stated plan all along was flexibility in the purpose of making big moves when the time was right. Pretty much everything he has done in the last year has lined up with that. Wright was acquired on the cheap and then flipped for an expiring contract at a position of greater need. Whiteside and GR3 were minimum deals, easily discarded. TD was a low-risk, high-reward acquisition and just got re-signed to another team-friendly, easily moved/discarded contract. Buddy and Barnes were not traded because, if the rumblings were accurate, other teams were offering crappy deals for them and Monte didn’t want to sell too low.
From my point of view, Monte’s moves have all been in line with his publicly stated vision for how he wants to run things. I may not agree with all the moves (esp. TT), but they make sense given everything he’s said. The “ViVeK is MEdDliNg!” crowd is making a big assumption: That Monte would obviously have gone “full tank” were it not for his meddling owner. But Monte has never given any real indication he is pro-full-tank… at all. Whether we like it or not, he seems to want to build the team up without tearing it all down first. The Process, this is not. We’ll see if it works.
Right, it’s hard to imagine that tanking wouldn’t have come up during the interview process. So to believe the ‘Vivek’s constantly meddling narrative’ you’d have to believe that Monte discussed his pro-tanking plans during the interview, Vivek hired him based on that, then less than a year later, changed his mind and instructed him to abort his approach.
To me, the much more likely scenario (Occam’s razor) is that Vivek simply hired the guy who told him that we didn’t need an all-out tank. But I think folks wanted really badly for Monte to ride into town as the franchise-savior savant GM. Which, I understand, because I wanted it too. It’s easier to still believe that and just cast Vivek as the villain. Otherwise, it’s just depressing.
None of this is to defend Vivek, because if Monte was hired primarily because he sold Vivek on the notion of re-building on the fly, that implies that he may not have been hired based purely on qualifications alone. One of the other candidates may have been the better one, but was not hired due to being pro-tank. That’s not to say that Monte’s approach precludes him from also having been the best candidate, but it is something that concerns me now. For that matter, Vivek’s entire tenure on the basketball side of things is concerning.
A successful GM-ship (?) requires a basic level of agreement with ownership about how the team should be constructed and run–it is the owner’s money, after all. It’s pretty clear by now that Vivek doesn’t like the idea of a full-blown, Hinkie-esque tank. Therefore, hiring a GM who strongly believed a Hinkie-tank was called for would not have been a good move. There has to be some kind of synergy between ownership and the FO, as much as we’d like to just forget ownership exists. The jury is out on Monte’s build-not-break approach, but given that most of the good teams in the league did NOT employ a Process to reach their current level, it would be wrong to say that pure, unabashed tanking is an inherently superior way to build a winner than Monte’s way. Execution makes all the difference. Time will tell.
The Vivek is meddling crowd is assuming because credible reporters are reporting that he is meddling. Jason Anderson today and many reports during last year’s trade deadline. It’s not just assumptions.
Also, Monte is a big boy and Vlade was a bigger boy, and Petey D was a smaller boy, but when your employer wants something, you’re gonna do it… If you don’t think an owner has the final say then James Dolan from 2000-2020 says otherwise.
We know the kings are targeting Simmons and Siakam (with the floated Lillard rumor as well). Assuming the kings don’t trade Fox, Mitchell or Haliburton, what’s your nightmare trade scenario? Paying too much for Siakam? Going after a guy that has the optics of a big swing but misses the point target? Actually trading Fox for LIllard?
Siakam could turn into a nightmare. Late 20 something Eastern Conference All Stars have a been one hit wonders in the past.
Is Mitchell really the BPA at #9 ? (Based on his performance in summer league, and compare to other draftees picked later than him)
As picking Mitchell seriously affect the trade to be made (i.e. trading away Wright to create open space for Mitchell)
I’d like to hear Jerry Reynold’s reaction to the selection of Davion. He spoke glowingly of Davion’s abilities on at least two different podcast episodes.
He was definitely optimistic about Mitchell’s chances to become a solid NBA player, despite the physical limitations. If I recall correctly, it was about then that he said that “you can always trade talent.”
He wasn’t my ideal choice, but that was mainly out of positional need. I think that once the lineups start to take shape, and he can settle in as a featured bench guy, he’ll really begin to show that he belongs. He’ll be playing alongside guys that will allow him to better find his role in the offense. His defense, I suspect, will take care of itself, with the only issue being difficulty dealing with taller, longer players shooting over him. He definitely shows great instincts and effort in staying in front of his man, which is half the battle.
I feel the same. Am especially excited about his defense.
Though in the first game, even though he produced some nice stats it looked at times like some defenders gave him trouble and he found some difficulty dribbling around them or getting a shot off.
Agreed, but as the only lotto guy on the floor, he had a target on his back for defenders. He’ll always have the size issue, but I don’t think that he’ll ever be a featured part of an offense, and he seems adept at passing out of traps and double-teams.
I imagine him as a much shorter Doug Christie-type, in that he can defend like crazy, run the offense from time to time, and pile up points when the situation calls for it. He seems like a sharp young man, and I like his chances to learn and get better in all facets of the game.
Yeah, I think the deciding factor on Mitchell is going to be his shooting, and secondarily his playmaking. Doug was never a great shooter, but he was so rangy and a plus playmaker at his position, so he was adding on both ends of the floor. Mitchell might be as good or possibly even a better on ball defender, but his size is going to limit his defensive impact to mostly point guards. That being said, if he can be a reliably average shooter and a competent point guard, he’ll carve out a nice career. Right now, I see him as what Corey Joseph was supposed to be. Not to say that’s his ceiling at all, but I don’t think that’s unreasonable over his first season or two.
That was the thing about DC, he was such a superb athlete that he could have been, on a team that had fewer scorers, a 20 ppg guy, and that’s in context with 3PFG being much less of a factor than it is now. I don’t think that Mitchell is in his class athletically, but he is still very athletic. A ton of bounce and quickness that he seems to already have a handle on utilizing.
Mitchell seems to have excellent instincts on both ends, and if used properly, could be an important piece who can be plugged in for many situations.
So, probably not this year, but maybe next season? Or even sooner?
Agree on his athleticism being good. I think his size is going to limit him some, but I don’t think he’s going to take a huge amount of time to develop. He also appears to be a lot stronger now than Doug ever was, so a different type of defender, which is not a bad thing.
My rule with rookies is if you don’t see it by the end of their second season of playing time, you probably won’t. I expect that he’ll be productive and he’ll absolutely be given an opportunity, and we’ll know pretty quickly this season if he’s good, and almost certainly by next season. The question for me is will he shoot and make plays well enough to be difference maker? I’m hopeful, but we’ll see.
My extended timeframe had more to do with the, ah, guidance he’ll be getting from the head coach, but I agree, other than the typical adjustment period rookies need to adapt to NBA speed, he feels like a guy who’ll be able to contribute sooner rather than later.
Zero disagreement from me on the coach.
You remember Doug was on his 4th team as King ! Took awhile !
I think he can eventually become Bobby Jackson with better defense. Which, at #9, is a solid get. I mean, if you re-rack Bobby’s draft class, he’s a top 10 pick.
Remember him stating as much as he liked Mitchell he would draft Moody ! Since BPA was close and need more important !
He had nothing but mostly good, sometimes glowing observations about “the little bitch”
Right…I remember before the draft, Jerry kept bringing up Davion’s name, unlike everyone else. I don’t think I heard anyone else talking about Davion until Jerry brought him up.
Just wish I could’ve seen Jerry’s reaction when the Kings selected the guy he was talking up! 😀
With the new report that Vivek is publicly Vivek-ing now and with Fox and this middling team not allowing us a top 5 pick in the near future IMO, what is your outlook on mortgaging the future and finally trading multiple future 1st rounders for that difference maker?
which report?
Jason Anderson in a Sacramento Bee article. Stated Vivek was putting pressure on the FO to make a trade for simmons or siakam.
Oh, OK. thought there was another one. thanks.
Along with 95% of the fan base. Is it “putting pressure,” or is it “giving the green light”? Do we know, really?
Vivek needs to go vivek himself.
If it’s the article from today, it just says:
Yeah, I don’t put a lot of weight behind the opinions of outsiders and what they think is happening.
Could it be an issue? Of course. But there’s not enough in that report for me to feel any level of concern.
Outside of TKH, there is a perception that Greg is already “feeling the heat” from Aykis to get more clicks.
I think that’s a couple of sources hoping the historic ineptitude of the Vivek era continues, and probably realizing it’s not likely to continue if McNair remains in charge.
If we took a straw poll around here of people who thought it was possible to resign Holmes with his EBRs, I’d bet it’s somewhere in the 65-75% range that would have said it’s not possible or likely.
I’m not a fan of Vivek, but I’m not sure he really meddles. What he hasn’t done was hire a GM and have that GM and a head coach on the same page. Say whatever you want about Walton, but there isn’t constant sourcing about the job, or not doing more accurately, Walton is doing.
Teams have gotten accustomed to the idea the Kings aren’t run well. It’s a benefit because multiple teams have benefitted from that dysfunction. Take that away because there’s a professional sitting in that chair, and you’re going to get frustrated people (agents and teams alike) as a result who are used to otherwise. And I’ve gotten the sense there was frustration that public pressure not creating panic is another part of all this.
McNair hasn’t overpaid a FA from his own team or another team’s, and he’s gotten reasonable value in trade along the way. He has one successful pick from the draft (so far– but I doubt anyone is going to claim Haliburton was a mistake at this point), and could have another. What’s the worst thing he’s been involved in? Not resigning Bogi. This is not how the Kings behaved under Divac or D’Alessandro.
Since Monte McNair has gotten here, he’s been getting heat from fans and media alike. He’s upset the apple cart because he has the audacity to believe his job is to help the Kings win games. And that’s just not the way things are supposed to work!
I didn’t think that Holmes was going to be re-signed, maybe a 20% chance at best. I guess we’ll never know what he would’ve been offered in the open market, but this wasn’t an overpay by any means.
If he’ll add some extra value by extending his game to the arc, it’ll go a long way to clearing out space for Len & Thompson to beat people up down low. He’s got four years, but his mechanics seem more than good enough to make it happen sooner rather than later.
Let it fly, sir!
Monte probably told Holmes’ agent to “Get fucked!”
Will the Kings win an NBA title in my lifetime (currently 39)?
I used to always think well the Browns are solid now, the Bills are solid now, and even the Cubs won a word series so why not us? But Vivek did not own any of those teams so you might need to wait for a miracle when you are in your 70s
The Browns are “solid” now? Solid?
Truly one of the greatest deliveries of a line in television history, particularly with the hair flip.
Yeah, I remember feeling similar about the Raiders in 2016. I can’t really say “solid” about a team until a couple consecutive playoff appearances.
Trust me, the hype makes me nervous.
Life expectancy:
In 1960, it was 69.84 years. Currently it’s at 78.99 (2021)
So I guess the younger generation has a bigger window for a championship in their lifetime…?
https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/USA/united-states/life-expectancy
We took a bit of a hit on that metric last year, and 2021 is showing strong signs of doing the same. American exceptionalism!
If the Kings win a championship when I’m 79, that’ll be . . .
2072.
So, I’m not going to worry, in light of today’s IPCC report and everything else.
“When hell freezes over.”
Sounds about right for a Kings championship.
(joking aside, this is really depressing)
I don’t think we have to worry about anything freezing over anytime soon.
It’s that damned Twilight Zone episode: The Midnight Sun, but she was right the first time.
Well I’m about 30 years older than you and I’ve made my peace that it won’t happen in mine. I’m hoping for at least two playoff appearances and that doesn’t include qualifying for the play in rounds. I’m doubtful…………..but hopeful.
If you live for 100 more years I’d put your chances at 1/16.
no
Realistically, how long is Luke’s leash this year? Is it playoffs or fire? I really need to never see him on the King’s sideline ever again.
Roster currently constructed without any trades, I bet the owner and FO is thinking play in tournament or fired.
If that’s the case, he should just be fired now. I suppose there is an outside chance they get to 10th worst, but even that seems a little unrealistic.
10th worst would be the 6 seed, and I’d take that.
They told us there would be meth!
Simmons or Siakam?
Are there any FA players left on the market worth Sacramento using the MLE on?
The Warriors, Clippers, and Kings (according to Jason Anderson) are shopping for Siakam and Simmons. Do the Kings have a better offer than those teams without including Fox or Haliburton? How likely is it that we see Buddy Hield and Marvin Bagley on the kings to start the season?
This is a good question. I don’t see how the Kings even get close to the Warriors offer for either player without including Halliburton or Fox.
That, of course, depends on what the Warriors are willing to offer.
Accepting a first-rounder from Sacramento has generally been a pretty reliable way for a good team to power its way into a lottery pick. It’s basically money in the bank.
Offering first round picks and swaps usually is worth a lot to other teams. Take off any restrictions, even better.
I’d say the Warriors can offer a much better package if they want to but do they want to? Not sure they do. I think if it were between us and the Clippers, a couple lightly protected Kings first round picks are more valuable than anything the Clippers can offer. A Kings first is about the surest draft pick bet you can make.
Warriors package is a combination of picks, Wiseman, Kuminga and Moody. Steph, Klay and Dray aren’t on the table.
If I were the Sixers, I’d rather have Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley and multiple FRPs from Sac. I’d prefer Barnes for sure, but if I’m Sac I’m not giving up Barnes plus multiple FRPs.
Yeah I don’t know where Simmons is going to go but it seems like they are going to have to trade him and I don’t know that any team is actually offering anything better than what Sacramento can offer which is weird. In regards to a Warriors package, I think I’m just higher on Moody, Kuminga and Wiseman than others might be. I know they are young and really raw but there is a ton of talent there if they put it together. I might prefer that if I’m the Sixers even if it doesn’t totally fit their timeline.
Brodgon and a first is better than the Kings offer, in my opinion.
Eh I don’t know that I buy that with Brogdon’s injury issues. I would maintain that a first from the Kings is one of the most valuable assets in the league as long as the Kings aren’t the one making the pick.
If I’m the Warriors, I absolutely put Draymond on the table for Simmons.
And you’re not the Dubs any more than I am. LOL
We both know trading Dray from an optics and basketball standpoint are different things.
I don’t know how much Brogdon helps the Sixers either unless there’s more in that package. I think the Sixers are going to want a bigger wing to replace Simmons.
Cost is going to matter here also. I think the Kings can offer assets, and less cost to the Sixers in a way that the Dubs cant. And I don’t think Andrew Wiggins is better than Barnes but is alot more expensive.
We’ll see. It’s really about what the Sixers want at this point. And we’ll find that out when a deal gets done.
Agree that they’re comparable.
Yeah, I don’t follow Warriors fans enough to know how this would go, but plugging in a younger player, who is really better in multiple ways, into the exact same role seems like a big win on the floor. You also don’t need him to be the second best player on the floor, or really even know how to shoot the ball, to win with him.
Frankly, I don’t know if optics are much of a reason, just that it’s possible given Dray’s role on those 5 Finals teams. I think it’s a fundamental one: It’s a lateral move at best. Dubs were 4th in eFG% allowed last year. Dray had the best DRtg of anyone on that team.
The Sixers issues seem alot closer to being offensive than defensive. And I don’t see how Dray helps them that much more than Simmons if at all.
I don’t think this is as straight forward as you are presenting. The idea is to make this a Finals team again and win another ring or two. I don’t see how they accomplish that removing Dray out of the equation and swapping him for Ben Simmons.
If the Kings can’t acquire Simmons or Siakam, what other players might they be able to realistically acquire who might help the team? Salary dump for assets deals (like the Hield to Lakers deal) count too.
If things go decently for the Suns, Lakers, Clippers, and Warriors, and the Kings take this roster to the season, will the Kings even win a division game this year?
Absolutely.
The last game of the season will see the Lakers rest LeBron, AD, Melo, and Westbrook.
Yeah, they’ll need naps.
“That’s the wording I was looking for. ‘Naps’!”
I mean, Kawhi basically isn’t going to play this year until very late in the season so I would think the Kings would take a couple games off of the Clippers.
With the current roster, I’m already predicting the Kings will finish no better than 10 games behind all the teams in the Pacific Division, and might even say it’s closer to 20 than 10. I could easily see the other 4 teams hitting 50 wins while the Kings are closer to 30.
Recent reports say that Vivek is applying more pressure to win now on the front office. Realistically, what are the chances given their financial situation and public perception that they’d fire Luke, Monte, or both if the Kings don’t make the playoffs?
It would be amusing to fire the GM when they’re reportedly giving the GM very little actual control over personnel decisions.
A billionaire can do whatever they want, but I can’t imagine giving the GM the bum’s rush alongside the head coach that he didn’t hire makes sense to anyone.
McNair’s clock is certainly running, but his grade is inextricably tied to Luke Walton’s coaching abilities, and that is a Himalayan-sized hurdle.
I would be surprised if the bar was playoffs or he’s fired. I do think Monte’s seat’s going to get pretty warm if they don’t win any more games this season, especially if they don’t make any major moves in the offseason or at the deadline.
For shits and giggles, what moves would Vlade have made all this time that McNair has been working, had he not been let go? What trades would he have made and what draft selection would he have made?
Would the team be worse? Better? The same? Contraction’d?
I’d like to see this Q answered lol.
This is a 55-gallon drum of worms that you’re opening.
WWVD
This is a great question that I’m not sure I want to try and answer.
Put off your thinking cap!
I’d bet Sengun would have been the pick, because reasons.
Nah, Vlade’s primary kink were elite athletes from prestige schools. Probably Isaiah Jackson.
He never really showed any special insight on or preference for Euros.
Oh, yeah? Give one example! That’s right, you’ve got NOTHING!
Pretty sure Doncic is a Burmese name, so no funny business.
Another vote for answering that one. I think Vlade passes on Halliburton because he did the opposite of everything right.
That wouldn’t have been surprising. You’re talking about an average intellect that thinks it’s much sharper than it is, with the nagging doubt of knowing that it’s not true. He’d see Halliburton falling, and respond with, “do the smart guys know something that I don’t?”
Then he’d select Papagiannis’ cousin with one leg.
oh, the 5/5 guy?
What’s a fair trade for the following? Not what is most advantageous for the Kings or the other franchise, but what is a fair for both sides
:
Ben Simmons
Siakam
Ingram
I looked over at the Sixers fan site. Man, some of the trades they are suggesting. Halliburton, Barnes, Mitchell and three first round draft picks.
I mean, they’re Sixers fans and that’s basically what Morey is asking for in every reported deal so I’m not shocked. Plus, the Kings are dumb so them overpaying wouldn’t be that surprising.
I’m old enough to remember when the Kings weren’t resigning Holmes using his EBRs so…..I doubt the Kings would come anywhere near that package.
Here’s one for you FKC: Buddy Hield, Marvin Bagley and the ’22 & ’24 FRPs for Simmons. Or, Harrison Barnes, Bagley and the ’22 FRP. Which is your preference?
Mine is definitely keeping Barnes.
Mine is too. He played really well last year and was an honest to goodness positive asset. At this point, with the Kings chosen direction at this moment, those FRP’s are probably in the 10-14 range and what exactly is that getting this franchise in the long run? I’d much rather move the picks and make them top-1 or top-3 protected just to avoid complete disaster.
I think the Kings are waiting for Morey’s price to come back to planet Earf and they think either offer is the best offer Morey gets. Frankly, I think that’s a good bet. I don’t think what the Dubs can realistically offer tops that.
I suppose if the Sixers really love Kuminga and believe in him then that probably tops the Kings offer just based on price. Butr that’s the only way I can see that.
Yeah I think you may be right in terms of the best offer Morey gets. I am curious what his tolerance is for just running it back with Simmons. It seems like that relationship is toast but he also seems like the kind of guy who will do literally anything to rebuild value from a distressed asset.
Simmons wants out, Rivers didn’t defend Simmons and Embiid threw him under the bus. Get the best deal you can and move on.
I’m old enough to remember when Morey had a deadline in December 2013 once to trade Omer Asik after the Rockets acquired Dwight Howard that summer. He ended up getting a FRP and Trevor Ariza in the offseason. Which was less than what he reportedly turned down at the deadline, and teams forced him to blink on his December deadline by offering him bubkus.
Morey isn’t fooling the league, he’s certainly not fooling McNair, Wilcox, Catanella, e.t.c etc. They know how these stories end. It’s more about whether Morey can keep his own house happy and I’m guessing he won’t be able to if the situation is that untenable. He can’t overpower Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid.
If you’re young enough to remember all this shit then you’re young enough that remembering this isn’t a big deal. For some of us though…….it’s not pretty.
I’d take what the Warriors have over what the Kings would offer.
I don’t doubt this. In fact, I’d be surprised if you didn’t think this.