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Chainmail: Submit your questions about the Sacramento Kings

You ask, we answer!
By | 54 Comments | Jan 20, 2021

Welcome back to Chainmail! Let’s talk all things Kings, shall we? Here’s a few things that have happened in the last week:

  • The Kings are quite literally the worst defensive team in history.
  • De’Aaron Fox scored a career-high 43 points in a loss last week.
  • After starting 3-1, the Kings have surrendered 8 of 10, losing those games by an average of 17.3 points.
  • Marvin Bagley’s shooting percentages are coming around, but his defense is still poor.
  • Tyrese Haliburton has had a rough couple of games after a fantastic start.
  • Buddy Hield has started to make some threes, while Harrison Barnes has cooled off.
  • Kings legends Alex Len, Dewayne Dedmon, and Isaiah Thomas are all available in the free agent market.

Before getting to your questions, we want to thank our sponsor for the mailbag, Carter Imports! Carter Imports is a Sacramento-based company that imports some of the very best Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Cretan Thyme Honey available in the world today. There has never been a better time to support one of our own than right now!

Now get to asking, so we can get to answering!

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FarmerGuy
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January 20, 2021 8:23 am

Much has been made about the Kings historically bad defense. What rotation changes, defense settings, matchup adjustments, etc need to change in order to stop the hemorrhaging on any given night? It would seem the Kings could be competitive on any given night with a shift in defensive attitude. Also, is there a trade target or more that would match our roster to make this improvement immediate as well?

andy_sims
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January 20, 2021 8:32 am

What have we done to deserve this?

Oh, right. All of that stuff.

Jman1949
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January 20, 2021 8:44 am

We’ve heard little to nothing from Monte McNair since the beginning of the season. Have there been any behind the scenes rumblings about his views on how the season has unfolded thus far?

andy_sims
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January 20, 2021 10:33 am
Reply to  Jman1949

I am eternally grateful to not have to hear what the GM says, and content to assess him by what he does.

BabalooMagoo
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January 20, 2021 9:01 am

With Jusuf Nurkic out now for an extended period of time due to injury who’s up for a trade? Say, Hassan Whiteside for Harry Giles?

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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Nostradumbass 14
January 20, 2021 9:14 am

What is up with Jabari Parker? We heard a bunch of praise about him during camp but now he is persona non grata. What gives?

Disclaimer: I’m not advocating playing time for Parker, but just think it is odd that he can’t get off the bench when someone like Cory Joseph is getting 20 minutes a game.

KingofNOthing
January 20, 2021 9:20 am

Does Marvin Bagley have a problem with lateral movement? I see him get in stances 3 -4 feet in front of offensive players on the perimeter, he is usually nowhere close to them.

Last edited 3 years ago by KingofNOthing
BradMillersDipCup
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January 20, 2021 9:29 am

I don’t get the plan here. This is a historically bad run of games in the history of the NBA, none of our young players really seem to care, and we have a lame duck coach. It’s probably still to early to see Monte’s plan for the future, but honestly what do the King’s do from here? I’ve watched almost all King’s games for the last 20 years but this right now is just pathetic…

9sac8
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January 20, 2021 9:30 am

Very simple question. Everyone should have an opportunity to excel or fail. I said that to say, when will Walton be escorted out of Golden 1 Center permanently?

Murf
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January 20, 2021 9:38 am

What moves will Monte make? and when will he start?

kings4ever
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January 20, 2021 9:41 am

I listened to the most recent episode of the Podcast, there was some glaring issues amidst relative solid and entertaining commentary.

Hey Jerry, so Whiteside wants to “make you take a nap” ? Does CoJoSlo makes you want to get off your sofa and do the boogie?

You guys are addressing team defense yet overlook:

Jospeh has a net negative -25 Rtg (98 ORtg 123 DRtg)
Kings are -15 points worse per 100 possession with him on floor.
Kings are -10 points worse with him on vs off.

(Whiteside -12 net Rtg; -0.2 on vs off)

You have a player dragging down the second unit with his ineptitude on both ends as stats clearly reflect yet fail to awknowledge this conspicuous culprit.

Whiteside may move slow but the teammates are buoyed by his presence. Opponents know he is lurking when they enter the paint. Their reticence is clear when he enters the game.

He’s not a world beater but the collapse of our defense coincided with his DNPs and the coach stupidly trying to play Marvin at defense center, an obvious misguided strategy.

Bagley has NO business playing defensive center, another factor that contributed to our NBA worst rating.

In limited playing time, we are 4-4 when Whiteside plays, 1-5 when does not, either a DNP-CD or injury. We also allowed 5 PPG fewer (126.3 to 121.5 PPG allowed) in games Whiteside played. The record and points allowed is significant considering he only plays 13 MPG.

Clearly the numbers are more indicative of Joseph being problematic more than Whiteside with regard to our defense awfulness and yet the podcast misses this point!

I appreciate you are open to Kyle Guy stepping in, but this should have been the plan from the outset, infusing the second team with energy and playmaking. We are wasting time with a futile plan from a futile coach.

I also take exception to your analysis of Buddy. Moving him to the bench will afford the chance to go against lesser players, but if it results in him being more ball dominant and insistent on creating his own shot, a likely course, it will prolong his funk.

When Buddy squares up his man, and tries in vain to be Steph Curry, it is not going to end well. This is the non-sense he needs to curtail, whether he starts or not.

He did less of this “hero ball” last game, coinciding to +13 on vs off and D-Fox career night. I have no problem moving Haliburton into the starting lineup but I think this should come at the expense of Bagley not Buddy, with Barnes sliding down the 4.

When breaking down Buddy’s woes, his problem fundamentally lies in poor discernment between and quality and non-quality shot. How do you solve his problem by enabling him more discernment in second unit where there is chance he will be more insistent on trying carry the scoring load? Now if Guy and one of Hali or Fox joins him in the second unit with Buddy, then we have a possible to probable resolution, but if you roll out a second unit of say:

Metu
Robinson
Joseph
Buddy
Barnes

You are likely compounding the source of the problem. You are forcing Buddy into a role he is incapable of, being a primary scorer who creates for himself. Buddy needs to show more discernment, period, no matter whom he plays with, but we can facilitate improved decision by putting more complementary players around him.

I agree Fox needs to get up in the face of teammates “be a dickhead” as Jerry said, as a fierce competitor who holds teammates accountable. In particular, when Buddy makes stupid and unforced mistakes, including jacking shots, Fox as the max player and leader, needs to let him know he is dragging down the team with his mindlessness.

Fox needs to step in where the coach neglects his responsbility. He is capable of this and when he has nights like he did last game I think it will be catapult him more into this role.

I am big fan of Metu and his energy and fundamentals. The guy is good. He is probably a better prospect than Harry Giles. I think investing in him is smart but given the need of the team I would rather see Whiteside get those backup minutes for the next 10-20 games.

RikSmits
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January 20, 2021 9:59 am
Reply to  kings4ever

Eh, what was the question for the Mailbag again?

WizsSox
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January 20, 2021 10:04 am
Reply to  kings4ever

Thank God the Forum section now exists for these novel like posts…
comment image

Last edited 3 years ago by WizsSox
Marty
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January 20, 2021 10:38 am
Reply to  kings4ever

ow my thumb

Klam
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January 20, 2021 10:55 am
Reply to  kings4ever

comment image

RORDOG
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January 20, 2021 11:11 am
Reply to  kings4ever

you have to paste the image URL into the textbox instead of copying and pasting the image itself. Otherwise, it will just be a wall of text.

King4life
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January 20, 2021 9:53 am

I don’t really have a question but this thread did remind me that I needed to order more of that delicious Carter Imports!’ Olive Oil, which I only discovered through this website.

So if you’re a local run business, consider advertising with the Kingsherald because I need more local businesses to support.

Bbmuteman
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January 20, 2021 11:15 am
Reply to  King4life

What’s Carter’s olive oil like?

Klam
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Nostradumbass 18
Nostradumbass 19
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January 20, 2021 10:11 am

comment image

Marty
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January 20, 2021 10:36 am

Marvin Bagley is a (choose one) NBA player.

-excellent
-very good
-good
-average
-below average
-poor
-terrible

Hobby916
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January 20, 2021 11:03 am
Reply to  Marty

below average, borderline poor. Chances of improving are slim.

Otis
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January 20, 2021 11:11 am
Reply to  Marty

Bagley is Marty’s “squirrel!”

Marty
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January 20, 2021 12:11 pm
Reply to  Otis

Otis, with over twenty years as an endurance athlete, I don’t tire easily.

Last edited 3 years ago by Marty Marty
BestHyperboleEver
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January 20, 2021 11:23 am
Reply to  Marty

Currently: Below Average.
Ceiling: Good.
Likely outcome: Average.

9sac8
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January 20, 2021 3:07 pm
Reply to  Marty

-CBA player

Gregoryl
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January 20, 2021 11:01 am

Carmichael Dave was talking with Sam Amick on his show a couple weeks back and spoke of Joe Dumars making life difficult for the FO, getting in Vivek’s head, etc.. I haven’t heard anything more since. What can the moles at the G1C tell us??

Hobby916
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January 20, 2021 11:02 am

When will Woodard be given more minutes, and which player’s minutes will be sacrificed for that to happen?

This season is crap anyway, might as well let the young guys run out there and see what they can provide. Guy, Ramsey (when healthy), Woodard, and Metu.

BestHyperboleEver
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January 20, 2021 11:24 am
Reply to  Hobby916

I don’t have a real issue with the Woodard pick, but it sure would be nice to have Tillman.

RikSmits
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January 20, 2021 11:40 am

I kind of do have an issue with the Woodard pick, because it could and likely should have been Tillman.

andy_sims
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January 20, 2021 5:12 pm
Reply to  RikSmits

If it helps, technically the pick was Tillman.

rc50cal
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January 20, 2021 11:14 am

What sort of offer would it take for you to move Fox? What is his likely value around the league right now?

BestHyperboleEver
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January 20, 2021 11:27 am
Reply to  rc50cal

If I had a decent chance at a top 5 pick in this draft, then it wouldn’t take much beyond that. I would ask for more, obviously. But if I could give myself a decent chance to get 2 of the top 5 picks in this draft, I would jump at it.

rc50cal
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January 20, 2021 1:52 pm

I think I would too, but would any team offer that?

BestHyperboleEver
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January 20, 2021 2:02 pm
Reply to  rc50cal

Hard to say this early in the season. Hard to know who’s going to be those bottom of the league teams. I think the question is what chances do you want? Is a pick around, say, 7th worst that has a 35-ish% chance of ending up in the top 4 enough? I mean, even the worst team only has a just over 50% chance of ending up in the top 4.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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Nostradumbass 14
January 20, 2021 2:16 pm

This is going to be a problem for the Kings if they want picks moving forward. Only half of the teams have the ability to trade them.

andy_sims
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January 20, 2021 5:13 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

That’s a really interesting point, well-shared!

Bbmuteman
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January 20, 2021 11:14 am

Why are fans upset about losing when all that does is get the kings closer to cade or Mobley?

Adamsite
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January 20, 2021 1:12 pm
Reply to  Bbmuteman

I’m not upset with them losing, I’m upset with HOW they are losing.

Give me some solid effort with the young guys in a fun game as opposed to playing vets in hopes of winning and watching the team looking equally apathetic and pathetic.

Bbmuteman
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January 20, 2021 2:08 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I see effort. I just don’t see consistently smart or good play. I do think mcnair needs to ship out the vets since Walton won’t play the young guys much. He can’t play vets that aren’t on the roster.

9sac8
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January 20, 2021 3:10 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

AND 1!!!!!!!!!

SMF-PDXConnection
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January 20, 2021 11:21 am

If you had to come up with a dark horse, out of left field prediction for the Kings the rest of this season, what would it be? Could be anything from player’s stats, trades, front office, coaching, etc.

Adamsite
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January 20, 2021 1:23 pm

Buddy and Bagley for Blake Griffin and Sekou Doumbouya

9sac8
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January 20, 2021 3:11 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I was with you until you said for

Last edited 3 years ago by 9sac8
Adamsite
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January 20, 2021 3:30 pm
Reply to  9sac8

As bad as it may look. Buddy and Bagley’s combined salary for next season (33.4M) is close to equal to Griffin’s ($39M), which is is last under contract. Buddy is then on the hook for 2 more seasons. Maybe the Kings can attach Cory Joseph to the deal as well?

I see Griffin as a super expiring place holder at the 4 as the tank rolls on. Sekou is a nice prospect at 20 years old on a rookie deal. It is basically a clear the cap move.

9sac8
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January 20, 2021 4:21 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Let’s say this. I agree with you in that both should be traded. I’m just skeptical about the return though. I see your logic in terms of contracts.

Adamsite
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January 20, 2021 4:46 pm
Reply to  9sac8

I guess I feel we need to temper our expectations on the return for those two.

Bagley is slated to make over $11M next year and is entering the 4th year of his rookie deal. Any team willing to trade for him would also need to be willing to extend him at a pretty high price, otherwise why do it?

Buddy will be on the 2nd year of his 4 year deal. He is the most expensive single category elite player (3pt shooting) in the league. When you compare him to the likes of Joe Harris, JJ Redick, Duncan Robinson, Cauldwell-Pope, etc. he is by far the most expensive.

Couple all of that and the lack of teams that have 1st rounders to trade, as stated in the article I linked above, and I think the Kings need to think long and hard about what they can get in return. A prospect in someone like Sekou might be about the best asset they can get in return, especially if you can attach a contract like Joseph to the deal.

Bbmuteman
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January 20, 2021 2:12 pm

Kings will be a big player at the trade deadline.

austinracer999
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January 20, 2021 5:24 pm

Assuming Luke Walton won’t make it the whole season, who will be the King’s new head coach and should we wait until the offseason until we hire them.

Thanks for the great work!

Adamsite
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January 20, 2021 5:55 pm
Reply to  austinracer999

Darvin Ham is on my short list for an interview. I want a rising assistant or a college coach ready to make the leap. No more retreads.

RORDOG
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January 20, 2021 7:52 pm

Can someone post an explainer in the forum on how to use the forum? I think it will help folks like me (old/dumb) that just kinda look at it as too complicated, so I just ignore it.

Jman1949
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January 20, 2021 9:20 pm
Reply to  RORDOG

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TheBufferZone
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January 20, 2021 7:53 pm

What is the trade value for each of these 4 players? If they get traded, when do you think that will happen & to which teams?
Buddy
Barnes
Bjelly
Cojo

Peja
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January 21, 2021 9:43 am

For three years we have heard from players after games that they need to communicate better on defense and not give up straight line drives to the basket. We have heard these complaints even with different coaches and a different front office. How does this actually change? Is it a player issue? A coaching issue? A scheme issue?

Gluttonforpunishment
January 22, 2021 11:40 am

My son said to me yesterday that it’s exhausting being a Kings fan. My question is simply have any words ever been truer? Yes truer is a word. I looked it up.

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