Welcome back to Chainmail! Oh, what a week it’s been in the Kangzdom. Let’s recap, shall we?
- The Kings continue to be linked to several of the biggest names on the trade market, including Domantas Sabonis, Ben Simmons, Myles Turner, and Jerami Grant.
- In addition to those four contributors, John Collins has also been placed on the block according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. He says it’ll take at least a valuable first round pick and a starting caliber player to pique Atlanta’s interest, but that very well could be the starting price in a bidding war that could take place for the talented forward. Sacramento’s front office did show significant interest in Collins when he was a restricted free agent a couple of summers ago.
- According to Carmichael Dave of KHTK, the Kings have zero plans to punt on the season and tank. Instead, they continue to plan on upgrading the roster at the deadline, although Dave himself said that he didn’t necessarily believe his own reporting.
- In current Kings players news, Tyrese Haliburton has continued to perform at an impressive level. Over his last 19 games, he’s putting up 16.9 points, 9.3 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 steals on 49/45/84 shooting splits. Hali is still showing some inconsistency in his night-to-night aggression levels, but he’s looked like a completely different player since taking over the offense from De’Aaron Fox.
- Speaking of Fox, he’s missed the last couple of games with ankle soreness. According to Alvin Gentry, the injury is minor and Fox could play through it in a playoff-type situation. It’s clear the Kings wish to take no risks with Fox’s health, especially with the trade deadline just a couple of weeks away.
- Sacramento will also be missing guard Terence Davis for an indefinite amount of time. Davis sustained a wrist injury in a nasty fall against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday.
- On Tuesday night, the Kings were demolished by the Boston Celtics, at times facing a deficit of up to 60 points, with the final tally being 128-75. The following evening, Sacramento started the strongly against the Atlanta Hawks, opening a 13 point lead in the first quarter, before being destroyed in the second period 46-17 and trailing big the rest of the “contest”.
- With those two blowouts, the Kings are currently riding a five-game losing streak. In 50 games this season, they’ve managed to post separate losing streaks of five games, five games, four games, four games, three games, and three games. They’ve also lost 10 of their last 12.
- At 18-32, Sacramento has recorded the third-worst 50-game start in the Vivek Ranadive era. They’re currently on pace for 29 wins and 53 losses.
- In about the only good news over the last couple of weeks, the Kings have managed to take over the 6th spot in the NBA Draft Lottery, and they trail the Indiana Pacers by only a half-game for 5th. If they were able to push down to that position, they would gain a 10.5% chance for the first pick, a 10.5% chance for the second pick, a 10.6% chance for the third pick, a 10.5% chance for the fourth pick, and somewhat ironically, only a 2.2% chance at the 5th pick.
This may have been asked before. How long until playing in basketball hell breaks Haliburton’s spirit and he starts mailing it in, too?
One more lame trade deadline should do it.
Just like what they did for Fox.
https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/status/1486826456403492865?s=20&t=T8waN7BkVsk-RNfnK6HUwQ
…I have my answer, but would love to hear what your answers are.
In the 80’s and even for the early stages of the 90’s a lot of why it was better then was simply because we had a team. Nothing more, nothing less. Sacramento had an NBA team and people were excited. It was built in to the entire vibe around the team. It was going to be a long growing process. I saw michael Jordan when I was 8 years old at warehouse we called an arena. It was amazing.
Another reason was Mitch Richmond!!! Outside of MJ he was arguably the best shooting guard in the entire league. The Kings had an aura of greatness just because we had one of its top players in Mitch. He was that good. The team also consistently had tough players that played hard. They represented the city of sacramento admirably. Get knocked down, get back up, then bust your butt the next night. As I recall, the games were competitive for the most part. You could have tickets to a game and know that you would see 10-15 guys out their playing their hearts out. The fans reciprocated that energy and embraced this team as one of us. Work hard, play hard, go hard. There was never a heart issue. The team was a underdog with fight. That’s what made me a fan. Additionally, I don’t recall the franchise ever saying “we’re expecting to make the playoffs this year with this roster.” As I recall it was generally more of a “it’s possible that this years team with these additions to roster might be able to find a rhythm and make it to the playoffs with some hard work and determination.” The expectations by the ownership, management, coaches and players was “we are going to fight and see how the chips fall”. I don’t recall ever hearing how ownership was determined that this year they’re making the playoffs. This year we put a squad together that is definitely a playoff contender.”
This team… this team… we’ve been told they are playoff or bust for 3 years now. Except there’s been no bust after any failed season of missing the playoffs. They’ve just given us the same damn lazy roster and said, “this year it will happen”. No accountability has been shown for the failure, it’s a Ho Hum attitude that has slowly alienated this fan base. There is NO HEART. No pride! These players appear to be playing a game for a lot of money and really enjoying that. Good for them. We’ve watched the same guys for three years do the same thing. Watching apathetic players play apathetically with no genuine push for changes that are obvious… yeah, this is the worst it’s ever been. It sucks. I actually hate being a kings fan for the first time in my life.
love is passionate
hate is passionate
somehow, this team, the coach (Walton), this general manager, this majority owner and all the minority owners have switched my passion for this team from love to hate.
Agree 100% ! Sums up my feelings ! Losing teams that played hard and lost mainly because the other team was more talented and not because they tried harder! Lack of effort and caring has taken a toll ! Sacramento Proud – NOT !
Well said.
“There was was never a heart issue. The team was a underdog with fight.”
This is what I came to appreciate about the 90’s era teams as well and why I became a fan after moving here, that heart bled through the city into every one of us who enjoyed the game, you couldn’t NOT be a fan of the Kings back in those days. Was a very unifying thing, even when they weren’t making the playoffs regularly.
Well said. I couldn’t have put it into words like you just did, but you captured it perfectly.

So well said. I’ve sort of embraced the hate and it quickly just morphed into humor. I’m not sure if that will work for everyone but it worked for me. I no longer think front office moves will improve the team on any significant level, so I’m just going to the circus now and I know what to expect. Discuss the trades, discuss the firings, none of it really matters anymore, it’s a clown show and there it will remain.
Well said… I will add that we didn’t have social media, blogs or the internet to remind us how awful we are!
Well said.
Love me a good rant. This is no exception.
The Kings in 80s and 90s were brutal to watch but when you’re from somewhere you root for your city. I don’t see much difference in the total trash product between then and now, minus maybe the initial novelty factor of having team like you said. Regardless of success I love the game of basketball and will always root for my city, no matter what.
I loved The Rock too and they had a few good years in there, I’m just saying there wasn’t much difference between then and now.
https://twitter.com/SactownAnthony/status/1487104555846279170
Excellent example of how a bad team can still be loveable.
Being a Kings fan is a journey of learning to embrace and enjoy all the stages of being a sports fan. Only one team wins a championship annually. Media describes every other team as a loser that has no value. Such a perspective lacks nuance and does not represent the experience of being a fan of most sports franchises. The consistent ineptitude of the Kings requires fans to learn this lesson. For example, I HATE this year’s team. Why? Effort. It appears to us fans that the team is not playing hard. So, I watch the game, hope they play hard and if not, enjoy the frustration and embrace the negative emotions. Emotions are normal. If I lived in Sacramento, I would attend games, boo constantly and love every minute. Would I prefer to experience winning? Of course, but I’m just a fan. I take what I’m given. So SCREW this team.
I think this is on par with the era surrounding those Dick Motta years. Just like then, I survive it by enjoying how well the opponents play, and hoping we lose enough for a high draft position.
The Kings made the playoffs in their first season in Sacramento. Then they went 8 years out of the playoffs, and won 39 games but missed. They won 39 games the next year and made the playoffs. They missed for two more years, then hit the glory years.
It’s been 16 f’n years since the Kings made the playoffs, with no end in sight and little hope of ever getting close with this roster. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out this is by far the worst it’s ever been.
Put another way, the Kings made the playoffs 10 times in their first 21 years in Sacramento, and zero times in the next 16 years.
My question:
Q.) Why the team can lost by 50+ under Gentry ? (Because the defense sucks ? and why Gentry don’t play more Harkless, I know Harkless is not the answer, but at least he plays defense)
Doug Christie was out on health protocol!
He was in Atlanta during the 46-17 second quarter ! He is not the answer to any problem !
The team definitely missed DC’s high-fives.
What’s with the DC snark?
My issue with Doug is the same issue I have with the basketball ops side of the biz. Vivek has built an org where the players rule. Players can get coaches fired (Joerger), ex-players with no experience get handed jobs (Vlade), players complain to the media and get rewarded with contracts (Buddy).
For years, I heard Doug be WAY too positive about the players on this team, there was little they could do wrong. He spent years talking on TV/radio about what the team could do to improve their defense and how important was to play with heart effort.
OK Doug, here’s an assistant coach job for you. What has changed? What happened to the years of fixes that he talked about? Again, an ex-player with no experience coming in, taking the seat of someone more qualified, and not moving the needle.
Ahh, he hasn’t singlehandedly been able to change the many systemic issues that the organization has had on and off the court for decades, even in his highly-influential role as (checks notes) a newly-hired assistant coach.
Perfectly reasonable take.
Seriously. I guess the pure love that some hold for anyone on the best third-place team of all time doesn’t extend to someone who may actually be capable of successfully taking on a non-playing basketball job.
Which scenario do you deem more likely: organizational competence leading to a playoff birth in the next 10 years or… meteors simultaneously hitting the 29 other NBA cities and the Sacramento Kings being declared NBA champions via mass forfeit?
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRGOAINAvQHnyh-dPLEECdEHY3gP65dVgBWAA&usqp=CAU
Why not go after Porzingis, Westbrook and Al Horford?
Makes perfect sense to me.
eeeeeeeeeee-haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Incredibly expensive guys on the downslope their careers, and also frequently injured?
How can we lose?
I would do Buddy + a protected first for Horford. If it gets Buddy off the books, I’m all for it.
I think Buddy for the injured and expiring Rubio and filler makes a lot of sense. Kings might even get a pick out of it.
Problem is Buddy’s last 2 years and Cleveland’s books. I think that’s probably what’s stalling things right now because if Cleveland wanted Buddy, I’m sure Monte would have already traded him as soon as Cleveland made the call.
I just don’t really get why Cleveland doesn’t do Rubio and Windler for Buddy & Jahm’ius Ramsey. They can figure out the financial stuff this off-season and beyond. They are playing for something now, and frankly they need a scorer like Buddy on that roster. And the acquisition cost doesn’t get any cheaper.
Who knows though? Maybe the Cavs know they can’t take that contract on. That’s the only thing I see holding that kind of deal up.
I think to add to that potential problem is Collin Sexton. Adding Buddy’s deal really hampers their ability to re-sign him this summer, if that is even their intent.
Yeah, I wouldn’t assume Cleveland is worried about signing Sexton this summer. I expect him to be playing elsewhere next year unless they’re able to bring him back on a crazy team-friendly deal.
And this is new news now too, but Cleveland was just awarded an 8.9 million injury exception, too. That might change whom they go after at this deadline, too. I think Buddy is the best available get for them, but the way I see things and the way franchises see things are often very different.
That DPE can only be used on an expiring deal, correct? So they can use that AND move Rubio for another player?
Yeah, but they are so close to the tax I doubt they do. I don’t really know what player they would get that would really move the needle for them anyway.
I think Schroeder can soak up some minutes for the Cavs. I know he has a low ceiling, but he might be a good gamble as he plays for a contract next season.
There is no doubt there is a lot of ways the Cavs could go Mike. I will not argue that one bit.
They really are in an interesting position. Rubio’s contract, Sexton to dangle, the exemption, and the team is clicking with young talent despite a lot of injuries, and Love is giving some vintage Minnesota minutes. They have been a blast to watch this year.
That’s actually a really good trade. There has to be better ones out there but if that’s all you can get then you do it!!!
more minutes for Hali and Mitchell plus a talented Vet that might actually make the team better, PLUS a future first. There’s a sliver of hope there. There’s no hope with buddy on this squad.
yes.
It was Buddy and a protected Kings first for Horford. You still like??
Oh shit. No
The ginger troll strikes again!
Porzingis, bullock and BRUNSON works for Barnes and Hield.
Which scenario is worse for you:
(a) Zero substantial trades. We roll out Fox, Hali, Barnes, Bagley, Holmes after the deadline with Mitchell, Buddy, TD, etc. as your main subs.
(b) A massive panic trade. Say, Fox and picks for Grant or something. Come up with your own, but it must involve substantially overpaying for a good, not great, player to try to win now. And maybe tying up future 1sts for a while due to the Stepien rule.
IMHO, the worse option is A, by far. At this point, something is better than nothing. As pathetically low a bar as it is, the team/F.O. has to show that it’s at least aware that the current situation is hopeless. Doing nothing indicates they think this wreck is salvageable. But I’ve been wrong before. Maybe.
Having seen my share of somethings, I’m going to suggest that this is true about as often as it is false.
Yeah, my fear is that they’ll try to do something that’ll end up hamstringing us for an additional 10 years.
I guess my perspective that doing nothing means keeping the status quo, which will also hamstrings the team while further alienating what few fans are left.
It’s important to consider that with limited interest in what you have to offer, it wouldn’t be very hard to make things worse, and not in a way that is intended to improve draft position.
let’s use this as an example which I think would be one of the worst trades while still welcoming it with open arms…
Fox and 2022 first round pick for Grant.
while that trade sucks in my eyes I would be happy they made it. At least they are trying. Additionally and most importantly, grant had that trade value and there was competition to get him. He’ll have the same trade value this summer. You can flip him for a similar return. No trade is the end of the world or makes it unable to recover from for multiple years (except for Vlade’s Philly trade, that’s a whole other ball game he was playing). Grant still has value and could be used in another trade this summer if te team wanted to make that shift.
That would give the Kings a serious shot at two top 5 picks in this year’s draft which could result in a full youth movement or excellent trade fodder for a real star.
Just spitballing, but if they moved Fox for Grant and their first, the Kings could theoretically flip those two very valuable picks in a package of vets (Barnes and Buddy) and expirings for Simmons and Harris. The Kings would be rolling out a roster of Hali, Simmons, Grant, Harris and Holmes. That’s a big and long team.
No. It’s Fox AND a pick FOR Grant, in this scenario!
Ahhh shit…didn’t realize that. Never mind! Run away!
See, I personally would rather they make no trades than a bad trade. But I think the lack of significant action from McNair is crushing the fans and the players, so I get wanting to see something, anything. I don’t like the inaction, but a terrible trade would be worse for me. However, I wonder what camp Vivek is in. I’m guessing he is boiling with impatience, so you may get your wish, unfortunately imo.
That’s the thing. Inaction, or fringe actions, will drive away whoever’s left on this team’s broken-down bandwagon. Everyone knows the team needs a complete, merciless overhaul. Acting otherwise is a recipe for fan mutiny.
Not trying to put words in your mouth, but this is sort of running through the comments like no trade or a terrible trade are the only two options. Folks have zero faith in this front office to get better.
That is literally the premise of my question: You have to pick the bad result you would prefer! 😉
I just don’t think that without getting draft capital or Saddiq Bey that you need to send out Fox in order to get Jerami Grant.
1) What event would qualify to be the lowest of low of the season?
2) By going on public record (to tell Carmichael Dave) that bottoming out isn’t an option, does that limit McNair’s hands because other GM knows he HAS to make a trade to win now? Or there really is a plan, let’s say plan Y to truly sell off the roster to acquire draft assets if desired deals are simply not there?
Monte did a really stupid thing there. At this point, if he stays committed to the “no tanking” pledge, he’s an idiot you can’t trust because he’s so idiotic; and if he changes course and goes full rebuild, he’s a liar you can’t trust because he bald-face lied.
Fan how you want but I wouldn’t say any GM is a liar. It’s pretty much built into the job to “lie”. Saying one thing and doing another doesn’t make me hate Monte. Doing nothing and saying you’re trying to do things pisses me off. Like really pisses me off.
Right, no hard feelings if Monte lies. Hard feelings if Monte does nothing.
Yeah, I know, I’m just sick of this organization’s messaging. Stop telling us the playoffs are the goal. It was an unrealistic goal back in October, and continuing to pretend it’s a possibility now, at 18-32, just makes you look stupid. The team has been a joke for 15 years. At the very least, Monte, please don’t give the crowd more things to laugh at.
Disagree. You can be non-committal about things rather than just flat out saying the opposite of the truth.
Has Petrie ever told bold-faced lies?
I don’t know/remember.
Not Tanking is the norm around the NBA, I’m not sure Monte is sticking his neck out as much as he is going along with the crowd.
To tank takes COURAGE, (where have I heard that before), and it’s obvious from the day he rolled out Shaq as a partial owner as a publicity stunt what this owner’s true colors are.
No single game can do it. I’d say rolling out the same core AFTER the trade deadline would be pretty demoralizing. That may be pretty low on the fan enthusiasm scale.
Agreed. I’m just passively tuned into games right now, mainly to watch Haliburton, but if there is no change by the deadline, I’m out. I’d have no reason to watch another game this season.
Bet you do, though.
Hahaha! You’re probably right. I’d need motivation for my drinking.
Good point, but I would encourage you to find other reasons. That way, if the Kings somehow ever unfuck things, you’ll still be able to imbibe in the magic juice that makes us more handsome and charming.
We can always come back if they ever figure out a way to make the playoffs.
Bandwagon fans will be shot on sight.
With vaccines? Might solve some things.
Might be good for lottery position, tho.
So would going with a youth movement. Roll out the same meh vets without acquiring youth/draft assets and … ugh.
I’d have no problem with that. Given that you can’t free agency yourself to respectability, and you don’t have oodles of highly sought-after talent to bundle into a great player, just commit to it.
And then don’t selct a Cade Cunningham when an Evan Mobley is available.
Houston and Orlando both have to be kicking themselves, based on what was available after their picks.
Wha? Mobley looks really really good. But so does Cunningham. I don’t think Detroit is questioning their pick one bit. Honestly, the only team in the Obviously, the better example is… well… forget it. We all know what it is. The team mostly like to be kicking themselves at this point is clearly Houston.
If the Kings really did believe they could make the play-in/playoffs, why would they be sitting Fox right now? Gentry himself said Fox would be playing in a playoff-like situation. It sure seems like the team knows this year is toast, and is resting Fox to make sure he doesn’t get more hurt and lose his trade value. So if the team is tacitly acknowledging, by sitting Fox, that the season is a lost cause, why not just freaking sell off and commit to the tank already??? Why burn whatever frayed shred of credibility you have left by continuing to say the playoffs are a goal, despite all evidence–including your own actions–to the contrary??? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills!
I’d love to hear an insane conspiracy theory as to why Fox is resting, other than the official line that he has a mild injury.
Which, I take it, couldn’t possible be true.
One possible answer is they’re trying to maintain their options in the trade season game. Playing their poker hand as long as they can.
That’s probably right, but again, if the goal is the playoffs, then sitting Fox when he’s capable of playing (which Gentry admitted) flies in the face of that. You’re sitting your most-talented player during a legendarily sad losing streak, while also saying the playoffs are the goal? Argh. Just tank already.
There’s nothing to stop most of us from managing to do our jobs when suffering from any number of ailments. This fact doesn’t necessarily make it a good idea,
What Year will Vivek Ranadive take Iron Mike’s advice?

My guess is never ! Keep changing players, coaches and GM ‘s , listening to Matina and taking zero blame ! That is still the plan !
Are the Kings so bad that they would actually fail at tanking? Is that why Monte’s putting up the faux bravado ‘no tanking’ spiel, because he knows they’ll mess that up?
You can see the rest of the west bottom already panicking at the Sac slide – nothing but Ls after the 8th spot. This could be the first year a team involuntarily makes it to the playoffs. Boom! 9th spot – didn’t even want to be there. It’d be amazing to see ‘playoff’ teams enter the tournament riding a 12-game losing streak.
I fully expect the 10th seed to back into the play-in a full 15 games below .500. The play-in tournament is the worst thing Adam Silver has done as commissioner.
I agree with you on Silver, but he may consider it a win. I think the Pels are chasing the playin and Portland is vacillating on a reset due to it. The Kings should do a reset of some kind, but are chasing the playin. But they may not count as Vivek might still chase the 8th seed anyway. I think the Spurs would do a reset around Murray, but they are getting the coaching wins record for Pop.
Still, they keep making the lottery more random and terrible, but four teams started out the season blatantly tanking. If the playin can get a few more teams to try to win for more of the season, that may be a victory to the league office.
He was trying to figure out a way to remove the stink from the “all-star draft”.
What do you think it would take to change to re energize the fan base to move from the current feelings expressed here on TKH (apathy/disgust/etc.) to putting butts back into seats and selling out G1C? Or, what would you do if you were in charge?
Do you have any gameday go-to food options you prefer? Or, in general, dishes you care to make?
Mine are country potatoes, biscuits ‘n gravy, omelettes, enchiladas, jambalaya, au gratin potatoes, and chili.
You do realize you are asking Tim for his food takes, right? Proceed at your own risk.
I”m kinda hoping Will and Brenden join him in this mailbag and bring sanity to the proceedings. I know better than to take anything Tim Maxwell and anything food related remotely seriously.
I’m going to need your address, Tubby.
I’m not fat, I’m big boned. You squizoid.
Which players would you want as untouchable? Which players would you like to see moved at almost any cost?
This is a fun one. Haliburton is not untouchable but he is my only player on this roster that I would care to keep around and build from. I like his attitude, he plays hard, he is a SMART player and his size and skill at the PG position is bordering on elite already. You don’t trade one of the highest upside 2nd year PG in the league because you need to stir things up. You trade him if he helps you get a guy like Anthony Davis or Damien Lillard or Ja Morant. So Hali isn’t untouchable, he’s simply a big priority.
EVERYONE ELSE should be actively shopped right now.
guys that HAVE TO GO NOW are buddy and Bagley. It’s pathetic they aren’t already.
Nobody is untouchable. But my list of players I’d rather not trade has Haliburton at the top.
Is there any truth to the idea that Vivek doesn’t care about the basketball product anymore, just about making a profit?
I think Vivek passionately cares about the basketball product, he is just god-awful at making decisions related to it.
I think you’ve got it exactly right.
I’d say this is the most likely scenario. Both the values of the team and the real estate continue to rise, whether they win or not.
Who in the Matrix determined to write this team into the program, and why?
Zuckerberg for sure.
Makes sense, since this team Zucks!
That would explain the METAstasizing problems.
Lets play Kings GM but with the constraints as announced by the front office. Assume Fox and Hali are off the table and that we must improve our chances of winning this year. Give us some trades you would like to see done before the deadline to accomplish that goal.
You know…
What is your preferred method of watching the Kings right now?
A – Live @ the arena
B – Live on TV
C – DVR / fast forward
D – Drunk
E – lol, watch!?
C+D
Luke Walton was the problem, right?
*please note, I did not support Luke every being hired.
While standing in your backyard in your underwear and taking a pee, God appears before you and she says, “You must bet everything you own, all your worldly possessions, on answering the following question correctly.”
Starting NEXT season, do the Kings make the playoffs (not play-in) in the next three years?
When did I start wearing underpants?
I never stand in my backyard in my underwear peeing (?), so I don’t have to worry about this.
You’re missing out on one of life’s simple pleasures.
If you’re in an apartment, just go off the balcony.
That’s easy: No.
I have questions, LORD. Don’t you have better things to do than taunt a drunk guy in his back yard wearing urine soaked underwear? Sounds like a f’n Laker fan to me.
Also, if it’s ALL my worldly possessions, does that mean I have to hold on to these piss soaked drawers for three years? Can I at least wash them? Can you miracle me a clean pair as a show of good faith?
Is peeing your pants in your backyard a heaven demerit? I know it’s in probably in the book and everything, but you’re here, and that means neither of us probably has anything better to do, so humor me.
Name your most off the wall favorite pizza topping and burger topping, but don’t say which is which.
Grilled peach slices/hard fried egg.
cheese/cheese
I answered this while wearing Vans.
You get your cheese off the wall???
Well now…
https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1487143671703166976
Sabonis or Collins.