Man, that felt different.
For the first time since 2006, the Kings entered the off season with a winning record and fresh off a playoff appearance. The Kings were not going to be afforded the opportunity to spend a lottery pick on Spencer Hawes, Jason Thompson, Tyreke Evans, Jimmer Fredette, DeMarcus Cousins, Thomas Robinson, Ben McLemore, Nik Stauskas, Willie-Cauley Stein, Georgios Papagiannis, DeAaron Fox, Marvin Bagley, Tyrese Haliburton, Davion Mitchell, or Keegan Murray.
Instead, the Kings were scheduled to select from the discount rack, outside the lottery. The Kings Herald provided no draft prospect writeups on Wemby or Scoot, both of whom would likely be completely out of the Barclays Center by the time the Kings selected at 24.
We re-adjusted our collective thinking, going from hoping for a franchise savior to hoping for a rotational piece, hopefully a stretch four or a rangy wing. Or maybe we wind up trading the pick for a player that could help out more quickly and reliably.
And then the draft started, and we sat around for two and a half hours waiting for our turn to pick. Some of us (mercifully) muted the proceedings, while others committed fully, relishing the pain of the broadcast as though it was Harrison Barnes missing the game four shot on an endless loop (we’ll get back to Barnes a little later).
24 arrived, and Olivier-Maxence Prosper was selected. While OMP had the potential to click a lot of boxes for the Kings, his ability to contribute immediately was at least a bit of a question, and he was certainly less polished than the prior picks of this front office. But maybe that was the mindset for a front office drafting closer to the end of the first round than the beginning of it.
We were quickly informed that the Kings had traded the rights for Prosper, along with Richaun Holmes and his 2/$25m contract to Dallas for a trade exception. Excitement grew as the Kings became one of roughly a half dozen teams with excess of $30m in cap space, and they were the only playoff team among this group. The Kings were going to be players in free agency!
The evening continued, and the Kings moved up from 38 to 34 to select Colby Jones, a player that would not have been inappropriate at 24. Good pick, we thought, but our attention had already turned to free agency. A collective “OK?” was uttered when the Kings selected Jalen Slawson, with a few draft die hards lamenting that Trayce Jackson-Davis was still on the board.
We walked out of draft night kind of underwhelmed – is that a fair statement? We could have had (for example) Brice Sensabaugh, Jones, and Jackson Davis, but our “haul” was Jones and Slawson. But this front office had earned at least a bit of patience from us, so I think that overall attitude around here was “wait and see – hope there’s more to come.”
Fast forward to today, and we have basically the same team as last year, with a couple of tweaks. I think that it is fair to say that this was not what we were expecting the moment that the 24 and Holmes were shipped out.
538 words into this drivel (I can drivel adeptly with either hand, don’t you know), this seems like a good place to start. The Kings could have simply waived and stretched Holmes and kept the pick. However, the cost of that would have been $5m a year for five years, plus the money for Prosper, which starts at roughly $2.7m this season and would be at around $14m for the first four seasons. The Kings picked up about $38m in payroll space with this deal, or about $8m a year for the next four seasons and $5m in year five. This makes a lot of sense, especially for a team that is good now and needs some help at stretch four and the wing.
…and then we re-signed Barnes (insert record scratch sound here). And at $18m a year (insert sad trombone sound here). 3/$54m. What in the ever loving…
And then Jerami Grant signed a 5/$160m contract. And Kyle Kuzma took $102m over four years. $102m over three to Khris Middleton. $108m over four years for RFA Cam Johnson. 4/$80m for Dillon Brooks. DILLON BROOKS!!! Rui Hachimura got close to Barnes money to stay in LA (3/$51M). As the ink dried on the various contracts, the Barnes deal went from WTF to pragmatic signing. Christian Wood is still out there as of this writing, and your mileage on him may vary (I like him), but the Kings took the bird in the hand, the sure thing, the guy that (and this is not to be underestimated) wanted to be here.
It is an unfortunate fact for Barnes that the collective fan base probably remembers him for missing the game 4 final shot, instead of his efforts throughout the season, without which the Kings would not have had the opportunity to even play that game 4.
In my pea head, there are two distinct NBA seasons. There is the regular season and there is the playoffs. I have never been a believer that there is one winner and twenty-nine losers per season. I think that several teams can have successful regular seasons, and then there is a winner of the playoff tournament. In this regard, the Kings had an overwhelmingly successful regular season, and if you factor in expectations they may have had the most successful regular season in 2022-23. They then took the defending champs to seven games in the playoffs. Yes, Barnes converting on that shot changes the trajectory of the playoffs for the Kings. So does a healthy De’Aaron Fox. Or a team that almost collectively lost the ability to convert from deep (silver lining – a bit of a coming out party for Keegan Murray by the time it was all said and done).
Harrison Barnes played every game for the Kings last season. Davion Mitchell (six years Barnes’ junior) and Murray (8 years) missed two games. Domantas Cyborgus missed three. Only Domas logged more total minutes than Harrison Barnes.
No doubt about it, the Barnes season has a “run it back” vibe to it, and it does not address the defensive issues at either the three or the four. But there is a stable consistency and reliability to be found in Barnes’ game, as well as the absolute known ability to prioritize the needs of the team of the need to get his own. While it would have been a legitimate question to ask if Kyle Kuzma could defer to Fox, Sabonis, and perhaps eventually Murray, there seems to be little question as it pertains to Holmes. And for what it’s worth, Mike Brown had him on the floor at the end of game four, Fox threw it to him, he took the shot without hesitation, and it was a good shot. It’s not horseshoes, so no points given for being close. But my guess is that no one is questioning this signing if that shot goes in, and that seems like the absolute smallest of sample sizes to judge whether or not you want a reliable, known, liked player back under a market reasonable contract.
The Kings went on to trade for Chris Duarte, re-sign Trey Lyles and Alex Len, pick up the option on Kessler Edwards, and sign Sasha Vezenkov, converting the 49th pick from a year ago into the Greek League MVP.
All in all, the Kings retained their top eight minutes players from 2022-23. They basically traded Terence Davis, Chimezi Metu and Holmes for Duarte, Vez and Jones, as well as…
Extending Domantas Sabonis. It’s done, folks! No hand wringing next summer. No question about the core or direction of this roster. This team, which won 48 games after an 0-4 start last season, has a core of Sabonis, Fox, Murray, and Kevin Huerter under contract for the next three seasons. Stability, continuity, synergy, consistency. All of the things that we have begged for the past decade and a half have seemingly been delivered. What will we find to bitch about next (don’t worry, I assure that we will find something to bitch about next, but without paper bags on our heads)?
Is this a perfect roster? Absolutely not. Is it an improved roster? I think it is. Does the roster have any albatross contracts? As long as Fox and Sabonis stay healthy, no.
The defense is still an absolute concern. But if the Kings can figure out a way to improve their defense by one possession per quarter and stay reasonably healthy at the top of the roster, they are probably a team that flirts with 55-60 wins next season.
There are few teams in the West that you can write off for this coming season. The Spurs will be on the outs, riding the wave of Wembymania for the year. Houston is better but still a bit of a mess. Portland is going to be weird, even after Dame is dealt. After that, you probably once again have a dozen teams whose seasons will rely heavily on team health. To wit, LeBron James has 65,748 NBA minutes under his belt. Fox, Sabonis and Murray have 28,090 – combined. In the West, the Grizzlies, Suns, Clippers, Warriors, Lakers, Pelicans, and Mavericks are all dealing with load management and dependability challenges that are currently not on the Kings’ radar. Yes, that can turn on the top of an opponent’s shoe. But the Kings have a team that won 48 games last year while getting to know each other and their new coach, and they have brought back basically the entire core, a year older but not old, a year wiser, a year where they learned where they are and what it may take to further improve.
Was this the off season that I was dreaming of? Not really. Is next season going to be a sure-fire step up? Oddly, I think there is a scenario where they win more games but finish lower in the West. That said, health and nothing more than an incremental improvement on defense could make next season one for the ages in Sacramento. I’d probably have to go back to 2002-03 to find a season that I was looking forward to with greater hope and anticipation. I sure would not have envisioned that two summers ago, and would have had to squint really hard to see it last summer. I’m still getting used to people coming into my office and complimenting me on my Kings décor – it went from ironic (or just plain sad) to cool in one year (disclaimer: My Jerry Reynolds Carl’s Jr. trading card is ALWAYS cool).
Excellent piece, Rob.
Excellent drivel, Rob.
Fixed.
The referees!
The lack of National TV games!
The trade deadline!
JJ Redick/John Hollinger, etc. aka “The Pundits”
I have a question for you:
If Keegan is Spock, what is Kris?
The Sabonis extension was The Big Prize, IMO. I am relieved he’s staying a King for the foreseeable future.
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&ct=g
Same Spock, different timeline. When they play against each other it could whip a whole into the space time continuum which can be incredibly dangerous.
?
Ive been satisfied with the offseason. A savvy, steady hand is on the steering wheel. Two All-NBA players in their primes locked up, a young core that will steadily grow alongside each other, newcomers who bring positional size, versatility, and shooting. We have approximately 3 more reliable role players on the roster than we did all last season, and there isn’t a single bad contract among the bunch.
Monte recognizes that drafting older players at the backend of the draft and trading is where you can find good players on value contracts, not FA or risky upside draft swings. He is attempting to maximize talent per dollar spent, and Sasha, Barnes, and Lyles at a combined $33 million sounds better to me than Kuzma at $25 million.
Throw in Colby Jones at the rookie minimum and Duarte at $4 mil, you got 5 supporting cast members to surround your stars with for a shade under $40 million – that’s less than the Rockets paid for just FVV!
Not only does all this value make the Kings a deep team able to weather injuries and absences, but it also means there are replacements at key positions should a big trade target arise (as well as good players on good contracts to work out a deal).
Monte now has the luxury to sit back and see how the team develops, and wait for a trade that comes on his terms. When you can ship out a player like Huerter or Monk, and plug in Jones or Duarte immediately after, you hold all the cards. There will be a GM at some point over the next three years that will get desperate for one reason or another, and Monte is making sure he’ll be the one to take their call.
In the “All teams made the playoffs” Pacific Division-
My guess is that depth and health will reign supreme.
Lakers got deeper- AD is who he is and Lebron is entering his 21st season.
Warriors have Steph, Klay and Dray in their mid 30s and a lot of miles on those tires
Suns have a fragile KD and Beal.
Clippers PG and Kawhi – ‘nuff said
The Kings have the youngest, deepest and presumably the healthiest team of that grouping.
Though every game is a risk.
Monte has been great. Definitely building. Good shit too Rob. Fun read)
The only questions I have are with Barnes and Huerter is in playoffs. I believe they’ve been bad-shooting- a lot more than good in playoffs/under pressure. . A propensity? We will find out.
(My issue w Barnes, and I think others not hyped about Barnes re-signing, wasn’t 1 missed shot in playoffs. it was terrible shooting the entire series. Not playing some cause such a bad series.
I want and think Monte needs to build for winning in playoffs/for championship contention. . That means shooting under pressure, shooting in general and a little D.
Sabonis is going to need to get a mid range too. Will he? Barnes/Heurter?
But, having a real GM has brought a real team and real playoff potential.
I need to edit- I think Monte is building for championship contention.
1 missed shot is a bad sample size, but 7 games also does not define what Barnes has contributed the last 4 years.
Having stars to carry us in the playoffs is of course the end goal, but Monte decided that guy was not available….yet. In the meantime, he’s really cleaned up the margins of this team. And were ready to strike when that elite talent does come along.
It’s not just 7 games. I believe Barnes has had poor performances in previous playoffs? Maybe I’ve got that wrong.
And I’m not saying I don’t like or appreciate Barnes. I would like to see him as a bench guy maybe with a better starter.
I think less minutes might help Barnes down stretch.
I think the idea is to transition him to a bench role by the end of his contract, then maybe resign him to a lesser deal to be the Igoudala of the team.
I still have a concern at a backup for Sabonis. If he gets hurt, heaven forbid, who will a starting center now be?
Good piece. Thanks.
Monte’s motto: Maintain and improve.
This is not the perfect team. And he did not solve all the off-season issues- rim protection, backup for DS and length, athleticism at the wing and 4 spot. But got size at the guard spots and rid themselves of the Holmes contract.
I watched the last episodes of “The Run”. Metu and Davis looked like the most athletic guys out there and were featured prominently but they were the 2 most often in the Brown Doghouse. Kings do not have a wealth of very athletic guys. and have more cerebral players. Not sure at all if this is a problem. But while TD and Metu were very instinctive they were undersized for their positions.
Oh, Monte got Edwards last year at the deadline for zero. and got Sasha this year for zero ( I call a second rounder a zero) and maybe Duarte for the same.
Tomorow, we see if Keegan got some wiggle, if Jones can play and if Slawson is more than a 54th pick.
This team has a lot of flexibility which is a playoff “skill”.
and may not be done- Duarte not finalized. and Kings still looking at Torrey Craig (and have Dozier to move in exchange and some money in the cap.
Got top 8 minute guys back and added Sasha who will break into that.
Say that to Colby Jones in the face, I dare you.
Or Jokic’s horses, I dare you
Very enjoyable and informative . Another game winner at the buzzer by Rob .
Rob, is it this card, or this card?
The 2nd one.
HERE’S MEOW THEORY:
Some people on Twitter criticized Monte’s work in order to get him booted and replaced by Anjali. These people are actually VivekBots, programmed turn the fanbase against McNair.
Elon Musk figured out what was happening and shut down Twitter to try to stop it.
…Also, Keegan and Kris will pull that old twin-prank where they switch places and clothes, and see if anyone notices. This will happen at least twice during the regular season. Twins just love playing this prank. They cannot help it.
Kris smiles too much. Keegan is above smiling, or emotions.
They absolutely should try this though.
Nice write up Rob. Off topic. I found the summer league roster on NBA.com. I see no need for Keegan to play.
We will be there tomorrow for the games.
Please, right more often.
Please wrong less often.
He rights good, and if I’m wrong, I don’t want to be write.
Please, rite more often. Here in basketball hell, we’re all about rites!
Very thoughtful and well reasoned Rob. Well done.
Great Job! Rob! I feel like we’ve all been in the War Room here together!
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That didn’t work.
Nice to have Ellis back.
this seems exceedingly ambitious, but here’s hoping.
Context matters:
I know I’m probably wrong, but I do feel like our offense might be even better than last year with added players and shooting, so I’m not terribly worried about our defense. Our defense isn’t why we lost against the dubs in my opinion, which i know sounds weird but they made a helluva gameplan to throw off our young and inexperienced team over a 7 game series. Steph is steph, and Davion made him work for his shots and he ended up with points on not steph-like efficiency. If barnes hits that 3, we had them on the ropes even with the bad shooting and them phasing out Domas. I would like to believe with the same core and another year in the same system we’re going to make at least marginal improvement on defense. We really started gelling as the season went on and I don’t think 55-60 is out of reach if we stay relatively healthy
Apologies if you felt I didn’t quote I’m enough of your post, but my comment accounted for that.
News: Slawson signed a 2 way deal as did Keon Ellis. One of those left. Maybe Jake Stevens
Jones signed a 4-year deal with big team.
Q signed a deal with the big team.
Now have 14 players under contract, not including Duarte I think, but does include Dozier who can be released in July
I suspect Duarte will get done and maybe Craig signed and Dozier released
Excellent!!
So before the 2022-23 season, did it go something like this?
“Hey Rob, I just have a quick question about…oh my God, you have all this Kings stuff in your office??”
“Why, yes I do…”
If resident veteran Rob has a few bad articles, do you write him off? No, because he helped make TKH into what it is today. And he is still capable of writing articles like this one.
Rob just has that seat of the pan- eh nudity ability to write a good story on anything.
Barnes was a must re-sign obviously.
Yeah, I was already resigned to it.
Kangz doin big thangz! Suck it Dubs and Lakers fans…I can hear the Light the Beam chants already
Also is anybody gonna mention how we were one pick away from Kris Murray…I was anxiously watching each pick and hoping he would be there but part of me knew he would be snatched away at the last second. Not even sure he would’ve been a great pick but I wanted him bad…I feel like they would’ve taken him and kept him, oh well, I’m happy with where we’re at, that almost would’ve been too weird hehe.
Drafting Kris Murray would have been an overly-expensive sight gag.
At the very least, it could have been 12 fouls for Keegan.
Wonderful piece, Rob. Well done.
No rants here Rob, nice piece. Well done.
55-60 wins!
I read this, and my initial reaction was, “Are there actually people who think that bringing Barnes back on a good contract is a bad idea because of a single missed shot?”
And then I sat back in my chair and thought, “Of course there are, you dipshit. What are you? New?”
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