fbpx
Mar. 29, 7:00 PM
DAL @ SAC
Mar. 31, 6:00 PM
UTH @ SAC
Apr. 02, 7:00 PM
LAC @ SAC
Apr. 04, 4:30 PM
SAC @ NYK
Apr. 05, 4:30 PM
SAC @ BOS
Apr. 07, 4:30 PM
SAC @ BKN
Apr. 09, 5:00 PM
SAC @ OKC
Apr. 11, 7:00 PM
NOH @ SAC
Apr. 12, 7:30 PM
PHO @ SAC
Apr. 14, 12:30 PM
POR @ SAC

Season Review: Richaun Holmes

This one hurts.
By | 36 Comments | Jun 4, 2023

Dec 30, 2022; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes (22) during the game against the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

As we continue our Season Review series, we turn our eyes to Richaun Holmes.

In a season where the Sacramento Kings desperately needed an answer at backup Center position, it was especially disheartening that Richaun Holmes couldn’t fill that role. Holmes finished with career lows in minutes played, points, rebounds, assists, and blocks per game. Even on a per-minute basis, Holmes generally put up the worst minutes of his career, with a few categories being only slightly better than his rookie season but worse than any other season of his career.

For a player that once seemed to be such a highlight of the Kings roster, Richaun’s downfall has been such a disappointment.

Two year ago the Kings signed Richaun to a four-year deal that we felt was a huge win for the Kings. Now, the contact feels nearly untradeable.

Holmes earned his role as a starter by being an undeniable force off the bench. When the Kings first signed him, Holmes was viewed as a bench sparkplug, but fought his way into the starting lineup with his hustle and effort. But dating back to even before the Kings acquired Domantas Sabonis, Holmes hasn’t been his old self.

Whether it’s the litany of personal obstacles, or the changes in his role, Holmes has simply failed to live up to his contract. In a season when the Kings desperately needed production from a backup center, Holmes was nowhere to be found.

I still believe Holmes can be a productive player, but it seems unlikely that will happen in Sacramento. I hope the Kings can find a trade to put Holmes and the Kings in a better situation, but I fear that trade may be another year away when Holmes will be an expiring contract.

Here’s hoping that Holmes, who has made a career of defying and exceeding expectations, can surprise us all again.

 

Patreon Membership
* indicates required


To prevent spam, our system flags comments that include too many hyperlinks. If you would like to share a comment with multiple links, make sure you email [email protected] for it to be approved.
Subscribe
Notify of
36 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
June 4, 2023 8:15 am

He’s a likeable guy from a likeable family who’s had a difficult time. I wish him the best and hope he gets his game back this summer, on the Kings or not.

Hamlet1989
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 8:29 am

Holmes let everyone down with his performance since signing a very favorable contract, with no one to blame but himself. I was glad when he re-signed, like most of us, I think. We got what we wanted, but there’s no way to want what we got! Unless he wants to give some of the money back, (or all of it considering his level of production!) he owes someone an apology on the way out the door.
Bobi Klintman fit’s the profile the Kings are looking for in a starting 4, but he would need to develop in a hurry.

Sacto_J
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
June 10, 2023 2:10 pm
Reply to  Hamlet1989

What an ugly ass comment.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
June 4, 2023 8:53 am

I feel our love and expectations for a player like Holmes is a product of that previous 16 seasons. The Kings were bad and a big part of that is they were rostered with sub-par players. Holmes fits the category of the Jason Thompsons, the Wille Cauley-Steins, the Ben McLemores, Omri Casspis, Kosta Koufos, etc. All are NBA players and nice guys, but if they are starting, let alone giving you significant minutes, you are a lottery bound team. We loved those guys because they were our guys, but when those guys went to other superior teams, their roles were very different. Jason Thompson and WCS went from starters on the Kings to DNP/CD on other teams.

Holmes simply got left in the wake to superior coaching and deeper talent. He went from starer on a lottery team to near unplayable on a #3 seed. Talent trumps all. It’s as simple as that. Do any of us think he’d be starting on any of the 16 playoff teams this past season? Does he even start on any of the lottery teams?

His contract now is what it is and I doubt he is movable unless part of a larger package. At best he is a backup center, but making starting center money.

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 10:09 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Holmes is at about $11 million a year. If a team thinks he can be a very good backup big they’ll be a trade to be made as that’s a fair number if he plays how he initially played upon receiving that contract. Remember, it only takes one team. Look at how bad the Heat and Celtics backup bigs were these playoffs, I’m sure they would have liked having Holmes fill some mins for them.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
June 4, 2023 10:26 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

The problem is that he is making a guaranteed $12M next season and a PO for an additional $12.8M in 2024-25, which is almost assuredly going to opt into. That’s nearly $25M a team would need to be committed to.

My gut says a team will only take on his deal if the Kings take on one of their bad deals. Maybe a team like Miami, who definitely needs a big behind Bam, would take a swing, but it would likely mean the Kings eating Duncan Robinson’s even worse deal. Could the Kings get a pick out of it? Maybe Nikola Jovic as a sweetener?

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 12:51 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

The Heat don’t have any signed players for next season that are appealling. I don’t think Duncan has a fit here either, he’d be stuck behind Mm, KH and KM and whatever defensive minded 3 we pickup this offseason.

Hamlet1989
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 7:34 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I wouldn’t have agreed that Holmes’ contract is worse than Robinson’s earlier today, before he sparked this run for Miami, and I don’t really like DR. He, at least, has some value. The more I consider it, Greg’s probably right. Sac will likely need to carry his money another year. Bummer, I was thinking they could probably unload him this off-season.
There are other bad players, on bad contracts around the league, and I’m still holding hope MM can devine a deal somewhere, probably not. Holmes is just too big of a negative asset to be worth the price it will cost to offload him. He’s unplayable, make stupid mistakes, (remember when he got tossed out of the bubble?) and spends too much time pouting. Maybe they could “stretch” him.

UpgradedToQuestionable
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
June 4, 2023 9:27 am

Once again, my feelings on this coincide with Adamsite among others.

In one word, it’s disappointment.

The support of signing Richaun Holmes, IMO, is that he played with passion and intensity. He wanted to be here, in Hell Sacramento. He relished his opportunity to be on the court and to wear Kings purple. And he produced: In the first 105 games (2019-2020 44 games, 2020-2021 61 games) the fiery RH#22 posted around 29 min/game with 64+ FG%, 79% FT, 8 rpg, 1.46 blocks/game, 13+ ppg. Solid numbers for Luke Walton’s Kangz. His following season, 2021-22 his FG% was 66% and might have led the League but he played only 37 games and injury and family discord (I won’t address this subject more than that) changed the player who signed that 4 yr. deal.

We still see some of the intensity and passion, and as a fan, I am rooting for the return of the RH#22 we cheered when signed.

It is obvious, in actions, that there is no place for Holmes on this team with this coaching staff. That train has left the station.

As for untrade-able? Nah. Dallas has Davis Bertans at $17M next season and needs front court depth. (Not advocating this trade, just using an example). They are many Holmes on many teams. It’ll happen this Summer.

UpgradedToQuestionable
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
June 4, 2023 9:34 am

And 1 –

It makes me reluctant to ever want a PHX big – Bismack Biyombo (technically, a former King), and Jock Landale – I am looking at you! I don’t care how well you do against the Kings or how hard you play.

You are all Kansas Jayhawk draftees to me!

Last edited 9 months ago by UpgradedToQuestionable
Hamlet1989
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 7:11 pm

I kinda like Landale.

Sacto_J
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
June 10, 2023 2:12 pm
Reply to  Hamlet1989

another gross ass comment. 2 for 2!

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 10:06 am

I could see the Celtics having some interest. They need big depth behind Big Al and Rob Williams. Al’s minutes need to be reduced given his age and Rob can’t be counted on to stay healthy. It would likely have to be a three teamer as the Celtics have mostly big contracts and small contracts on a yearly basis.
They’re somewhat of a weirdly constructed team contracts wise. Four guys making $20 million plus and two making $17 million. That’s a very top heavy team so I get their trepidation at giving JB a $50 million a year contract. I wouldn’t do it.

UpgradedToQuestionable
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
June 4, 2023 11:27 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

Winning costs McDuck money.

Top NBA payroll 2022-23
LA Clippers
Golden State Warriors
Milwaukee Bucks
Boston Celtics
Dallas Mavericks
Phoenix Suns
LA Lakers
Denver Nuggets
Brooklyn Nets

Sac is 23rd.

I’d love love love to have Jaylen Brown in Sacramento. That would be a team contending for a deep playoff run at the least, and in the orbit of Championship, IMO.

Currently, Sac is in the playoff Galaxy only.

Stepping up the talent means stepping up the payroll.

16 seasons of sewage including low payroll for Vivek – As a fan, I want my patience rewarded with checkbook signatures. If he is serious that he wants to bring a Larry O’Brien to Golden1 than the saying goes –

Put your money where your mouth is

I am not saying Jaylen Brown is available or The Answer – my point still stands.

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 12:59 pm

Once the new CBA kicks in it’s a whole another ball game. These teams that have gotten away with spending on winning won’t be able to do it any longer.
If you have two guys on $50 million a year contracts (Tatum, Brown for instance), you’re just not going to have the cap space to build around your two stars. The Suns with Book and KD are another example of this.
Suffice to say, it’s going to be interesting to see how GMs navigate this new landscape, including MM because Fox and Ox on max contracts is going to eventually eat into the depth. That’s why if I’m MM, I would be in win now mode this offseason looking to make the Finals within the next two years.
Spurs with Wemby, Mavs retooling around Luka, OKC loaded with talent, Ingram and Zion mentally turning a corner…these are potential things to consider for western conf teams who have a chance to win now. May want to bite at that chance before some of the above scenarios potentially start to play out over the next few seasons.

UpgradedToQuestionable
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
June 4, 2023 2:43 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

My understanding from telescopic distance is that the new CBA will cost more folks more samoloans.

I look at, say, the LA Clippers, owned by a guy who clocks in as a 12 digit bank account heavyweight.

Like Lacob & Co. have demonstrated, it’s just a bigger fine and either you don’t like it, but you’ll pay it, or you won’t.

Do you believe that the guy who just laid down $1.2B to build the Intuit Dome (and also bought the nearby Great Western Forum in the process) isn’t going to just look at a $100/$150/$200M “luxury tax” and call it a cost overrun?

I suppose we’ll find out how much more full of fertilizer Vivek is about his commitment to bringing a Championship to Sac. My guess is – he’s still a head to toe walking mushroom factory (9 out of ten seasons).

But I hope, like this fantasy season we’ve just had the pleasure of enjoying, that the future remains bright.

Skeptical? You betcha.

Last edited 9 months ago by UpgradedToQuestionable
Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
June 4, 2023 6:44 pm

Good points. I’m with you on the skeptical side. Until ownership shows they are willing to spend to make this team legitimately competitive, I’ll temper my expectations.

To me, this summer will be the first indication of the ownerships willingness to spend. It’s just Barnes that can really send them into the tax, so if they spend to keep him, while also adding ancillary talent, it would be a good sign.

If they let Barnes walk and he signs a reasonable deal elsewhere all while the Kings remain in the bottom 3rd of league spending, I’ll remain skeptical.

SmallBallReject
Comments
Comments
June 5, 2023 2:23 am

New CBA has some limitations for super expensive teams that don’t just cost money: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-cba-101-everything-to-know-about-new-agreement-from-salary-cap-to-free-agency-and-beyond/

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 5, 2023 6:43 am

Yep, the CBA is an unknown right now to most fans, after all most of us don’t care about that stuff, but the new CBA is going to effect team building in a major way going forward. You’re going to see that real soon with teams like the duds, C’s and Lakers.

murraytant
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 10:32 am

I really liked Rich and his story. For many reasons his production plummeted. I would like to see him become productive again and I don’t think it will be in Sac.
From a basketball perspective, if the Kings can get anything for him, that’s a win.

By the way, is Trace Jackson Davis better than Metu?

Sacto_J
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
June 10, 2023 2:13 pm
Reply to  murraytant

In some areas, absolutely. In others (see: shooting,) not at all.

Mike120
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 11:06 am

Trade him for Payton Pritchard? He’d be a good 3rd string PG for the Kings. Loved RH from 3 years ago but that switch has been hit to the off position for the past two years. Let him find a role elsewhere.

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 1:03 pm
Reply to  Mike120

The salaries don’t work. It’s tough building trades with the C’s due to their contracts.
PP and Rob Williams for Holmes would work. That’s not a trade I would make though. Williams and Domas are unplayable together imo

Hamlet1989
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 7:10 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

I seriously doubt Boston’s giving-up Williams for Holmes, Pritchard maybe. Either one would be a steal from Sac’s side.

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 5, 2023 6:45 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

I just threw that out there because it’s probably the only contracts that would work in a trade with Holmes going to the C’s. Williams is a much better player than Richaun for sure.

RobHessing
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Author
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Author
June 4, 2023 11:16 am

I hope that the Kings can find Holmes a new environment that better caters to his brand of play. I would like to see Holmes succeed, and I would also like to see him off the Kings payroll.

Klam
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 18
Nostradumbass 19
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 18
Nostradumbass 19
June 4, 2023 12:01 pm

It’s unfortunate that after he signed the four year deal with the Kings he couldn’t produce the way he did the first two years (injuries, not to mention the off court stuff). I’m glad he was still a professional and didn’t complain about it this season even with all the DNP-CD he racked up (heck, it was nice to see him get DPOG once). I wish Richaun well and hope he’s able to find more playing opportunities elsewhere.

Last edited 9 months ago by Klam
AnybodyButBagley
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 4, 2023 7:50 pm

The Kings have wasted a whole bunch more money on much worse players.

SmallBallReject
Comments
Comments
June 5, 2023 2:31 am

RH, his Mom, Dad, …are likeable (public) figures (and probably as private persons too). It is too bad RH on court has not worked out the way we hoped: injuries, ugly custody battle, … not (seemingly) his fault. He never got back to where he was on court … and that part is his reponsibility as a professional athlete. Meanwhile, system and the role has changed and Trey Lyles seems to give as much or more than RH in that role. Probably best for all if RH can be moved, hopefully Kings can get somethimng in return and RH can thrive in a new environment.

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 5, 2023 6:50 am

Richaun is suing the SacBee and his ex wife for defamation. If his name isn’t already cleared, it will be as he hired the same lawyer Johnny Depp did for his case against Amber Heard, so it doesn’t seem like Richaun took any of this lightly. More power to him.

AnybodyButBagley
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 5, 2023 1:20 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

SacBee has turned to garbage. Hopefully Holmes can inflict pain on those clowns.

KingOfTheMonsters
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 8, 2023 10:50 am

Yeah, that was garbage stuff. I hope he gets his due.
I hope he can find a way to make it work with the Kings because he is such a likable guy.
I’m betting he gets moved, though. Hopefully, he does well if he ends up somewhere else.
Loved his folks, too.

jlandweh
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 5, 2023 8:23 am

Definitely like Richaun (with everyone else on this board)…frustrated with his production. I think he could’ve helped us more down the stretch but couldn’t crack the rotation. Maybe Brown could elaborate at some point why that was.

However; I will also point out being at the Laker game in late January this year where he stepped into the starting lineup and played well. He still has value just needs to be in the right situation. Hope he and the Kings find that.

Fingers crossed – Sign and trade Barnes with Holmes and draft picks for someone. Not sure what that would fetch…but that’s what I’m hoping for.

EastCoastKingsFan
Comments
Comments
June 5, 2023 10:38 am
Last edited 9 months ago by Chris Andrews
NinjaFetus
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
June 5, 2023 10:42 am

I’m gonna be the optimistic guy and say Holmes gets minutes this next season.

I haven’t watched a lot of basketball since the Kings run ended, but if we could get 5-10 minutes a night of him running a PnR like the Heat are doing with Lowery and Bam, where Holmes either does a push-shot from the top of the key or passes out of it I think it could work in stretches. He would be like the 8th or 10th guy off the bench, but I think a wrinkle like that could work for short periods as a new layer as they would have another off-season to work players into Brown’s system.

Or I could be completely wrong and he’s still stuck to the bench. I really want Holmes to succeed with us but wouldn’t be the first (or 20th) time I’ve been hopeful about a Kings player.

2018DraftTimeMachine
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
June 15, 2023 1:55 pm

I never understood why he didn’t at least get a look against Looney in the playoffs … the old Richaun would have tried to keep up with the rebounding and chasing down loose balls.

Badge Legend

Patreon Supporter Patreon Supporter   Registered On Day 1 Registered On Day 1   Published Post Published Post  Published Post Nostradumbass
Comment Up Votes 200 Up Votes   Comment Up Votes 500 Up Votes    1,000 Up Votes    3,000+ Up Votes

Comments 50 Comments   Comments 100 Comments    250 Comments    500 Comments    1000+ Comments