Welcome back to Chainmail! Sacramento’s season is officially underway, and that means it’s time for Will and me to wax eloquently about all of the happenings over the first three games. Before we get into questions, let’s review some things that have happened over the last couple of weeks:
- The Kings are 1-2, having beaten the Portland Trail Blazers and losing to the Utah Jazz and the Golden State Warriors. In each of their games, they’ve entered halftime with the lead and have been trounced in the third and fourth quarters.
- De’Aaron Fox has had a horrific start to the season, as he’s averaging just 18.7 points, 6.3 assists, and 5 turnovers per game while making one in every 634 shot attempts.
- Harrison Barnes, on the other hand, has been unstoppable. If All-Star voting were to take place today, he would be a shoo-in.
- Marvin Bagley went from last season’s de facto starter to behind just about everyone on the depth chart. He’s been told that he won’t be a part of the rotation moving forward, and I think we can expect trade conversations (AKA the Kings begging a team to take on his salary) to take place throughout the year. Oh, and his agent lambasted the Kings publicly as well!
- DAVION MITCHELL. That is all.
Many other things have happened in the Kangzdom over the last couple of weeks, so get to asking, so we can get to answering!
SSS approved question: Why does Luke insist on featuring TT as the backup big over Len when second half defensive suckatude is the biggest bugaboo of the season so far?
Yeah, my question would be if the preseason honeymoon with TT has ended.
Who would win in a Dancing With The Stars competition between Iman Shumpert and Tristan Thompson?
Damn you for asking it in such a clear and concise manner!
Are you still hoping Fox magically transforms, or have you accepted this is just who he is?
A fringe all star guard in the west is who he is. He needs an all star next to him at some point in his career if the kings want to be a consistent playoff team.
Agree, and at Max contract level ! May be worse for the franchise than Buddy in another season ! John Wall come to mind ?
What are your thoughts on Walton seemingly adjusting the bench rotation to the opposing team? Bagley and Len getting DNP – Coach’s Decision in game 1 and 3, but get regular bench minutes in game 2.
What specific things should Luke Walton do to be a better coach?
If he doesn’t improve, who could we replace him with, and when would be the earliest possible time this season?
Why isn’t Moses Moody getting playing time for the Warriors?
Who are the best rookies so far (SSS)?
Outside the usual suspects, a couple of lower picks doing well: Chris Duarte is crushing the league so far and Franz Wagner is playing really solid basketball.
Is Chris Duarte surprising everyone (besides the Pacers GM)? I didn’t know anything about him until this week.
45% from deep on over 7 attempts per game is elite for any player, let alone a rookie!
Crazy!
I’m just wondering why he wasn’t a bigger name leading up to the draft. I guess he’s the surprise of the draft?
Because he is already 24 and the NBA loves youth who they can try to teach how to play rather than guys who can already play lol
So glad the Kings took Hali and Davion over some 5 star freshmen the past 2 years.
Scottie Barnes looks like the best so far ! Being compared to a young Pippen !
This is going to be one of those classes we look back on and are amazed at how stacked it was!
Much like the top end of the Ben McLemore draft!
What do you imagine the halftime locker room speeches are like?
“We’re ahead on the scoreboard fellas. So go easy on ’em in the second half!”
3-0 based on the points that count! The rest are fake and fraudulent!
Do you think De’Aaron Fox’s extra mass is hurting his speed and/or shooting mechanics.
Hope not. One would think extra muscle in the legs would help his dead leg jumper, but nope, still dead legs.
I think it’s just who he is. He’ll have 3/15 weeks balanced with 7/15 weeks which will average to about 32-34%.
Which one concerns you more: or offense or our defense? And why?
Yes.
Our Special Teams is ok.
What would you think is the best thing to do with Marvin Bagley right now?
Should he get any playing time at all? Or sit him until a decent trade comes along? Let him go after the season?
What would you accept in a trade for him?
Jahlil Okafor in his 3rd year (and Nik Stauskas LOL) got traded in 2017 for one player, Trevor Booker.
Yikes. I think it’s the same situation as Okafor and Bagley are pretty much unplayable players rn.
I kept thinking about Okafor a season or two ago when I thought of Bagley. 🙁
Buddy, Bagley and a 1st for Jerami Grant and Josh Jackson?
Best offer in my mind of who would take Buddy and Bagley, where they fit and the best return on the market that’s not Siakam or Simmons because those seem unlikely. Otherwise, looking at every other team’s roster, Buddy as a player and his contract doesn’t really fit anywhere, especially on any playoff teams.
Are you ok with the starting lineup of Fox, Haliburton, Harkless, Barnes, Holmes?
Or would you like to switch it up?
Is Haliburton better on the second unit?
Is Terrence Davis just in a slump?
Should the coach try someone different for those minutes he is getting?
When will we see some playing time from Metu ?
He had a good summer league, and late run from last season…as Bagley will no longer see any playing time, when will we see some Metu ?
Definitely think Metu shoulda got some run in the Jazz game as a PF. Don’t wanna see Davis starting at the 3 ever again.
I would definitely play Louis King over Davis in that situation…
Give the youngster some playing time, look at what the Grizzlies did……..
What is your halloween costume going to be?
And why is it going the be the character from Cast Away (aka Brad Miller)?
I got The Dude vibes when I saw him cheering on TV with that beard
What are your grades for eachl of the new broadcast crew–Kayte, Mo, Kenny Thomas (woof!), Matt Barnes……
Somewhat related:
NBC announced earlier this year that they would be shutting down their regional sports networks by the end of 2021. Has there been any further word on what will happen to Kings, Warriors, Giants, A’s, etc. broadcasts going forward?
Wasn’t that dispute over NBC wanting to put that content on their own peacock app? I thought it was resolved.
Why does League Pass continue to suck?
How is it possible they continue to suck?
What would you recommend instead? I heard recommendations for Youtube TV, but it seems expensive.
YouTube tv blacks out the kings coverage for me. I wasted a month on it. Hope it doesn’t do that for you. I’ll just continue to pay for league pass and watch kings away games a week later.
Sorry to hear that. 🙁
I’m in LA, so I’m not sure if I would be in the blackout zone. League Pass blacks me out for Kings-Clips and Kings-L*kers games.
Unlikely for you then. YouTube tv might be a good option since they have tnt and ESPN games also. I doubt the kings would make national broadcast but maybe a game or two gets picked up if they start playing well or davion gets national recognition.
Favorite movies to watch during Halloween? Or favorite horror movies in general?
The Fearless Vampire Killers! (starring Sharon Tate)
(awesome film that spawned a musical based on the film, called Tanz Der Vampire, with music by Jim Steinman (Total Eclipse of the heart, Its’ All Coming Back To Me Now, all Meatloaf songs)
Seeing Tanz Der Vampire in Germany is on my bucket list…
Worst horror movie ever: 2002 WCF.
After seeing Davion after three games, what do you believe a good player comparison is for his ceiling and floor?
Ceiling: Michael Jordan
Floor: Montell Jordan
Haliburton is receiving more defensive pressure beyond the arc and it seems to be making him more hesitant with his shot and out of rhythm. How can he bust out of this and expand his game?
Who would win in a football game: Davion Mitchell or Mike Ditka.
Da Bears!
With Barnes playing so well, is it time to finally trade him for multiple firsts, young players, or a combination of the two?
Have the Kings completely given up on Bagley and at this point is he considered to be a No.2 pick bust around the NBA?
What are the odds someone other than De’Aaron Fox is the Kings’ leading scorer this year?
Does anyone else wonder whether Fox may be better as a 2?
What are the best Davion Mitchell Facts you creative fellas can come up with? The idea is Chuck Norris Facts (“Chuck Norris does not sleep; he waits.” “Chuck Norris counted to infinity. Twice.” “A bulletproof vest wears Chuck Norris for protection.”) but instead – Davion Mitchell Facts.
Here is a fantastic example of a Davion Mitchell Fact:
What are some DMFs you can come up with?
Michael Jordan was actually born in 2000, but travelled back in time to play basketball in the 80’s and 90’s because he was afraid to go up against Davion Mitchell.
Do you believe that Harkless, TT, and Len have showed enough to keep Bagley plastered on the bench for the first quarter of the season?
They have shown very little but yes !
I have been multitasking while watching games, but it seemed to me that teams have been targeting matchups with Haliburton. They seem to be having success doing so too. Are you noticing the same thing? It could be confirmation bias for me. I noticed it during the Portland game, and now I cannot unsee it.
Badge Legend