Anddd we’re back.
The Kings Herald Show returns with Jerry Reynolds, Will Griffith, and Tony Xypteras to discuss Mike Brown’s contract extension, the NBA Draft, the NBA Finals, and where the Sacramento Kings go from here. Thanks for listening.
If you enjoy The Kings Herald Show, the easiest way to support us is to subscribe, rate, and review the show on your preferred podcast platform.
Apple.
Spotify.
Google.
Stitcher.
In addition to our bi-weekly podcast with Jerry Reynolds, we also record a Patreon exclusive Q+A once a month where Patrons at any level can Ask Jerry Anything.
You can submit questions for Jerry on Patreon, or write your questions in the comments below this post! Or you can just yell questions to Tony or Will on Twitter.
The draft and FA are only a little over three weeks away.
The latest Ringer mock has us taking Dalton Knecht. He actually fits the mold of the kind of players MM seems to target: older prospect (23 years of age), on the unathletic side with defensive limitations and a shooter/scorer.
Kel’el Ware is an intriuging prospect. Would likely have to move up to draft him, but I see a lot of potential there. Having said that, I’m not a college basketball guy, so curious if any draft nerds have opinions on Ware. I must be missing something.
Knecht is very athletic. he does have some improvement areas, but nba athleticism is not a concern with him.
with Kel’el, you just have to watch a full game or two to get an idea.
What make someone athletic vs. unathletic for you?
The Ringer mock draft states that Knecht lacks lateral movement to be a good defender, so I figured he’s not too athletic based off of that.
yeah, defense has been noted as one of his improvement areas.
Knecht is very athletic. Had the highest vertical at the combine . 40 inches. Long knock down shooter . Will be surprised if he doesn’t go in top 10 .
Based on my limited draft research so far, I’d be frustrated if the Kings took Knecht with Ron Holland on the board.
I agree Holland is intriguing. At a certain point, MM needs to take a high risk high upside player instead of playing the safe high floor route all the time. At least that’s how I view MM’s previous picks.
We need more top end talent on this roster.
The main issue I have read about Holland is his shot and his shot selection. Everything else seems to check out though.
His comp is RJ Barrett among other choices and reading – not seeing – the various descriptors, the comp to Gerald Wallace seems appropos.
That doesn’t sound that appealing to me. Obviously athletic, strong, fast, quick, etc. but the turnover prone, poor shot selection moves a player like that into the dime a dozen category – I’d rather keep working on Kessler Edwards.
Knecht sounds the better and more McNair-ish choice.
But this is a crap shoot draft, more than the last few. I agree with those who point out that having the 13th pick is much more salary cap palatable than going in the first 5 and getting little different. And another good reason to package the pick in a trade.
Mainly, you have to find the player or players you want and see if they drop – because I expect that the mocks will be a mockery of expectation.
good podcast as always. I like that you all are excited about the draft and talking about prospects despite it being a relatively weak draft class.
mentioning the need for more length … yeah, in the draft Filipowski should be in the discussion. even if his hips are a concern (surgery on both for “malformed hips”) he should be fine during his rookie contract coming off the bench and he’s 6’11”, skilled, with role versatility. in free agency, Kyle Anderson is a guy I’d consider taking a swing on. It seems like he could help improve the Kings’ issues in the half court. It’s just a coincidence those two players are both named Kyle.
mentioning the value of Boston’s two-way players like Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, could Devin Carter be one of those types of players?
I don’t get the appeal with Topic. don’t a lot of the MEGA guys play like that?
I still think Baylor Scheierman should be in the discussion as a possible pick at 13. I’ve cooled off on some other names that I have mentioned in these threads, but Scheierman is still up there.
Filipowski is a good fit offensively for the Kings. Not a great defender, though.
Devin Carter’s shot concerns somewhat. He only shot good from three during his Junior year, and if the three isn’t there, then he will be tough to plug in to some lineups. But I like every else about him.
Scheierman is very interesting but think DaRon Holmes seems a better fit and hope Kings go after Derrick Jones in FA .
I go back and forth on Holmes. in terms of position (being technically a PF), that may be true, but the role on offense that he played at Dayton is probably not something that would work with Fox and Sabonis. I read that he also has a promise and has stopped working out with teams.
in terms of a PF who projects to play a fitting role, I think another player that we should be discussing is Tidjane Salaun. Sam Vecenie just uploaded a video. says he is probably 6’9″ barefoot with a 7’2″ wingspan, is “active”, “energetic” “plays hard”, is “decisive”, cuts well, very mobile playing perimeter defense, his ground coverage is “absurd”, he runs the floor, thinks he will become a “really good defender”, and there is a decent foundation to become a good three point shooter. (34% this year as an 18-yr old) Vecenie makes some Aaron Gordon comps which are misleading (he backs away from those comps later in the video), but the role might be similar. 18 years old.
Vecenie has also mentioned, previously, that Salaun shot below 40% “at the rim” in half-coirt possessions (so non transition plays).
He would be the swing for a franchise that needs high end talent. But I think he goes in the top 10 because of the upside.
yeah, he mentions that in the video.
He might go top 10 but if not, it sounds like the Bulls at 11 have a promise to Devin Carter. and at 12, I read that OKC has more pressing needs.
Reports are that Devin Carter has received a promise from a lottery team. Wonder if it’s from the Kings.
Correct–it’s the Bulls.
The West is likely to be even better and deeper so new and talented additions a requirement. Sign Monk ,Good draft and solid Mid level FA a must ! Go Monte 👍👍
I’d argue that retaining Monk, keeping the #13 (who would likely be 9-11th in the rotation) and using the MLE on what likely would be a fringe starter is not enough to move the needle with this team. It also puts the Kings into the tax. Trades have to happen otherwise your just swapping pieces on the periphery and returning the same 8 core players getting the same minutes.
I’m not sure I agree with your conclusion. I think one of the team’s biggest issues last year was lack of depth, especially around wings/forwards with size. If the Kings add legitimate wing/forward production and size with 13 and the MLE, I think it elevates the roster quite a bit.
Personally, I also view the luxury tax as the cost of using every available avenue to improve your team, and if Vivek is too cheap to do that then the rest of it doesn’t matter, we’re screwed.
An ideal starting 4 next to Sabonis with a couple of good rotational player signings would go a long way for sure. I also don’t think a big trade needs to be made, perhaps just a trade or two involving KH and HB if possible.
We can assume continued improvement from Keon and KM as two starters and Fox and Ox doing what they normally do. So that fifth spot to me at the 4 is extremely critical in addressing.
Let’s say the above things materialize, it doesn’t make us a contender, but I also don’t think there is a huge chasm between the Kings and most of the teams in the West. The Mavs were a play-in team a few months before the season ended and with a few shrewd moves are in the Finals. For the Kings, the goal is winning a playoff series right now, not making the Finals per se.
I feel the team needs a infusion of talent at the starting 4 spot. I don’t think you are going to find that at #13 or with the MLE. I could be wrong, but the MLE would likely go to some other team’s backup 4, like an Obi Toppin, for example.
This also doesn’t take into consideration that the Kings need a legit backup 5. Do you get that with the #13? Filipowski?
Does a hypothetical Toppin and Filipsowski addition move that needle all that much in place of a Barnes in the starting spot and Len backup position?
Paying to keep Monk is all fine, but relying the MLE and #13 to make enough of a dent in the rotation and win column is beyond hopeful, IMO. Moves need to be made or the Kings will be paying over $40M in backup 2 guards.
The luxury tax is the price of entry into the upper tiers of the NBA.
Yup, and until Vivek commits to it the Kings will remain most irrelevant.
The question should a owner/GM commit to going over the tax line with a core of Fox, Sabonis, Keegan, and Monk?
I don’t think Fox is it. Sabonis is the core of something. Monk is good but may not be consistent. Keegan isn’t changing much.
I think they need to build something around Sabonis and let Fox be the individual player that he is. If Fox is traded or leaves when his contract is up I am not sad.
Agree that a solid trade is very important but not a certainty although truly needed .
I appreciate Jerry speaking on the Caitlin Clark situation at the end of the podcast. I was curious on what his thoughts were since he’s had a ton of WNBA experience with the monarchs.
I know this is a Kings centric site but I’ve been so disappointed in how the WNBA players have handled themselves against Clark. Their behavior has been flat out embarrassing. Clark has brought in a lot of new fans and visibility to league. Just makes the other players look bad with how they’re acting.
I don’t watch the WNBA, what’s going on?
Basically being targeted by some players, intentionally shoving her, flagrant fouls for no reason basically.
It is a shame that the other players cannot see the mutual benefit of Clark being who she is as a person and as a player. I understand there was a WNBA before she was there with good players and great basketball. The idea that they must hate on Clark to show that they were good before her is counterproductive.
I have followed the WNBA and the women’s game for a long time. Clark is a game changer.
We need a bench that is not made up of two way contracts and players that cannot make any other roster.
The power forward needs to be good enough to pull the double team off of Sabonis a few times a quarter and body some people on defense.
Great point . Needle gets moved with a 4/5 of that caliber .
After taking into account as much as possible such as contracts, length of contracts, trade ideas, availability, scoring rebounding, age, fit etc. etc. IMO as much as I would like a Michal Bridges or a Brandon Ingram and looking at the future as a monetary world IMO Kyle Kuzma might be the player the Kings should consider after its all said and done. He can score, rebound and play somewhat good defend\se and doesn’t have to be the top dog but fit in as a #2 or#3 go to guy. And he has a good contract and and wouldn’t cost you an arm or leg to get him.
Another episode to enjoy.
Thanks Will, Tony and The Great Jerry Reynolds.
Badge Legend