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Season Review: Domantas Sabonis

Sabonis played well in his short time in Sacramento, but can the Kings successfully build around him?
By | 82 Comments | Apr 29, 2022

Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Since arriving in Sacramento, Monte McNair had promised to look for opportunities to make a big swing. In February, with the team floundering and looking at another lost season, he finally swung, trading Tyrese Haliburton to Indiana for two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis.

The trade was a shock to the NBA and to Kings fans, not even necessarily because we had traded for Sabonis (who the Kings had been linked to in several reports leading up to the deadline), but because of what the Kings gave up.

For all that had gone wrong in the season and a half leading up to the trade, Tyrese Haliburton was a light in the darkness. Just prior to the trade, Haliburton had started to come into his own as a playmaker. In his last 24 games as a King, Haliburton was averaging 17.3 points, 9.4 assists and just 2.6 turnovers, all while showcasing a remarkable efficiency from the field (47.1% and 42.9%). Haliburton was looking like the future, and if anything, many Kings fans expected that perhaps it was De’Aaron Fox who would be on the way out.

Instead the Kings doubled down on Fox as their cornerstone, with the hope that Sabonis would complement him in a way that Haliburton couldn’t. For Sacramento, this was the biggest trade since sending Mitch Richmond for Chris Webber, and the Kings are undoubtedly hoping that Sabonis can provide a similar impact.

Kings fans only got to see Sabonis for 15 games this season, but what we did see was fairly promising. Sabonis averaged 18.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists in those 15 games, all while shooting a very efficient 55.4% from the field. Despite having little to no time to acclimate, he quickly gelled with Fox, who had some of his best games of the season playing with Sabonis. In their first 11 games together, Fox averaged 27.8 points a game to go with 6.2 assists on 52% from the field. 

One area where Sabonis really helped the Kings instantly was on the glass. Without Sabonis, the Kings had a 74.9% Defensive Rebounding Rate, a mark that would put them 3rd worst in the league. With Sabonis on the floor, that jumped up to 83.9%, which would have been the best rate in the league. The Kings haven’t had a rebounder like Sabonis since DeMarcus Cousins, and it’s something they desperately needed as they have consistently been among the league’s worst rebounding teams since trading Cousins. 

Sabonis’ passing is also remarkable for a big man. His 28% Assist Rate in his short time in Sacramento was best on the team aside from the recently departed Tyrese Haliburton (and he was at 31.4% in Sacramento). That number is based off a small sample size, but it’s not that much of an outlier for a player with a career assist rate of 19.2% (and an entire season at 27.5%). Sabonis is the best passing big man in the entire league not named Nikola Jokic or Draymond Green. Kings players really seemed to enjoy playing with Sabonis, knowing that if they cut or moved at the right time he’d be able to find them. It reminded me of the time when Vlade, C-Webb and Brad Miller (and to a lesser extent, Boogie) would operate from the high post and direct the offense.

Offensively, Sabonis provides an interior dynamic the Kings had been lacking. Since trading Cousins, the Kings haven’t really had a true post player. Sabonis lives in the paint. 78.7% of his total FGA with the Kings came within 10 feet (for comparison that percentage was 73.7% in Indiana). Sabonis hasn’t yet fully unlocked his outside shot, but has shown he can hit it, making about 31.9% of his threes for a career, not terrible for a big man, but not good enough to be a consistent outside threat. Unlocking that part of his game would be huge for a team that needs as much shooting as it can get.

It’s on the other end of the court that the biggest questions arise. While the eye test shows that he moves well and understands where he needs to be, he doesn’t seem to have the right physical tools to be an imposing defender. His wingspan is below average, and he is one of the worst shot blocking bigs in the entire league. According to NBA.com, the only players 6’10 or bigger and played at least 40 games that had a worse block rate were Danilo Gallinari, Mo Wagner, Davis Bertans, Jock Landale and Gorgui Dieng, who I didn’t even realize was still in the league.  

Indiana had paired Sabonis with Myles Turner, a theoretical perfect fit as a shot blocking big man who could step outside and stretch the floor, but throughout their tenure on the Pacers together, questions remained about their fit together. Now that’s Sacramento’s problem, and the Kings don’t have anyone nearly as ideal as Turner to pair Sabonis with. The Kings used Sabonis primarily as the center on the floor, pairing him with guys like Harrison Barnes, Trey Lyles or Chimezie Metu. But that only helps out one side of the floor, with huge questions remaining on the other end.

The good news is that it is possible to build a good defensive team around a player like Sabonis. Indiana proved that by finishing 13th, 3rd, 3rd, 6th, 13th in Sabonis’ first five seasons with the team. Of course, that comes down to personnel and coaching, and the Kings will need to work on both of those this summer. That’s easier said than done for the Kings, who haven’t even cracked the top 20 teams in terms of defensive rating since 2005-06 (the last year they made the playoffs).

Sabonis is an incredibly talented player, but by trading a young player like Haliburton for him, the Kings are betting it all on maximizing the potential between him and De’Aaron Fox, and they have to do it relatively soon, as Sabonis is set to be a free agent in two seasons. We’ll see if Monte McNair and company are up to the task.

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1951
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April 29, 2022 11:49 am

It would have been hilarious if you had combined the Hali/Sabonis reviews into one post!

Last edited 1 year ago by 1951
RikSmits
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April 29, 2022 12:16 pm
Reply to  1951

Yeah.
comment image

mikeLoop
April 29, 2022 12:04 pm

You have sabonis, fox, davion, and divincenzo. Those seem to be the mainstays.

Im hoping for will hardy or darvin ham for coach. I prefer a fresh face and a new look. Those guys have great pedigrees too.

Everyone then crosses their fingers that the draft works out well. In monte we trust. I’m hoping for Keegan Murray but I don’t really care as long as it’s best player available.

Then I say sign oladipo hopefully for a value contract and hope he is back to 100%.

Then see what it takes to get Jeremi grant over here. I know people here don’t care for him, but dude can ball and he’s a two-way player who probably would ball out playing next to sabonis and fox.

then spot fill where you can with tough minded defenders for the bench. Guys who won’t let the game get away from them while the starters rest.

That’s my two cents. Ultimately, what do I know? I’m just a guy on the internet, hoping the kings will finally turn this thing around.

BestHyperboleEver
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April 29, 2022 2:15 pm
Reply to  mikeLoop

Grant is like Tobias Harris and Harrison Barnes. He was great to have as an elite role player on a value deal. But you don’t want them getting star USG or star money.

Adamsite
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April 29, 2022 12:19 pm

Just to get a pulse on folks, if you had to build around one, and by that I mean define as your cornerstone player, who would it be, Fox or Sabonis?

If I had to make a choice, I think it would be Sabonis. I feel he makes those around him better and he has a very unique skillset as a big man. Fox on the other hand does get a fair
amount of assists, but I feel he doesn’t raise the level of play of those around him. His game is also more easily replaced. Speedy point guards who attack the rim are more in abundance than centers who pull down double-doubles in their sleep while also averaging 5 assists per game.

I also feel they both need shooters around them to unlock their games, which is why they may work well together if Monte can put together the right supporting cast, but I feel Sabonis can truly be special with 4 shooters on the floor with him as opposed to Fox surrounded by shooters.

RobHessing
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April 29, 2022 12:35 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I think that Sabonis is much farther up the list of centers than Fox is of point guards, so I think that Sabonis’ skill set is the more difficult to replace.

Adamsite
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April 29, 2022 12:43 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

Yup. I was just looking at centers in the league and I have Sabonis right around the 6th best center in the league and Fox around the 14th best point guard.

I also think that what makes Sabonis unique is his ability at times to play like a point guard whereas Fox never has the ability to play like a center.

Kingsguru21
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April 29, 2022 1:10 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Jokic, Embiid, Towns, Adebayo, and Gobert?

Paul, Morant, Young, Garland, Lillard, Curry, Murray, Irving, and who else?

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April 29, 2022 1:39 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

LaMelo, Lowry, D’Angelo Russell, Jrue Holiday, SGA, Smart, Conley, Lonzo – these are all guys that are either outright better than Fox right now or on a pretty close par. I don’t want to go down the rabbit hole of picking the nits and giving each one of these guys a specific ranking. It’s probably fair to say that at least ten of the guys on your and my collective list are a tier or two above Fox.

Kingsguru21
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April 29, 2022 1:58 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

I don’t want to go down that rabbit hole either. I was just curious who was perceived as ahead of Fox at this point.

RobHessing
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April 29, 2022 2:02 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

I forgot Jamal Murray. So if we throw out 7 of the 17 guys that you and I listed, Fox does not crack the top ten. Conversely, I can’t come close to ten centers that are better than Sabonis.

Adamsite
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April 29, 2022 3:32 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

I think you both forgot Luka, and I’d also add Fred VanFleet and Dejounte Murray to the list. Maxey may not be too far behind either.

Kingsguru21
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April 29, 2022 4:26 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Don’t consider Luka a PG, or Maxey for that matter, and I didn’t think about Van Vleet.

Adamsite
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April 29, 2022 4:32 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

Fine, then add James Harden to the list.

Kingsguru21
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April 29, 2022 5:20 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Nah, pass.

Adamsite
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April 29, 2022 5:35 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

So the 76ers don’t have a player running the offense? Seems strange for a team that’s now in the second round of the playoffs.

I’m now curious. What makes Fox a PG and Luka and Maxey not a PG?

Last edited 1 year ago by Adamsite
Kingsguru21
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April 29, 2022 5:40 pm
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comment image

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April 29, 2022 6:25 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

Dammit, Nate. Go stab yourself!

Kingsguru21
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April 30, 2022 10:24 am
Reply to  Adamsite

That is an all time GIF worthy of the greatest praise available. There’s nothing stabbable about it.

BestHyperboleEver
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April 29, 2022 5:09 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

I think these are always difficult, because what is a PG? If it isn’t the primary ballhandler (Luka) or the guy that guards the opponent’s primary ballhandler (in which case who the PG is changes from game to game), then it’s just the shortest guy on the court, right? Why is that a worthwhile categorization?

Kingsguru21
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April 29, 2022 5:31 pm

I’m not really sure Dallas has a PG unless you count Brunson. And really, it’s somewhat misleading. It’s how players play that matters anyway.

This is meaningless anyway. Until Fox plays a style you (and others) think translates to winnable, these conversations will keep coming up. As I said a week or two ago, either you have faith Fox can improve or you don’t. And most around here will not. Just the way it goes.

(Just as an amusing sidebar, most of these comments are not Sabonis related. In a thread written specifically about Domas. I’m not being critical, just find it amusing.)

BestHyperboleEver
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April 29, 2022 5:43 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

That’s how conversations generally work. They meander along tangents until a tangent strikes a cord. Then they meander again.

Kingsguru21
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April 30, 2022 11:25 am

That’s how conversations generally work. They meander along tangents until a tangent strikes a cord. Then they meander again.

True. But the point of topical threads is to discuss the topic.

BestHyperboleEver
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April 30, 2022 11:42 am
Reply to  Kingsguru21

Eh. I think the point it to introduce or suggest a topic. Then the individual community members decide if they want to engage on that topic or something else. If every thread stayed rigidly on topic, IMO, we’d have very short threads and a much less vibrant, entertaining community here.

Kingsguru21
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May 1, 2022 9:02 am

If every thread stayed rigidly on topic, IMO, we’d have very short threads and a much less vibrant, entertaining community here.

This was not my point. Nor my intent. I get where you are going, but mine is in a thread specifically related to Domantas Sabonis and the season he did have in Sac (all 15 games of it), most of the comments still remain about De’Aaron Fox. More than, specifically, the thread about Fox. That both speaks volumes and is highly amusing to me.

I’m all for organic conversation and letting threads go where they go. You are preaching to the wrong guy if you think that’s what I was after here. I do think it speaks to the pulse of TKH that in a Sabonis thread, 3/4’s of the comments pertain to Fox specifically. That screams loudly, and a lot at that.

Last edited 1 year ago by Kingsguru21
BestHyperboleEver
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April 29, 2022 5:56 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

For what it’s worth, I don’t think Fox’s skillset is particularly untranslatable to winning. Like all but a handful of players, he just has to be in the right role to be maximized. Whether they can acquire the talent to justify Fox playing that role and whether he’s willing to embrace it are bigger questions.

Hamlet1989
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April 30, 2022 8:15 am

FWIW, I think Fox’s 3 point % will improve. Then the Kings will be better. Then Fox will start playing defense again. Then Fox is the player we hoped for (and Vivek paid for.) Then he’s not being compared to the likes of D’Lo & Conley(?).

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April 30, 2022 11:52 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

I think his 3pt% will improve slightly. I don’t think it will improve meaningfully until he makes some decent mechanical adjustments. Unfortunately, I think the more common opinion is that his form is fine so there’s no reason for him to change it. Which I simply disagree with. As for “playing defense again” I’m curious where the “again” fits.
Also, who compared him to D’Lo or Conley at any point? They are fundamentally different player types.
Regardless, Fox needs to prove he shouldn’t be compared to the Monta Ellis/Dennis Schroeder types. THEN we can worry about comparing him to high level players in his mold (Wall, Parker, etc).

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April 30, 2022 8:09 am

Fox is more than a point guard. Good point.

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April 30, 2022 8:29 am
Reply to  RobHessing

Sabonis is a better PG than Murray.

Hamlet1989
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April 30, 2022 8:04 am
Reply to  RobHessing

Fox is gonna’ make your list seem really silly by the end of this season.
I’ll still be here. Mark it down. Hold me to it.

Hamlet1989
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April 30, 2022 8:06 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

This season meaning 22/23

Hamlet1989
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April 30, 2022 8:28 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

Also Sabonis is more valuable than Fox. And he may still be after 22/23.

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April 30, 2022 8:57 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

You really think Fox is gonna make some leap in production and play that he hasn’t done in the first 5 years of his career? I can’t think of too many players to elevate their game that much and that late into their careers.

RobHessing
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April 30, 2022 9:35 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

We’ve been saying that for five years now. And when the present doesn’t fit the narrative, fast forward a year?

I will be overjoyed if/when Fox vaults up the PG list. But given the career-to-date results, I think that a “show me, don’t tell me” approach is justified.

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April 30, 2022 11:26 am
Reply to  RobHessing

And 1 – There was a time not too long ago when folks were mentioning Fox in the same breath as Morant & Young. Now he’s mentioned with Lonzo Ball & an aging Conley. It’s up to Fox to change that. It is not up to you or me or anyone else not named De’Aaron Fox.

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April 30, 2022 12:33 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

While Fox hasn’t done himself any favors, neither has this organization. As to which percentage is more at fault, I don’t care. Fox and the org have much improvement to do.

FWIW, I think Fox can be an All Star next year if the right mix is starting. And that’s where I think the coach is so crucial. Combined with roster improvements this summer. As Jerry said on the pod, this is a humongous summer for McNair and the entire franchise really.

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April 29, 2022 12:57 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Am I allowed to say neither of them?

Gun to my head, I’d probably go with fox. He’s under contract longer, and if you needed to trade him, you’re more likely to get more back because he’s under contract longer, where if you needed to trade sabonis, he might be looked at as a rental.

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April 29, 2022 1:56 pm
Reply to  Bbmuteman

I think that Sabonis, with two years left on his deal at $20m and $21m, is an insanely better deal than Fox at $30m, $33m, $35m and $37m. Sabonis is easily the more tradeable contract and better overall value, and I would be shocked if he would not fetch more in return right now.

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April 29, 2022 2:48 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

In this off-season, yes. Into the next season, I’m not sure that’s the case, which is what I meant.

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April 29, 2022 2:56 pm
Reply to  Bbmuteman

Unless Fox can figure out a way to finally put together 70 games of higher level play, Sabonis at 1/$21m > Fox at 3/$102m, IMO.

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April 29, 2022 4:01 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

I can see where you’re coming from, but I just see other front offices playing that sabonis ufa card and leveraging that as a way to pay less for him if the kings needed to trade him.

Is there a free agent or player that you think the front office should try targeting?

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April 29, 2022 4:03 pm
Reply to  Bbmuteman

The Kings only have basically MLE cap room right now, so I do not see them signing any free agents of note this off season.

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April 29, 2022 4:21 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

Haha, when was the last “free agent of note” that signed in Sac? George Hill at $57M for 3 years?

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April 29, 2022 4:27 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

That’s considered a notable FA signing? Yikes.

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April 29, 2022 4:35 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

I could be mistaken, but I think it’s the largest ever free agent contract given to a non-King in the offseason. I’d say that’s worthy of “notable.”

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April 29, 2022 5:23 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

That’s not notable. That’s just proof the Kings are a total and complete clusterfuck. Or were, at least.

Also, what type of money you sign as a FA is not supremely meaningful if you aren’t a FA destination.

Last edited 1 year ago by Kingsguru21
RikSmits
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April 30, 2022 10:37 am
Reply to  Kingsguru21

If it’s not notable, can we categorize it as a “fun fact” (that usually aren’t all that funny)?

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April 30, 2022 11:11 am
Reply to  RikSmits

Whatever works for you Dutchman.

Jack
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April 29, 2022 7:27 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

Help me out. If you lose Jackson and Lamb that’s 15 mil. Can you use that to help acquire free agents?

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April 29, 2022 9:34 pm
Reply to  Jack

Nope. They are over the cap but under the tax right now. Losing that $15m only creates the MLE slot, basically.

Hamlet1989
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April 30, 2022 8:24 am
Reply to  RobHessing

Your completely correct, and they need to clean-up the books. Also teams further over the cap find ways to spend. The Kings can find $ if they feel like spending. The NBA has a soft cap, VERY soft. If they say they can’t, it’s because they don’t want to.

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April 30, 2022 9:37 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

I will be more than happy admit that I was wrong the moment the Kings sign a star this summer.

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April 30, 2022 10:38 am
Reply to  Jack

“lose”.

Have you seen Jeremy? He was just here.
I must have misplaced him. Jackson too, it seems.
Oops. Oh well.

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April 29, 2022 9:25 pm
Reply to  RobHessing

Could the kings trade with the lakers to do a sign and trade for Monk?

barnes would help the lakers a ton. Monk would help the kings a ton.

unfortunately Barnes HAS TO GO this summer or it’s one of two things. 1.) losing him for nothing next summer or 2.) trading him mid season and disrupting a starting lineup you hope to be competing for a playoff birth.

barnes for monk in a sign and trade!!!! Is there any cap or trade gurus in here that can tell me if that’s possible or impossible?

I want it

please Monte do it.

monk is a good fit with fox and fill a big need for this team. He also makes the bench unit way more legit if they keep Dante.

Last edited 1 year ago by ArcoThunder
RobHessing
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April 29, 2022 9:34 pm
Reply to  ArcoThunder

Monk is a UFA.

Kingsguru21
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April 30, 2022 10:26 am
Reply to  RobHessing

Doesn’t make enough to make a S&T work either.

rockbottom
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April 29, 2022 6:52 pm
Reply to  Bbmuteman

Fox on a max deal is a liability and why Hali is gone . Sabonis much more value to most teams .

BestHyperboleEver
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April 29, 2022 2:17 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Sabonis. He’s a better present player and front court playmakers are gold.

Claystreet
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April 29, 2022 2:51 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Sabonis hands down. I am still hoping Fox is traded this off season for the best possible return. I don’t know if that is at all realistic but neither is making the playoffs with a huge gaping hole in your defense and a lackadaisical attitude.

AnybodyButBagley
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April 29, 2022 8:41 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Fox has had five years. He is not leading shit. Doesn’t matter who you put next to him on the floor.

BabalooMagoo
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April 29, 2022 2:56 pm

If Sabonis is annointed as the “cornerstone” I just hope there is no pouting from anyone else. Yeah, you know who I mean.

Kingsguru21
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April 29, 2022 5:39 pm

Sabonis was fun to watch in the defensive rebounding areas, passing game, screens, and his enthusiasm in general.

I was a bit surprised at his ball handling and found it frustrating (and not surprising) that Fox, in particular, wasn’t able to create an easier look or two for Sabonis given his shot creation issues. But it was the beginning, and I’m willing to be patient and give that more time to see the pairing fully fleshed out.

Do I think Domas is worth building around? Yep. Will the Kings do it well? Remains to be seen. Hoping so, though. The opportunity feels likes it could be there and Domas’ unique and challenging skillset will be interesting to see what differences, if any, we see with players in Sac from here on out.

I’m looking forward to this summer and more this upcoming season. We could be seeing the start of something fun, and Domas will be a large part of that.

Falconsfury
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April 29, 2022 5:57 pm

So the Kings basically replaced Cousins with Sabonis 5 years later.

They have the same strengths and weaknesses.

The Kings also have the same problems of lack of shooters and defense as when Cousins was here.

How will this end any differently?

Last edited 1 year ago by Falconsfury
rockbottom
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April 29, 2022 6:55 pm
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Sabonis is a great teammate Cuz never was or even tried to get back on Defense .

BestHyperboleEver
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April 29, 2022 7:19 pm
Reply to  Falconsfury

Sabonis won’t be a constant source of drama and conflict while giving away countless possessions and points throwing tantrums?

Jack
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April 29, 2022 7:41 pm

And how do you spell technicals.

RobHessing
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April 29, 2022 9:35 pm
Reply to  Jack

C-U-Z.

Jack
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April 29, 2022 7:33 pm
Reply to  Falconsfury

For one Sabonis has a far greater attitude than Cousins ever did. Cousins to me was the biggest cry baby of all and it filtered down on all the other players. Cousins in my opinion was and is a looser and Sabonis is a winner. That’s why Monty traded for him. Enough said.

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April 29, 2022 7:14 pm

Happy with what I saw from Sabonis. Regarding the last paragraph of the article, the organization is not necessarily betting on the potential between him and Fox. Maybe they are. Maybe they’re simply betting on the potential of Sabonis, which may be next to Fox or maybe someone else.

Jack
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April 29, 2022 7:39 pm
Reply to  eddie41

I personally like the combination of the Fox and the Ox. I believe that Monty through trades, the draft and free agency will get good players to complement the two. Along with a good coach that wants to be here in the long run the Kings will be successful.

BasketballHella
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April 29, 2022 7:29 pm

As for the last paragraph I think Sabonis realistically only has one year here as far as his evaluation goes. If they aren’t getting it done next year and Fox doesn’t stay locked in and plays to that end of year level all year, sabonis is done. I don’t think even with the money he would want to stay on a team for max money next to a guy who’s getting max money and isn’t producing, and also preventing any other money being spent on improvements on the roster.

The part of this whole metric that doesn’t make sense to me is let’s say you get Sabonis to resign for that max that you know he’s gonna get. Ok then what do you do? At that point you have 70-85 mil a year on two guys. With a salary cap of what 120 a year.

Hamlet1989
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April 30, 2022 8:48 am

I’m not getting your point. The Nets paid $175 mil. payroll this year. That was good for 2nd highest. The Kings came-in at #21. It’s not a hard cap. And it’s going up.
Are we prepared to let them say “We’re capped-out and can’t spend this season?” After 16 losing seasons? Really?

Hamlet1989
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April 30, 2022 9:05 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

Also, there are only 2 teams who spent less than $120 mil. in 21/22. Does that mean the Grizzleys and Thunder get to split all that tax money from GS and Brooklyn?

BasketballHella
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April 30, 2022 10:07 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

My point was just a long view. Not relevant to what’s occurring now but maybe in the future.

For the nets that’s no issue they can sign guys on discounts who we would have starting because they just want to.

You sign Sabonis to any great deal of money which it will take with the Sacramento overpay plus Fox, what other options do you have as far as free agency for impact players?

Don’t forget most players we sign in free agency make more money here than they ever have any other place in their career. That’s not a trend that I see ending even with Monte in charge.

Hamlet1989
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April 30, 2022 8:56 am

Can someone please field this one for me? Are we as a fanbase prepared to accept from a team with the 21st highest payroll in the NBA “Were capped-out and can’t spend this year?”
It would sound like an excuse to me. For a Clueless owner who has lost either his balls, his money, or both.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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April 30, 2022 9:57 am
Reply to  Hamlet1989

Capped out means that they can’t go out and sign new free agents. The Kings have their full MLE and that is about it. Teams that spend deep into the tax have done it by re-signing their own players, which allows a team to spend what ever they like over the cap thanks to a player’s Bird Rights. Until the Kings start giving out extensions their own players (which they rarely do), spend to keep their RFA (which is something they haven’t done) they will continue to hover around the bottom 3rd of the league payrolls.

Part of the reason for this has been bad drafting. The Kings have had few players worthy of extensions. DMC and Fox are the only two players drafted that fall into this category. Hali would have been in a few years and Mitchell may get there as well. The two RFAs of note (Bogi and IT) were not retained.

The Kings need to start acquiring or drafting players worthy of fat extensions in order to spend like the Warriors or Nets.

Last edited 1 year ago by Adamsite
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April 30, 2022 10:15 am
Reply to  Adamsite

I was just typing it up as well. The Kings are one of the most “trapped by their own hand” teams in the entire league.

Too good to get the number one pick not good enough to get to the playoffs. Basically this org is a walking #7 pick yearly.

Adamsite
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April 30, 2022 10:48 am

Yup, and the payroll reflects that. It was one of the reasons I was in favor of Monte matching of Bogi’s deal from ATL. It would have allowed the Kings to operate farther above the cap. Once there they could still make trades and stay above the cap. You have to spend to win in this league.

Right now the only way for the Kings to increase their payroll is to use their full MLE, match on DDV, acquire additional picks, or re-sign some of their UFA (none of which are really worth it).

The reality is, no matter what, they are still gonna be in the bottom 3rd of payroll next season. Salary purgatory gets you lottery purgatory.

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April 30, 2022 10:43 am
Reply to  Adamsite

And the Fox extension – as has been pointed out several times by Jerry Reynolds – came too soon.

They should have let him play and let the market dictate his value. Now we’re stuck with a nice 2nd or 3rd banana paid like a franchise guy, when there was a decent chance that he could have been had for less.

Hamlet1989
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April 30, 2022 3:01 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

They can exceed the cap for Sabonis in two years as well. The impact to the cap is the same. They aren’t out of options

BasketballHella
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April 30, 2022 3:24 pm
Reply to  Hamlet1989

That was my point to you though, you can but then where are you? Two super highly paid guys and no free cap. If you want to get guys that will get you past that cap and resign higher then you would need to trade either fox or sabonis to get that guy, thus starting this same circular hell over again.

Last edited 1 year ago by BasketballHella

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