The Sacramento Kings might actually end up with ideal spacing around De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis! Their move to trade Justin Holiday, Maurice Harkless and a lottery-protected 2024 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Kevin Huerter just adds to that.
Glen Willis (@willis_glen), who covers the Hawks for Peachtree Hoops, joined the show to supply some additional insight into the strengths, weaknesses, and potential fit of Huerter.
We cover a wide variety of topics surrounding Huerter, but the first order of business was the shooting. I picked Glen’s brain on just how good of a shooter Huerter is. Would he qualify as an elite spot-up threat? Are there impressive moments shooting off movement? Has Huerter shown an ability to create his own three off the bounce?
Next up was his playmaking and self-creation. Huerter’s role may be somewhat similar to what he was asked to do in Atlanta, but how has he functioned as a secondary creator up this point in his career?
🚨 NEW EPISODE 🚨
🔘Special Guest: @willis_glen
🔘Why did Atlanta move on from Kevin Huerter?
🔘Where does Huerter succeed as a shooter? Spot ups, movement, off the bounce?
🔘Huerter's defensive potential
🔘He's only 24… where can he grow as a player?https://t.co/4LBUqiAiAP pic.twitter.com/94J7PnhKAy— Kings Pulse (@Kings_Pulse) July 2, 2022
The Kings have had a few different players on their roster who make questionable decisions with the ball in their hands. I asked Glen if Huerter is someone who is prone to those type of careless mistakes.
Defensively is where I was most surprised throughout this conversation. Glen explained what he thinks Huerter does well on the defensive end and where there is still room for improvement. His size at 6’7″ certainly helps and gives head coach Mike Brown something to work with.
Also, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Kevin Huerter is only 24 years old and just beginning a 4-year/$65-million deal. Glen explained why he thinks Huerter could end up outperforming that pricetag and where the swing skills lie as he continues his development in the NBA.
We closed with some talk about different nicknames for the newest member of the Kings, if he expects John Collins to still be moved on from, and a few other topics.
The Kings Pulse Podcast is available on all major listening platforms as well as in video format on YouTube.
I think Huerter will be an improvement over Holiday or Harkness. He has size, he has ball skills and plays decent D. I was pleasantly surprised that the pick traded starts in 2024 since the 2023 is such a deep draft.
I bet the pick conveys in 2024.
Yes he’s an improvement over those guys but it’s a very low bar you’re comparing him to. Keep in mind we lost another draft pick for a marginal short term improvement. That plan will not get it done and they’ve lost some flexibility with the draft going forward.
These are tough questions.
Huerter an improvement over Holiday- Easy. Yes
Will Huerter and/or Monk be an improvement over DDV?
DDV wanted full MLE money. Kings declined to offer even 6.6 M.
Signed Monk at 2/19.
Traded for Huerter.
Could have given QO and gone over cap to sign him, still traded for Huerter and signed Monk. (I think).
Rumor was that DDV had offers at MLE but turned that down for 2/9.3 at GSW.
Sounds like he was a locker room problem and if Monk + Huerter arrived, then he would be 5th guard or at least fighting for 3rd status. Kings want Mitchell to come off bench and like more consistent shooting for SG spot. Hence, Monk and Huerter. DDV did not offer first rate fire power at SG.
at this point, depending on how the Monk deal is structured Kings have either bi-annual exception or MLE left.
I would like to see Vezenkov here- what is there to lose?
and one of the La Familia Martin brothers who are both RFA
Len and the almost forgotten TD are on last year deals.
Draft pick lost- not 2023. Will be mid first round. I, like many Kings fans, have wanted to hold on tight to any picks, hoping for a home run. Lately picks (higher) have been fine but look at previous 12 years before that- some success but many, many misses on picks even higher than mid first round.
Huerter is a bird in the hand not a mid first round pick in the bush.
How is it a marginal short term improvement? Huerter is locked up for 4 years, is just 23, and is a legit starting wing in the league.
Because you lack flexibility to do much else and you lost draft capital. If you think this roster has any legitimate chance to make a reasonable playoff run and I mean making it to the semi’s of the western conference I think you’re living in blissful ignorance.
I will repeat you need top end talent to compete and the Kings don’t have it. Huerter is a nice piece after you have that upper end talent on the roster. We’ve tried this game before, multiple times, getting better at the margins, giving up draft capital, overpaying for marginal veterans and on and on. It just doesn’t work and hasn’t worked. It’s a mirage. Now if they follow this up and trade Fox and Barnes and snatch a top 20 player, I will change my mind. As it stands your looking at 35-40 wins this year, then you have Barnes’ contract up and Sabonis on an expiring. We will probably then make a max offer to Sabonis, which will be an overpay meaning he’ll get the type of money a top 20 player commands.
It’s really hard to construct a competitive roster when we are paying Fox a max contract which he is underperforming and then not be willing to exceed the cap. You need guys on the roster over performing their contracts and Murray and maybe Mitchell are the only chances we have for that IMO.
So I would sit tight and watch where Durant, Harden, Kyrie and perhaps Michell shake out and pick up some strategic collateral damage from those moves. I would have liked the extra cap space available to perhaps pickup a salary drop along with some draft capital for the acquiring teams to fit those guys into their salary structures.
I know I’m oversimplifying your argument but what good is flexibility if you never do anything with it?
The Kangz need to start taking more swings if they are ever gonna hit on anything.
Is Huerter better than anyone that could be had eventually by those picks? Who knows, but can already argue that Huerter is probably beating out the list of guys we have taken in the last decade with that flexibility.
First, draft “The Medium Fundamental”
Next, acquire “The Medium White Mamba”
Maybe we can find the “Medium Ragu”!
It’s at Kroger’s.
I haven’t watched enough of Red Velvet to have a definitive opinion but I’m developing some very guarded confidence in Monte’s talent evaluation skills. He certainly fits the “profile” of what we need. Shooting wings that can play D and handle the ball a bit that are young and with a good contract…what is happening to this team!?
No he doesn’t fit the profile of what we need. We need top end talent and the way you get that is through the draft and we’ve just weakened our future draft capital. I mean do you really think moves like Monk and Huerter are going to make us championship competitive in the future. The rest of the league continues to laugh at us. Monte has been making some decent moves with the draft then he gives up his second round and now gives up a future first. Had he followed up the Murray pick by trading those two second round picks for someone like Koloko that would have made some sense. I just don’t get giving up your second round now and then a future first and neither does anyone else in the league with any credibility. We are going to wish we had that pick we gave up in a couple of years.
I get where you’re coming from. Many people were in the “blow it up” camp (me included to some degree…I think there are multiple paths and neither is guaranteed) but it’s important to face the reality of where this team is heading.
For me, I’m choosing to acknowledge we’re following a coherent strategy (younger guys with upside who can shoot to fit around Fox). I’m certainly not confident it will work out but I’m feeling better recently.
Maybe you view the goal of this as championship or nothing. That’s totally valid! I have no argument or goal to convince you that you are wrong. A lot of us are aiming for decently respectable as a first destination (something like Portland achieved…and with luck breaking the right way or better decision making they may have got right to the very top but they ran into an all time dynasty). We can see what happens from there. At long last we have someone who appears moderately competent running the ship.
We might regret losing a non lottery pick in a few years (although most turn out pretty average there are always gems). But that means we made the playoffs…and I’d be pretty f%#*!? happy about that. For your sake I hope Koloko is a stud…else you’re going to have to change your handle 😅😅
Decently respective is a reasonable goal if that isn’t the cap. I don’t see us getting beyond decently respective and certainly not where Portland was with this strategy. I said championship competitive meaning deep runs into the playoffs with a chance to grab a ring. You can’t get to that point by constantly overpaying for players who are not high end and by giving up your draft. Now we got $16mil tied up in this guy along with the overpay for Holmes (I told you so on that one) not to mention the big overpay we have with Fox understandable at the time but now the time to move on.
As for Koloko, I always said he was a good fetch in the second round. If I thought he was a sure thing I wouldn’t have been advocating for him in round two. My record has been pretty good. I hated the draft where we moved off of 10 to get Justin Jackson the so called 3 or small forward and bad knees Giles. I criticized the free agent signings of Hill, Zzzbo, Cojo, Dedmon and even Vince Carter the so called mentor. Do you remember when that word mentoring was being mentioned on every other post and I said constantly I want players not mentors. These latest moves won’t be that disastrous but they are not going to advance the ball very much. The likely scenario will be a small improvement with a lot of premature euphoria from the fan base.
The Kings have a pretty intelligent fanbase with a few exceptions.
I hated the trade away from #37 for a worse set of future picks. We agree. The trade of #47 is still up in the air. Not sure if Toronto would have taken 37+49 for Koloko.
About roughly half mid first round picks turn out. At #19, Huerter was one of the successes. This trade is for a past mid round success vs. a future mid round possibility of sucess.
The draft home runs tend to come earlier in the draft.
The key mistakes Kings made in draft tended to be higher picks passed by.
If Kings convey pick in 2024, this was a sucess. If later than that, means Kings still not very good. And at that point, in a sense, who cares? (I do but I want to sound cavalier)
Look it’s not a catastrophic move. I started off saying if this and the Monk signing is all we do, there is not going to be an appreciable change unless Murray exceeds all expectations and becomes a top end player much sooner than anyone would think. I mean what do you want this franchise to become. Grab a 7th or 8th seed and then sink to the abyss again.
I want a Utah or Denver model. No they haven’t won a championship yet but they have long term sustainable winning models and they got their upper end talent through the draft and then tried to acquire the finishing pieces. We may have constructed a team just good enough to lose that draft pick but not good enough to ever get past the first round of the playoffs. I like what OKC, Detroit, Houston and others are doing much better than this plan (loosely used). Let us not forget, we’ve tried this model before and it’s failed multiple times.
Red Velvet – Bagley.
Huerter – Hurtist.
♫ He wore
Reddddddd
Velvet….♫
WHO WANTS TO FUCKing GET TO THE PLAYOFFS!
Dude!
If Huerter and Monk are the end of their off-season moves, don’t expect much to change. Keep in mind the Warriors got DiVecenzo for half the price of Monk and I think he’s slightly better. As for Huerter, he’s a nice piece on a team with a couple of top end players who create opportunities for him. I doubt on this Kings roster he makes a significant impact. I just don’t know where this organization thinks they’re going with these marginal additions to a roster that just doesn’t have the high end talent to seriously compete. I like the path Detroit and OKC are taking much better. You will see the Kings looking back at those teams in two years and again scratching their heads wondering how they are looking up at them. Remember not too long ago teams like Phoenix, Memphis, Charlotte and others were in much shape than the Kings in terms of roster, draft capital and cap space. It’s happening again right before our eyes and I’m perplexed why others don’t see it.
Add Atlanta, New Orleans and Minneasota to that list . Do believe that Huerter, Monk, and Murray are clear improvements but sadly not enough .
Murray gives us a chance at a future top end talented player but these other moves make no sense to me. Yes I agree with you about Atlanta and New Orleans. Not sure yet how I feel about the Minnesota moves. Atlanta I think is preparing themselves to acquire another big impact player thus the move to dump Huerter. I actually like what Utah is doing but I think I’m in the minority on that one. They can either take all that draft capital and build around Mitchell or tear it down to the studs by trading Mitchell for a bunch more draft capital and some young prospects and future cap space or they can go out an acquire someone like Ayton and get right back into the mix. I will add, I like the trade Indiana made with Boston to acquire Nesmith and a future first. Add Indiana to the list of teams likely to surpass us in two years.
You know, it’s almost impossible to build a championship competitive roster when you’re overpaying for someone like Fox. I doubt the Kings will do it but they should be shopping Fox.
I agree on Utah- save Mitchell like Suns did with Booker or go full Houston and save zero.
Fox does not look as over paid today after some of those contracts. He is not in the same group as D. Murray, Trae or Ja but how do their contracts compare?
Not sure if Hawks can put enough together to get impact guy. KD? what would that cost?
While it isn’t the path I would’ve chosen, the Kings want to get to the playoffs. Acquiring Huerter helps that goal. I think Monte would’ve preferred trading Fox instead of Hali & that he’d be willing to trade him for a good return, but I think Fox’s contract lowers his value to such an extent that it’d be hard to get something good for Fox.
As for Utah, I’ll like what they’re doing if they trade Mitchell. I think that trying to build a new contender around Mitchell won’t work.
You might be right about Fox unfortunately. I disagree trying to make the playoffs is or should be the goal. Getting to championship competitive should be the goal. Now if making the playoffs is a step toward that then great but that’s not what’s happening so far. Name one team that is winning without a top 20 player. This bullpen by committee approach doesn’t work in the NBA. The Heat is the only team even close to a committee model but they too have upper end talent in Jimmy Butler.
As for Utah, they don’t need to trade Mitchell. They have enough assets in place where they can make a big move and get right back into the mix. They have many good options right now because they are holding a young top 20 player and some good draft capital along with some good supporting pieces.
Winning a title is the ultimate goal, but it’s hard to see how the Kings can become a title contender w/their current approach unless Keegan becomes a superstar (I think there’s a good chance he’ll be a star, but becoming a superstar seems much less likely). Trying to make the playoffs clearly seems to be the short-term goal.
I think a team that has Mitchell as its top player won’t be a title contender since he’s so awful on defense, so they’d need to use their assets get a better player.
As a fan of a football team that recently had a record breaking playoff drought… No. Ending the drought needs to be priority number 1. After that anything goes, but the drought needs to end first.
The warm fuzzies the Bills generated when that shit-ass Tyrod Taylor team made the playoffs in 2017 gave the FO the clearance they needed to make deeply unpopular but necessary moves, like rolling the dice on maybe the most polarizing QB prospect in history. If you want the Kings to take similar swings they need to be in a position where the fanbase isn’t going to revolt if they miss and making the playoffs is how you get there.
I will add that at one time the Warriors were in the same dismal shape as the Kings. They got out of it by building through the draft and then when their high end talent was in place they made the finishing moves like acquiring Bogut. The Kings are trying to make the finishing moves without the high end talent. I mean they get Hardy in the second round and then give him up and give up their whole second round for future seconds. I just don’t get it.
49 for Vezenkov.
39 for two seconds- bad move. Mavs signing him to roster.
GSW did improve mightily through those early drafts. Both mid lottery and one second round (35), traded Monte for Bogut and filled in. . Then out oof the blue KD as a free agent, then convert his disgruntled butt into Wiggins.
Good moves. Now into super, super repeater luxury tax at 350 M last year and more this year. Kings would not tolerate that spending.
They would have tolerated the championship prior to KD and that’s the plan I’m promoting.
Totally true but you’re missing the most important part of that story…..
They got new OWNERS 🤙🏼
yes. Atlanta improved but flattened out, opting to go all in way too quick and got Trae. NOP had a stud to trade and a #1 pick. Wolves get Edwards at #1.
These guys are not enough. There is the Minnesota blueprint- start to get good and then go all in for one last very tall piece. Traded away lots of bench value and the entire future for a twin tower approach we will see on that one.
How can you be great before being good? Not many teams are championship quality without first making the playoffs and building from there .
You mean like Fox and Sabonis?
Of course not. When those guys are considered top 20, let me know.
So how do you propose the Kings acquire top 20 talent without completely gutting the roster and the future asset cupboard?
This is what you said:
If you think Fox and Barnes are gonna get you top 20 talent, I have a bridge to sell you. It just took 4 draft picks and 5 players to acquire Gobert. It also took 4 picks and Gallo (who has about as much value as Barnes) to acquire Dejounte. The Kings aren’t going to get top 20 talent unless they hit on the draft or trade away all their future assets AND Fox with filler. Even then, finding a team who can take on Fox’s max-rookie extension, who is also willing to give up top 20 talent is slim pickings.
Through the draft and getting multiple shots at the wheel not trading your draft capital for marginal players. Nuff said.
I do agree with you about Fox which is unfortunate
So by that notion, you are in favor of blowing up the whole thing for as many picks as you can get, and completely ignore the record setting playoff drought.
I look at Huerter and Monk as cost effective assets that can be packaged in trade in one year’s time. They are also young and an upgrade from last season. If things don’t go well, Monte can package guys like Huerter, Fox, Mitchell, Murry, Monk, or even Sabonis for that top 20 player without giving up 4 future picks.
I don’t think the record-setting playoff drought should play a role in the decisions the Kings make. That’s really short-sighted. They should do what’s best for them in the long-term. However, they’ve chosen to try to make the playoffs, so they should their best to achieve that goal w/o sacrificing their future. I don’t think the Kings could acquire a top 20 player w/o trading picks (so they won’t be able to do that in the near future).
I don’t think Fox and Barnes will bring you top 20 talent. I was just saying if the Kings have something in their pocket that I can’t see happening then I’ll change my mind. You’re correct about one thing so you might be agreeing without knowing, the top 20 talent will have to come from the draft but if you start giving up draft capital for mediocre talent you’ll make it very difficult to ever get that top end player.
I see your point.
There have been teams floundering in the same puddle as the Kings and have now surpassed the Kings. The one common factor is a stud player high end of draft: Mavs-Luka, Suns Ayton, Cavs- Garland and Mobley, Charlotte, LaMelo, Memphis, Ja, Wolves- Edwards ….
The Detroit, OKC and Houston option was there except all of them traded away a stud to get bad and then began the rebuild. and all of them got a head start while the Kings still played in the puddle.
I preferred tear it down last year. The Kings did not and ended up with the 4th pick which is above the Detroit tear down #5 and last years OKC pick. The flat lottery odds make a complete screw up season a risk for a high pick.
I agree with all of that.
Nets rescinded Kessler Edward’s QO, Kings should make a run at him for depth at SF
For sure! He’d be an excellent buy low prospect!
What kinda deal would you offer?
What can the Kings offer still? Maybe make some room bye sending out Metu and Len?
What’s left of the MLE after Monk’s deal is structured. What’s that, roughly $2M? Two year deal with a PO or TO for year 2, maybe?
Monks deal is either through MLE or bi-annual. One of those pots of dough is left.
Offer part of that- split it with a Venzenko offer. That would be in neighborhood of 2 M per year.
the non-taxpayer MLE this year is $10.3M. So depending on how Monk’s 2 year $19M is constructed there is some left over cash for a player like Edward.
Kings also have a potential 2-way deal available.
I think the Kings would use the bi-annual on the Euro, if he even comes over.
The NT MLE is 10,490,000M Adam.
Monk is reportedly making 9,268,293M of that.
Keep in mind if you’re going to sign Neemius Queta to more than a 2 year minimum deal, the only mechanism you have is the MLE to do so.
I would assume Edwards is the type of player they offer a 2 year minimum deal to with a player option for next year.
This is the roster (based on the signings we expect and trades to happen once the Moratorium gets lifted):
Fox, Mitchell PG
Monk, Huerter, Davis SG
Barnes SF
Murray, Metu, Lyles PF
Sabonis, Holmes, Len C
They are likely to sign Queta to a 3/4 year deal. That puts your roster at 13. That leaves Vezenkov, and a signing like Kessler Edwards to get you to 15 once training camp ends.
And none of this includes trades.
There is also. 2-way spot open as Ellis is the only one with that deal. Edwards or even Queta could take that last contract.
I’m also in the camp that feels Queta may not be back next season with Sabonis, Holmes, and Len all ahead of him on the bench.
I’d rather take a flyer on another wing, like Edwards, as opposed to Queta.
Balances the roster at a position of need.
yep. Teams were in love with William this year from Santa Clara- he was similar but a year ahead at Pepperdine.
3 and D.
Agreed. If Monte can get Edwards I’d really be ecstatic.. Much needed wing player, plays good defense and can shoot the 3. Seems to be Monte’s type of player..
Kessler Edwards?
if Kings miss on him, I like Yuta Watanabe from Toronto
Got a kick out of hearing Glen say that if Atlanta is able to rid themselves of Gimpo Gimponovic, they’ll need to include a draft pick.
Three cheers for having someone in charge who isn’t a weepy sentimentalist.
OT: Wow, I didn’t think he would cost that much. It may also mean Hayward and Bridges are not long for Charlotte.
https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1543316766373433345
Bridges situation is nasty…they are in a really tough position as an organization. Tons of pressure will be on them to cut ties with zero return (rightly so from the pictures/report) from an incredible asset. Tough luck
that’s 8 M per year for a guy who averaged less than 8 ppg. Somewhere I hear DDV weeping.
Zion getting max deal 😆 dudes played 85 games…good luck with that NOP
$231 MM. GOODNESS.
over/under on next years 82 games
I take under 60
SI calls Kings one of the losers in free agency.
It’s easy they have been copying and pasting that for the last decade, dude didn’t even read the names they sign.
Amick likes what the Kings have done in free agency.
Kings bashing is low hanging fruit. Nobody cares about Sacramento outside of the fans.
Honestly best signing I’ve heard from them all off season….Barbosa is on the bench.
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