The 2022 NBA Draft is officially in the rearview now. What many expected to be an exciting day where that could have the Sacramento Kings working with a notably different roster by the end of it turned out to be pretty quiet.
In this episode of the Kings Pulse podcast, I spent time just reacting to what took place yesterday, starting with Monte McNair’s selection of Keegan Murray with the fourth overall pick. Jaden Ivey was the popular name here and his questionable fit alongside De’Aaron Fox led people to believe the Kings would shop that pick.
But, I think that McNair and the rest of the front office didn’t want to risk trading back and Murray being off the board. There may have been some complications in moving the pick.
Also, McNair was very clear in his post-draft press conference that they truly believed Murray was the best player available and raved about his skillset, work ethic, background, and personality. Included in this episode is a clip of McNair explaining the complications that came with getting prospects into Sacramento and his thoughts on Murray.
Trading the 37th pick to the Dallas Mavericks for their 2024 and 2028 second-round picks was an interesting decision. Personally, I don’t understand it. There are plenty of moves that the Kings make that I disagree with, but more often than not I can understand and see a potential logic behind it — not with this deal.
As for the final pick of the night, the Kings moved pick 49 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for the rights to Sasha Vezenkov. Vezenkov is a player who intrigues me with his length, shooting and IQ. It will be interesting to see if Sacramento brings him over next season.
Plenty of this episode includes me explaining how I think this could work out. It’s certainly not the way that I would have gone about it, but this could be a smart way to change the negative culture and narrative that surround the Sacramento Kings.
With all due respect, this is the only opinion that matters regarding the pick, succinctly encapsulated in under 3 minutes:
No way I click on that douchenozzle, but if your opinion and his opinion align, well, that’s a bold strategy, Cotton.
My jokes never land lol.
I don’t want to seem nosy, but did people hear about my divorce? https://unicourt.com/case/ca-sac2-in-re-the-marriage-of-napear-159348
He just said the Kings should trade down and not take a player at #4. No, that was 6/23.
This one was “I don’t understand why Keegan Murray is drawing so much vitriol.” Which made sense. It wasn’t any heavy hitting or hard point, but not one I haven’t said, either, for instance.
Napear is 100% correct . I realize a lot of his radio listeners did not like his approach but he was great on TV as play by play .
Play by play Grant was good, radio Grant was terrible.
Yup.
Is that emerald green?
Peaches in emerald green with a tan to boot.
I think it’s burnt peach.
It’s more like lime green.
I have never looked sexier than in this video. I was thinking about taking off my shirt to reveal my nipple piercings but you sensitive Kings Herald types couldn’t handle it.
Napear out.
I want to add another thing. All you negative people rant about culture. Yes we have to change the culture of not only the team but the coach, front office and yes you. All the time negative comments due just as much as anything else to hamper the culture of this organization Start just every once in a while make a positive comment and you would be surprised how much that would improve the culture in Sacramento basketball. GO KINGS!
LOL. Are we back to the team sucks because the fans are not supportive enough-takes?
Come on.
I find some of the negativity relentless and sometimes lacking nuance…some of its deserved though.
But lord help us if anyone in the organization really reads the comment section. That’s not the problem.
Doubt Monte cares. Or the rest of the basketball FO for that matter. They might find it more comical than anything else.
And, of course, Kings fans are no more negative than any other fan base. In fact, I think Kings fans are much more accepting of failure than most fan bases.
I’d argue this is the biggest problem with this fanbase. That’s actually one thing I do appreciate about how they worked this draft process though. A lot of fans wanted Jaden Ivey…..and would have turned on the franchise 10 games if and when it became a shitshow. Likewise, if somehow the Kings go 6-4 in their first 10 games with Murray, they’ll start tuning in slowly and come around.
But the apathy and anger towards this franchise and the way they operate is certainly not beyond the realm of reason. They’ve earned that anger and apathy.
I think what makes the Kings fanbase unique, perhaps, is that the loudest social media voices tend to dominate the room a bit more than the smaller voices and many of those voices are very upset to say the least.
Once people start seeing Murray, Ivey and other players at the NBA level, we’re going to start hearing different things. I’m looking forward to the start of the season!
A lot of Kings fans wanted Ivey, but a lot of Kings fans wanted Keegan. Personally, I preferred Keegan.
I’d say it’s a 60-40 split towards Ivey…..but I was never as high on Ivey as most possible so I was going to be happy with Keegan Murray.
I wouldn’t have hated the Ivey pick, necessarily, I just didn’t really see the upside there.
Ivey seems like a poor man’s Fox to me & the Kings already have Fox. They don’t need a worse version of him.
Ivey and Detroit are a great match IMO. All that’s left to see is whether or not it works out or not. As per usual, in otherwords.
Detroit’s definitely a better fit for Ivey than the Kings. He’d be a poor fit w/Fox & the Kings don’t have a good history of developing players like him.
Cade makes pretty much everyone a great match in Detroit at the moment. A big 2-way creator like that means pretty much every other archetype works.
Yup. Ain’t no arguing that. He’s easily, of the players drafted since 2019, on my top 5 of guys I’d want to build around.
In order (of draft year) the others are : Ja Morant, Anthony Edwards, Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes.
Of those I have Edwards #1. After that, I think it’s a real flip of the coin between Cunningham and Barnes, and fair or not it’s just very difficult to build around bigs like Mobley which is why he’s 4th. Morant only drops to 5 because he misses 20+ games annually. If he starts playing 70-75 games, he’s easily #1 on this list unless all these other guys take serious leaps (which they might).
Relentless negativity driven by years of relentless horrible moves by the Kings.
And I think, if it’s too negative for people then point out the inaccuracies in the negativity rather than yell at people expressing concerns. I know you didn’t do that WSox. Was a general comment.
Shit, in other thread someone commented that he was glad negative commenters were suffering and that was purple!
That, to me, is a lot worse then playing negative comments. That is intolerance.
I want to add another thing. All you negative people rant about culture. Yes we have to change the culture of not only the team but the coach, front office and yes you. All the time negative comments due just as much as anything else to hamper the culture of this organization Start just every once in a while make a positive comment and you would be surprised how much that would improve the culture in Sacramento basketball. GO KINGS!
You must be the real Grant Napear. 😂
Nah. Grant loves negative rants.
Give me a break. Don’t tell me how to fan.
How many years do we have to experience bad choices, pointing them out and have positive gut try to tell me the negativity impacts the franchise or is wrong?
What the fuck is wrong with expressing concerns?
We should review our history and not forget:
When the Kings arrived in Sacramento in 1985, sold-out crowds would arrive to the arena and they would bring their negative attitudes with them for every home game. The arena was just packed with so many fans with negative attitudes, every single home game for years.
Until one day, in 1998, all of the fans decided to have positive attitudes, and subsequently the team produced a winning record for the first time in the city’s history.
The fans continued to have positive attitudes until one day, in 2006, they decided to have negative attitudes again.
The fans have continued to do this for 16 straight years now.
Once the fans realize all they need to do is have positive attitudes, the team will start winning again.
I agree.Just start with a little positive attitude.
Think you got chasmed.
Read it again .
Garry St Jean would say have PMA.. positive mental attitude
Misspelled H. R. from Bad Brains.
If you want positive attitudes put out a positive product. If you put out a shitty product be prepared for more of the same attitude we’ve had for the last 16 years.
While I agree w/you, you got chasm’d.
If they are all negative then what an ego.
?? Does not make sense
Grant=tool. Such an ass. Yelling at fans previously for questioning Bagley pic, etc etc.
I don’t like Cousins but I love that he lead to Grants dismissal.
The world is a better place without Grants ego amd idiocy on Sac airwaves.
I don’t believe there was much controversy here –
Keegan Murray comes to Sac, has meet and greet and eat with both Sabonis and separately Fox. That’s a commitment. More than any “sources” talking “promise”. Hard stop. Period. Finito.
I would also be willing to bet ZillerBucks that the Monte McNair type is eerily similar to the RC Buford model.
I will add, that on interview, Murray comes across as an exceedingly mature, well adjusted, intelligent person. And unlike the “Shoulda drafted at 4” (see TKH mock) Shaedon Sharpe “I am going to be one of the greatest NBA players ever https://www.thescore.com/nba/news/2375302/amp
or shoulda traded traded down for Benedict Mathurin “Lebron James is going to have to show that he is better than me”
Keegan Murray talks about how he wants to improve and has Khris Middleton as a player model.
Man, he’s just so boring. Sacramento snoozer. Yawn. He couldn’t possibly be a star. No swagger, how embarrassing!
We have four months before the season starts with a nice Vegas Summer League in two weeks. (And Free Agency on June 30)
Guess we’ll find out then. In the meantime let’s play with nicknames for Kings #13 Murray.
“The Hawk” (U of Iowa product, playing next to The Black Falcon – some might call them birds of a feather). I’d be just as happy if he just goes by Keegan. Known by his name – just like Giannis, Kyrie, Kawhi. Not saying he’ll be at their talent level – but ya neva know
Keegan Thee Stallion?
or
Hawkeye, when he’s hitting them 3’s?
(Hawk with Black Falcon is pretty awesome, though!)
The one-name “Keegan” works.
Just don’t only call him “Murray”
His personality is a big plus. MM cleary puts weight in that given his 3 first round picks.
Who are some players you see as comps for Murray?
I think the Shareef comp is pretty apt, even has a similar shooting stroke.
Otto Porter when he was on the Wizards, pre-injury
Man, that’s Fox, Ox, Black Falcon, Hawk….!
How about Michael “The Animal” Smith as a veteran mentor/handler?
Certainly the franchise has been The Zoo without a clue, the last 16 seasons.
We could rename G1C as The Cage (G1Cage)
As for him being a seemingly solid citizen type – how refreshing is that?
So many seasons of bad team w/not so great character guys – players and coaches.
It is a nice step in the “hoping to win and win with class” direction. And it can be viewed as a bit of social distancing from the desperation that extended (record breaking) losing invariably produces. Another feather in GM McNair’s cap, IMO.
The Cage would be a fun nickname for the arena if we make the playoffs and go nuts, with cowbells ringing like hell. Only way it could be more perfect is if Nicolas Cage showed up wearing a Ron Artest Kings jersey.
Thinking more and more that I like your Hawk nickname.
Just maybe, this is guy that can push this team to flip the script.
Basketball history-wise, The Hawk was the moniker for the great Connie Hawkins, a Rucker legend who also went U of Iowa and was known for his enormous hands (the word was that no matter how he held the ball you could always see his hand- he owned all the pre-Kawhi hand stories). His story is an NBA tragedy – though there was some redemption. He was questionably associated with the college basketball point shaving scandal of 1961 and NBA Comissioner J. Walter Kennedy barred him from joining the Association. As a result, he was not allowed into the NBA. He thus joined the Harlem Globetrotters. Later on, he was able to join the newly formed ABA where he lead the League in scoring, was an MVP and Finals MVP (Pittsburgh Pipers). , Eventually, he was allowed to enter the NBA and he played for the new expansion team in Phoenix, though by this time he was on the downside of his playing peak. His NBA career still included 4 All-Star appearances and an All NBA 1st Team. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in ‘92).
Just some old fart FYI.
Bed Stuy at your service!!!
Tim “Naismith Hall of Famer” Duncan wasn’t the most exciting cat. Still one of the truly great players of the era. Swagger isn’t prerequisite for value or, hell, *greatness even…
I saw after such a comparison with Duncan someone on Twitter call Murray “The Medium Fundamental”.
i LOL’d.
Wasn’t Duncan also a “late bloomer”?
He had good rebounding stats is fresh year and blocks his first year but scored less than 10 per game. Tim, never scored with same efficiency but was a better rebounder and shot blocker.. yes Tim Duncan played 4 years of college ball, and didn’t seem to peak like everyone thinks Keegan has after 2 years. I will take a player that is 80% of Tim Duncan and be happy as F&ck!
I think you might’ve read the years backwards…
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duncati01.html
Duncan’s stats his rookie season (1997/1998):
21.1 pts
11.9 rebounds
2.5 blocks
2.7 assists
It’s his last season (2015/2016) that he had less than 10 points per game.
He was talking about his Freshman year and college stats.
Ah, got it.
Thanks. I’m dumb!
Sorry, w2w. 🙂
Or…maybe I’m all mixed up. Are you talking about his college career?
Sorry if so.
I was taking college, but as someone posted he was a young frosh so let’s look at Tim’s Jr year vs Keegan’s soph year.
TD per game 19.1 PTs, 12.3 Rebounds, 2.9 assists, .7 steals, 3.8 blocks, 3.3 TO’s 59.5%, TS 56.3% eFG, 17% TOV
KM per game 23.5 PT’s, 8.7 Rebounds, 1.5 Assists, 1.3 Steals, 1.9 Blocks, 1.1 TOV’s, 63.8% TS, 61.4% eFG, 5.7% TOV
I’d say 80% Tim Duncan is like peak LeMarcus Aldridge, whom I’ve seen Keegan comped as. I’d take that.
PDX last 5 years LMA? Sign me up please. That dude was gooooooood.
Me too especially PDX LMA… I think it’s a pretty good comp for Keegan
Not if you look at all his college accolades.
Time to throw a Keegar.
Alternatively, “Keegarator”
Reminds me…I gotta go do my Kegel exercises.
I just want to see a bunch of Bill Murray gifs associated with Keegan for the next dozen or so years.
I wanna see a bunch of ‘What about Bob’ GIFs over the next dozen or so years.
I’m tired of seeing the same Caddyshack, Lost in Translation and Ghostbusters GIFs. Oh, and Groundshog Day for that matter. You’re also not allowed to use Stripes.
I want new GIF’s. GIMME. NEW. NARRATIVES.
You know darned well why you are seeing the same Groundhog Day gifs over and over, everyday.
And until you learn your lesson and make a change, that will never change.
Are you daring me to quit you Gonzo? Because I was off Twitter for 6 months you psychotic crooked nose sucka. Don’t dare me to disappear off the 280 character medium again because I just might……FROM YOU.
Wait, you’re on twitter?
😛
Well it’s Groundhog’s Day gif…again.
Quite right Spackler. I’m glad you understand the point of the exercise. Good movie, too.
Don’t forget the Keegan-Michael Key gifs!
Bill Murray today looks like a Jerry Reynolds double or vice versa .
Um, Giannis has the Greek Freak as a nickname.
Remember the RC Buford works for final decision maker – Spurs President and Coach – Popovich . Buford a solid No 2 and so it seems is Monte .
It’s weird how some Gerald Wallace-esk comments get spotlighted and some don’t. I’ve heard a whole lot about Benedict Mathurin recently. Less so of Shaedan Sharpe. Bagley was long mocked for his MVP comment. Chet’s- ‘I’m going to be the best player in the NBA in 2 months’ is one of the quieter dumb boasts.
I like that Keegan focused on himself and his game, how he will fit in to the team, etc. He kept it all about himself, and did not put a bullseye on his chest for the rest of the league to aim at. Just go play the game of basketball and get better, period. More dudes need to have that type of attitude.
If he’s good I think his nickname should be “BPA”
“BPA” sounds like a K-Pop group!
♪♪ Smooth like butter,
Monte don’t like no other—
Gonna fit in no trouble—
Breaking into our hearts like that (ooh)!
Full court runner, yeah,
Ain’t no one else I druther, uh—
Let’s see this summer, yeah—
I’m taking all bets on that (break it down)!
…♪♪
I think some people are understating how much change has happened. Over the course of one year, the incoming players have been Davion Mitchell, Donte Divencenzo, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray, among others. And they hired a new coach. That’s a lot.
Yeah I can’t stand hearing posters and talking heads say we’re just running it back from last year…idiotic
Narratives gon’ narrative.
The reality is, a team that looks like this:
PG: Fox, DiVicenzo
SG: Mitchell, Holiday
SF: Barnes, Davis
PF: Murray, Lyles
C: Sabonis, Jones
Versus a team that looks like this:
PG: Fox, Mitchell
SG: Haliburton, Hield
SF: Barnes, Davis
PF: Harkless, Bagley
C: Holmes, Thompson, Len, Jones
Argue it however you want, But the first team looks different (provided that’s the group you bring back since DDV & DJ are both, of course, FA’s and not guaranteed to come back) than the second one IMO.
It is what it is. Only way this gets settled, ultimately, is that the Kings start winning.
Yup, there are really only 4 players that began last season that will likely be apart of the rotations to start this year. Fox, Barnes, Mitchell, and Holmes are all the remain, and all 4 may not even be here by October. That is quite a turn over in a calendar year.
I really hope that they won’t resort to the “it’s a new team with a new coach and new scheme, so it takes time”-narrative again.
You also got to hope that the infusion of BBIQ will also take away the previously used “we had to dumb the scheme down”-excuses are gone. I won’t miss Buddy or Bagley, from that perspective.
It IS a new team and coach. It will take time. But they shouldn’t be 10 games under by mid November if Fox and Sabonis come out of the chute strong (which I think they will).
And yet some teams manage fine after such changes.
Fox has a bit of a rep for starting the season slow. He can’t afford that anymore.
Not arguing. He needs to be strong from game 1.
Sure. I’m interested to see how they come out of the gate. The record will be somewhat dictated by schedule and health, and who knows what that looks like come mid October.
Yes. It will at least be interesting to see.
Fox = fastest player with ball in his hands
Fox = slowest to start the season
Eh, with Pros it doesn’t take THAT much time. For some reason we tend give Kings coaches/rosters entire seasons to do things most other teams are able to do in training camp. These are professionals. They aren’t new to the game. The fundamental concepts aren’t new to them. If it takes a long time to install a basic offensive or defensive scheme you either have the wrong players, the wrong coaches, or both.
Very well said. A training camp is all they should need. Hell, many of them are already working out with the trainers and should know the schemes prior to camp. These guys don’t come to camp without having touched a ball or spoken to each other for 3 months. They come prepared.
I dont think the adjustments are necessarily about each other. It’s about the opponent and how to best counter.
But I’m just a lowly blogger/pull shit out of my ass’er so what do I know?
You bring up a good point with Fox, Barnes, Holmes, and Mitchell possibly not being here at the start of October. You never know. I’m open to anything.
I suspect if Monte gets his way at least 2 of the guys you mentioned played their last game in a King’s uniform.
With Barnes and Holmes hopefully gone, the roster makeover would be complete, and the Kings can start a new chapter, hopefully with younger talent in return.
It’s going to be an interesting summer, to say the least.
I’d be surprised if Fox, Barnes & Davion were traded before the season began. However, I expect that Holmes will be traded.
I don’t. I honestly can’t think of a home for him right now. Dallas and the Hornets filled their holes at the 5. I feel the best chance of him getting traded is an injury to another team that needs a center by the deadline or he’s filler to a much larger deal.
I can squint and see maybe the Heat or Raptors would want him, but I’m just not sure.
Once the Suns and the Jazz figure out the Gobert and Ayton situations, Holmes could fill holes left by them, along with Capela potentially being dealt too.
Good point.
I think it depends on whether or not teams would like a 3rd big man as well. I suspect there’s a landing spot for Holmes, the question is whether or not McNair accepts the terms of that trade.
That’s kind of a rigged comparison. First of all team 2 doesn’t include a draft pick we would have gotten regardless of the Sabonis trade. Secondly, team one assumes the assumption of signing a couple of players. Third I’m not sure why Holmes wouldn’t be on the team 1 roster also and lastly it’s basically all a false choice because it doesn’t include alternative possibilities. Other than all that it’s okay.
Huh?
You really should stick to arguing with HS kids. And clearly reading comprehension isn’t your thing either.
So….. you’re saying I didn’t acknowledge the possibility of Dante DiVicenzo and Damian Jones are FAs? Care to revise your statement?
Because I don’t believe Holmes will be here opening night. Not having a trade on draft night doesn’t prove Holmes is untradeable. But that is, since we’re all about honesty here, simply my opinion.
My outline is… repeat after me…. ME, MYSELF AND I’s outline. Not yours, not James Ham or Brenden Nunes or Greg’s. Me. Mine. Of me, for me, by me. No others. You are not consulted when I create my outline for a Kings roster on the upcoming season.
I do it my way on my terms. Absolutely and without equivocation. You aren’t going to get consulted today, tomorrow or ever. Get used to it boyo.
You really need to find some other activities. You’re on this blog 24/7. Not healthy as your post indicates. I think ME, myself and I is probably your sad life without equivocation. Go get some fresh air.
As usual, your retort is as lame as your basketball thoughts. Par for the course.
YES! I don’t get the narrative that a lot hasn’t happened from the front office. They’ve clearly been busy.
I think that narrative ran true in Monte’s first and second season as GM. There was very little change from the 2020 to 2021 starts of the season. With this being his 3rd year, he has definitely put his fingerprints on the roster. It’s 100% his now.
I’ll get through this once I get through James being outraged on Friday on TKB’s pod. LOL
it’s funny. He had an argument last week: “In a normal draft, Murray would be taken somewhere between 12-20.” Then proceeded to talk about a John Collins trade …. who was taken 19th! Found that interesting.
He’s very upset with the organization….and I’m guessing it’s not necessarily because he’s out to burn them. But they do local media people pretty dirty from time to time, and something happened is my guess.
I will trust monte with this pick and not the ones who are not liking this pick. First of all, my opinion doesnt mean squat. I am still pised he didnt include me in the interviews so i am not aware of any red flags he heard. Second, he didn’t share the workouts with me. Third, he isnt relying on click seeking “experts” who also had not been invited to the workouts. Fourth, since when is “safe pick” a bad thing? Picking Jordan second was probably safe too. Not equating murray with jordan, just making a point. Perhaps should have said malone, nash,…, and i had not heard anyone say it was a bad pick. As far as getting additional assets, you dont gamble on missing out on who you want or you risk getting stuck with a vlade pick.
Michael Jordan was the 3rd pick and behind Akeem the Dream and Sam Bowie . Was a solid, safe pick .
It seems to me that Monte’s strategy is to take high-floor players w/ high BBIQs, knowing that he’s at least getting a good role player and that occasionally someone will exceed their perceived ceilings (i.e. Haliburton) and turn into a star player. Not a sexy strategy, but will almost certainly lead to success in the long run.
I think Murray was both BPA, and best fit. Ivey probably would have been a distraction as he did not seem to like the idea of playing in Sac. This team doesn’t need that scenario again.
Ivey will make highlight reels and get the accolades from talking heads, but Murray will probably have the type of game that contributes more to winning basketball.
Well said. I think we can’t overlook what Ivey said in the press in regards to coming to Sac compared with the reports of Murray dining with Fox and Sabonis. There was a vetting.
if Monte had Ivey and Murray in the same tier (which we now know he didn’t). Those “traits” alone should have made the decision easier.
I like Ivey, but he’s not any better of a guard prospect than the likes of Fox, DSJ, Kris Dunn, or Killian Hayes. Could be a big hit, or could be a big miss. After seeing the vast majority of our pre-Monte picks either exit the league or become impactless bench warmers, I’m come to value prospects that have a “high-floor”.
All of the “experts” are killing the Kings, that’s fine. I would bet, barring injury, that Murray ends up 1st team all Rookie and Ivey doesn’t. Especially if all the experts are right and Murray is “plug and play” right now.
People have every reason to kill the Kings, I don’t think this is one of them.
“Maybe if the front office had put more time and effort into getting more players in here…”
Hey, Paolo! Come on in for a workout, we may trade up!
Nah.
Damn. Let’s put more time and effort into getting people who don’t want to work out for us.
What would that even look like?
“Not moving Richaun Holmes was disappointing.”
He’s got three years left on his contract, reasonable though it is, played in only four games after mid-February, and was terrible in each of them. I can’t imagine teams are lining up to throw real assets at Sacramento.
I do think that Holmes is going to hit the court with a vengeance this season, and will look like the player we know and love. Being prudent and not selling extremely low seems to be perfectly sensible. We had some excellent examples last season of making lemonade out of players who, with the exception of Haliburton, were deemed to have been on the roster for too long. You may recall frequent calls to swap for a bag of chips.
While we may have been smarter and more knowledgeable than some previous GMs, I can’t say with any confidence that it’s true now. If your biggest beef is that we let a gimpy shooting guard walk for $72 million, despite a favorable trade having been agree to by Milwaukee, then I don’t know what to tell you.
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