My original co-host on Kings Pulse, Kings Herald writer Richard Ivanowski, rejoins to the show to express his concerns with the Sacramento Kings’ decision to accelerate their timeline.
Obviously, we are talking about the trade that Monte McNair, Wes Wilcox, and the rest of Sacramento’s front office made for Domantas Sabonis, Justin Holiday, and Jeremy Lamb in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield, and Tristan Thompson.
Rich has been vocal and firm about his belief that this was a poor decision, understandably. We decided to spend this episode debating the potential upsides and downsides of this deal since both can present strong arguments.
The beginning of this KP podcast episode starts by covering Sacramento’s clear unwillingness to reset and how that should factor in when evaluating the trade from McNair’s perspective.
Are we sure that, even if he wanted to, that Monte McNair would be allowed by the ownership to build through the draft – or, dare I say… tank?
How much of a factor should “dumping” Buddy Hield’s contract be? Do you think that Sacramento could have gotten a positive return in exchange for Buddy at some point? Would it even have been healthy to keep him around when unhappy just waiting for the right deal?
🚨 NEW EPISODE 🚨
🔘Special Guest: @ivanowskinba's return!
🔘Debating the Haliburton/Sabonis swap
🔘What needs to happen this offseason?
🔘Would McNair even have been allowed to build through the draft?
🔘Concerns surrounding an accelerated timelinehttps://t.co/fBvpNkmm1E pic.twitter.com/dhhUKwdjOR— Kings Pulse (@Kings_Pulse) March 11, 2022
Presenting the optimistic side of this deal seemingly revolves around this offseason in a major way. What assets is the front office working with and how many substantial moves need to be made? And how substantial are we talking here? Are they even realistic outcomes?
Personally, if Sacramento comes back into next season with a roster that is only marginally changed, then I’ll be ready to strongly question the decision making.
I present why I’m willing to be patient, while Rich presents his valid concerns. It was good to have him back for an episode. I may or may not have realized how much I’ve missed him in the middle of this recording.
And there’s plenty more conversation surrounding the controversial blockbuster trade between the Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers in Episode 302!
The Kings Pulse podcast is available on all major podcast platforms and is now on YouTube as well!
Kings have few assets to land another difference maker in starting five. They need remarkabke ping pong ball luck to have any hope.
I like Sabonis, but they are still an awful defensive and shooting team which, uh, are kinda important to win in the NBA.
Tyrese is a better value long term, but I’m not convinced he’ll be transcendent. If he is, this is another complete disaster.
How can you possibly know Tyrese is the better long term value ! It is not based on winning or All Star credentials ! Maybe he will but still a maybe !
It’s because of his contract and control. He just might be on the best contract to production players in the NBA. His rookie scale is nice and cheap for a #12 pick for the next two seasons, then Indy owns the rights to extend him. They basically can lock him up for the next 7 years if they so choose. The Kings, however have only 2 guaranteed years for Sabonis then he’s a UFA. That is where the better value long term comes into play.
Yes ,except you can not know if any of this happens ! What if Sabonis resigns and leads a Kings resurgence while Hali stagnates and remains a good player on a bad team ? What is the value than ?
Kodos? I voted Kangz!
I believe I’ll save this for a time when I’m in the mood for an unhinged take.
It wasn’t very unhinged at all. Don’t agree with Rich’s reasoning regarding Buddy’s trade value, tanking and Domas vs Tyrese, but it was at least a thoughtful podcast. Good way to kill the end of an boring workday.
Huh. I assumed the “unhinged take” referenced was the response he decided not to post.
I assumed Sims was talking about Rich’s opinion on the trade that he already graded as an F and thus didnt wish to listen to a rehash of on a podcast.
But that’s just my interpretation, and if there’s one thing that’s tried and true in this world it’s that I’m not in Andy Sims’ head. Thus I would never presume to speak for Sims.
Thanks for another good episode.
Basically, I think he’s right.
This is coming from someone who is not a fan of the trade in question…this was easily the worst podcast episode that has been done to-date, and I am a huge fan of these podcasts in general. This one was tough to get through.
Why return to this divisive topic with no new information or results to comment on? All of this has been discussed ad nauseum. It seems like this whole episode was done because someone was on vacation for a month and upset that they didn’t get a chance to complain enough about what they would’ve done in Monte’s place.
It’s always interesting me that “worst” happens to coincide with an opinion someone disagrees with. Richard’s take is no less valid than someone who thinks this deal was a steal because Tyrese is an empty stats no defense player and never will be any different. I don’t agree with that take, but it’s not “unhinged,” to borrow a term.
I give it an F
This trade is only controversial to the homers who believe the Kangz can go undefeated if they could rebuild the team without getting rid of any of the current players they blindly protect.
This team is need of a change.
Who can we trade?
Nobody. They are the best. If we make some more threes we are good. We are fast…….
So your answer to this question prior to the deadline must have been “AnybodyButBagley”?
Too many people thought he was the next savior…..all that potential.
Many did not want to trade him.
Kangz without that shit bag are much easier to watch.
Is any of this true? I remember very few people who thought he was the next savior. And even fewer that were against trading him because of his talent.
It is true.
Make a post about how stupid it is to guarantee Bagley a starting spot or the fact that nobody wanted him and it was obvious.
Some of those things you’re hoping for in the offseason are realistically attainable. A good coach hire and a good draft pick. I’d be shocked if there were not a handful of good coaches out there who have a good vision of how to build around and utilize Sabonis.
Also listening to some of your concerns, while yes they are valid, I think logically you get to some of those concerns based on the assumption that this team going forward is a “duo” of Fox and Sabonis. When you get to the optimistic thoughts, you no longer think in terms of that “duo”, without expressly stating it. So why call it a “duo”? Fox has never really built an dynamic rapport as a pg with anyone. Part of that is coaching changes but part is just that he’s not a real pg who makes a lot of plays for others. Haliburton as a rookie built a rapport with Holmes. So while it’s nice to see Fox motivated again, it does not necessarily translate to winning basketball in the framework of a “duo”.
Hali is in Indy, Sabonis in Sacto ! Both being productive with their losing teams ! Next season will be a better opportunity to judge a trade winner . I like the move for Sabonis , a more proven player with playoff experience !
I’d also like to thank you for that nugget of absurd comedy. Please don’t take this the wrong way. … but Richard moved out of California because his favorite nba team could not lose enough games. Oh, man, that’s priceless. Again, it’s not personal. I, like all the other fans of this team, am tired of losing seasons. And I understand the concept of tanking. And I’ve never been on Twitter. But I hope you appreciate the absurdity of that, at some level.
Exhibit A for why the nba should have a promotion and relegation system like the Premier League.
Like most moves, the success or failure of this one is going to depend on whether or not the subsequent moves successfully realize the bigger picture. In a vacuum, in terms of value out and in, I think the trade was fine. The question is, “now what?” If the plan is Fox and Sabonis as tent poles and then back filling with good-fitting role players (ie, LOTS of positionally versatile 3-and-D types) then I’m not confident that’s a recipe for success. If the plan is to focus on acquiring a star-ish player, then, well, it could work with the right player. Unfortunately, the view from the message board doesn’t really allow us to know what other deals may have been on the table.
Kings trade Hali, Buddy, Bagley, TT for Sabonis, Lyles, Jackson, DDV, Holiday and Lamb.
Hali, Buddy and Bagley all playing better.
Jackson and Lamb not in long term plans as is TT.
Lyles is playing as well as Bagley.
So Sabonis + DDV + Holiday for Hali and Buddy.
Buddy was just not going to play well here.
Fox’s game has improved greatly. He and Hali just could not play well together.
DDV and Holiday are much better defenders than Buddy (who isn’t)
Gets right down to Hali and Sabonis.
Hali will be a very good NBA player. Sabonis is already a very good NBA player. Fox and Hali were redundant.
This balances the roster much better and to get a good player you have to give up something.
and, as mentioned, the draft slot is better Pacers improved their slot quite a bit but Sabonis was going somewhere. so they would have ended up at #5 no matter if the Kings traded or not. If Hali stayed Kings position ( without Sabonis) may not be much different. It is not as though Sabonis improved or reduced draft slot- it is about the same.
I suspect that Pacers stay at 5, Blazers continue to lose to get 6 and Kings get 7.
At 7, there will be a choice between 2 of: Sharpe, Murray, Griffin or Davis. All different and all potentially good.
Kings need pick to be successful + get lucky in FA.
I don’t want the Kings to win this year. Draft slot makes a huge difference- like the difference between Davion and Wagner.
At this point, the proposed trade of Holmes for PJ Washington was a good idea a month ago but Hornets got Harrel and he is on short list for 6th man of year. The trade will not now occur.
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