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NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings
Last Years Record: 33-49
Key Losses: Eric Musselman, Corliss Williamson, Vitaly Potapenko
Key Additions: Reggie Theus, Mikki Moore, Spencer Hawes, Angela Tsai

1. What significant moves were made during the offseason? What are these 'significant moves' you speak of? Other than the drawn-out coaching switch, Geoff Petrie's most significant moves were the ones he didn't pull the trigger on -- trading Mike Bibby to Cleveland for Drew Gooden, trading with Charlotte to move up and grab Joakim Noah. In fairness, he did add a 31-year-old 7-footer who can't rebound and prefers the perimeter (we didn't have enough of those before) and a 19-year-old center who has had four knee surgeries already, including a microfracture surgery at age 14. Other than those glaring holes, the team was obviously set for success after a 33-49 season. No need to shake things up here.

2. What are the team's biggest strengths? With Ron Artest and Mikki Moore, this team could put together a killer haunted house. Also, Sacramento kind-of has the market on impossibly skinny guards cornered. In all seriousness, this is a team with lots of ball-handlers, so turnovers should stay low. (Depending on what the rotation looks like in Mike Bibby's injury absence, this could change.) There would be the potential for a good defensive team here... if there was a big man on the team not named Kenny Thomas who could actually defend and there were a big man not under investigation for attempted rape who could block shots.

3. What are the team's biggest weaknesses? Point guard is dangerous while Mike Bibby heals. Small forward is underwhelming with Ron Artest suspended/still insane. Power forward is a melody of shame -- actually, power forward could be great if we could get Zeuxis in town. Kenny Thomas' rebounding, Shareef Abdur-Rahim's post moves, Mikki Moore's tattoos... hell, let's throw in Spencer Hawes' political beliefs and Darryl "Mookie" Watkins' nickname and you've actually got one helluva forward. Sadly, Anthony Michael Hall won't return my calls. Something about being a "serious actor" now. Pssh.

4. What are the goals for this team? This is where things get a little depressing, where all these shivs and shanks add up to a bludgeoned reality. I think the main goal of this team is to win one more game than last year. No one expects Reggie Theus to magically patch all the holes in this shipwrecked clipper and bring the baby back afloat. But improvement is necessary; 33-win seasons won't live to kiss Gavin Maloof's feet for too long. So I honestly think the goal is 34 wins. And it's doable with the collection of maladies described above. This team lost just about every close game last year. 0-6 in overtime. That's not a pattern; that's a lark. These things have a way of evening themselves out, and based on the attention Theus has paid to endgame situation... I think the Kings will win their fair share of close games. If just happens, the Kings will be better than last year. I think 34 wins is completely reasonable -- in fact, I think Sacramento will overachieve with 35 wins. Bold, I know.

5. What would make this blogger happy? I'd be ecstatic if an arena deal got worked out this season, no matter what happens on the court. I'd be thrilled to see Kevin Martin in the All-Star game; before you smirk, know that he scored 20 points on 13.6 FGAs per game last season. In the final preseason game, he took 21 FGAs. If he averages 21 FGAs per game and shoots/draw fouls like he did last year, he'd average 30.1 points per game. Stop laughing. Jerk. I'd also like to see the Fire & Ice/Thunder & Lightning/Octopus & Squid point guard tandem (Orien Greene and Quincy Douby) get better at the things they suck at (being a point guard, in both cases). I would really like Spencer Hawes to accept my Facebook friend request; failing that, I'd like to see him get some solid development time against those he will abuse in years to come, including but not limited to Chris Kaman, Robert Swift, Patrick O'Bryant, Andrew Bynum, Amare Stoudemire, Yao Ming, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Mikan, and Shaquille O'Neal. I am a simple man to please.

Predicted Record: 35-47

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Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
1st observation...... I dont really view losing Vitaly Potapenko as a "Key Loss"..Im just sayin!

by Hoops916 on Oct 30, 2007 8:30 AM PDT   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
How dare you disrespect the impact of Vitaly!

by Ziller on Oct 30, 2007 8:33 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
It should probably go under "Key Additions" - just change the text to "Loss of Vitaly Potapenko".

And I'd recommend taking "Angela Tsai" off of "Key Additions" until she gets some implants or one of those Wonderbra things, but that would be sexist objectification, and I'm just not down with that.

by otis29 on Oct 30, 2007 12:20 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
How dare you be a sexist objectifyer?
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Oct 30, 2007 1:06 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
She definitely needs a rack AND not to suck as a sideline reporter.  She's pretty much 0 for 2 at this point.

by Kusian on Oct 30, 2007 2:03 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
i just read that the wolves bought out juwan howard. he would fit perfectly into the hydra!!! another 30 something year old underachieving forward!!!

by kingsfaninjapan on Oct 30, 2007 11:14 AM PDT   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
Juwan Howard has to be #1 in the rarely seen NBA stat of "talent per dollar paid".

by otis29 on Oct 30, 2007 12:23 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
Nice breakdown TZ.  Is it just me or did I sense a bit of venom directed at out infallable GM.  Petrie has always had a pass from me as far as criticism going back to the Webber trade, but my golden calf like admiration for Geoff is starting to wane.  You can't argue with the man's draft record, but his recent trades or lack there of and free agent signings haven't exactly paid off in spades.  Seems like the team was in better shape as far as cap space before the Webber trade and has gotten worse ever since.
Damn you Robert Horry!!!

by chupacabra on Oct 30, 2007 11:55 AM PDT   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
The cap situation improved with the Webber trade (2nd time) it's just they've compounded the improvement by getting bigs like Reef and Moore. Frankly the ownership expectation I think is a tad too high for Petrie to properly navigate the NBA offseason properly (now whether Petrie would agree that's another matter).
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Oct 30, 2007 1:08 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
Since I know you hate an arguement guru, it is with great pains that I must disagree with your contention that the 2nd Webber trade has helped the cap situation.  In theory, moving web's salary for smaller, potentially more tradeble contracts seemed like a fine idea but it has only made it a worse predictment.  Webber's contract expires this year and K-9 still has 2 more years after this year.  Essentially, all Geoff did was take the same amount of cap pain and increased the length of toleration.  A loss/loss situation if you ask me since K-9 has killed his trade value with his play the past few years.
Damn you Robert Horry!!!

by chupacabra on Oct 30, 2007 2:37 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
In terms of length you are only technically correct. With Webber they were also set to pay luxury tax which the Maloofs were no longer prepared to pay. Making that trade allowed them to no longer pay luxury tax.
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Oct 30, 2007 2:47 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
With Webber, I believe they would only have paid a luxury tax if they would have still gone ahead and used their yearly exception and signed guys like Reef, Salmons, and Mikki Moore.  One might make a good arguement that in keeping Webber and not wanting to pay out a luxury tax, that might have kept the Kings from making those free agent signing for mediocre talent and being in a better cap situation.
Damn you Robert Horry!!!

by chupacabra on Oct 30, 2007 3:16 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
I'm not certain about the numbers, but I'll never be 100% sold that trading Webber made sense. But, hey, at the time I remember being persuaded that it made some sense given the salary and the knee.  I just didn't expect the big men that we received to suck so badly and the GP's free-agent selection would be so utterly rank.  Hind-sight makes it easy to question the choice.  Wasn't so easy at the time.

by Kusian on Oct 30, 2007 3:38 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
35 wins without Mike Bibby for the month and a very difficult November with two games against San Antonio and Phoenix, one with Utah, Cleveland and Detroit, coupled with Ron-Ron out for the first 7 games and Petrie having a very itchy finger by that TNT.

35 would be a major, major accomplishment. I ain't entirely sold on Theus, yet either.

Ready to Rule: Kevin Martin

by kingme18 on Oct 30, 2007 3:20 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
"I ain't entirely sold on Theus, yet either"

Why would you be? - he has not accomplished anything yet.  If he can keep them from totally free-falling in the first month, I'll be impressed. (And to me that means winning at about a 35% rate.)

by Kusian on Oct 30, 2007 3:36 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
I think I am personally lingering to 30 wins. Hopefully that nets us a lot of ping pong balls.

by moproblemz on Oct 30, 2007 4:33 PM PDT to parent up   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
I was at 36 before the Bibby injury.

32?

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Oct 30, 2007 4:38 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
I vote for 34 wins with a late season "push" after a brutal November and December...
Damn you Robert Horry!!!

by chupacabra on Oct 30, 2007 7:33 PM PDT   0 recs

Re: NBA Blog Previews: The Sacramento Kings
I'll be impressed if they survive opening week.
I am the stone that the builder refused I am the visual, the inspiration That made Lady Sing the Blues..I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...

by pookeyguru on Oct 31, 2007 1:11 AM PDT to parent up   0 recs

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