Here's to you, Jason Thompson

by Exhibit G on Jun 26, 2008 7:10 PM PDT Comment 25 comments

(Read this essay. It's good. And not just because it compliments me. --TZ)

I know this could probably go in the open thread, but I want to be long winded on this topic. Before I go on, I want to send a kudos, or a "shout out" if you will, to TZ. I cannot imagine trying to moderate an open thread through this draft, let alone 3 open threads.

I got home at 5:35pm Colorado time. I poured a beer from the kegerator, turned on ESPN, and pulled up StR. I drank, we enjoyed watching the picks go, seemingly, in our favor. Bayless got swiped up right in front of us, and I finished 2 beers in about 3 minutes. All this as I am attempting to remain readable and somewhat funny in my comments.

Then the Thompson picks happens. I struggle to decide how many question marks I should put after "WTF". My beer consumption rapidly increases. I join in the fracas and begin to lambaste the pick. Let the record show that I am a complete idiot, so my reaction alone should tell us all that we need to know about this pick.

TZ is like Kevin Bacon in Animal House, "Remain calm! All is well!"

Nobody listens, the bashing continues. And then I remember my old signature in SB Nation 1.0, "In Geoff we trust..."

I was confused by Pedrag Stojakovic. I was bothered by Jason Williams. I had never heard of Kevin Martin. I thought Spencer Hawes was a terrible pick. Again I will reiterate, let the record show that I am an idiot.

I've often told my friends that the best part of being a Kings fan is that I can trust that we have a smart GM in Geoff Petrie. It is also why I like being an A's fan, because ultimately I trust Billy Beane. Well, trusting your GM means that you still trust him even when you do not understand the logic behind the moves. I was sad when Webber got traded, but I trusted that it was the right move. Then again, we ended up with K-9(woof!), so maybe I was wrong about that one. But my point remains the same. Moments after the pick, ESPN's Andy Katz reported that he had spoken with Reggie Theus, and the the Kings took Thompson because he was the best big man they had seen in workouts. I trust Petrie's analysis of players. I trust that he knows more about basketball than I do.

Above all, consider how Mr. Thompson feels. Hell, these are kids my own age, let's call him Jason. Imagine how Jason feels. We all talked about how much it must have sucked to be Gallinari being booed in New York. But even a foreigner probably realizes that New Yorkers are all assholes. Sacramento is known as one of the most loyal and supportive fan bases in the league. How would it feel to be blasted by those who are supposed to be the most supportive of you?

Jason, I apologize. Prove them wrong. Prove all of the naysayers wrong. Show us what you've got, and we'll love you forever.

P.S. There is nothing funnier than watching an entire fan base try to talk themselves into a pick that they were disappointed by. I include myself in this, and further evidence can be found in Open Thread 3.

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

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Haven't posted for months

Although I still visit blog often. I just wanted to say that you guys should give him a chance, I bet most of you have never seen him play and yet you already hate this pick. I know it might have been a reach to get him but maybe GP knows something that we don’t (maybe another team was interested in him). I welcomed Hawes with open arms when everyone was bashing the pick and I now welcome you Mr. Thompson. Welcome to the team!

by kingme on Jun 26, 2008 8:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

With 1,300 thread posts

it would be impossible for you to read through it all, but I think most of the folks here came in off the ledge. A lot of the reaction was the disappointment of being a pick away from Jerryd Bayless, just like last year with Noah. But as the thread went on appreciation for Thompson grew. My take, anyway.

Don’t be such a stranger.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jun 26, 2008 8:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bingo sir! Bingo!

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jun 26, 2008 8:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This guy

is amazing. He is really amazing. Don’t worry, he will be great.

Wack To Mack With The General and The Back. (J-Mac and D-Mac)

by Rayder K on Jun 26, 2008 9:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

My reaction

Here’s where I stood earlier tonight:

I was mad that Charlotte took Augustin.
I was mad that Bayless fell to 11 but not to 12.
I was mad that Portland figured out what to do to get Bayless with the 13 and Sacramento didn’t with the 12 (Is Josh McRoberts that much better than Shelden Williams? Was Jack really a crucial piece of the puzzle?).
and,
I was mad that I didn’t know more about the guy that the Kings picked so that I could just be excited about who we did get.

Aside from that, I was fine.

I’m not surprised that I don’t know much about Jason Thompson, because that’s par for the course with a GP pick. I hope it works out like Hawes, and not like Douby. Honestly, I’m so upset about Charlotte & Indy taking PGs that I don’t really feel like looking into Thompson just yet, but hearing that others were high on him makes the medicine go down a little easier (he’s been climbing, and I recognized his name instantly, although I know nothing about him).

I also hoped that draft karma would have netted us two quality guys at 42 & 43 . . . and honestly I’m more disappointed there then I was at 12.

Throw into the mix the fact that Chalmers was traded for spare parts and Bill Walker was traded for CASH . . . and the second round is much more depressing, in my opinion (and I usually don’t know much about the second round at all!).

Also, it doesn’t help that Portland not only made good moves, but fell into some luck as well. Who knew Arthur would fall to NO’s pick when Pritchard made that deal? Or that they’d get their PG without having to give up much of anything (they basically just upgraded Jack!)? Taking Dorsey in the second hurt as well, since I was pulling for him, but that’s just good drafting, I suppose.

It all added up in the frustration department, but as the shock wears off, I’m getting more and more comfortable that things went the way they went, and now we’ve got a new PF on the roster that hopefully will be a core piece moving forward.

Can we get back to crazy Artest/Miller/Salmons/Moore/K9/SAR/Williams/Douby trade rumors now? PRETTY PLEASE?

by smgmatt on Jun 26, 2008 9:35 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

ARG!

I just realized that had we actually gotten Bayless, that we would have had an (albeit small) opening to get Beasley from Miami, since they were looking at Mayo & Bayless in their “private” workouts.

Ok, I need to stop for tonight, I’m going to drive myself crazy again.

by smgmatt on Jun 26, 2008 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mayo

is reportedly going to Memphis for Love, with Mike Miller the primary sweetner.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jun 26, 2008 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

REALLY?

So Minny ended up with Love & Miller for the 3? That’s pretty good, and solves the logjam problem at guard as well.

I guess Jefferson will continue to play out of position at the 5 then, since he’s more likely to play there than Love, no?

by smgmatt on Jun 26, 2008 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So now Memphis

has Lowry/Conley/Crittenton/Mayo. They need a PF bad. Too bad we don’t have one to trade.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jun 26, 2008 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm

If they hadn’t included Miller, I’d say they were putting themselves in position to make a deal for Beasley . . . but I don’t know if that deal will fly now that Miller’s in Minny.

by smgmatt on Jun 26, 2008 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder what other players are being included

I had a feeling Mayo wouldn’t end up in Minny. I just had a feeling that wouldn’t happen.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jun 26, 2008 10:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

From Hoopsworld

The deal as described to HOOPSWORLD will feature Memphis sending the draft rights to Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins to Minnesota for the draft right to O.J. Mayo, Marko Jaric, Antoine Walker and Greg Buckner

Emphasis mine.

by smgmatt on Jun 26, 2008 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah that sounds right

At first I saw Mike Miller, and I was like, what other players are included. Pretty good trade for both sides really.

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. It's simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get tangled, you tango on

by pookeyguru on Jun 26, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought you went to bed 4+ posts ago

Ok, I need to stop for tonight, I’m going to drive myself crazy again.
by smgmatt on Jun 26, 2008 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

: )

The scab is off, the wound bleeds again.
-lietothegirls

by KK on Jun 26, 2008 10:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Me too

Unfortunately (fortunately?) I’m still here.

by smgmatt on Jun 26, 2008 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have FIVE, man!

Take any three not named Jason Thompson.

by Carl on Jun 26, 2008 10:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sadly, I missed the draft.

Sadder is the reason I missed it; to attend a rosary for my friend’s dad who passed away unexpectedly at age 60.

So I guess I’m looking at things with a different perspective. To say the choice surprised me is an understatement but it doesn’t rock my world/shake my fan foundation either. But that’s probably because of the day I’ve had and the worse week my friend’s family has had.

Thompson? I was bewildered and since I saw the pick before I got to StR, I thought I’d investigate a little. The guy seems like a typical under the radar Petrie pick.

I’m probably reproducing stuff discussed in earlier threads but I’m not going to stay up all night reading them either.

So, mid major school, 2nd in rebounding in the nation last year, grew from a 5’11 freshman PG/SG in HS to a 6’11 PF/C in college. Petrie says he’s a great ball handler, Theus says the slow growth spurt helped make him a more complete player…not so hot defensively (yup, GP pick).

The youtube clips are few and far between, but the few I found show him to be a charming personality and a very buff and athletic player with a disarming smile (Webber 2.0).

Interview from his Jazz workout.

“Inside Rider” interview.

Game of Horse with a fellow Rider student and former HS BB player (who looks 18’’ shorter).

Probably all redundant links from previous threads. My apologies.

I’m so numb, the last two days of Ron-Ron rumors didn’t even affect my blood pressure. Even so, I did get a little tingle on the way home tonight to find out who the Kings drafted. On the face of things, I don’t hate him. Shoot, he could become a fan favorite if his play lives up to his personality.

The scab is off, the wound bleeds again.
-lietothegirls

by KK on Jun 26, 2008 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Prayers

for your friend, KK. Losing a dad…especially a “young” dad, sucks.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Jun 26, 2008 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks.

I know you understand. I’m a little embarrassed to have hit the post button to be honest.

He was a great guy who loved everyone and took in everyone he ever met as family and he was a big Kings fan, may he rest in peace.

So, let’s get back to the distraction from daily life that is sports (which also adds to the spice of daily life).

Thanks again Section. I’ll keep my future posts more on topic.

The scab is off, the wound bleeds again.
-lietothegirls

by KK on Jun 26, 2008 10:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah,

condolences and all that. Missed your wit around here. Like your take above on the pick. The last guy I remember going into college at 6’ and coming out at 7’ was a little known player by the name of David Robinson, let’s hope JT has a bit of that in him.

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Jun 26, 2008 10:36 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Since he's a college senior,

it took him more like 8 years to grow from 5’11” to 6’11”, he was still growing in college but I think it was just a couple of inches. David Robinson potential? Then Petrie stole him outright! From your lips to God’s ears! (but I don’t see it…yet).

Chad Ford mentioned him as a possible 14 pick in his last mock with the potential to go higher. I guess we’ll find out more in November.

And thanks for the rest of your post, much appreciated.

The scab is off, the wound bleeds again.
-lietothegirls

by KK on Jun 26, 2008 11:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, HS freshman

I heard College freshman on the TV, and missed it in your post. Well Robinson is a top 50 all-time and it took JT twice as long to grow so maybe he’ll be a top 100 all-time player. :D

Ball movement ... is like jogging for most people: They do it occasionally, and it makes them happy. Then they go back to not doing it. - Henry Abbott

by Kfan in Korea on Jun 27, 2008 4:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs