Kings Get No. 4 Pick, and I'm Still Alive
by Tom Ziller on May 19, 2009 7:14 PM PDT
in NBA Draft
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PrintIt's a miracle.
But seriously, to have a 25% chance at No. 1 and a 50%+ chance to get No. 1 or No. 2 ... and to end up with the worst-case scenario. That's painful.
If the Kings would have won a few more games -- that Cavaliers overtime thriller, Kevin Martin's 50-point game, the final Clippers game -- we would have ended up as the second or third worst team. And No. 4 wouldn't look so bad. It's the highest pick the Kings have had in a really, really long time. It may have come in the wrong year, but it's a super high pick in an NBA draft. We have a great drafting GM. We're going to be OK.
And we have assets. We have the No. 23. We have the No. 31, which has been known to be more valuable than some picks between No. 20 and No. 30 due to the lack of the rookie salary scale required. We have a good expiring contract in Kenny Thomas, heading into the summer in which all hell will break lose.
The top of the draft order looks really unsettled. The Clippers have a bizarre roster. The Thunder have definite positional needs but question marks as to which positions current players will best fit in. Memphis is run by Chris Wallace. Things can happen ...
... both ways. As I've intimated before, there's some strength in the late lottery range: DeJuan Blair, Ty Lawson, Jrue Holiday, Stephen Curry. Minnesota might want to jump up if Hasheem Thabeet is a target -- they own #6 and #18. There's room to maneuver all over this thing.
And -- again, I don't believe in jinxes -- Ricky Rubio can drop. We've all thought it through, played out the game in our minds. It can happen. Maybe it won't. Probably, it won't. But it can.
We're OK. The Kings will rise again.
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Comments
Don’t kid yourself. The only saving grace to this entire situation is Tyreke Evans will be the 2nd best player in this draft and he’ll be selected 4th.
by Smills91 on May 19, 2009 7:17 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
epic fail
I haven’t ever seen one attempt to get a 1st here. And now the first has been… a fail. Congrats to you Brian.
Bé foréwarnéd: I am a mémbér of StR Groupthink méntality.
i was first yesterday though!
i swear it!
look at the times!
by Brian5517209 on May 20, 2009 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions
i hope Rubio drops
if not then take Thabeet
well Bill Simmons got his wish
an elite franchise got the first pick
by Brian5517209 on May 19, 2009 7:19 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I like Evans at 4
Jennings didn’t have a great year, but I’m still taking a hard look at a kid with his skills and still so much upside.
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.
This team, this franchise
needed some excitement to put some fans asses in seats.
The optimism is great but -
We’re in real trouble.
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
That I will agree with you on.
A number 1 or 2 pick would have generated a LOT of excitement in Sacramento for the casual fan.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement.
By casual, I guess you mean ticket buying?
yes, yes they did.
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on May 19, 2009 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions
I have no hope.
This was terrible. 3 teams in the west leapfrogged us. I am so depressed I barely want the pick.
The fans were mad that the Kings took Peja Stojakovic instead of John Wallace
They’ll get over this if they believe the franchise will rise again. There’s no reason to feel depressed about the result no matter how hard that may be to feel right now.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
They were selling out every game at the time
big difference
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on May 19, 2009 8:23 PM PDT up reply actions
I like the Wallace reference...
…I was convinced that he would be an absolute NBA stud. The cautionary tale of his NBA “career” was the one thing that gave me pause over Griffin.
Man, what balls GP had to pass on him! And he guessed right. So, I’m not terribly bummed. I think Petrie can do something very strong with #4…
Agreed
I always overreact, and I know we’ll get a good player at #4, but this hurts me deeply.
by discocricket on May 19, 2009 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions
this is awful
there is no sugar coating this. we have the 4th pick in a 3 player draft. I agree, its time to start the earliest tanking process in the history of tanking processes and get another 25% chance at the #1. I’m sorry but there is no talking yourself into a worst case scenario as being good. Somehow Donte Greene thinks its “pretty good” according to his twitter. Actually its Effing AWFUL.
Who the F is that guy Chad Ford has us taking? Some hack power forward from PITT. If we traded the pick would it be worth it? I honestly think its time to start talking about trading down, but who want’s the 4th pick? AHHHHH.
by Travis Mays Hayes on May 19, 2009 7:28 PM PDT reply actions
This is a 2 player draft.
Thabeet sucks.
He has Hill going to the Kings
which is stupid. But Blair, who you’re talking about, is going 16.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement.
I have faith...I have faith...I HAVE FAITH!
Somehow, even if we’re not getting Rubio or Griffin, I know GP is going to make the right choice and we’ll end up with an impact player.
There can only be one Noce!
We got ROYALLY SCREWED !!
Another big market team gets the first pick. IT’S FIXED!!! and IM DONE!
SCREW THE NBA !!
Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!
I think the Clippers getting the number one pick
proves beyond a doubt the lottery isn’t rigged. Possibly the worst team for Griffin to fall to.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement.
Yeah...Griffin's not even going to be second fiddle there. He might be like the third or fourth fiddle.
There can only be one Noce!
Silver lining alert
Question: What kind of bear is best?
by otis29 on May 19, 2009 9:08 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Actually Yeah
I just checked out the list of people drafting ahead of us, I think the Maloofs have no choice but to try to trade up to 2 or 3. Apparently (according to chad ford who knows nothing) the Grizz really want thabeet, and I know for a fact that OKC has Westbrook and needs a shooter. We have to try to package or late first/ early second with the 4th for the 2nd or 3rd so we can get Rubio. If I am Petrie/ Maloofs its do or die time for the franchise in terms of talent but more importantly ticket sales and fan excitement. We NEED Rubio, there is no choice. I would even throw in K9 (woof!) and take back an awful long term contract if I had to, but its not my millions.
by Travis Mays Hayes on May 19, 2009 7:43 PM PDT reply actions
The fact that we didnt win the lottery
has me so depressed that I really think it could be the beginning of the end of the Kings in Sacramento..
Ok, so the beginning already started a long time ago but this could have saved us. Some national TV revenue with the top pick.. but now, we pick 4th and will have some dude that ESPN and TNT don’t give a fuck about. Fans will stay away from ARCO again and the Malloofs will be forced to consider moving the team..
Unless we can SOMEHOW SOMEWAY get Rubio.
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
I agree
end of the franchise in Sacramento if we don’t get Rubio. I really don’t think that is an overstatement.
by Travis Mays Hayes on May 19, 2009 7:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Better start packing then
’ain’t happenin’
he big problem is can the fanbase wait this out now?
I just don’t know, they were on life support already.
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on May 19, 2009 7:49 PM PDT up reply actions
exactly..
i dont live in sac so i only got to go to 1 game last year..but the attendance was pathetic. i cant see it being a lot better without a potential star
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
Eh, I'm not worried.
4th pick is high. Evans or Jennings could easily turn out as good or better than Rubio. We’ll prolly have a high pick next year and end up with a Wall or something. Lets think long term. No pick – not even Griffin – is going to make us a winning team.
Exactly.
We don’t even know how good these players are going to be for sure. Nobody knows for sure. At least let’s see how it all turns out on the court before we start jumping ship.
I'm not jumping ship
But we really need a player that will put asses in seats or the Kings arent gonna be here much longer. And I think we all need them to stay.
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
We need a player who will improve this team
and THAT will put butts in the seats. A player by himself won’t bring people back. A good product on the floor and more wins will bring people back to Arco.
Yep
I’m not too worried about this team. It needs a positive direction. Today, was not what we all wanted. But, it’s better than having a 14th pick in the draft with every team 1-14 have equal odds to finish anywhere.
How would you feel if the Kings randomly finished 11th right now?
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
It'd dissapointing but it is not that bad
We are going to get a quaity guy and probably a starter while improving this team. We have 3 picks that could easily turn into 2 rotation players (throughjust drafting them, or trading).
It;s not the freaking end of the world. If you are not gonna come out and support this team then of course it’s gonna go away. If you wanna pack your bags, then go ahead and get the fuck out!! (I’m really sorry TZ but it just doesn’t have the same feel without that word). I care too much about this team to star crying now and feel sorry for the situation.
I will feel that way
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
Whenever you're ready
Please join us. :)
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
pookey
under the current rules 4th was the worst pick the kings could possibly drop to. this is the worst case scenario.
by Travis Mays Hayes on May 20, 2009 2:07 AM PDT up reply actions
Rubio will drop
I don’t think he will go top 3. He just doesn’t score enough. And he may not go 4th if he falls that far.
This is going to a great test for Geoff Petrie. It’s going to be interesting to see who drops to him, and who he picks.
"The basis for winning an NBA title is having a superstar in his prime. Not an all-star, or a bunch of all-stars, but a superstar."
by coolcatreportdotcom on May 19, 2009 7:46 PM PDT reply actions
I think DJ
is the guy who posted that story about DJ. Next up, my rec league stats with an accompanying story.
by Travis Mays Hayes on May 19, 2009 7:48 PM PDT reply actions
lodisacfan
is giving the Kings ONE MORE CHANCE to sign him!! A local kid with a 55" vertical! Now THAT will put butts in seats
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
Honestly
I just want the Kings to stay in Sac. That’s all I care about..
I’m thinking if we could bring in Rubio or Griffin that would really help things. Durant couldn’t keep the Sonics in Seattle tho.. So maybe it won’t effect the final outcome anyway.
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
It's hardly likely to matter
The arena is everything when it comes to the Kings staying in Sacramento. Seriously.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Exactly
That was a good example though, for everyone who’s crying that the Kings are leaving Sac because of the lottery. The team will stay if the people in Sac support this team and do everything in their power to get a new arena. All I know, is that no mtter how bad this team is I will support it and go to Arco to watch them lose, if that means they’ll stay in Sac. That’s me, and that’s only one person.. we are gonna need a lot more
Every time
I come home to Lodi during bball season next year I will make sure to go to a game. And bring friends
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
We’re OK. The Kings will rise again.
You bet your ass we will.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I'm gonna do it again in this post
for fuck’s sake would you just click here?
www.mancancook.net
by vfettke on May 19, 2009 8:10 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Oh, the seductive lure of the
Youtube highlight video.
I’m having deja vu visions of Starbury…
Find some video of Evans playing Mizzou in the NCAA Tourney. That is real.
ok
I’m feeling better.. got some beer in me. We’re going to be OK.
Hopefully next year we’ll have a .7% chance for #1 and we win and get Wall
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
I think the difference here is level of risk
Griffin is almost a sure-fire NBA player. He may even become a star.
There are more questions about Rubio, but he could be a star as well.
Thabeet could be boom or bust. He could be Mutombo, he could be Adonal Foyle. That’s quite a chasm.
Evans and Jennings are rougher around the edges. They could become stars but it will take time to find out.
By dropping to #4, we have increased risk. But the reward is still there. It’s your move, GP.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
by section214 on May 19, 2009 8:38 PM PDT reply actions 6 recs
I agree with ed
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
A deep draft class
Brandon Jennings was ranked the #1 player coming out of high school a year ago. He is young and very skilled and could be a strong point guard for the future. This draft has 8 potential starting point guards. I am sure Petrie will pick a point guard for the King’s future. The kings already have some depth off the bench, so they should package their next two draft picks in order to move up further in the draft and get another high quality player to be productive off the bench. They need a player who brings the intangibles which the Kings lack: rebounding, blocks, steals, DEFENSE & INTENSITY.
by LONGTIMEFAN1978 on May 19, 2009 8:45 PM PDT reply actions
The thing I like about Jennings
Is he is already campaigning to be a King… Gotta love players who want to play in SAC
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
Tell that to LeBron James.
AND PLEASE don’t tell me I’m comparing Jennings to James which I’m not.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement.
James entered the NBA and immediately proved his worth
Jennings went to Europe and showed he has a long ways to go.
We’re OK. The Kings will rise again.
Most likely in another city. Unless the team does a complete turnaround, this franchise is in serious danger of relocating. We needed the first pick damnit!!
"You can get a good look at a T-bone by sticking your head up a bulls ass, but wouldn't you rather take a butchers word for it?"
Clippers last had the No 1 pick in 1998. They took Michael Olowokandi
Available: Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, Rashard Lewis, …
Hopefully we'll be able to laugh at them again
When Evans turns into a perenial all-star and Griffin forgets how to play.
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
nbadraft.net
I used to go to this site for info…but I just checked their new mock draft..
They have the Kings taking Jordan Hill…I highly doubt that..
AND they have Budinger going at 12 and Evans not in the top 14. lol
The NBA: "Where 27 free throws happens"
Chad Ford has us taking Hill, too
It’s way early, and none of these guys have a freakin’ clue as to what Petrie is thinking.
That said, Draft Express has probably been as good as any of them over the past couple of years – they have us taking Jennings.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Yep
My bet is DX.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Good god,
why are some people so high on Hill? I can’t say I watched him a ton, but in four or five Pac-10 games I saw, he never struck me as being a top 5 pick. In fact, I was equally impressed by another power forward from the state of AZ – Jeff Pendergraph. He’s Chandleresque. I realize his numbers aren’t as strong as Hill’s, but Harden took all the shots! Possible steal at 23 or 31…?
I don't like Hill at all
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
by lietothegirls on May 19, 2009 11:14 PM PDT up reply actions
In Geoff We Trust
Apparently the Clippers also would have won the #2 pick, bastards!
Chad Ford mentioned the Kings bringing in Jrue Holiday on Wed. I’m not convinced we should take him at #4. Maybe the system and rotation at UCLA limited his potential, but he didnt blow me away.
Brandon Jennings stock rose in my book after reading the article at Draft Express. It seems like he has matured quite a bit in Europe. Instead of pouting about playing time he is working hard and being a team player which would be a 180* change from his High School days.
Jennings, Evans, Holiday…its got a be a PG for us at #4, but I would rather look into trade scenarios to move up to get Rubio.
I also like that he wants to play for Sacramento
Probably because he’d get a huge boost in playing time and the chance to become the franchise savior.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement.
Oh the memories
I remember the game threads down the stretch of the season, and the amazement that some people around here had that many of us were still rooting for our favorite team to win games at the expense of a few ping pong balls.
“Who cares about a few meaningless wins this season when it may cost us the #1 pick??”
Gee, that sounds kind of silly now, doesn’t it?
Question: What kind of bear is best?
Great point otis
I still remember being pissed out of my mind for leaving Kevin on the bench in that game against OKC. Loing never guaranteed anything and now it is easy to see…
I'm still angry about the San Antonio game the OKC game the Cleveland game and whatever else
Tanking never does shit anymore. There is no guarantee a team will get that top pick. Ever.
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
I'd rather have the third or fourth worst record
Seems there’s more upside. :)
Question: What kind of bear is best?
"Who cares about a few meaningless wins this season when it may cost us the #1 pick??"
Gee, that sounds kind of silly now, doesn’t it?
Actually, it doesn’t. Those games were absolutely meaningless, and the fact that we got screwed lost the #1 pick doesn’t change the fact that we were better off with the best chance at a #1 than beating the Clippers in late April of a 17-win season.
Evidently not
Since the team with the worst record in the league rarely pulls the #1 spot.
But don’t let the facts of what’s actually happened tonight get in your way.
Question: What kind of bear is best?
We could be picking 5th or worse though, eh?
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 May 19, 2009 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions
yeah, that's sort of the main point
obviously there’s not a giant difference between 25% and 17.6%, but there’s a huge difference between guaranteed 4 and guaranteed 5.
Sure
Is there huge difference in the 4 through 7 spots in this draft?
Question: What kind of bear is best?
If the guy you want gets taken 4th then yes there is
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 May 20, 2009 5:47 AM PDT up reply actions
But odds are odds, those are the relevant facts
The outcomes are due to small samples. Being worst gets you a ~50% chance at a top 2 pick. It always will, even if the 14th team gets it five years in a row.
by discocricket on May 19, 2009 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions
I understand the math
But honestly, if you as a fan can’t control either event…whether the Kings win any particular individual game or how the ping pong balls come out at the lottery…why not just root for your team to win?
I enjoyed rooting for the Kings last year…and when they lost I could find the silver lining of a few extra ping pong balls. But rooting for your team to lose all those games, and then getting the #4 pick? That can’t be a good feeling.
We control what we can control. I’m a fan of the Kings, so I will always root for them to win. Everything else will sort itself out in due time.
Question: What kind of bear is best?
I'm with Otis
May not be popular, and losing did give us the 4th pick, but I would always root for this team to win
I don't disagree with the system
But I don’t agree with it either. I think that the teams with bad records should get more balls than they already have.
I'm not sure that I'm sold on the system
But the three teams that jumped the Kings averaged 22 wins (the Kings finished with 17). All in all, the worst teams teams in the NBA really did wind up with the best picks.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
We should have expected this...
When was the last time that something great happened to the Sacramento Kings?
More than just ANtics: http://www.louisgray.com/live/
I renewed my tickets last month
That was pretty great for them…
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
True True.
Wish I lived up in Sac. I would be a season ticket holder for sure, no Disneyland etc. to distract my money.
Blessings.Love.Peace
by lifestyleforthesellout on May 19, 2009 10:26 PM PDT up reply actions
I hope you never regret owning season tickets 214
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Mrs. section214 regrets for both of us
And it will probably work against me at my commitment hearings. Oh, well.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
I would argue that it's the other way
Just proof of how much your wife does in fact love you. Eh, what do I know? I ain’t ever been married. LOL
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Its been a mystery and still they try to see
Why somethin good can hurt so bad
Caught on a one-way street, the taste of bittersweet
Love will survive somehow, some way
One love feeds the fire
One heart burns desire
I wonder, whos cryin now
Two hearts born to run
Wholl be the lonely one
I wonder, whos cryin now
Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....
No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....
Well...shit happens!
But now there is only one thing that matters: DON’T DRAFT NATTIN TABHEET!
I’d be happy with Jennings and Evans, really, it doesn’t matter that the lottery couldn’t go worst thant it did. But don’t draft that guy, oh no.
Anyway there is a very slight possibility that Rubio drops to no.4, but I still think that even Jennings or Evans would be great picks.
"Even when I’m old and grey, I won’t be able to play it, but I’ll still love the game." — Michael Jordan
Go Kings!
Panzerfaust, if you could somehow, virally sneak Nattin
into common usage in Europe then this whole dismal season would have been worth it..
"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley
I'm working on it
Sure as hell I’ll tell people here how sending a former player who has never won nothing and who has been dealing with injuries all his career is not a good way to try to get lucky…
"Even when I’m old and grey, I won’t be able to play it, but I’ll still love the game." — Michael Jordan
Go Kings!
Also his number when playing was 4
Why did nobody think of this and send Vlade instead. He’s got so much good karma saved up and his number was 21 and 12. 1 or 2. 2 or 1.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement.
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