Desmond Mason, You Make No Sense
by Ziller on Sep 17, 2009 11:56 AM PDT
in Commentary
73 comments
I don't get it. The risk is small, sure -- it's been reported that Desmond Mason is a King on a one-year minimum salary contract. Mason will earn $1.187 million (assuming the contract is fully guaranteed), but the league will pay $362,000 of that, so the Kings will actually put out $825,000.
But just because a move has little risk doesn't make it a good or acceptable move. There's opportunity cost beyond the minimal free agent dollars. That's a roster spot he's soaking up. A roster spot that could go to a D-League player or undrafted rookie prospect. A roster spot that could go to a back-up center. A roster spot that could go to Chris Bosh's best friend from third grade.
A young D-League player or undrafted rookie prospect -- and I assume Chris Bosh's best friend from the third grade -- could be sent to Reno. It's amazing, the D-League. It allows you to get kids playing time without pissing off your veterans, it lets you look for diamonds in the proverbial rough. Is Desmond Mason, at age 32, a likely candidate to become a diamond in the rough? I don't think so. Neil Paine doesn't think so. I daresay Desmond Mason probably doesn't think so. Players who depend on their athleticism don't typically get better in their mid-30s.
Mason is said to be a great guy who works hard and sets a good example. In Oklahoma City last season, he became a fan favorite (he's a local product) and a mentor to Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. And guess what? Those warm fuzzy feelings were not enough to convince the Thunder to keep Mason. For some strange reason, the Thunder remains committed to ... what, building with youth? What a terrible idea.
The Kings are worse than the Thunder, have more developing wings in desperate need of court time than the Thunder and are in worse financial shape than the Thunder. Yet the Thunder passes on the local favorite, while the Kings sign him. The intangible benefits of Mason in OKC greatly outweigh those he'll offer in Sacramento (where he has played with none of the players previously). Yet, here he is, taking up a roster spot. And what's the best-case scenario? Dez magically imparts the infinite wisdom of nine mediocre NBA seasons onto the youngsters, immediately making them All-NBA candidates? Mason teaches Donte Greene this one really sick dunk which will definitely turn some heads during a pre-game warm-up at Staples Center?
Seriously, what good can come of it? If he plays, one of the kids (who desperately need on-court seasoning) isn't playing. He's not ever going to play so well as to change the fortunes of the team. If he's not playing, he's wasting a roster spot. There is no positive result, is there?
Sean May and Desmond Mason will draw the same amount of cash from the Kings this season (though Mason will make more in total because of the league's contribution). May is young and his numbers are good -- he's been a victim of injury and himself. Mason is old and his numbers are bad -- he's been a victim of getting old and never being terribly good by NBA standards to begin with. This team needs more reclamation projects like the former, and less like the latter. If you're going to sign a player for the sole benefit of chemistry and leadership, re-sign Bobby Jackson!
The only connection Mason has to this franchise beyond being a previous Geoff Petrie target is that he played 15 games under Paul Westphal in Seattle. If this move is Westphal-driven, it does not speak well to the coach's confidence in Donte Greene and Omri Casspi. And as a fan who would much rather see the future of the franchise learn through its mistakes rather than watch a 33-year-old make the same mistakes, I think that stinks.
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Well TZ looks like you and I wrote up a post on the same thing at the same time
Ah well. Our posts are different enough that I won’t delete mine. Although I was going to mention the Bobby Jackson point as well.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
perplexing,
to say the least. Does this mean the Omri might be headed for the “Biggest Little City in the World?”
by longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller on Sep 17, 2009 12:27 PM PDT reply actions
Before this move, I figured if we kept Noce at least one of Donte or Omri would have to
now I’m afraid both should if they’re going to develop at all this year.
On court mentor and teacher for Donte and Omri
That’s the only thing that possibly makes any sense whatsoever. And hopefully it’s mostly on the practice court where this happens.
I disagree
I think signing a young player who realistically won’t ever get a chance to play is pointless. We have so many young guys on the team that a solid veteran with good character will help them much more and be more beneficial to the team in the long run.
I don’t think there’s much veteran leadership on the Kings, which I think is very important for developing the younger guys. I think a guy like Mason, who knows the league and knows what it takes to be successful can set a good example and keep the others on track. The young players now will be better off because of it in the long run.
So basically, if you were looking to fill a roster spot, I’d much rather have a guy who can help develop the players who look to be a big part of the future of the team rather than get a young, undrafted FA who most likely will never contribute a thing.
Just not convinced
that he fits the desciption of
knows what it takes to be successful
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 Sep 18, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
But that's what we have Noc for.
Although, I do agree that I would rather sign DM over an undrafted rookie prospect. Having said that, I wouldn’t have signed either one. Unless I had to do something to make a trade work. But I’ve heard very little chatter about trades lately, except for Arenas’ demand.
Hey, a backcourt of Arenas and Evans…we’d get 60 points a game from our guards!
…And 12 points from everyone else!
"We ain't in the takin' prisoners business. We in the killin' Nazi's business...and Cousin, business is a-boomin'."
by PhutureKings on Sep 17, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think
this is a bad signing by any means. I agree it doesn’t make a ton of sense. But I like it for leadership purposes if that’s what he’s being brought in to do.
It would have been a lot more palatable, I’m sure, if the Kings brought in another backup big man aboard first either via signing or trading K-9 and then made the signing, keeping the roster at 14 guys.
by Zach H from Talk H on Sep 17, 2009 12:49 PM PDT reply actions
Wouldn't bringing back B-Jax be the better route?
If your answer for “leadership” and “mentoring” is DM, then I think you’ve asked the wrong question.
"We ain't in the takin' prisoners business. We in the killin' Nazi's business...and Cousin, business is a-boomin'."
by PhutureKings on Sep 17, 2009 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Bobby Jackson would have absolutely been the better move. I can’t argue with that.
by Zach H from Talk H on Sep 17, 2009 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm thinking BJax may have burned that bridge a bit last season.
He was a bit out-spoken and not in a “support of the franchise” kind of way. That may be why he isn’t coming back.
As for Mason? I just hope that means we’re trading Nocioni and he’s coming aboard as an insurance backup behind Donté and Omri.
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 Sep 17, 2009 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
So can we trade Noc for an expiring now?
or more accurately, at the deadline? I feel like there’s a parallel with the Giants and Renteria and Aurilia getting time over Velez and Uribe.
Desmond Mason? Really?
I’d like this if he were part of an upcoming trade.
I’d like it even better if we we got this Desmond Mason. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aITDRL6hUVA
I know that was then and all...
But, sheeeit, those are some sweet dunks.
Taking a wait and see on this one…
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.
I remember i saw on youtube
he had a dunk against the Kings, around the 5 min mark in the vid. Dude jumped from almost the free throw line on us.
My reaction exactly
What the **** for?
And the guy cannot shoot a lick. Career from 3-pt range = 26% . . . for a wing player.
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Sep 17, 2009 1:36 PM PDT reply actions
Once again Geoff Petrie digs at the bottom of the barrel in search of a homer
Same thing with Lobster Claws and Beno Drain-o.
The difference is
Beno and Mikki were given the MLE, not the vet minimum.
"Greg Ostertag is one of the finest centers in the history of Western Civilization." - Bill Walton
by submison on Sep 17, 2009 4:10 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
And thats a huge difference.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
I think
He is here to give K-Mart 5-6 Minutes of breating time, and he isn’t bad if K-Mart goes down. I would hate to have K-mart go down and we start Evans at the 2 and isn’t able to go back to PG when K-mart comes back. This way, he is always the PG, no matter what. But still i think a Back up center whould have been nice…who knows we could be getting random peices which will help up land Bosh, Amre or ….yeah that’s about it
by shadowchicken on Sep 17, 2009 2:08 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree if we are looking to have
him b/u the 2. Noc, Greene, and Casspi, are all 3s who really can’t play the two. So Garcia is our only b/u at the two, and even he is more of a 3. My problem, ince I started doing a little research is that I don’t think Mason is a 2 either. From everything I can see, it looks like we just added a fourth or fifth head to the SF hydra.
"Shut up and Coach!"
Vfettke
by SavageBeast on Sep 17, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Even if Speed gets hurt, Mason can't play significant minutes at the two
Shooting guards have to be able to shoot, and he can’t shoot. Defenses will just sag off him and double other guys and/or pack the lane. The Kings cannot afford to have a 4-on-5 offense.
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Sep 17, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Good point
and if he’s paired with Evans at the 1 Tyreke can’t shoot either. The entire opposing D will be camped in the lane.
Seriously
I thought we had Garcia as back-up at the 2 to ease off the limited minutes at SF. I guess Petrie wants to load up the bench with so many wings that some players won’t see the light of day, in terms of playing time.
I swear, I’m on the verge of giving GP a new nickname… The Colonel.
The way I see it,
This is proof positive, in my opinion, that we’ll see a 3 traded at some point this year. Probably Noc, and probably in a salary dump type situation. Although I’ll hold out hope that Mason through some miracle evolved into a superstar this summer. I’m sure crazier things have happened, I just can’t think of any.
Kevin Durant
tweeted me back about Mason.
KevinDurant35</a>: "rcs360 plays harder than anyone i ever seen!! great defender"
If he does play for this team that’s what I’d like to see. Defense.
Read my post
Using advanced statistics, he gives up more points on defense than than he scores on offense. But I don’t know. Stats can be misleading sometimes.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
Sometimes I wonder...
who’s putting together this roster? Because whoever it is hasn’t watched an NBA game since 2005.
Sean May is not fat. It's widescreen distortion.
I don't get it
unless there IS a trade being worked out and he’s the extra piece.
So imitate the action of the tiger!.
Lend the eye a terrible aspect
- and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii
He wont be the extra piece
Because he ain’t making any money! The Maloofs need to hunker down, and any trade will be to dump salary. If all goes right they might trade a coupla 2’s that we have extra lying around and parley that with possibly a draft pick for a serviceable backup center. Mason, making the league minimum would stay and maybe play. I can see losing possibly Garcia or Noc or perhaps both to a team that has an expiring older backup center that can fulfill our need, I guess it would depend on the center.
A higher quality older big man with a larger expiring contract would be exactly what the Kings would be looking for. If they were to trade Noc or Garcia or both, then Mason makes some sense. Something along the lines of this:
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=kkw8zd
Mason could come in for 5-6 minutes a game to give Martin a rest. But the question is, who in the league needs 2-3 or 3-4 swingmen? The league is littered with serviceable swingmen ! Most college kids coming into the league are not 6’11 or 7 foot. They are 6’5 to 6’8 and athletic.
Hopefully Petrie has a plan, and the plan works. If anyone can come up with a better reason for the addtiton of a 2-3 swingman like Mason other than setting up a future trade that will make Mason a part of the rotation then lets hear it !
Another year, another chance to hope for the team !!
There's also the possibility that trades also sometimes
need to include a body count
and an extra body that doesn’t really cost anything, can be released without heartburn or come off the bench to save some face for the other team . . . .
well, I hope so anyway.
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 Sep 18, 2009 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions
Read the article
it’s in the last paragraph.
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 Sep 17, 2009 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions
What the?
The roster just got a lot weirder. And to think, most of us thought we needed another big. Who knew?
Purveyor of Bull Plop
You should have just posted
“User name”
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
I'll take the other side
I’m ok with the Mason signing. Sure, he has no future here, but he’s an actual NBA player. He’s a great guy (supposedly), will play hard and defend when he’s in, and he gives Dé3 and Omri someone to beat out to “earn” their minutes.
Look at it this way, if Dé3 and Omri can’t beat Mason in practice and show they deserve time, they have no business being in games anyway. Nocioni isn’t as good for comparing to for a couple reasons:
a) he’s still actually a close to average NBA player, which makes it unlikely Donte or Omri will be better than him next year
b) this makes Nocioni completely superfluous and able to be traded as soon as GP finds the right deal, which should be mid-2012 or so (I jest)
This signing opens up Westphal’s full set of options. If Dé3 or Omri are being asshats, off to Reno or the bench they go, and an actual NBA player will play their minutes, even if he’s nearing the end. If one of them destroys Mason day in and day out in practice, they’ll be destroying an actual NBA defender and athlete, not an undersized PF flopper with a nice outside shot, who desperately needs to get out of town during his best years to a contender.
Professional Hyperbole Slayer
by ForThree on Sep 17, 2009 4:38 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
What if Westphal gives Noc time at PF?
It would clear up some of the logjam at sf.
I was under the impression that the Kings only wanted to carry 13 contracts. Mason makes 14 so I think you’re onto something about Casspi and Greene. This move makes sense if you look at it as an insurance policy, that the Kings front office is betting Casspi (and possibly even Greene) will not be ready to contribute and will spend a lot of time at the D-League. Maybe they’re even planning on alternating Casspi and Greene for D-League stints. Give one guy a month in Reno and then bring him back up to see where he’s at while the other guy does a month of development.
by Kevin Conroy on Sep 17, 2009 4:46 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought the same thing
With Noc played at 4 and Donte being a cornerman. Omri has had some experience playing PF (though in the NBA he’d die defending the 4).
Is Rod Benson that far away from being an NBA player that no team, especially our bad undersized one is looking to add him?
Sean May is not fat. It's widescreen distortion.
I think teams are more afraid of Benson's media presence
literally “Too much Rod Benson”
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
Is Brian Sabean running the Kings now as well?
This smells of Edgar Renteria…but hopefully more of Juan Uribe…
Vanquish the Foe, a BYU Cougars blog at SB Nation
by sroufe on Sep 17, 2009 4:58 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
he will
get traded. He isn’t guranteed beyond Jan. 31. A team can take him, and K-9 in a trade, wave him in January, and get K-9’s expiring contract to save a ton of money.
So
we save money by only paying a guy for half a year when we shouldn’t be paying for him at all?
Coaching material?
Is this guys a potential assistant coach? I can’t think of any reason for getting him unless it is likely to be in transition to coaching.
If it isn’t that then I go back to my default position in all things about this roster. Geoff Petrie is moron and should be fired.
I would have gone to Charlie Weaver for the block
but this may work out.
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Sep 17, 2009 8:45 PM PDT reply actions
I'm not going to say I'm mad at this signing
Mason’s a still-solid vet at a reasonable contract, and the signing adds another asset we can use to make a trade or even just be a solid guiding prescence for the youth, but hopefully more of the former.
I just hope he doesn’t play significant time when the youth really are better than him at the time.
"Greg Ostertag is one of the finest centers in the history of Western Civilization." - Bill Walton
You don't sign guys to 1 year minimum deals to put them in trades
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
Relax
I mean there is a plan in place…Either he brings something Front office likes, or the puzzle for 09-10 season hasn’t been completed.
If he can pull a few of those moves in his highlight reels, or even if they rub off on some of the younger kids, this will help put fans in seats wont it?
Im ok if he stays or if he is in plan for another trade scenario. Either way, there is postivies.
Do these count as expirings??
Considering the May, and now the Mason contracts…are these considered expiring 1 year deals? If so, do you see these as some sort of Petrie mad wizard plan in order to package in a trade deal. Leaving Noc out of the conversation, we now have K9’s (woof!), May’s and Mason’s contacts. I’m not sure when May and Mason are tradeable, but if they can moderately produce, they may be even more attractive to playoff teams looking to deal picks or youth. I’m just trying to figure out the logic to the whole thing. I still believe in Geoff! I really don’t buy into the whole “Mason’s is here as a mentor teammate and motivational asset to our youth” idea. I have to believe that there is a bigger picture….who’s with me!!!??
People don't really care about 1 year minimum salary deals
May and Mason are here to actually produce. May I think is being given a one year trial, and might get an extension if he performs well (and I have high hopes for him).
Mason on the other hand is being signed as a veteran presence at little to no risk for a year. I just don’t like the signing because it doesn’t really fill a need and I’d rather see Donte and Omri play.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
Dose of Reality
Teams need to fill out their rosters. A playing rotation is usually 9 to 10 players. That leaves you an 11th man and 12th man who ride the bench, and then a couple of guys on the inactive roster when injuries occur, players 13, 14 and 15 (potentially). Assuming Donte Greene or Omri Casppi turn out to be ready to play minutes, and our roster is healthy, Desmon Mason is somewhere near the bottom of the depth chart, player 10 (if both Omri and Donte fall out of favor), 11, 12, or inactive.
When you are adding a player to fill out a roster, player 11 to 15, you want a guy who won’t make a fuss, will practice hard, be professional, and can step onto the court if called upon (due to injuries, foul trouble, coaches whim, etc) and give a respectable effort. Jon Brockman fits this mold. The FO and coach staff are known to place emphasis on practicing hard, and want to round out their roster with competitive practice guys, like Mason and Brockman, to challenge the more skilled rotation players.
Anyway, signing Mason seems pretty insignificant. I agree he could be a trade chip later in the year. But I strongly doubt there is a deal on the table, and this is a precursor to that.
Good points
But the KIngs did not have to sign Mason to fill out their roster – they had already signed the minimum requirement. Furthermore, if it was just a move to add filler, they could have found a free agent rookie big man and signed him for even less than Mason.
I’m not on fire either way over this signing. However, if this does not lead to a deal at some point, I question the signing of this particular player for this particular roster.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Donte and Omri...
…did not inspire a lot of confidence with their summer league play. I think that is louded message sent with this signing.
Signing a free agent big for the sake of a balanced roster does not make sense to me if you perceive the available bigs as dead weight stiffs with little chance to contribute. I think Westphal would rather play small ball, shift JT to center, and Noccini to ‘4’ then stick in a back-up 7’0" who can’t handle a bounce pass to safe his life.
I get your point about having 12 players under contract. Nowadays though, 14 or 15 signed players is much more the norm than 12, with injuries, D-League, and all.
The reason for the signing is obvious
KT has gotten use to coming to the games in street clothes. As the 13th man on the roster he would of had to suit up. Now Mason is the 13th man, and KT can sit in the stands in his street clothes. It’s just another example of how PW is a players coach.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
Only 12 people on the active roster
KT would have been 13th after we signed Brockman. With Mason we have 14, so potentially we could see a young guy (Brock, Casspi) on the inactive unless Mason’s going there. Which I don’t think is happening.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
I read the contract is not guaranteed
If that’s the case, i have no problem with it. It gives Westphal more options if he feels the kids aren’t ready to even try to contribute. Not being a lock to make the team takes some of the sting out of the choice.
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