Another Kings Camp Invite: PG Lanny Smith
by Ziller on Sep 23, 2009 5:23 AM PDT
in News
21 comments
In addition to the 13 guaranteed contract players (yes, Jon Brockman's contract is guaranteed) the Kings will have four or five training camp invitees who will practice with the team and perhaps play in preseason games. In all likelihood, only one will make the regular season team, though the Kings could keep two or none. Desmond Mason (a nine-year vet swingman) and Jermareo Davidson (a 25-year-old center) are two of the invitees.
Another fellow on his way to camp: point guard Lanny Smith. Like Davidson, Smith played under Bryan Gates at Idaho of the D-League. A product of the University of Houston, the 24-year-old Smith suffered a catastrophic foot injury during his original senior season in 2006-07 -- doctors told him he may never play again. He came back, though, and played 20 minutes a game for UH in 2007-08 before making his way to Idaho, where he played mostly as a back-up.
Smith also participated in the recent NBA Asia Challenge, which is notable because 49-year-old Dominique Wilkins dunked on South Korean players during a game.
Smith won't contend for a roster spot, but as a quick guard he should provide good competition for Sergio Rodriguez and Beno Udrih. (Note: he will not provide good competition for Tyreke Evans because no one provides good competition for Tyreke Evans. The Kings are looking into having the basketball version of Deep Blue commissioned in order to give Evans an appropriate practice partner.)
0 recs |
21 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Landry
I wish they had invited him. He really looked good during the Summer League. I know we have too many Fs, but that guy can shoot. Not sure about the rest of his game, but seemed he was defending well enough…
He was
rebounded well as well.
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
This invite doesn't really do anything for me
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
Me either,
I think this, the roster and invites, may end up being more of a story of opportunity lost rather than opportunity gained.
The Kings have never really had any successes with regard to rookie free agents
But in fairness, not too many other teams have either. It’s a pretty thin talent pool, apparently.
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Sep 23, 2009 11:40 AM PDT up reply actions
Our roster is pretty set
I think you may be being a bit dramatic.
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 23, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
More about invites
I was really talking about invites as opportunities lost. I just wish some young talent, like Landry, were invited and stood a chance…
That said, the invites and who makes it ends up leading to any additions to our roster. If we are going to build with young talent then do that.
The roster is pretty set
K9(32), Nocioni(29), Cisco and Beno(27), Kevin(26), May(25), Everyone else, JT, Spencer, Donté, Omri, Tyreke, Sergio and JB 23 or under. That’s pretty damn young. That’s also 13 guaranteed contracts.
We may add one player. We can’t add more than 2. The chance that we actually add someone that breaks into our active roster is pretty slim. There’s not much opportunity to make the team, let alone gain playing time. Thus not much opportunity for the team to lose. Why I said you were being dramatic.
Not inviting Landry is the right move. He’s not going to make the team. If we invited him it would be only as camp fodder. It would be much better for him if he can get an invite where he actually stands a chance to make the squad.
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 23, 2009 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
He definitely deserves a roster spot in this league
Father of the "Natt this!" movement and Grandmaster of the "Never let AnotherStupidSN forget what a Sham-Wow is" Order.
What about potential trades
I agree that if you have no intention of bringing him onto the team then it isn’t cool to get his hopes up. I am, however, curious about how potential trades could impact the situation and scenarios.
There has been discussion of trades that include Nocioni and potentially others. That would change the roster and it may be that Donte’ and Omri don’t pick up all those minutes.
I also don’t think that, young as in rebuilding young, is Nocioni and that he doesn’t quite fits as part of a nucleus of players who should hit their peak in 2-3 years. Same goes for Desmond.
SO, if these guys aren’t part of that plan he should either be traded or not signed. Trade Noc away, save some salary, and develop your young players. This makes room for those with real potential like Donte’ or Omri, and yes I wish Landry, to get the time they need to develop.
I understand that you like how Landry looked in VSL
but you’re grasping at straws. I’d love for us to move Noc, but even if we did we still have 3 SFs ahead of Landry. There’s still no place for him. If we move Noc, which I don’t think is likely until near the break, if then, we need a SG to back up Kevin not a SF to back up Cisco, Greene and Casspi.
Young as in rebuilding young? What does that mean? Evans(20), Casspi, Greene and Hawes(21), Brockman(22), Rodriquez, Thompson(23), May(25) and Martin(26).
That’s 9 players that should get minutes that haven’t reached their peaks yet. Including 4 starters(assuming Evans becomes a starter at some point). That’s crazy young. That’s also 5 players entering their first or second year.
We’re just young.
Desmond? I figure he’s being brought in for one of 2 reasons. First as a favor to give him some exposure so he can earn a contract with some other team(likely). Second, because we’re planning to trade Noc very soon and want a veteran in the locker room(much less likely). Both scenarios are fine by me.
If he’s really being brought in to make the team as it stands, I’m a bit baffled, but it’s ok as long as he doesn’t get any playing time.
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 23, 2009 6:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Desmond could be there to replace Cisco, if he's traded.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
Well
Cisco is BYC, so he’s kind of tough to trade. But even if he wasn’t I’d be very surprised to see him traded.
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 24, 2009 4:35 AM PDT up reply actions
And in any case
There’s no way Mason replaces Cisco in any meaningful sense. Mason has little or no offensive game, and Cisco is a major offensive (and defensive) sparkplug off the bench.
Cisco’s not going anywhere unless someone gives us an offer we can’t refuse.
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Sep 24, 2009 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
No not the same type of player, but
he is a slasher like Tyreke. So, when Evans and Martin are off the court, having a 2 guard that plays like Tyreke to play along side Beno & Serg could bring some continuity to the second string offense. We’d still have enough outside shooter in the lineup that Mason wouldn’t need to replace Cisco’s outside shooting.
As far as Kfan’s comment on BYC. Yes, he will be until July 1 of 2010, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. His BYC trade Value is $2.9M. We still have cap space. So, a trade with Orlando for Gortat who has the same BYC trade value works. Also, Freseko & Korver for Garcia should also work. As long as we have the cap space to take back more than Garcia’s BYC value there are a lot of trades still possible.
"If you don't have anything good to say, LIE" - Mom
I don't see Beno or Serg providing a lot of outside shooting
And Mason is such a poor shooter that defenses will just sag off him and pack the lane and/or double team other guys. The guy would be a major offensive liability, even if he can play D, which is pretty debatable in and of itself.
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Sep 24, 2009 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I think that question
Collectively and succinctly reflects the general StR reaction to the signing.
We’re all still waiting for the answer.
From the people who brought you Reggie Musselnatt.
by My Losing Season on Sep 24, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
