Ime Udoka's Contract Guaranteed for Entire Season
by Tom Ziller on Jan 6, 2010 4:27 PM PST
in Commentary
Email
PrintSam Amick points out on Twitter that today was the day in which unguaranteed contracts become guaranteed, and Ime Udoka survived, therefore guaranteeing Udoka's minimum salary contract for the entire season. It offers a nice opportunity to say nice things about Udoka, who has fit into the Kings scheme quite well, despite that some schmuck argued he was the wrong option for the team.
If anything, among the role players Udoka has benefitted most from the team's overachievement. On a 20-win team, veterans -- no matter how upstanding, how professional, how mentor-y -- are overrated. Lessons ain't learned after loss No. 50, you know? At some point, the cost of playing time for young players outweighs the benefit of teaching the lesson of "waiting your turn, son." I don't know if I'm making sense, but it makes sense to me, and I guess to Jason Thompson vis a vis Mikki Moore.
On a 30-35 win team, which this Kings team would appear to be, veteran presence actually helps. There is something tangible to the idea age improves defense, and this team certainly needed defensive help when Udoka joined. (It needs more today.) Udoka isn't just a Big Brother, as Desmond Mason was posited to be, as Moore was after roughly December 1 last season. Udoka is a valuable member of the surprising Kings, and I'm glad the front office brought him aboard.
(One note on Sean May: his contract became guaranteed when he hit his target weight of 265 during preseason. It's believed other teams offered May unguaranteed contracts -- a la Udoka -- but the guaranteed cash and perceived opportunity in Sacramento was the best bet for Big May. Needless to say, if May had signed an unguaranteed contract with Sacramento, he'd be gone today. May hasn't played since December 12.)
41 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I am in favor of this
I think Ime will get the short end of the stick when the injured guys come back, but my observation is that the team plays a smarter brand of ball when he’s in.
Take that as a swipe at Garcia if you want.
Rocks are free, and slingshots easily stolen.
Okay.
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.....
Oh, hes in the laegue two and Jayson Thomson and that Boggins dude on Milwokee, and Occur for the Jizz. Its a talented laegue.--Kfan in Korea
I'm not shocked Udoka's contract became guaranteed. The Kings need a veteran like Udoka and he's given them that.
The Kings needed depth, cheap depth at that, while Martin & Garcia was out. Udoka’s provided that. I would call him the PDX Nigerian Ninja, but that’s just redundant. If nothing else, I’ve been very impressed with Ime Udoka and his businesslike approach. I was very struck about Amick’s comments about what happened after the Chicago game where he wasn’t very interested in getting caught up with the “history” of the whole come back. He just got dressed, was quiet about it, and went about his day. When you’re Ime Udoka, that’s how you survive. I could keep going.
As far as Sean May, his contract was mostly guaranteed, and he tried to play well. He was a (relatively) cheap gamble that, especially when provided with different solutions, didn’t seem all that bad to Kings brass. (Like you TZ, I was curious why the Kings didn’t look at Rod Benson. If the reason was his involvement with BDL, that’s stupid.)
Anyway, the Kings have had 3 cheap veterans and 2 of the 3 didn’t work. That’s what happens when you pick players off the scrap heap. They won’t always work, and it’s not always evident from the word go.
Finding cheap talent that works with your best players is the name of the game, and it’s something that Geoff Petrie has, historically, done pretty well. It’s amazing how much easier it is to find role players when you have a Tyreke Evans on your team.
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.....
Oh, hes in the laegue two and Jayson Thomson and that Boggins dude on Milwokee, and Occur for the Jizz. Its a talented laegue.--Kfan in Korea
by pookeyguru on Jan 6, 2010 5:14 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
I won't go that far
but Ime has been nothing but a pro with this team. He’s played much better than I anticipated and I’m usually pleased with the results when he goes in to the game. For what he’s been paid, he represents a solid value. He’s not going to get you to the playoffs but then again, that’s not why they brought him in. His defense has been mostly solid and his offense unexpected.
As far as May goes, I’d have to say that neither he nor the Kings got what they were hoping for this season. On the other hand, if Spencer or JT goes out injured, he could still prove useful. Just because you didn’t use your homeowner;s insurance doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have it.
"I make love to pressure" - Stephen Jackson
by Bluejohn on Jan 6, 2010 6:01 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Gimme some Ime rec'd for BlueJohn and PG
Ime was hired as a back up defensive presence. He has done that, and Moore more. He brings calm, he brings professionalism. he has that Popovich pedigree and wears it well. He has even been honored with a GB&U PotW.
The coaching staff has to be happy with him. I wouldn’t be surprised, or disappointed, if he is signed for next year. It is fun to dream about this young team becoming champions. Playing games will provide experience but having experience built into the team is desperately needed on this squad. Having Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia will help, but Udoka provides value for today, and I believe tomorrow as well.
Udoka will sit or play and is very coachable. And to quote that oracle of knowlege, MeatLoaf, in regards to Des Mason, Sean May and Ime Udoka – two out of three ain’t bad.
by betweentheeyes on Jan 6, 2010 6:13 PM PST up reply actions
Udoka is a stop gap
and serviceable player. Not much more. And b/c Desmond Mason flopped. If you aspire to be a .500 team and nothing else, he’s your man. If you hope to be anything more than that, then ‘bye-bye’.
By the numbers
Udoka has played 27 games for the Kings. They are 12-15 in the games he’s played in, 2-5 in the ones he didn’t.
More impressive than that: his median playing time in the games he’s appeared in is 16:37. When he’s played more than that, the Kings are 8-5; less than that, the team is just 4-9.
The only other two players where the Kings have a winning record in the games they play more in than normal are Nocioni (9-7) and Brockman (7-6).
"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 Jan 6, 2010 6:20 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Don't take that as argument that Nocioni should play more...
Rather, note it as a sign that if Nocioni plays well (and is rewarded with more PT in the game he’s playing well in), then the Kings are more likely to win.
GREENE! You’ve been superfluously apostrophe’d! - andy sims
I didn't. I took it to mean exactly as you meant...
..that when noce plays well and is rewarded with more PT, then more likely than not, Kings win.
Which is why I thought he should have gotten more PT against the Suns. He was playing well when he was removed for about 9 mins in the 4th, and inserted just at the end.
There can only be one Noce!
Which raises a legitimate issue
When will the team turn the corner from being willing to lose games to develop players to a full-out attempt to win?
Case in point: Donte Greene vs. Nocioni. When Greene plays more than normal (his median is a little more than 19 minutes), the Kings are 5-10. When he plays less than that, they are 8-7. His sweet spot: they are 9-6 when he plays 12-21 minutes.
Bottom line: play Nocioni more, win more, bring along Donte at the pace he can actually contribute at.
It’s the same thing with Hawes. The Kings are 3-9 when he plays more than 31 minutes, 6-4 when he plays less than 22 minutes. Brockman is a better option right now.
"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 Jan 6, 2010 8:21 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
So when Martin and Garcia come back..Ime probably gets no time,
but he will still be a good vet to come in when one is hurt and/or off. I see the rotation as follows when they return:
Starters: Evans, Martin, Casspi, Thompson, Hawes
Primary Bench: Garcia, Beno, Brockman
When there are injuries and/or players bombing: Sergio, Ime, Nocioni
Between Udoka and Rodriguez,
one of them will be wearing street clothes with Sean May.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
I think K9 is more likely to get a DNP
than Udoka, depending on the matchups of course.
"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 Jan 6, 2010 8:23 PM PST up reply actions
DNP perhaps,
but still in uniform. The KIngs are still much thinner up front. And while I know that Noc can play some at the 4, Thomas makes much more sense in the 12th chair than going with three “bigs” (Thompson/Hawes/Brockman) and 9 guards/swingmen.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Donte can also play the 4
Kenny won’t be here next year; Udoka may be. Of course, that analogy also carries down to Udoka and Donte. I think Udoka’s the better player right now, if you’re truly trying to compete and win games. If you’re not, then let’s please stop the charade about giving a damn about winning or losing these games and just concede we’re a better version of last year’s club.
"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 Jan 6, 2010 10:26 PM PST up reply actions
They have to continue the charade
The whole league is built on that charade. If even a sniff of a rumor got out they weren’t doing everything to win each game it would murder their reputation with casual fans that might buy tickets or merchandise.
In the meantime, of course they are more intent ondeveloping young players and of course they aren’t going to tell you that.
Free Omri...trade.Noc.
They can have their cake and eat it, too
If even a sniff of a rumor got out they weren’t doing everything to win each game it would murder their reputation with casual fans that might buy tickets or merchandise.
In the meantime, of course they are more intent ondeveloping young players and of course they aren’t going to tell you that.
Our young players are definitely a key part of our team and have earned their share of minutes. It’s just generally a little less than they are playing now except in the case of Brockman, who’s generally been on a tight leash and needs some more burn.
"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 Jan 7, 2010 8:03 AM PST up reply actions
One other comment about Ime
He’s got a lot better stroke when he’s facing the basket. When he catches the ball in the corner with his right side facing the basket and shoots that Larry Bird elbow extended type of shot, he doesn’t look too smooth and the results generally match. If you remember those baskets he made in the comeback win against the Bulls, they were crosscourt passes and catch and shoot, squared up to the basket. Maybe a coach ought to point that out to him.
"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 Jan 6, 2010 10:31 PM PST reply actions
Udoka makes to much money!
Give some of that to Chapu. He deserves it!
"Oh, y ahora ¿quién podrá defenderme?" "¡Yo!"
he is playing for the minimum
I believe if you (yes, you personally) approached Mr. Udoka and explained that he should take a pay cut and give a portion of his veteran minimum earnings to Chapu because Nocioni deserves it more I am sure he would understand.
btw, when this occurs, can I watch from a distance?
by betweentheeyes on Jan 7, 2010 10:29 AM PST up reply actions
I'm assuming Udoka will give Chapu the money without persuasion
I mean it’s kind of obious that Chapu deserves it and Udoka does not.
"Oh, y ahora ¿quién podrá defenderme?" "¡Yo!"
I think it may take an explanation, if not persuasion
still, I bet we could sell tickets to your discussion. Most likely, Udoka will ask to wear “Chapu” on the back of his jersey.
by betweentheeyes on Jan 7, 2010 11:44 AM PST up reply actions
Any profit made from said discussion goes straight to Chapu.
"Oh, y ahora ¿quién podrá defenderme?" "¡Yo!"
the profits and Udoka's salary
can you negotiate my next pay raise?
by betweentheeyes on Jan 7, 2010 12:17 PM PST up reply actions
Depends
Are you the best all-time at your position and still make ridiculously little money?
"Oh, y ahora ¿quién podrá defenderme?" "¡Yo!"
my wife thinks so
and at mulitple positions, no less
by betweentheeyes on Jan 7, 2010 1:07 PM PST up reply actions
Reply fail
Proper response: So, does your wife scream “Chapu!!!” at climax?
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Mine yells "chalupas!"
But I guess that’s close enough.
SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
Related FanPosts on Sactown Royalty
Related FanShots on Sactown Royalty
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Mike Miller loses shoe, plays two possessions without it, Pacers don’t score (VIDEO)
- Larry Bird calls his Indiana Pacers “soft” following the team’s physical Game 5 loss to Miami
- Dexter Pittman’s elbow to Lance Stephenson’s throat is just one of three nasty hits in Miami/Indiana’s Game 5 (VIDEO)
- Behind the Box Score, where the Miami Heat split the Indiana Pacers in two
- Metta World Peace calls Mike Brown fat
