Is There Still Hope for Spencer Hawes?

I think considering how old he is, it gives you reason to have optimism, however the fact that he hasnt had much improvement in the 3 years he’s actually played, gives you reason to doubt.
I believe Spence has gone through a bit of an identity crises, i dont think he knows what type of player he’s supposed to be, and it doesnt really look like he knows what type of offensive style he’s supposed to improve on.
We can all agree he can pass well and shoot the ball well, but sometimes he fails when trying to set up his own shot, thats where he hasnt had any improvement, does he learn to be a finesse player, or a power player

I think finesse is where his game is at, but it frustrates me to see him try to put the ball on the floor and muscle his way to the basket, because more often then not, he fails

I still think he has all the right skills he just hasn’t learned the game yet and his body is still filling out. Learning to play the center position for 21 yrs old kid in the NBA is no easy task. The center position is perhaps the toughest position to learn and play, and having gone through 3-4 different coaches hasn’t helped his game much either. For his age I think he’s actually on target to become a very good center in the league. Being a young 22 yrs old center I actually don’t expect him to really be really good until he’s 23-24 yrs old. Having said that I think next season will be a very important season for Spencer because he’ll be playing for a contract. If he want’s a big contract he’s going to have to work for it. Money talks so hopefully he’s listening.

As has been said by the coaches on a number of ocassions (or alluded to), Spencer’s belief that he knows all is the main reason he doesn’t continue improving. Spencer’s ego is holding him back. When you have coaches saying you are hard of hearing, it’s a problem. Spence is stuck is crapsville until or unless he decides he doesn’t know all.

First, the comparison to JO only goes so far. JO is a rebounding, back to the basket center who can block shots and play above the rim (well not anymore).
Spencer needs to be on the high post, setting screens, using his passing skills and outside shot. My comparison for him is Vlade. Spencer should study Vlade’s slick moves in the post. But Spencer has the shot and passing skills that Vlade had. Unfortunately, he is in a system where the guards dominate the ball, drive, and kick to the open man. Adelman’s system would have utilized Spencer’s skills a lot more with all the cutting and back doors.
If we can get a big who can clog the middle, rebound, and block shots, that compliments Spencer’s game. But playing him alongside Landry doesn’t work. And JT isn’t a good enough center to put him down low and Spencer at the high post.
My final verdict is that 7 footers who can shoot and pass are hard to come by. I think he can be a nice asset off the bench, but if he can be used in a trade to acquire someone solid I wouldn’t mind.

I wasn’t a big supporter of Spencer when we drafted him. to this point, i can see that his performance has been streaky, however, i can’t really say that it is time to give up on him or anything like that. I actually think that he has a lot of room to grow and that when his focus is there, he brings some good stuff to the floor. but at the same time, I fully understand the general frustration. I think this up coming year will be very telling for Spencer and a lot of of our younger players in that i believe that the kings finally have some stability and overall vision as to how to get where we want to be and how to get the most out of our players. Spencer may not be our center of the future, but i think he will settle into a nice pice of the puzzle.

Chris Kaman. The Kings have not done him right, no question but they didn’t do anybody right in their transition. The worse thing they did was to give him a lazy, whiny, ornery mentor like Brad Miller when he came in the league given that he had a predisposition to that temperament. I unfortunately associate him, unfairly, with the painfully dreadful Kings upheaval era of post-Adelman but I realize that he’s been one of the few constants. I think it is best for both parties to go their separate ways.

I’ve always liked more physical, defensive and athletic players versus a shooter. Like cheeses and wines, I’m not really cultured enough for the European ways of playing the game and I always felt like Hawes was a Euro in a redneck’s 7’0’’ body. I remember being bummed when the Bulls grabbed Noah but thought Petrie probably would would have preferred Hawes. I think the Kings need more shooters (not named chapu) to compliment the franchise but I don’t they need them playing center.

Even on the Suns, Frye shoots it better, is more athletic and plays better defense. Hawes has never showed me a consistent post game that works in the NBA.

I agree with Section. Hawes is not tempered to fare well as no longer a prospect or be in denial about being a backup. I don’t want any more of the pouts or frowns or just being “opinionated.” He’d be a cancer.

Just saw his name in the side of the screen, and had to repeat it. What an overrated douche. The Gino Torretta of basketball.

With the exceptions of rebounding (which has declined each of Spencer’s three season when looking at per 36 stats) and points (which declined from 14.0 to 13.7 per 36 minutes), Hawes has been consistent or improving in all categories.

Interesting… So, other than scoring and rebounding, he’s doing OK? Isn’t that 2/3 of the most important stats (along with assists) on which to rate improvement?
I think it’s too early too give up on him as well. His potential is great. Hopefully he pulls his head out and starts realizing it. But really, you can’t brush off those two stats and expect me to take the rest of your argument seriously.

This will define his career whether or not he can take the step into imperative success in the future. I always say to myself that we shouldn’t evaluate Hawes right now. Because he is still an unfinished product. But that excuse is starting to wear away its worth though.

If you guys notice Hawes’ past offseasons, he always gains at least 10 more pounds to his frame. So, I expect Hawes to fill out most of his frame this offseason to truly evaluate him in the next season. I always said he needs to gain muscle mass to fully be effective in the post. We all know that he has a good touch down there despite his limitations.

….I will be taking minutes away from Spencer, get used to it…"

I was VERY high on our drafting of Hawes. I thought I saw the makings of a young Kevin McHale. I NEVER thought he was a center, but always thought of him as a PF. The guy showed every inside move in college. I loved the pump fakes and up an under. He seemed very Vlade-like. I also thought he would be a really good weak-side shot blocker and decent rebounder. In short, he seemed to know the game and be a TOUGH offensive player.

That being MY expectation, I can’t say that Hawes has been anything other than a colossal disappointment for me. I understand that he isn’t a bruiser, but it is how he describes himself which I find disturbing. He talks of being a finesse player, and to him that seems to mean NO contact. This NOT what you want out of a post player. Vlade and Miller were finesse centers, and both were about 100X tougher than Hawes. Hawes is more like a post version of Peja where contact is concerned. Even accepting the idea that Hawes will never be a defensive presence in the paint, it is his ineffective offensive game which really bothersome to me. I don’t care if he CAN hit the three – unless he is dominant from out there, he is useless when taking that shot and not at least pulling opposing centers out with him. We did not draft Hawes to hit threes. We can pick up a free agent like Raja Bell to shoot threes. We drafted Hawes to provide post scoring – he isn’t doing that, and does not really show the inclination to develop that way based upon his own statements. Right now he is a big stiff with some potential.

His age is THE ONLY wild card for me. Some guys do figure it out after this much time in the league, but his career arc is not promising. I wouldn’t give him much beyond minimum bucks to keep him unless he shows some serious fire this year.

With this big of a sample to look at, “potential” is just getting us beat. Ask yourselves what NBA players have had similar career arcs to Hawes, and then have become very good??? Not many.

My guess is career back up. 12 year career. In short, he is an offensive Duane Causwell. That certainly isn’t what I expected, but I don’t think we will resign him. Petrie tends to address his mistakes. (…and the mistake was VERY understandable IMO)