Free agnecy looking like Kings' offense last year

by Docile Ocelot on Dec 20, 2011 11:14 AM PST

Anyone else wondering what happened to all those promises about spending money in 2011? All that cap space the team was going to use to land a big fish?

The situation surrounding Chuck Hayes is sad, and I'm glad everyone is focusing on his health as they should. But while Hayes is a nice player, he's not a world-shaker. If that's what we have been waiting through the silent past couple of years, then this team has a different idea of impact talent than I do.

The Kings' problems - all of them, from Arena deals to improved revenues to respectability - won't come easy or cheap. They need to make a splash and they need to soon. This offseason was supposed to be that splash, and while everyone knows of the CBA negotiation speed bump, I for one expected to be wowed when the players came back. Why I haven't been yet is hard to figure.

More cap space than the rest of the league and a small-market friendly new deal... and the Kings pin their fading hopes on Chuck Hayes in a season that could very well seal the team's fate? Even before the heart stress test I was waiting for the real deal to materialize. After the sad news, it's more imperative than ever.

How is there no contingency? How is there no new player that threatens to reshape the landscape of the Pacific Division?

How do you keep your core group of young talent together through free agency? You build a juggernaut - a beast of a team that is feared outside the city and gives pride to the guys in uniform. What you don’t do is continue to build a roster dominated by fourth and fifth years players still struggling to develop into veterans. This team has two guys that have star potential who are threatened to be dragged down by the rest of the players. Role players are good to have, but stars win championships.

The Maloofs and Petrie have proven they are up to the task of building a contender. But the first time around, that team was forged in the fires of a lockout. I honestly expected a return to that gambler’s philosophy, especially with so much riding on this season.

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

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What other options have we had?

I’m glad we didn’t chase Chandler…not that he was ever an option. We possibly could have made a max offer to Gasol, but all indications were that Memphis would match. We could have overpaid for Nene possibly.

We tried to overpay Crawford, and it sounds like we offered AK47 as much, if not more than any other team.

What else is out there?

by markdog333 on Dec 20, 2011 12:59 PM PST reply actions

I was just thinking about my post as it relates to your title.

Indeed it is very much like our offense last year – unimpressive, but I’m not sure what could have been done differently.

by markdog333 on Dec 20, 2011 1:26 PM PST up reply actions

The Kings signed Chuck Hayes on first day on free agency

Now here it is 10 days later that the contract is voided. So if the Kings had a back-up plan they might not have had opportunity to execute with other players going elsewhere. I can’t fault the Kings for not making a contingent plan under the circumstances. They are in scramble mode now and I just hope they don’t do something out of desperation they soon regret, i.e. multi-year deal to Sammy.

"The Spurs subliment their statistics for the good of the team" Kings Coach PW.

by bench_blob on Dec 20, 2011 1:42 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

I don't like to play GM...

Because I don’t have a roledex full of other NBA GMs’ contact info, so I leave the specific player deals to the pros. But is it too much to ask that the Kings’ front office actively participate in the sweepstakes for the best players?

Sacramento was once a sought after destination for players who wanted to win and have fun doing it. The same key figures are still here to pull the strings, but they (at least publicly) will not do so.

I’m thinking bold strokes – more Paul than Crawford. This team needs to sell itself to the leagues best and to its fans.

Nothing is always anything.

by Docile Ocelot on Dec 20, 2011 2:22 PM PST reply actions

" How is there no new player that threatens to reshape the landscape of the Pacific Division?"

There is. He went to the Clippers, who are going to beast all year long (which still just doesn’t compute, despite it being the plain truth…)

...Watching DeMarcus Cousins’ transformation from large human to immortal kill beast...

by Sacto_J on Dec 20, 2011 2:58 PM PST reply actions

Who are you talking about that the clips signed in free agency?

Chauncey off of waivers? Lest we forget that Paul was TRADED to the clips.

by Gabraham on Dec 20, 2011 3:59 PM PST up reply actions

Butler, he should be a major FA pickup for them

Assuming he recovered from his injury

by SharkKings49 on Dec 21, 2011 11:53 AM PST up reply actions

Agnency sounds like some evil european corporation

Words of wisdom from the great Billy Dee Williams

Oh so you disagree. Well then, here is a mature, sophisticated, and compelling rebuttal.

by wallywagon11 on Dec 20, 2011 3:15 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Kings need Jimmer to emerge as third star on team

….then, along with Evans and Cousins, better free agents will be more apt to sign with Sacramento next year.

by SacKing4Ever on Dec 20, 2011 4:52 PM PST reply actions

Coaching/GM in Sac make most players not want to come here

Star players see that the Kings have a mess on their hands and dont want to take a chance on comming to Sac. For example why would the Kings be interested in Jamal Crawford when we have Reke, Thorton, Jimmer and Thomas signed? Why did we have Landry, Thompson, Cousins and Dally last year at pf/c? Players notice the Kings aquiring too many players at one position while leaving others totally ignored, like SF. No player wants to take a chance on landing in a log jam for minuets under a coach and GM that make personel moves for seemingly unkown reasons. Either the Kings are not confident in the people they choose or they have no idea what they are doing and just throw together a hodgepodge of players and roll the ball out every year….I dont get it.

by PetrieFingSucks on Dec 23, 2011 8:08 AM PST reply actions

Players notice the Kings acquiring too many players at one position while leaving others totally ignored, like SF

You realize we Had Donte, Casspi, and Garcia (Garcia is more of a combo SG/SF) and Reke who could all play the SF position right..In fact i am pretty sure of some match ups where Westphal went Beno, Thornton, and Reke on the floor at one time- The problem is all their Guards are combos, with no true PG’s there, and their SF’s were not shooting 3’s lights out and being absolute beasts on Def. like we needed.

Without knowing the new CBA from this summer, King’s were not gonna play the kings gambit on acquiring a huge contract last year , when there were many SF’s out there to choose from in FA, and we had the most cap flexibility of any team out there.

Founder of team Omté Caspeen

by Widowwolf on Dec 23, 2011 8:28 AM PST up reply actions

I see your point ^^

I consider Omri a natural 3 and Garcia a 2 guard, Donte, while I like him, really doesnt belong playing in the NBA imho at least not enough to mention in starting SF conversations. So actually we had one SF, whom we traded, and had 5 shooting guards on the roster last year (Thorton, Tyreke, Beno, Garcia, Taylor) and one questionable SF. You can call someone a pointguard, but imho if that player was not a PG in his past, putting him in the lineup as a PG doesnt make him one :)

by PetrieFingSucks on Dec 23, 2011 8:39 AM PST up reply actions

Oh i agree with you, but that’s how the kings were looking at it..too many combo guys and money into those combo guys, and they weren’t gonna go blow a big huge amount on someone that would make garcia sit on the bench wasting 6 million a year for them.

Rebuilding mode takes time..

We are out of the bad contracts (Except cisco) and now we can add pieces..Chuck is one of those..But don’t expect them to go from the worst record to an allstar lineup in 1 year..They dont have the money for it like Prokohov, Cuban or many other owners do..This is why I wish they would sell and be done with it. Come on Burkle, Make em an offer they can’t refuse

Founder of team Omté Caspeen

by Widowwolf on Dec 23, 2011 9:02 AM PST up reply actions

lol yes burkle would have been a nice shot in the arm for this team! I just hope we forget the whole “combo forwards and guards” idea and stick with players who play one role and do it well :)

by PetrieFingSucks on Dec 23, 2011 9:05 AM PST up reply actions

Viable SF's the Kings didnt go after

Tracy McGrady or Grant Hill would have been my first 2 choices at SF, as both are vets who could teach our young guys while still putting in quality mins at SF while leaving enough time in the game to test younger players. Besides those 2, I wish we had gone after Josh Smith or even Jamison for that matter. Salmons is ‘ok’ with me, but I think we could have done alot better.

by PetrieFingSucks on Dec 23, 2011 8:43 AM PST reply actions

Jamison, Power forward, last year of his contract for 15 million this year- NO thanks!, Tmac and Grant are both about done in this league IMO, i would not wanna pay what they would want to com here to teach. Only 2 options IMO were Salmons and Kirilenko that we had a shot at

Founder of team Omté Caspeen

by Widowwolf on Dec 23, 2011 8:58 AM PST up reply actions

Jamison has played SF most of his career, I was under the impression that he was playing PF to fill a need on the Cavs. Yes those players are nearing the end of their careers but you sign them to a 2 year deal max, they play 20mins a night starting, the young guys watch and learn in practice an on game night and if by next season we have a better SF then you could bring them off the bench, trade or just let them go, with the exception of Jamison who has a big contract, in his case he could start at either forward spot for a few years and with the kings payroll so low who cares if he has a big contract, its not like we dont have enough cap room to pay an all star for a year or 2

by PetrieFingSucks on Dec 23, 2011 9:03 AM PST up reply actions

I like the Hayes signing better this year with 4 years at 5 then Jamison for 1 year of 15 million..Maybe Hayes can show JJ, JT, and DMC a thing or two about BBall. Honestly i would much rather have Kirilenko at the SF, who would actually be productive all year then Tmac and Hill (Knees) That and Hill is making 6.5 million..No thanks tot hat

Founder of team Omté Caspeen

by Widowwolf on Dec 23, 2011 9:16 AM PST up reply actions

AK-47 is just as injury prone as Hill or TMac, he just costs more and wants a 3 year deal when its questionable if he can even play one more year, I see AK as a 3 year albatross hanging around our necks with a 10mil contract. The only upside I see from him is his ability to teach the young guys.

by PetrieFingSucks on Dec 23, 2011 9:37 AM PST reply actions

I dont think so about Injury Prone
AK47 – Avg missing 14 games a season (10 years in league )
Tmac – Avg missing 19 games a season , and his knees are horrible now (14 years in league)
HILL – Avg missing 23 a season – (16 years in league)

Also AK is a lockdown defender, can play 3/4 easier, is younger and doesnt need the ball in his hands

Founder of team Omté Caspeen

by Widowwolf on Dec 23, 2011 10:05 AM PST up reply actions

Hills average games per season stat is misleading as he had one injury that kept him out of the NBA for several seasons. He has been very reliable since his comeback. Yes Ak is the best defender of the 3 of them, but I dont think that this makes up for his price. If we were a playoff team I would say yes pull the trigger and get Kirilinko.

by PetrieFingSucks on Dec 23, 2011 12:24 PM PST up reply actions