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CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 21: Quick, is Samuel Dalembert dunking here or is he fumbling a pass out of bounds? You don't know, do you? You don't know! (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
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Things that make me go hmmm –
The Kings are now 11-25 on the road, which ranks them 20th for road record on the season. But their 9-27 home record ranks 29th. 20th for home record would be 19-17 (the Knicks). In other words, if the Kings were the 20th best home team and the 20th best road team, they would currently be 30-42 instead of 20-52. So the question begs, how and why is this young team better on the road than at home? Is this team’s motivation quieting the crowd, regardless of whether they are at home or on the road? Please discuss and solve.
As of today, the Kings have the 5th worst record in the league, and it looks like they will be “battling” Toronto for the 4-5 slot. Given that we can expect no help when the lottery balls drop, reasonable expectations would have us picking somewhere between 4 and 6. This is way too early for reasonable conversation, but since I’m bringing it up, it does not have to be reasonable. So…
This is where the Kings should utilize some of that precious cap space. Find a team that needs to unload salary, and get a stud in return. Mitch Richmond was worth the 3 pick, Ray Allen the 5, Jason Richardson the 8. Who could we get for the pick? Would a sweetener like Omri Casspi have to be included? Would bad contract have to be absorbed as the cost of doing business? Or could there be a player lurking in this draft that one team would kill to have? Would a team like Utah part with Derrick Favors to experience Jimmer mania?
Off hand, I come up with this list of guys for whom I would deal the pick. Most of these guys are not available, while the acquisition of some would probably cause the need for additional deals. My criteria was under 30 years old (sorry, Dirk), had reasonable to only slightly overpriced contracts (sorry, Rudy Gay), and would, with a few exceptions, instantly become one of the better players on the team.
Al Horford Josh Smith Rajon Rondo Luol Deng Derrick Rose Joakim Noah Nené Greg Monroe Rodney Stuckey Stephen Curry Luis Scola Danny Granger Blake Griffin Eric Gordon Pau Gasol Marc Gasol LeBron James Dwyane Wade Chris Bosh Andrew Bogut Kevin Love Deron Williams Brook Lopez Chris Paul Carmelo Anthony Amar'e Stoudemire Kevin Durant Russell Westbrook Serge Ibaka Dwight Howard Andre Iguodala Jrue Holiday Thaddeus Young Marcin Gortat LaMarcus Aldridge Tony Parker Derrick Favors John Wall
Now, there are some frisky picks here. For example, at first blush giving up the #4-6 pick for Rodney Stuckey looks ridiculous. But imagine the defensive challenges an opposing team would face with Stuckey/Evans/Thornton on the floor. Again, you won’t like all of the names, and some of them are flat unavailable. But the list is simply meant as a conversation starter. Would you consider (and perhaps prefer) dealing the pick, and if so, what would you be looking for in return?
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Disclaimer first – I’ve been loving me some Samuel Dalembert lately, and I think that he may put up his best three years as a pro in his next three years. I wouldn’t mind the Kings shelling a little jing to retain Sammy, as he pairs up nicely with DeMarcus. That said, I am amazed by Samuel’s Teflon-like hands. I’m hard pressed to remember a player that fumbles so many passes, or has so many rebounds slip off his hands and out of bounds. To be fair, Daly is nowhere near the turnover machine that is Demarcus Cousins, which is more amazing when you consider that Cousins may have the best hands of any Kings big man not named Chris Webber. But for the love of Rich Kelley, Sammy does drop some balls. So, understanding that I love Sammy’s game and persona, I ask the honest poll question: