2013-14 Season in Review: Carl Landry

2013-14 Stats:

18 GP, 12.9 MPG, 4.2 PPG, .517 FG%, 3.2 RPG, 0.3 AST, 0.2 STL, 0.1 BLK, 0.5 TOV, 1.9 PF

Needs to work on:

• Getting healthy

Analysis:

Coming into this past season, the Kings were generally quiet on the Free Agent market, opting to make most of their newer acquisitions via trade and the draft.  But the one signing they did make was to give Carl Landry a 4 year, $26 million deal.  The deal was curious at the time with Jason Thompson already under contract for a similar amount of time and money, and the fact that Landry didn't really provide anything the Kings desperately needed from a big man (rebounding, defense, shotblocking).  Still, the worst case scenario seemed to be that we'd have an overpaid veteran that could provide a punch off the bench.

Unfortunately, reality was much worse, as Landry tore a muscle in training camp, and then when he finally came back midseason, was out of shape and a shadow of his former self.  He managed to play just 18 games before injuring himself again, this time his knee, which knocked him out for the rest of the season.

Now the Kings have a veteran on a relatively lengthy contract (in this new CBA at least) who has yet to live up to that investment at all.  The Kings' only hope to recoup some value back on this investment is that Landry makes a full recovery and can provide some veteran leadership and much needed bench depth, because if he doesn't, he's essentially a cap hole that will be very hard to remove until his contract is either set to expire or actually does expire.

Monday: Ray McCallum