Speaker 1: What is up, fellas it goes, I'm Dan Valley coming
at you with our twentieth twenty twenty five, twenty six NBA.
Speaker 2: Season look Ahead.
Speaker 3: We are two thirds of the way there.
Speaker 1: We're onto the Sacramento Kings, which means I have Greg
whist Singer, who is a veteran an veteran editor emeritus
of the Kings Herald. Rumor has it he may have
scaled back a bit for his sanity, but he is
still entirely insane because he follows and covers and roots
for the Sacramento Kings. We're gonna talk a lot about
the Sacramento Kings. But first and foremost, Greg, thanks for
coming back. This is like has to be at least
a year five for you. But second of all, how
are you doing.
Speaker 2: I'm doing great. Excited to be back. You know, I
look forward to our chats every year, the one time
of year you talk to me, and you know it's
just when you need me for some things, and so
glad to be back to Glad to step in the
cage again.
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's all. That's the only time we ever or won.
Your messaging me about all the other cool podcasts that
you listen to that, aren't this one. That's the only
time we talk exactly. So this team is kind of
tough to focus on and I will, I promise, but
it's tough to focus on the actual basketball with because
they are basically a dramaeday at this point. I feel
like when you look at before we get into the
actual specific offseason, but since we last talked, you look
at the Mike Brown of it all, the darn Fox
of it all, them changing over, the front office, just
everything in totality that's going on. What is just the
general fan base sentiment towards this team, this organization and
its processes right now?
Speaker 2: Uh, I would say it's pretty sour. I mean, I'm
sure there's some people that are are still bought in,
but I'd say the overall fans setiment is pretty down
on the whole process of all of last season as
well as carrying over into the the offseason, the so
called coaching search for the full time coach, the supposed
search for a new GM that took a day. Like,
I mean, just the process from start to finish has
been really bad and not given Kings fans a whole
lot to get excited about for the upcoming season, So you.
Speaker 1: Look at what happens over the off season specifically, let's
start with the head coaching aspect of all, how did
you feel about them not just settling on Doug Christie,
but the process they.
Speaker 3: Followed to get there. There's that word again.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean we kind of expected it would happen, right,
I mean, Doug Christy got the job as the interim
because the VEC has wanted to make him coach for
a while now, Like he almost became interim coach when
they fired Luke Walton when they brought in Mike Brown.
Then you know, one of the conditions was that Doug
Christy has to stay on your staff like he's always
been like a vec's like coaching project. So it wasn't
a surprise when he became the interim or when they
stuck with him. And realistically, like, especially considering all the circumstances,
Doug Christy probably did enough to get another year. But
it's also like you just shook up everything and you
didn't even bother doing his search, Like the results weren't
good enough that it was like a slam dunk to
give Doug a longer term deal. But it wasn't surprising
to anyone. And I think that one is probably the
easiest pill to swallow, just because so many Kings fans
liked Doug Christie from back in his playing days and
like he's been around the team for years. He was
a commentator and then like a development coach, and so
like Kings fans want to see him succeed, and he
had some fun moments when he took over as the
head coach, and so there's like enough there to that's
not like the hardest piece of the last year as
a Kings fan to deal with. I still think it
was a horrible process to not even bother looking around.
But I don't know that top coaching candidates were going
to be eager to sign up for Sacrament given the roster,
the front office situation, the way they just treated Mike
Brown like kind of all the different pieces, like they
probably weren't getting anyone that much better anyway, but how
quickly they just you know, new GM came in and
then like three days later, it is like and Doug's
are head coach, Like the search is over. We we
did it everyone. That's just a it's not a great process,
but it also was not surprising to any Kings fans
really paid attention to how this organization operates.
Speaker 1: He did, to his credit play Keon Ellis and maybe
like that's how you walk into the meeting and that's
just your entire case.
Speaker 3: So yeah, I'm all for it.
Speaker 1: The front office stuff too, going from okay, now you
have Scott Perry and it kind of feels like this
is a situation and you alluded to it that where
the front office just no, this is the coach, like
you're just gonna It's like the It's kind of similar
to what happened with the Pelicans, where it's like, don't
too much for Weaver takeover, but Willie Green is a
condition that he has to be there. Yeah, those situations
I want, I actually would like to know have they
ever ended well. I don't want to say it feels
like it's not gonna end well, but I feel like
we don't have evidence that they're really ever going to
end well. So I'm curious to see what the synergy
looks like between I guess it ultimately doesn't matter because
maybe you're coming in. Is Scott Perry eyes wide open
about what Vivek wants and how he feels about Christy.
But it always just feels like a dicey situation when
you don't feel as if the front office had the
latitude to make all the changes that they ultimately want
upon them being hired.
Speaker 2: Well, I mean, especially when you consider that it's been
the case for the last three Sacramento Kings gems. They
came in with a coach already in place, that the
fact basically in force that they would need to keep
it first, you know, so Michael Malone came in, Pete
Dallasandro was hired. Afterward, power struggle ensued and they fired
Michael Malone when they really really shouldn't have. Down the
road we had uh yea Luke Walton had already been hired,
and they brought in mon To McNair. Eventually, you know,
they you know, after like another two years he was
able to get rid of him and bringing his own
coach and Mike Brown. Now we're just repeating the cycle
because if it hasn't worked two times, let's just keep
trying until it does. Like we're going to continue to
have a coach in place before the GM instead of
just once having a GM coming with a clean slate
and let them pick their own head coach from day one,
like an impossible concept for a BAC to get his
head around. So, uh, that's kind of going back to
the how we feel about the process and why we're
not surprised because like it's the same thing we've seen
over and over with this team.
Speaker 1: Domas said they need to get a point guard. At
the end of the season, accomplished, they got Dannis Schreuter.
How do you feel about I feel about the process
by which they went and got him, Greg, but also
what do you make or how do you feel about
his fit into EuroBasket change your impressions of me?
Speaker 3: For true at all?
Speaker 2: I was not really excited about Dennishruer. I was really
not excited about like a three year deal for the
full mid level and granted that third year is not
fully guaranteed, and they're like, oh, that makes a really
tradable contract. But I can't count the number of times
the Kings have given a bad contract out and the
explanation has been like, oh, but that'll be really tradable,
like that's good salary matching, and then they can't get
any deals done because it's a bad contract. So I
fully expect that we're stuck with Denis Ruder for the
next three years. Dennishruer is fine. He's he's a pesky defender,
he can sometimes hit some open shots. Like he's fine.
It's just like he's not worth fifteen million, like I
just it's such an uninspiring solution to a self created
problem like you had Deer and Fox, you gave him
away for such a crappy return. I'm sure we'll talk
about that more, but you and then you're like, well,
we played half the season with no point, Guarden, That's
why this whole thing didn't work. You know what this
team has been missing Dennis Shrut Like we got it,
guys done, Yo, that's the end of the offseason closed,
the books know the move. Oh wait, we're also gonna
like get rid of some of our other depths. But
other than that, like offseasons done, Dennis Truder was the
key to everything. He's gonna unlock these players who don't
fit Like. I'm not thrilled, That's what I'm trying to
get at. I'm not super excited.
Speaker 1: I would agree with you that I think he's fine,
and there are probably gonna be moments where he's better
than fine. I think, even if he's better than fine,
the trickle down effect in terms of the fit with
some of the other guys on the roster, how far
this might bump Keegan Murray or Kean Ellis down. The
more so Keegan Murray if you're looking at what happens
with offensive usage, I don't think he's Maybe maybe I'm
wrong here, but I don't think that he's an natural
fit to run like stuff with domas a bonus. And
that's why I find it odd. And I also find
it odd because it was like, hey, we're gonna trade
Jonas Valentiunis to get Dariosharich to have like the money
necessary to or flexibility necessary to make this happen. I
probably have a bigger problem with the process than the player.
But the logic behind targeting this player could have to
do with a lack of options, But even that part
of it, it just puzzles.
Speaker 2: Me when I feel like there were other point guards
out there this summer of similar quality, maybe a little
bit worse, but not like drastically worse. But guys that
were signing for like four or five million, right, Like,
I mean, it's not like there were zero other point
guards in free agency and Densher's the only ones there's
this bidding more and you have to give them fifteen
million a year like that just wasn't the case.
Speaker 3: Like Tias Jones got seven for one year, like you could.
Speaker 2: That's what I'm saying there, like like I didn't love
the whole, like Tias Jones to the King's answer like
that that wasn't my favorite. But I'd take Tyas Jones
for seven million one year over Dennis Shrewder of fifteen
million for three years. Like that's those types of that
would make a lot more sense to me, because this
roster right now is not a finished product, like it's
not one piece away from being good, and so get
a one year stop gap where you at least have
a point guard, someone who can kind of run the
show a little bit, because it was definitely a glaring
need after the Fox trade, like tying up the long
term money and it was a yeah, horrible process. And
that's more about the money they gave him and the
length of the contract compared to what else they might
have been able to do.
Speaker 1: What do we make of Malik Monk's future in Sacramento,
because it seems like they tried to trade him and
just couldn't, and that's why they kind of walked it back,
walk back. They're not gonna try to trade him anymore.
I think there's some stuff really be concerned about. But
I go back to this a lot when we'll talk
about Keegy Murray at some point, But when I'm evaluating
Keegy Murray's offense, I have trouble evaluating, like, okay, the
decline in league monks efficiency at one point last year,
how much of that is, Oh, this is like an
alarm bell should be going off, versus this is just
the roster construction around him, And so where are you
sort of at with him? But also what does it
say that not only they go out and get Dennis Shrewder,
but the reports are that they still want to go
out and get Russell Westbrook too, which that confuses the
hell out of me as well.
Speaker 2: I mean a big part of the problem, especially after
the Fox Tree, was that the Kings bought into the
idea of, well, we'll just make Milak Monk the point guard.
That way, he's a starter and you know, it'll be fine.
And Milike Bunk is not a point guard, like he
has some good passing. You know, he can do some
stuff off the dribble and whatnot, but he's not a
point guard. Like he's a good secondary ball handler and
secondary creator, which is where he was thriving as like
the sixth man and playing in a lot of the
closing units. But when they tried to hand the keys
to him, like it just didn't work, Like he just
can't handle that role.
Speaker 1: That he's also more of like a north south guy
rather than like even Dennis Shuter is going to have
more like side to side to his game than.
Speaker 2: Yes, yeah, I mean Monk loves to call his own number,
which is part of the fun of him when he's
your sixth man. It's not great when he's you're now
forced to be starting and only point guard on the roster.
So yeah, it was a bad fit. I do think
there was you know, he was struggling last season even
before the Fox trade, Like he was just not having
a great year. And I don't know how much of
that is to do with you know, kind of poor
roster construction or poorly defined roles, or you know, feeling
threatened by you know, what's gonna happen with his minutes
versus Kean Ellis's minutes and Kevin Herder and and then
Zach Lavine, and so I think that kind of the
lack of defined roles or or even at the beginning
of the season, maybe lack of happiness with his defined role.
I mean, I think it's no secret Monk has been
okay with being a six man but would much prefer
to start. And then like he ended up taking the
deal to stay with the Kings, but then there's still
not any different roles. So I don't know. I think
there's a kind of a combination of factors where he
was maybe a little unhappy, maybe making some bad decisions,
not buying into the role quite so much, but then
got thrust into a larger, worse fitting role as the
season went along.
Speaker 1: So do you think that having Shrewder then and being
able to Sakay, we at least have this point guard
and we could start him. And I know Malik Monk
ended up not starting to close the season either. Do
you think that puts him more in his natural spot
so that there is something to salvage here or do
you sort of look at the roster now and still
think that now they're they're gonna try and move this
guy before the season over.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I still think. I mean, I think they did
everything they could the summer to try to move him
and then tried to walk it back like, no, we
love them. We were just making phone calls, you know,
we weren't trying to do much. But no, I think
they absolutely would like to move him if they could.
But the Kings like to do this thing where they
tell the entire world that they're shopping a guy and
then get confused when there's not like huge offers to
blow him away, and then they refuse to trade the
guy for less than they thought they would get initially.
So it's again going back to their good processes that
they do over and over and over. That's one of them,
and they did it with Monk and they'll probably continue
to do it. And you know, if Harrison Barnes and
Kevin Herder are any indication, it could drag on another
two years before they actual finally complete a trade for him.
Speaker 3: What do you what is?
Speaker 1: What are we supposed to make or what should the
read be on this team's apparent interest in Russell Westbrook,
especially post Dennis Schreuder.
Speaker 2: Listen, Russ fits this team's identity better than any other
free agent still on the market, a guy who does
not fit with anyone else on the roster and will
try to score a lot. That's the team identity right there,
in a nutshell, Like, that's all this team is. It's
a two k roster built by a fourteen year old.
Like these guys get buckets. I love all these guys,
they can all score. Do they fit God? No, like,
but that's what That's what this team is, and Russ
fits that perfectly. So what more could you want?
Speaker 1: Is this has nothing to do with the backcourt situation?
But does most of that answer apply? It probably sells
him short of course. But does that similar logic apply
to the Jonathan Kaminga rumors? Or is that more of
a well, we'll bet on the upside if the package
is what was it Monk Carter or whatever however they fleshed.
Speaker 3: It out from there.
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, the funny thing is like Kaminga's very
very much that same type of thing, Like he he
solves almost none of the problems with the current roster
like at all. Like there'd still be weird log jams,
there'd be guys that don't win together. Yeah, that's the
big thing, like he's just taller at least, like he's
he could play the four, you know, allowing he can
move to three, except that you still have Damar there like,
so it just is a mess of a different type.
But uh, if they were able to pull it off,
and you know, there was a report this evening from
Sam Amic that you know, talks may have resumed, but
nothing eminent, like a lot of recycled information, so who
knows if anything is going to happen. I'm not really
holding my breath at this point, but if they did
do it, I'd be excited, if only for the fact
that at least he's not in his you know, late
thirties like most of the guys they brought in lately,
so you know, when we're thinking about like tomorrow and
then Russ, like, it'd be nice to have someone who
you know, was younger than most of our recent draft picks,
even though he's been in the league for like four
or five years. So I would love the upside play
as a longer term thing, but I still don't think
it would fix anything for this year now.
Speaker 1: As someone who hits deep threes, defense's butt off works
well alongside to other ball dominant players. Why is Kean
ellis seemingly underappreciated by his own organization, And I want
to clarify that for anyone was saying, I know he
played more after the coaching change. I know he was
starting by the end of the season. He still doesn't
have an extension, and they picked up his team option,
which would risk if they don't sign him to an extension,
letting him go in dow nrestricted free agency?
Speaker 3: Is it because he's not six'?
Speaker 1: Seven is it because he's not like a great playmate
LIKE i Don't this is one of those cases where this.
Isn't i'm not even trying to be too tough on The.
Speaker 3: KINGS i don't understand the.
Speaker 1: Logic, this probably more so than anything else that they've,
done IS i don't understand the logic behind how they
have Valued Keon.
Speaker 2: ELLEN i WISH i could explain. It it makes no sense, because,
yeah the smart the smarter assumption, was, oh you decline his,
option he's a restricted free agent this, summer you work
out a new deal with the full control of restricted free.
Agency it's not like we've seen that play out to
the team's benefit for multiple other. Teams as we've gone
through this. Offseason but the.
Speaker 1: Last restricted free agent to get a rival offer sheet
actually was not not a two way.
Speaker 2: Guy i've heard you mentioned this on a recent, episode
BUT i cannot remember who it. Was it was a great, name,
though it Was paul fucking Read there you. Go the
Album tak.
Speaker 1: Gave him that special In, philly whereas they have that
he guarantees if they make it out of like the
second round of the playoffs or, whatever which you knew
it was never gonna guarantee then because The sixers don't do.
That so it's just, like, yes you're everything you said
is just one hundred percent. CORRECT i apologize for, interjecting.
Speaker 2: No you're, Fine but it was, like as a restriction
free agent like he, was he was otherwise going to
be making like two point seven million this, year and
that's the option they picked. Up and they did it
with this pretense of, like give's, this you, know money
flexibility to do other things this, summer and look at
all the great things they did this summer with. That
but if you let him go to restricting free, agency
like what was the worst that's gonna? Happen like a
mid level deal at at absolute. WORST i don't see
anything going over like a FULL mL offer on, him and,
okay you match, that like it's, Fine like take. It
like there's no reason why they shouldn't have just played
it out through a restricted free agency and just locked
him up as a long term part of the team
because they talk about valuing him and how important he,
is you, know his, defense he's a younger. GUY i,
mean he's not that young, anymore BUT i mean he's
young enough compared to some of the other options they currently.
Speaker 3: Have compared to, tomorrow, yeah for.
Speaker 2: Sure and he plays on both sides of the, court
like he's a great, defender and he also hits. Three
he's like those are pretty valuable. Pieces IF i was,
HIM i get the player, risk and like you take
the guaranteed. Money if the extensions, THERE i get. It
but at this, point like they can't extend to Like.
February IF i was, HIM i would just be, like Well, february,
like oh my ankle hurts a. Little, well they're gonna
be out of playoff contendent at that point, Anyway like
you might like shut yourself down and just go hit
unrestricted and like get a good deal. Somewhere else at that,
Point Like i'm fully preparing myself for him to just you,
know be lost for nothing at this.
Speaker 1: Point if they don't even Get BUT i guess at that,
point if you trade someone who's this cheap on an
expiring contract headed towards, them what are you?
Speaker 3: Get agency you're.
Speaker 1: Probably Getting you're not getting a first probably you're getting two.
Seconds so then you might just said it. Out CAN
i interest you in The Washington wizards twenty six and
twenty seven second round picks asking for The?
Speaker 3: Knicks?
Speaker 2: UH i, MEAN i suspect The kings will find a
way to get less than. That so with although here's the,
thing here's the, thing there's no ways of going to The.
Knicks you Think Mike brown's like give me Ke On, Ellis, like,
NO i totally.
Speaker 3: Forgot i've faced out there.
Speaker 2: Likes the guy wouldn't play.
Speaker 1: HIM i have been Telling knicks fans who have messaged
me or Just i've even talked about on the. PODCAST
i know they have more death but Like Mike brown
was when he was like when he, LEFT i know
The king's roster wasn't the, greatest but he was relying
on like just four or five guys like a metric
ton With Keon, ellis, though are we just to assume
that With Dennis shrewder in the, fold he is coming
off the bench, again or do you see one of
the Met zacklavine coming off the.
Speaker 2: Bench, NO i, mean why would you want like a
good two way younger player who, hey it does the
two things no one else on the. ROSTER i, mean,
now Like Keikan murray And Kean ellis are the only
guys in the roster play defense and shoot. Threes it's,
like why would you want more than one of those
on the court at the, time like for like defense of?
Effort like that doesn't fit the team. Concept, dan we
gotta keep by on the price no defense buckets.
Speaker 1: Way kimbury plays, Defense are they gonna bring him off the, bench,
then who's taking his?
Speaker 2: Spot? No i'm saying you can have. One you can
only have. One get, One.
Speaker 1: So Zach, lavine IT'S i, mean it is very kings
to get him back in The Darron fox trade and
then hire someone who we know actively to run your entire,
organization who actively does not think That Zack lavine is.
Valuable But i'm asking you to divorce the Theron fox
trade And Zack lavine's contract just from everything, else what
did you make of his on set fit In sacramento last?
Speaker 2: Year what's funny is Like lavina was pretty much exactly as.
Advertised he was exactly what you thought you were getting
in that. Trade but just like everyone knew the instant
the trade, HAVE i was, like, well that doesn't really
fit the roster at, All like it doesn't fit. Anything,
LIKE i, mean he's you, know he was a good.
Shooter you, know he hit his. Threes you had a
few explosive plays like you, know scored a, lot shot a,
lot drop a, lot like save clunky fit next to
the rosen as they were In. Chicago like it's like
exactly what you thought it was gonna look like when
that came. Together BUT i don't, Know like the hard
part With levine is that he is like that if
you take away What sacramento gave up to to get,
him if you take away his, contract he's a really
really good basketball, Player like he is really, talented and
he does things sometimes in games where you're just like
that was. Cool that was really fun to. Watch it's
just not enough to like raise the floor of this
team point like and, like As zach enters his, THIRTIES
i don't expect that he's going to suddenly become a
different player than what he's been his whole career at this,
point and the fit with the rest of the, roster,
like you, know the financial piece of, side the path
to a king's team built around like, him even if
we just take like, Him, sabonis And, keegan, like the
pathway to build a successful team around those three pieces
is just so hard to. Do, yeah Because sabonis is
the wrong type of center to Optimize. Levine levine is
the wrong type of guard slash wing to Optimize Sabona's,
like it just it doesn't. Work it, should you can
see how it, could but it just it. Doesn't and
it doesn't in all the ways that were pretty. PREDICTABLE
i do.
Speaker 1: Wonder if it could be any different Toward i'm not
saying it's the path THAT i would choose and then
double and triple down, on but, like if you remove
the DeMar derozen from the, equation Like, Zach lavine at
least is more of a natural interplay candidate for Domas,
abonis and we didn't SEE i would argue we didn't
see enough as imperfect as it might, be even With,
derozen Like sibonis And DeRozan Or subosan And sabonis And zacklvine,
interact and even when you go back and look at
the number of like the percentage of buckets that they
were assisting on for each. Other i'm not asking for
like peak The aaron Fox Domas sabonis level, chemistry but
it wasn't anything, close it felt.
Speaker 3: Like and, look part of that Is.
Speaker 1: Levigne comes in the middle of the, season doesn't have
a training camp with this, team and Even Doug christie
has talked about there are things that he wants to,
overhaul but he could not last. YEAR i just if
your three highest usage guys are going to Be, DeRozan
zacklovine And, sabonis that's the thing THAT i don't think
is gonna. Work AND i really THINK i don't mean
to lay blame at his feet, specifically BUT i really
think That DeMar DeRozan's play style is the thing that
kind of submarines this team's as currently constructed ceiling more
so than anything, else because it just feels like it
runs so counter to everything else that they should be
able to.
Speaker 2: Do, NO i would, Agree AND i think that kind
of Like, MONK i think The kings tried to find
a way to Move DeRozan the summer and just couldn't
find a way to make that work.
Speaker 1: Either like we were told you you told me that
deal was fine because the partial guarantee in year.
Speaker 3: Three, greg come.
Speaker 2: On, yeah it's a very traitable. Contract what's the. Issue,
no it's funny because uh preparing to come on here.
TODAY i actually went back and listened to when we
did this last year and we were talking and we
were talking About DeRos and like all the concerns we talked,
about like this could be an, Issue like every single
one of them came, through like oh stop the, ball no,
flow like you, know future many two's not of, threes
like you, know all all the things that were concerned.
Speaker 3: Last year was very soul. Crushing i'm not going to.
Speaker 2: Lie, yeah the amount of times when the entire offense
would just stop moving when you've got like high post
passing from The bonus and one of the fastest guys
in the league In, fox it would just, stop you.
Know SO i, Agree like if it was, ME i
would have dumped The rosen for pennies on the, dog
and not THAT i think that he's a worthless, player
but just his play style meshes so poorly with everything.
ELSE i agree that getting him off the roster sooner
than later would free up a lot of, things open
up a little bit more of the flow of the
offense to where there could be a. Chance so it
depends what else you get, back and you know how
the different pieces. Fit but, uh, yeah at this, point
they feel very stuck with what they have for at
least another year or.
Speaker 1: Two i'm about to ask this With Doug christie, specifically
but did you get a sense for, what like any
of his coaching principles might be for this, team or
even just over the offseason hearing things of what he
might want to.
Speaker 2: CHANGE i, mean when he took, over his whole thing
was just bringing it up and letting the players play
like more of a flow, offense basically a roll the
ball out and rely on your, talent and that worked
sometimes and didn't work a lot more of the. Times
he's talked about making some changes and kind of implementing
some new things with having a full, offseason but there's
not enough for us to really predict what that would
look like because he hasn't coach anywhere else. Before his
coaching tree tutelage has primarily been Under Luke walton and
Then Mike, brown and just like very different. Styles and
obviously as a player he played under some really great,
coaches you, Know BUT i don't know how much of
a Tactician Doug christie is as far as a coach versus,
like as far as installing you, know a very, specific you,
know type of offensive scheme and you know this and
that versus some general ideas and you, know pump up
the troops and go out there and do. It AND
i am curious to see what adjustments they. Make BUT
i don't have really high hopes again rooting For. Doug
hope he does. Well hope he proves me. Wrong he
wouldn't be the first or the. Last but, YEAH i
don't expect to see a dramatically Reshaped king's offensive or
defensive scheme after a full off season of head Coach Doug.
Speaker 1: Christie when you look at the way the front court has,
built what is their plan for secondary front? Lines and
are why are they anti backup bigs Or god should
say good backup.
Speaker 2: Bigs, well you, know we Had Jonas founciernis or you,
know thirty, games and it was beautiful because we actually
had a backup center who could come in and play
competent basketball and DOING i, mean and then you, know
The king's powers that be decided that that was. Enough you,
know we didn't need that. Anymore we needed to Get
dario Sarich.
Speaker 1: Is, like is the ironic thing that if he actually
wanted to leave THE nba was prepared to give up
his entire contract to do, it that would have benefited
The kings more than trading him For.
Speaker 2: Absolutely that's absolutely so LIKE i don't get any of
it at. All and it's one of those. Things it's
funny because this happens a, lot going back to like
repeated bad, prophises this happens a lot with the kingsbere
they'll make a truly baffling, trade And kings fans will
kind of talk ourselves, into, well you wouldn't do that
if you didn't have something lined up as far as
like how you're then going to use Like sarg's contract or,
something and then the other piece of it just never,
Happens like but you end up thinking there has to
be some step two of the, plan because otherwise that
stuff makes no sense at. All and then step two
just never comes around and you're, like, well, SHIT i guess.
Speaker 3: We just well step two is going to get a shooter.
Speaker 2: AGAIN i go back that that can't. Be that can't
be the. EXPLANATION i think more than, anything it's That
vivek would rather die than pay a luxury.
Speaker 1: Tax so who is going to the. Season who would
you predict is the primary backup? Big is It Isaac,
Jones drew You, Banks is It Dario sharitch.
Speaker 2: HIMSELF i would Expect Isaac. JONES i MEAN i think he.
HE i say that because that's what anyone who watches
The kings play basketball is, like, well, yeah that guy looks.
Good you should play him. More but The kings have
a habit of not playing those, guys so it's probably
gonna be Like Drew. Eubanks BUT i would hope It's
Isaac jones because he showed some really nice flashes last.
Season he's got an amazing story, too as far as
his path to making it to THE. Nba it's really,
cool just kind of his whole journey going from undrafted
like he. Was he wasn't even on a college scholarship
after high. School he was like working like in a
pipe shipping yard and like end up is like a
walk on and then transferred and like now he's so
he's been on AN nba, Contract like amazing story for.
Him AND i guess The king's will just sabotage.
Speaker 1: Him and you argue that he's kind of like how
dare falling, backwards it's kind of like.
Speaker 3: Backsliding HE i like.
Speaker 1: Him he's just small and they're but there's stuff that
he could do when he runs before and there's been
LIKE i don't know when he starts to like slide
his feet and like turn his body on, Defense like,
sure very, nervous BUT i would rather see him Than
sharich OR U.
Speaker 3: BANKS i am.
Speaker 1: Sort of intrigued by like Maximum rainow just because he's
his large body that shoots. Threes but when you look
at how some of, them or when you look at
how a lot of basketball's, played like some of these
bigs that can only play drop on, Defense like you
need to be really really on your game to be
impactful in that.
Speaker 3: Way AND i just don't know that he.
Speaker 1: Is AND i know he he moves like fairly well
for his, size but even like when he's going in
a straight. Line and, YES i did Watch reno footage
for this, podcast but there's like a like A Karl
Anthony Towns gate to him where it feels like he's
struggling to.
Speaker 3: Pick up his feet when he's.
Speaker 2: Running, YEAH i do think that they're expecting a lot
Of reno this, year AND i would, expect SO i would.
Expect so h makes no. SENSE i love, It it
makes no sense. WHATSOEVER i do think that he's going
to struggle to stay on the, floor JUST i think foul.
Trouble AND i he had some fun moments In Summer league,
though like, it it'd be fun to see him out.
There but and this is the, Thing like if this
team ever like leaned into being okay with being, crappy
like they've got enough fun young, guys this could be
like a fun crappy, team but it's gonna be a
miserable crappy team. Instead so that's WHY i say it's
probably gonna Be drew you, Backs, keing And murray extension.
Speaker 3: Eligible and we'll get to that in a.
Speaker 1: Second what's the developmental area you'll be watching most, Closely
And i'm curious for your answer BECAUSE i GUESS i
think Even kings fans might agree THAT i excuse some
of like, this the stalling out of his offensive. GROWTH
i Just i'm, like look at the roster Around if
he's getting fewer touches per seventy five possessions like his last,
year his shot quality at the rim just plunged.
Speaker 3: In part because we're looking at the roster construction around.
Speaker 1: Him so, what, like how are you Evaluating Keegan murray
within the context of this, team and what is like
that the the biggest.
Speaker 3: Thing that you'll be watching for with him this?
Speaker 1: Season and if you but if you say he needs
to go out and get and call for the ball
LIKE i, will there will be some push because like
that's just too much of the default.
Speaker 3: THAT i have seen slash, red slash.
Speaker 2: Hurry and he's more of that.
Speaker 3: Dog he's got to want it.
Speaker 2: MORE i think the hard part With keegan is it's
kind of. Twofold so The kings have relied on him
now for like the past two years as being like
their primary defensive, stopper which he's made such leaps and
bounds over WHAT i initially thought he'd be as a,
defender like he's really good and has some really great,
moments but it seems pretty clear that it's really wearing
him down and that it's really impacting his offense and
that he is not as much AS i love watching
his growth on, defense like he is not at the
level to be a true number one, Stopper like if
he was your second best, defender that could be a
really good, defense but being tasked with your number like
whoever the other team's best player is every single, night
is just a little bit bigger workload on the defensive
end than he can, handle and it seems like it's
impacting other. Things and then being made a complete afterthought
on the offense really makes it where he almost has
to force things when he does get the, ball which
isn't in his, nature but it seems like he has
still tried to do. It BUT i don't know if
it's just a confidence, thing BUT i, mean like he,
really towards the end of The Mike brown, tenure was
seemed to really be in his head and kind of
broke out of that a little bit After brown was
replaced With Doug. Christy but the biggest Thing i'll be
looking for is just can The, kings for the love
Of god just run some things to set him up
to be like the primary like action on any sort
of an offensive flow like where it's a designed play
to set him up as opposed to well option is
one through three or one through ford and we're kick
at The kegan as the shot clucks winding down and
see if you can do something.
Speaker 4: The.
Speaker 3: Corner.
Speaker 2: Yeah, Yeah LIKE i feel Like he's one THING i
both appreciate About Mike brown but also was frustrated with
at times is it felt like he was really Pushing kegan,
hard challenging him to get out of his comfort zone
and do different. Things so we did See kean develop,
skills you, know as far as you. Know year one
it was all, threes and then in year two it
was more you, know, okay you can you, know you
can take, twos or you can take shots at the,
rim and and then last year was more kind of
attacking off the, dribble and you, know see he's kind
of been doing more pieces to his. Offense but it's
like if you go back and watch him in, college
he was already able to do all those. Things so
it's like what are we doing? Here like can we
just give him the keys for like five minutes a
game and see what? Happens like that's WHAT i would
like to, See like just run in some minds where
he's the primary, option runs some plays where it's designed
to get him a certain, look to where we can
really see what that upside potential. Is that's WHERE i
go back. To if The kings actually leaned into being,
crappy it could be a really, fun crappy young, team you,
know where you're just really letting him get the reps
as a primary. Option AND i don't know that he's
ever actually gonna be the number one option on a good,
team but those kind of reps could help you figure
that out or figure out, Like, okay how good can
he be as your number two or you know. Whatever
but right now he's like fourth or fifth on the
offensive pecking, order and, YEP i just worry about where
that's gonna.
Speaker 4: Go.
Speaker 1: YEAH i don't know if he would. EVER i, mean
we obviously have not seen enough of. IT i don't
know what the ceiling on his offense would be if
you're putting him on the, ball LIKE i think some
of the cadence on his drives makes me suggest that
this is someone who could eventually score multiple levels draw
more fouls than he. Has but you're going into year
four and you have not adequately plumbed that part of his.
Speaker 3: Game and that meant look the deep.
Speaker 1: Put, also you have to give The kings and him
credit because he was not build like this defensively at
all when he was.
Speaker 2: Coming and you.
Speaker 1: Mentioned at the top where it's you don't want him
defending the best player all the. TIME i just if
only this team had someone Like Kean ellis who could
maybe do that some of the time Open but if Only,
uh that's not.
Speaker 3: The other thought in my.
Speaker 1: MIND i hope they get to a point because the
QUESTION i have to ask you, now BUT i hope
they get to a point this season, where especially if
he doesn't get an, extension you better experiment like hell
with him because how do you figure out how much he's?
Worth which is now my question to you is what
is do you want think that he ends up getting an?
Extension and, two what's the number that you could approach
it From keegan's, perspective like what's the middle ground for
this team or what's the number if you're The, kings
that makes you say we do it now versus, oh,
no like we'll let this go into restrictive free agency
because he is. SORRY i think he's someone cap space is.
OVERRATED i want to make that. Clear even when you
look at next year's cap space, landscape some of those
teams are not going to end up with cap.
Speaker 3: Space BUT i do think that.
Speaker 1: If he gets into restricted free, agency because of what
he has shown defensively and the idea of what he
could be on, offense even if he is a third
option or a fourth option, GUY i think he would
get an offer sheet from somebody.
Speaker 2: Else, YEAH i. THINK i think an extension will get.
DONE i think The kings do know that he's good
enough that they shouldn't just let him. Go they'll probably
manage to script a. Relationship in the process of figuring
out that, NUMBER i was listening to The Game theory
podcast when they were doing their breakdown of like restrict
of free agents or upcoming extension, guys AND i think
they came up with a number around like twenty eight
million a, year kind of in the ballpark of Like
Jabari Smith, junior that type of. Thing AND i think
that that seems. FAIR i think that that's probably you,
know it's not quite The, max which a year AGO
i was, like he's going to get the Rookie, max
like done, deal like no question is going to be day.
One but now he's like continued to regress offensively because
of all the things we've talked, About so now like
they're kind of screwing up his, money which is WHERE
i go back. To so we're in the relationship in the,
process BUT i do expect they'll get some sort of
deal done where it's not quite The Ricky, max but you,
know it's still close enough to it that he doesn't
feel totally. Disrespected but with The, kings it's always dangerous
to assume that they're going to just do the common
sense thing and secure the. Guy as we learned With
Kean ellis this summer.
Speaker 1: We were doing bold predictions on the podcast Or granted
AND i did a collap At Bleacher.
Speaker 3: REPORT i don't remember which one it.
Speaker 1: Was at this, POINT i predicted he was going to
get more than thirty million dollars a year in an,
Extension SO i at least thought he was going to get.
Speaker 3: Extended we'll.
Speaker 1: SEE i mean camps are starting up as we're recording,
this like recording this shortly before they fire, Up so
that's normally it feels like when these deals tend to get.
Speaker 3: Done, yeah does? He how?
Speaker 1: Does how does having a new front office to where
this Isn't Scott perry's guy necessarily do you think could
impact negotiations there are let's say an extension doesn't get.
Done we still very seldom see players In Keiga murray
situation who are worth a damn just get traded because
they're not really making that much. Money and like what
you've said about restricted free agency throughout this, podcast do
you think that could make it more likely, though that
The kings make some sort of nuclear we're gonna move
on From we're gonna be we're gonna preempt his restricted
freegency by moving on from him to type of Decision
they totally.
Speaker 2: Could i'd be surprised just because even though he's Not perry's,
guy like all the Things Scott perry, said he wants
this team to look Like, Keon keon also, fits But
Keiga murray fits those scriptures as far as like hard
nos to a player like bought, In LIKE i, mean
he kind of does all the things that anyone says
they want their team to look, like and So i'd be.
Shocked but it's also LIKE i a year, AGO i
thought it was stupid to think that they wouldn't extend
Tieron fox and keep that. Going So i've given up saying, like,
no this won't. Happen that'd be stupid because that's when
The kings go, haha hold my. Beer BUT i would
Be i'd still be. Surprised i'm not gonna say they
won't do, it because they always find new ways to depress.
Me But i'd be surprised if they don't find a
way to make an extension happen and just get it.
Done would?
Speaker 1: IT i guess because of the way restricted free agency,
works this is an easy, question BUT i can't imagine
with the way the rosters currently set up that Both
Keon ellis And Keithan murray are going to be making
real rotation player money on this roster unless they make
a move After so who do you view as the
bigger flight? Ris is it Just Keon ellis because he's
going to be an unrestricted free?
Speaker 2: Agent? Yeah they screwed that up. Right.
Speaker 1: YEAH i have a super into The, weeds x's And
o's defensive question for, you, Fantastic what it's more likely
that The kings have a top fifteen defense or they
Trade Domas sabonis in the middle of the.
Speaker 2: Season, oh it's absolutely Trading. Sabonas LIKE i would, say
there's probably like i'd, say there's like a, fifty like
fifty to fifty chance that happens, Anyway LIKE i don't
get THE i just nothing's been said, Officially And sibonis
is like he's a smart enough guy who plays the
meeting game, well like he's not gonna go out and
throw a fit and leak a bunch of. Stuff BUT
i think he wants, Out like that's just the, Impression,
like you, know there's the talk that he was gonna
have a conversation with management about like, yeah what was
here clarity On and it's like and it's, like is
this the clarity you were looking? For Like Dennis shrewder.
Speaker 3: LIKE i don't, know like like The kings are daring.
Speaker 2: Him, Yeah SO i would not be shocked at all
If sabonism's up, traded And i'm sure They'll i'm sure
they'll get just a blockbuster return for that because they're
really good at.
Speaker 4: Trades SO i would be curious to see because he's
got like three years and one hundred and forty six
million yefes on his, deal which is it's under twenty
eight percent of the salary cap.
Speaker 3: Or whatever it ends up.
Speaker 1: BEING i would be very curious to see what return
they fetch on, him because there are just certain players
AND i tend to be on the HOT i as
the bonus on one of my ALL nba teams this,
YEAR i tend to be a little bit higher than
most on, Him BUT i also recognize like the, problems
But i'm also sort of wondering The kings have like
done literally nothing to try and like like optimize what
they could be or insulate him against his worst, weaknesses
and they continue to veer further away from, it it
seems like because now they're starting a knife into his
offensive value with what they've assembled around. Him and he's
still a fantastic, player but it's like these are not
intuitive fits a lot of these players around, Him and
then you go on the defensive end and it's what
are we doing? Here like It's Kegan murray is your
best like rim, Protector like that's the guy you watch
the low man in the the, bonus which good FOR
i think he's actually done pretty well doing that. Stuff
now your backup bigs Or Drew ubanks And darren Ol
shartz and come, On Isaac jones and we're gonna See
rayno this.
Speaker 3: Year that makes me.
Speaker 1: Excited this IS I I but that was my long
rambling way of. Saying if he does request a, trader
they shot. Him he's in that tray young tier for
me to where it's just, Like i'm very curiously how
the rest of the league would.
Speaker 3: Value them if they were ever truly.
Speaker 1: AVAILABLE i think, AGAIN i tend to be hire on
him the, most but it wouldn't shock me if this
is anyone expecting The kings to get, LIKE i don't
know three First, like would they get The Desmond bain.
Speaker 3: PACKAGE i, DON'T i.
Speaker 2: Don't probably not, RIGHT i would, say probably not like
AND i, mean if you're building a, team like it's
the challenges it's really hard to build a team Around
delmas as your center just because of the issues that he,
Has like you need the the exact right types of
players around him to really like.
Speaker 3: To obs or.
Speaker 2: Something, yeah basically and The kings just made a point
to never even try to put any of those types around,
Him SO i think that does make the issues look.
Worse but any team that's giving up stuff and you
got to match the salary and all, this it's like
it would be very tricky to figure, out Like, okay
where could he go where they could make the money
work and he improves the, team and like where it
just made sense for someone to trade for, Him LIKE
i do think that'd be tricky to. Find and you,
KNOW i just assume somehow The bulls would be. Involved
we'll Get boots back and you, know you, know get
the band back. Together but, yeah it would definitely be
interesting to see what he would actually fetch in the.
Market right, now he.
Speaker 1: Would make a lot of sense on a Good Boston celtics,
TEAM i think at this, point.
Speaker 2: If it's, there there's a lot of TEAMS i think
he would be really nice on if he's especially if
he's like your third best, player like that's fantastic like. That,
yeah you can do a lot of good things, there
but it's just hard to make it, WORK i.
Speaker 1: THINK I also the other thing with me too is
if The kings are still trying to be. GOOD i
understand he's a difficult player to build, around but you've
now completely punched on the idea of properly sized wings
or rim protection at, all and like that's like those
are supposed to be the non negotiables with, him and
so Even i've come around to the, IDEA i was
definitely wrong about this years, ago WHERE i think a
lot of people were ahead of, it where it's you
could have put And i'll use the bonus as the, example, like,
yeah you could put him next to A Jared allen
and like they'll be able to figure.
Speaker 3: It out on.
Speaker 1: Offense i'm all for doing something like that, now and
they just they, Haven't like there hasn't been the let's
place this top tier rim protector by him and see.
Speaker 3: If that could.
Speaker 1: Work and SO i just don't AND i don't know
how much of OR i don't know THAT i blame
any of.
Speaker 2: This it like leave.
Speaker 1: It it's Got perry's, Feet like the Whole Dennis shuder
stuff is, weird but like he's taught what you're saying
that he wants to build is completely like separated from
the reality of what The kings are right. Now but
he's only been in charge for a, minute so do
we need to give him the benefit of the? Doubt
do you see this team even let's say things are
going off the rails this?
Speaker 3: Season So i'll ask a twofold. Question, sure let's take
the rosy end. First what does overachieving or what's the
pathway to this team overachieving this coming? Season like what
does that look?
Speaker 1: Like is it just they're so good on offense that
they wind up winning a bunch of?
Speaker 2: Games, YEAH i MEAN i think that that would really
be it that for all the talk around, fit which
the fit issues are so, many, right but there's a
lot of talented players on The kings, roster like more talent,
overall just as far as like the number of guys
that you're, like, yeah you could play, Them, like it's
a very talented, team especially compared to many of the
Past kings teams that have been. Terrible so there's a
lot of basketball. Talent it's just not a good team that.
Fit so the idea of overachieving would be its regular.
Season if they play, hard there's enough talent there that
they could just win games on, talent even if schematically
there's still a Mess i'm skeptical about, that but and
winning more than EXPECTED i still think is like maybe
they're a five hundred. Team, LIKE i don't have high
expectations for win totals this. YEAR i think that overachieving is,
like you, know maybe of home court for your playing
round this. Year so, YEAH i it would just be
there's enough talent there and the offense offsets the defensive.
Speaker 1: Issues do you think that if they were to, struggle
and we're talking like maybe they're hovering like ten to
eleventh rather than being firmly in the play and, mix
would they be more likely to try and double down
to make sure that they get inside the playing for that.
Speaker 3: Picture or because there.
Speaker 1: Is this new front office regime in, there might there
be the leeway. Too well we are like we know that,
there But i'm asking this, question, like, well we know
they're willing to trade To Rosenen, monk they just can't find,
Takers and, like is this team even built to tear
it down if that's what fans, want because how many
of their? Players, Yeah Keegan, murray Keon el is, sure
but those are the players you don't want to.
Speaker 3: Trade as part of a.
Speaker 2: TEARDOWN i don't think that this team will ever intentionally
tear down as long as the back is the. Owner,
like they have had many seasons over the years where
they've been bad and clearly out of the playoffs and
refuse to do anything to, win to lose a couple
extra games and it's cost him in lottery coin flips
and things like that over the, years where you, know
if they'd won like one fewer, game they would have
had like the pick that turned Into Franz wagner instead
Of Davion, Mitchell, like, yeah so there's things like that
WHERE i might have mixed up draft years, there BUT
i don't THINK i. Did but they've never shown a
willingness to tear down and lean into being. Bad like,
really the best hope that we have is that it's
the unintentional tank where despite their best, efforts they're in
a nice lottery position and they get, lucky and then
for once they get lottery luck and don't pass on
a generational.
Speaker 1: Star do you have any early impressions On Nick clifford
and what type of role he could. Have does it
bode well for him that they're so type of wing,
starved or does it bode poorly for him that he's
like a fringe wing.
Speaker 3: And they already have so many.
Speaker 2: Guards, yeah he showed some really nice things In Summer.
League he was a really nice, surprise AND i think
they got good value for where he was. Picked he
seems like a guy, who if nothing, else could be
a decent bench player for quite a while in the.
LEAGUE i think it's gonna be very hard with the current,
roster so, like unless they do manage to make some
moves to load a few, pieces it's hard to see
where those minutes are going to come in BECAUSE i, mean,
YEAH i, mean if you're talking guards and, wings you
just have so many guys that could play ahead of.
Them so really the hope is that maybe he can
be like some back up three, minutes but you, know
behind the Rosen but IT i think it's gonna be pretty.
LIMITED i think we'll see smaller doses unless there's another
roster move to change things.
Speaker 3: Up he HIT i think it was In summery against The.
Speaker 1: Calves he hit that like crossover step back three coming
off as screen around the, baseline AND i was, like
that's ONE i would just like to See Keigan murray.
Speaker 3: Do that would be pretty, Cool BUT.
Speaker 1: I was just PLAY i would just play him like
he should be about use him as the day facto
backup three at this, point because you don't, have like
we talk about properly wing sized.
Speaker 3: Players was he listed as he's six five or is he? What?
Like so you know? What that's big enough to? Me
like it's SO i hope they play him a.
Speaker 1: Ton the other player on this roster WHO i find,
interesting mostly BECAUSE i don't have a great feel for
what he could be on the offensive.
Speaker 3: END i think injuries have played a huge part of.
That But Devin carter where just sort of you at with.
Speaker 2: HIM i was not high On Devin carter when he was,
picked and WHAT i saw after he came back from,
injury and WHAT i saw In Summer league this, YEAR
i remained very low On. Carter i'm Just i'm not.
Sold i'm not a big. Fan there's a chance it's
maybe just the wrong, situation BUT I i think The
kings have been pretty openly trying to move him this summer,
too and not having much, luck and you, know their
faith in him is leading them to also try to
Add Russell. Westbrooks that tells you kind of where they
stand with him as far as like when you draft
older rookies because they're supposed to be ready right away
and going into their sophomore year where they're already twenty
three Year, like we can't rely on him as a
backup point. Guard we Need Russell Westbrook, LIKE i mean
that he tells you where Where Devin carter's at in his.
Career and you, know, Again i'm not rooting against. Him
i'm just Not i'm not sold on there being a lot.
Speaker 1: There who do you think is a better chance of
carving out consistent playing time between him And?
Speaker 3: Clifford SO i feel.
Speaker 1: Like, CLIFFORD i think he's the better, player But i'm,
wondering Like Devin carter is like a defensive. BULLDOG i
think like he could we know he can really guard.
Up he's, small but he'll guard up and go after.
WINGS i think Nee clifford sort of has, that like
he showed that In Summer, league but Summ. League the
Summer league is summer, League so that would be my only.
Pause BUT i GUESS i didn't think about it through
The Russell westbrook prism to where if they're if, so,
YEAH i hope it's The i'm higher on New.
Speaker 3: CLIFFORD i really like. HIM i think the kids did
a good. Thing they Got New.
Speaker 2: Clifford one good. Thing that's all we can.
Speaker 1: Do are you Ready greg to enter the annual Cookie
cutter Slash lightning round portion of the? Post we talked
about a bunch of, them but Now i'm gonna ask
you to boil it down to. One what is the
single biggest need for The Sacramento kings when you look
at their current roster heading into trading, camp.
Speaker 2: The single biggest need is Trading Tomato rosen for a
real power. FORWARD i don't think that'll happen before, camp
but that's what they. Need.
Speaker 1: Man i'm trying to think of what about like who
makes the money that would work within the Mart rosan.
Speaker 2: STRUCTURE i have no. IDEA i don't have a proposal
here is just that's what you, know if we could
magically do that and ideally that for can like shoot
in block shots like you know that that suddenly would
make the roster. WORK i just don't think that scenario
exists in.
Speaker 1: Reality, well, look THERE'S i don't want, to you, know
get your hopes, up like there's a chance That kawhi
is maybe a free agent at some.
Speaker 2: Point, oh.
Speaker 3: CAN i interest you Into Kyle?
Speaker 2: Kuzma uh, no thank?
Speaker 1: You you want to reunion with you want to Try?
Bulls Patrick williams floating around out?
Speaker 2: There Oh, god that contract goes on. Forever, YEAH i,
mean BUT i hear it's real tradable in year four and.
Speaker 1: Five so, yeah, honestly he can only play like three
minutes a game and not The magic wouldn't Want, derosan
But Jonathan isaac would make some sense on this team.
Speaker 3: Too.
Speaker 2: Yeah UH.
Speaker 3: Pj washington's like the perfect player for. Them.
Speaker 2: Yeah, guy they could have traded for like two years
ago and.
Speaker 1: Didn't is there anything about this team that's flying under
the radar that you think deserves more of a. Spotlight
we're talking on cored or off. Court it could be
whatever you, well if you want to get into some
of the gu. STUFF i don't think that's flying under the,
radar but it be whatever you.
Speaker 2: WANT i think if we're looking at where this team's, at,
NO i MEAN i don't have. ANYTHING i. DON'T i
think the whole team is kind of flying under the
radar because everyone's just kind of tired of like any,
podcasts like The. Kings what's there to, Say like it's
just depressing EVERYONE'S i don't like The kings as a
team are a little under the. RADAR i think they'll
probably win a couple more games than people, think just
because expectations are so.
Speaker 1: Have a top eight offense is not out of, possibility,
right entirely.
Speaker 2: Possible BUT i think it's just gonna be a wasted
year and and a directionless. YEAR i don't think there's
a lot Where i'm, like keep your eye on. This
this is really gonna excite, you like outside of the
things we've already talked, about like you, Know Nie clifford
And Kicking murray And keanels like those are kind of
the bright, spots but they'll be buried under less exciting.
Speaker 1: THINGS i, WAS i can this is the twentieth the
twentieth look at ever. Recorded that's the most depressing under
the radar answer That I'VE i have.
Speaker 2: Gotten here's something under under the radar to watch out.
For Russell westbrook is on pace assuming he ends up
with The kings this, year to become like the highest
scoring point guard IN nba.
Speaker 3: History, well at that, point you got to start him.
Speaker 2: Right EXACTLY i mean he's so.
Speaker 1: Good, Okay, so as this team is currently, Built i'm
asking you to build a ten man.
Speaker 3: Rotation what are the starters and who are the five
most used? Reserves?
Speaker 2: Uh, so, STARTERS i would expect it to Be, Sabonis Keegan,
Tomato Rosen, Levigne sugar off the, BENCH i would expect
so we've got And Kean, Ellis, Monk Isaac. Jones i'd
Expect Neat clifford to be somewhere in. There AND i
don't Know banks right, Yeah drew You banks right?
Speaker 3: Now?
Speaker 2: Maybe, yeah it gets gets pretty bleak when we get
to eight or. Nine so.
Speaker 3: Well, again so who has.
Speaker 2: About this? Team that's not my my my intent. HERE
i don't think anyone should get their hopes.
Speaker 1: Up this is just some extent matchup Dependent but who
what will be The kings's go to or what should
be The kings's go to closing unit is just sort
of their.
Speaker 2: Base the base this, YEAR i would expect is probably
just gonna be the starting.
Speaker 1: Five and which pot do you think would be most
fungible then of that starting five to get the.
Speaker 2: BOOT i could see them kind of playing with matchups
as well as kind of hot hand as far as
you may Be monks in there instead Of, tomorrow or
in there instead Of, levine or you, know maybe they
go bigger and have shroed around the. Bench SO i
could See monk kind of filtering in and out of
there for as long as he's on the. Roster but
that'd be the main tweak THAT i would. See, OTHERWISE
i think they're gonna lean pretty heavy on that starting.
FIVE i don't Expect Keon house to be a lot
in the closing, lineup even though it would make a
lot of sense to have them.
Speaker 1: There i'm so angry. Again you're making me. Retro you're
making me like angry into the. Future what's a weird
lineup you want to See Doug christy try this?
Speaker 2: Year my weirdo lineup would just, be like play the
lineup that this team should be playing if they leaned
into what they actually, are you, know like like play
the kids like you know kind of we talked, about
like play a lineup Where key emerged like your primary,
guy you, know likean With Kean ellis and you, know
Throwne clifford and throw him in, there you, know Throw
carter in. THERE i don't, care like just throwing the young, guys,
like see what you got with the younger. PIECES i,
mean you could still Have sabonis in there just as.
Speaker 1: Well if the bonus plus kids was plus quote unquote
kids was.
Speaker 2: Mine, YEAH i mean you could Go, Sabonis Isaac, Jones Keegan,
Murray Kean, ellis And Neet clifford is like a, big
big point. Guard like that'd be. FUN i would enjoy
watching that lineup for the the three minutes that they'll
roll it out all.
Speaker 1: Season, WELL i hope it's more than, that because that's
like it's weirdo in this end what you should, do,
Right that's why it's.
Speaker 2: Weird, yeah before and, fourteen that would be very, logical like, expectation, like,
yeah we've got all these, bets but we're gonna definitely
play these lineups, heavy just to kind of see what we.
Speaker 1: Got, kings the optics of them having To martroe And Zach,
Lavina Malik monk just all on the bed denis true
on the bench at once would be hysterical.
Speaker 2: Too, yes it'd be.
Speaker 1: Fantastic BEFORE i forced you to make some, predictions is
there anything or anyone else about this team we haven't
discussed that you Think warrant's.
Speaker 2: ATTENTION i would just like to call out, that you,
know in for a team that is lacking in you,
know younger pieces to get excited about or kind of
some Extra lotto tickets or you, know really in need
of like a power forward or some extra big man.
Depth The kings filled out. There they're roster by Resigning
doug McDermott for another, season so we get yet another
year Of doug mcbuckets in THE, nba and that's that's
really fun for a team that's in garbage time a
lot and usually on the bad end of. It but
when he comes in and just goes flamethrower and just
like chucking up threes and hits like nine and six,
minutes it's. Fantastic so it's depressing that they went that
direction from a roster like team building, perspective but from
a make garbage time kind of, fun it's.
Speaker 1: Fantastic he could be the kick And Murray whisper maybe
teach him like how to how to work out on offense. Exactly,
so how many games do you see this team winning
and where do you see them stacking up in The.
WEST i think the best way to frame that is
what are the teams in The Western conference you are
prepared to guarantee will be worse than The Sacramento Kings right, NOW.
Speaker 2: I would expect The kings to win thirty six thirty
seven games this.
Speaker 3: Year that's very both of.
Speaker 2: Them, YEAH i mean it's Very kings of them. TOO
i MEAN i mean TEAMS i would guarantee are going
to be Worse, utah Probably, phoenix Probably, pelicans but something
that's depending On LIKE i could easily see like If
zion is like skiddy and healthy for a full, year
Like pelicans could be better than The, kings just based on, That, like.
Speaker 3: The pelicans better be better than The kings with it they.
Speaker 2: Are banking on. It but, yeah, NO i think The
kings probably finish somewhere around twelfth in The. WEST i
think they'll be better than two or three teams in The,
west and that'll be.
Speaker 1: It that sounds about. Right i'm even trying to think
you have a wild card team in The. WEST i
think you named the three teams THAT i would, like Maybe, portland.
Speaker 2: Right but it just feels Like portland's got enough though
there are.
Speaker 3: Dudes they have a lot of du.
Speaker 2: Good mix of young guys who play, well that's, LIKE i,
mean they've got. It, No portland is a multiple.
Speaker 3: Rim, protectors WHICH i don't even think The kings knew was.
Speaker 2: Allowed, NO i don't think you can do.
Speaker 3: That so that's about, it CAN?
Speaker 1: I so my final question to you would be CAN
i get one additional king's prediction from?
Speaker 3: You you could take it wherever you would.
Speaker 2: Like one additional king's. PREDICTION i will predict that they
almost make a big trade at the. Deadline, yeah we'll
hear all About oh we'll hear, Yeah well we'll hear
all about the trade that they're working, on and then it.
Won't it won't, happen so they'll. Pivot that'd be my.
Speaker 3: Prediction well it bes a buyer or a seller that
we'll hear, About.
Speaker 2: Oh, DEFINITELY i mean. Both they'll be trying to get
off of their contracts they don't like for someone they
can't get without giving up anything.
Speaker 3: Else so sounds about.
Speaker 1: Right, Yeah Greg, very this was, great another great conversation with.
You thank you so much for coming back and giving
me a bunch of your. Time are you just able
to tell everyone who listens to slash watches us where
they can find you and all the fantastic work that
you don't do.
Speaker 2: Anymore, Yeah i've kind of hung up my writing days
At The King's, herald but definitely Visit kingserald dot. Com
i'm still kind of involved in the back end of the,
site but that's where you can find the Best kings
coverage out. There and then if you want to see
my takes on just On Blue sky at G whiz
and just you, know tweeting out my jokes and my basketball,
TAKES i will have.
Speaker 3: The link to The King harold in our podcast.
Speaker 2: Descriptions go check them.
Speaker 1: Out they do a great job like covering the polls
of the team and a fan base at.
Speaker 3: Large, greg once, more thank you so. Much and as
you know by now the suming years servive this, SEASON
i will be best for you again in the.
Speaker 2: Future sounds. Good