Next up...Free Agency and Trades

[PetrieUnderstudy]

Thomas Robinson helps to solidify our front court but being as bad as we've been we still obviously have needs to fill. We need defensive minded, unselfish, veteran leaders.

Ideally, a good small forward and true point guard would help round out the roster. Only other thing we could be lacking is shot blocking unless Whiteside can contribute this year. The guys I mention below are the best available (fit and price) in my opinion that could be attainable.

If we were to sign two guys via unrestricted free agency I think signing Andre Miller and Andrei Kirilenko make the most sense. Jason Terry and Gerald Wallace would be my second choices. Again this is excluding the Deron Williams and Steve Nash types.

I'd like to sign Nicolas Batum because of his age and fit but he's a restricted free agent and I'd hate to lock up money during free agency period while potentially losing out on Kirilenko or Wallace.

Wishful thinking but if Rockets really want to trade Kyle Lowry and really want Chuck Hayes back I'd like to see a trade of these two.

I think we could also use Francisco Garcia via trade to obtain a small forward from a team looking to save money. Not spectacular but maybe names like Marvin Williams, Shawn Marion, Richard Jefferson, etc.

"Free Agency Team"
Andre Miller/Isaiah Thomas/Jimmer Fredette
Tyreke Evans/Marcus Thornton/Terrence Williams
Andrei Kirilenko/John Salmons/Francisco Garcia
Thomas Robinson/Jason Thompson/Travis Outlaw
DeMarcus Cousins/Chuck Hayes/Hassan Whiteside

"Trade Team"
Kyle Lowry/Isaiah Thomas/Jimmer Fredette
Tyreke Evans/Marcus Thornton/Terrence Williams
Marvin Williams/John Salmons/Tyler Honeycutt
Thomas Robinson/Jason Thompson/Travis Outlaw
DeMarcus Cousins/Hassan Whiteside

[SacTown916]

I disagree with you on trying to add Andre Miller and AK. They are good players however they are pretty bad shooters... Trading for Marvin WIlliams is something that I wanted us to do last year when he was on the Block. And if some how we can swap Lowry for Hayes that would be a dream come true.

[pillwenney]

The most amount of time during FA where we could lock up money with Batum is 15 days. That's not that big of a deal.

[408Kings]

I disagree with you on trying to add Andre Miller and AK. They are good players however they are pretty bad shooters... Trading for Marvin WIlliams is something that I wanted us to do last year when he was on the Block. And if some how we can swap Lowry for Hayes that would be a dream come true.

Agreed. Although I do like AK (and Iggy) and wouldn't mind them on the team, I think one of the main problems we had last year was that when we DID find the open man, no one could shoot a marble through a hoola hoop. Hence the reason we were up there in offensive rebounding.

[KF10]

Defense and shooting is by far our biggest needs.

We were absolutely a horrible defensive team last season. We gave up an astronomical amount of points in the paint (set an NBA-record allowing 90-something points in the paint) and letting teams score on us effortlessly. It's strange because we have solid man-to-man defenders in the roster but it doesn't mean anything if they can't defend as a UNIT. Team defense was the worst I have ever seen from a team in a long time. A simple play from an opposing team CONFUSES and DISCOMBOBULATES the Kings far too many times. It doesn't help when you start a 5'9'' player (IT) and a player (MT23) that doesn't put a lot effort on defense. To me, one of those guys (or both) have to be benched for the sake of not getting LIT up by teams regularly.

SF is another position in need. The last 3 years we are at the bottom-3 in terms of contribution for SF position in the NBA. Might as well play 4 on 5 if we continue to receive NOTHING from SF.

This is how I look at it:

PG:
SG: Evans
SF:
PF: Robinson
C: Cousins

We have 3 positions slated imo. SG, PF, & C and 2 holes at PG & SF.

I'm ok starting IT if we have Evans in there at SG. Evans guards the tougher defensive assignment and can adequately share ball-handling duties with IT. But I prefer a LEGIT PG that can knock down shots, play decent defense and is taller than 5'9''. SF should be someone that can hit the 3 pointer and defend well. To be more demanding, those two things should be the bare MINIMUM in looking for potential SFs. Out of all the SFs that has been rumored to be traded, I like Iggy the most. His 3PT shot has improved remarkably this year and has taken a "Robin/complementary" role with Philly. And he is an elite defender to boot! His ball handling and playmaking capabilities are major pluses too.

Out of all of the FA PGs, I would put all my eggs in the basket for Dragic. Just by looking at his splits (as a starter for the last couple of years), he has put up really good numbers. Last season with the Rockets, he put up: 18-3.5-8.4-1.8 @ 49% FG & 38% 3PT 84% FT as a starter. Dragic is an UFA. If we can't get Dragic, I say we look at George Hill. A steady PG that can play defense, knock down shots and control the team's offense solidly. So, my best case scenario would be:

PG: Dragic
SG: Evans
SF: Iggy
PF: T-Rob
C: Cousins

Thornton, Isaiah & Thompson will get the bulk of the minutes as the reserves. Jimmer, Hayes, Garcia & Salmons get what's left minute-wise.

The new lineup has a very good blend of basketball. You got an elite wing defender in Iggy, a legit PG in Dragic, an elite pentrating guard in Evans, a tenacious player in T-Rob and an all around post/mid presence in Cousins. Defense, offense, transition play, everything is here with this lineup!

[ADoaN17]

I doubt the Kings go for Dragic. Lowry wanted out if Dragic stayed and definitely wants out now after being shopped. No way Houston is willing to lose Dragic if they trade Lowry. If we could somehow trade Hayes/Jimmer for Lowry tho...

[pillwenney]

I think we'd have to give up Isaiah or Marcus to get Lowry. Probably not Marcus though. Would have to be Isaiah plus more value.

[simonbampfield]

I would love to go after Batum, but how much would we have to overpay to get him?
For me it is Batum number one and then number two is Iggy.
I think now is the time to strike and bundle some assets together to get an iggy type player.
Problem with that though is, IMO, these are the pieces that I want here moving forward and would not be in play for an Iggy trade.
PG
SG Reke/Thornton
SF
PF Robinson
C DMC/Whiteside
So that leaves us with IT, Jimmer, Garcia, Honeycut, Salmons, Outlaw, JT, Hayes and I'm not sure if that could land Iggy or another top defensive SF that can knock down the 3.

[Call Me Geoff]

Don't see the Maloofs adding a starter in FA for obvious reasons. It's too bad they are so broke because this team is only a good veteran starter away from being a playoff team IMO. I expect a Chuck Hayes like FA signing and some lateral trade for position that has more to do with cap (floor) management.

[OhioKingsFan]

Biggest hole is SF. IT can hold down PG for now, and we'll see how Jimmer develops.

Our SF needs to be able to catch & shoot 3 pointers and defend, basically we need Bruce Bowen. Here's my list of the best "possibly available" players, and all of them have their flaws:

-Iggy (PHI) - hard to get him, harder to keep him
-Marvin Williams (ATL) - we won't be passing on Chris Paul or D Williams for him
-Dorell Wright (GSW) - should be a bench player, but a decent stop-gap
-Wes Johnson (MIN) - he's playing in the wrong system
-James Johnson (TOR) - less known player, another stop-gap

I don't think Batum will be available. He's RFA and the Blazers will match any offer we can afford to make. Jared Dudley is another guy that would fit, but I don't see a trade both sides would accept. I also doubt we have the pieces to nab Iggy at this point. I don't want to give up ThRob, Tyreke or DMC, and I'm not sure who they would target outside of that.

I see Marvin Williams as our best "possibly available" option. Wes Johnson is a guy I'd be happy if we could pick up, even if he has underwhelmed. Coming out of college he looked like an complete SF: steals, blocks, dunks, 3 pointers... I'd still take a flier on him.

Oddly enough, I likely would have put Salmons on this list if last season were discounted and he still played for another team.

[408Kings]

-Iggy (PHI) - hard to get him, harder to keep him
-Marvin Williams (ATL) - we won't be passing on Chris Paul or D Williams for him
-Dorell Wright (GSW) - should be a bench player, but a decent stop-gap
-Wes Johnson (MIN) - he's playing in the wrong system
-James Johnson (TOR) - less known player, another stop-gap

I like Dorell Wright quite a bit. He's a good shooter with decent size. With the Warriors picking up Barnes, and how he's kind of fallen out of their rotation, I don't think it would take much to pry him off their hands.

James Johnson is also a pretty good all around player. He'll do the dirty work and plays good defense. Not so sure about his scoring ability though.

[pillwenney]

Yeah, I think we could get Batum if we really overpaid, but I'm not sure now is the time to do that, and it's kind of irrelevant if it is, because the Maloofs probably won't do it anyway.

[Fola314]

Don't see the Maloofs adding a starter in FA for obvious reasons. It's too bad they are so broke because this team is only a good veteran starter away from being a playoff team IMO. I expect a Chuck Hayes like FA signing and some lateral trade for position that has more to do with cap (floor) management.

Agree. I'd be shocked if the Kings spend any money on FA at all. We will probably hover around whatever the minimum amount of team salary is allowed. I'd expect us to be a lottery team from now until the distant future unless some year we find the right combination of cheap players and young guys on their rookie contracts.

[pillwenney]

Actually, really, now is the time to spend. Like right now. If Tyreke pans out this year, and we re-sign him for a lot, that cap space is going to dry up immediately (wouldn't if we stilll **** had Beno instead of **** Salmons). And then the year after that, it'll be Demarcus that we need to extend.

[RIPskaterdude]

Man, just thinking of how perfect this team would have been if we take back last year's draft/trade and go with the SF we were SUPPOSED to pick.

Beno/Thomas
Evans/MT
Leonard/T-Will
Robinson/JT
Cousins/Hayes

Team complete