Jason Thompson

[shangrila]

Does anyone else think he could be a huge help to us right now?

We all know how Darko has been the entire season and, if we want to keep being competitive, I think it'd be a good idea to either replace him or, at the very least, add some more quality depth to the front court while Pek is still adjusting. His current situation also looks like he could be had for less then his true value, as Westphal has been jerking his minutes around and played him at SF at times as well. Just seems like it ticks the box of everything guys like Kahn and Ronzone talk about when they want to acquire a player; he's young, cheap, athletic and a passer with no red flags.

Now, he's not the defender or shot blocker that Darko is, but he runs the floor better, is a stronger rebounder and can finish inside a lot better.

Anyone else agree?

[Foye]

I like him. Pick him up if you don't have to invest too much.

I'd offer them the better of the Memphis and Utah picks and the rights to Prestes. But I guess they would probably want a young point guard in return. Wouldn't deal Flynn away for him.

[shangrila]

Telfair is youngish

[Foye]

Telfair is youngish

But not better than Udrish

[AQuintus]

I like him. Pick him up if you don't have to invest too much.

I'd offer them the better of the Memphis and Utah picks and the rights to Prestes. But I guess they would probably want a young point guard in return. Wouldn't deal Flynn away for him.

I wouldn't even give up that much for Thompson at this point. So far this year, he's averaging 6 and 5 on about 5 shots per game in 15 minutes. He has a TS% under 50 and a PER under 15 (despite low minutes helping his PER). On top of that, DX listed his best case as Mark Blount and described defense as a serious weakness.

He's obviously not wanted at all by Sac management and he's been playing terrible ball. There's really no reason to offer anything really valuable (like a potentially decent 1st), especially not to a guy who's best position is at PF.

If we were going to be moving that 1st, we should be going after DeAndre Jordan or Hassan Whiteside. Both of those guys are likely available for the right price and both fit the team's needs (size, length, defense, shot blocking, athleticism, mobility, and being actual Centers) much better than Thompson.

[Foye]

I like him. Pick him up if you don't have to invest too much.

I'd offer them the better of the Memphis and Utah picks and the rights to Prestes. But I guess they would probably want a young point guard in return. Wouldn't deal Flynn away for him.

I wouldn't even give up that much for Thompson at this point. So far this year, he's averaging 6 and 5 on about 5 shots per game in 15 minutes. He has a TS% under 50 and a PER under 15 (despite low minutes helping his PER). On top of that, DX listed his best case as Mark Blount and described defense as a serious weakness.

He's obviously not wanted at all by Sac management and he's been playing terrible ball. There's really no reason to offer anything really valuable (like a potentially decent 1st), especially not to a guy who's best position is at PF.

If we were going to be moving that 1st, we should be going after DeAndre Jordan or Hassan Whiteside. Both of those guys are likely available for the right price and both fit the team's needs (size, length, defense, shot blocking, athleticism, mobility, and being actual Centers) much better than Thompson.

Thompson is still a much better player than both Whiteside and Jordan, though.
We could've had both Jordan and Whiteside but passed on both of them in the draft. So I don't expect us to go after them now. It looks like both of them haven't impressed us.
We even decided to sell that #34 pick before Jordan rather than picking him up and gave Lazar Hayward (who was considered a mid 2nd round prospect a guaranteed contract before Whiteside.

[Calinks]

Courtney Effin Sims!

[shangrila]

I wouldn't even give up that much for Thompson at this point. So far this year, he's averaging 6 and 5 on about 5 shots per game in 15 minutes. He has a TS% under 50 and a PER under 15 (despite low minutes helping his PER). On top of that, DX listed his best case as Mark Blount and described defense as a serious weakness.

He's obviously not wanted at all by Sac management and he's been playing terrible ball. There's really no reason to offer anything really valuable (like a potentially decent 1st), especially not to a guy who's best position is at PF.

I agree Foye's deal was overpaying, but I think his bad statistics are caused by his lack of minutes and not the other way around. I mean, Sacramento fans have been complaining about their coach playing him at SF. That's Wittman bad.

And the fact that he's not wanted should make him easier to get. I think the latest out of Memphis' and Utah's picks and maybe someone like Ellington or Koufos, because we have to send someone out, should be enough to get it.

If we were going to be moving that 1st, we should be going after DeAndre Jordan or Hassan Whiteside. Both of those guys are likely available for the right price and both fit the team's needs (size, length, defense, shot blocking, athleticism, mobility, and being actual Centers) much better than Thompson.

There's several things that put Thompson over those 2 in my mind;

1. Jordan would be nice but both he and Whiteside aren't smart enough to play in the Triangle. Thompson isn't Einstein but I think he's smart enough to play in this offence.

2. I don't think either of them can come in and give the minutes that the team would need right away with the foul prone Pekovic and struggling Darko. That could easily open up a decent amount of minutes and someone like Thompson, who's already got a 30mpg season under his belt, would be able to fill it.

3. I think he's just a better player. He's easily more skilled and has more of an ability to play multiple positions then Jordan.

4. Finally, I just feel like he's gettable. I don't think Whiteside is going anywhere until they know what they have in him and unless Kaman suddenly grows a brain it looks like Jordan is the centre of the future for the Clippers. Thompson, on the other hand, is an odd man out. He's an easy mark to swoop in and get him cheap.

[Biff Cooper]

We are well invested in Darko and Pek for 3+ years each. I'm not against Thompson, but it seems like we need to give Darko and Pek as much playing time as they need - to try and develop and improve their games this year, and protect our investment.

[Krapinsky]

A Wayne Ellington -- Jason Thompson swap would seem to make some sense for both teams. I don't think I would offer much more than that as I don't see him making much of a difference long term.

[the_bruce]

Whiteside or Jordan are the best case scenario imo.

Get in paint, block shots -fin

[NewWolvesOrder]

So a big that doesn't play defeense? I don't know about that...

[Krapinsky]

Whiteside or Jordan are the best case scenario imo.

Get in paint, block shots -fin

I'd consider a deal for McGee if it didn't take giving up anyone from our core group. Wiz fans seem to be split on him. Not really interested in Jordan or Whiteside.

Valanciunas looks a lot like a young Fran Vazquez, which is fine, but I don't think he's worth a top 10 pick from the game footage I have seen.

[Worm Guts]

Thompson is still a much better player than both Whiteside and Jordan, though.
We could've had both Jordan and Whiteside but passed on both of them in the draft. So I don't expect us to go after them now. It looks like both of them haven't impressed us.
We even decided to sell that #34 pick before Jordan rather than picking him up and gave Lazar Hayward (who was considered a mid 2nd round prospect a guaranteed contract before Whiteside.

Jordan was passed on by McHale, so it's not impossible that we could be interested in him. But I agree with you and can't imagine giving up 1st round pick for Whiteside after we passed on him multiple times in the last draft.

[Swish4]

If we trade for a big, I would hope it would be for a better defender. I'd take a shot on Thompson if we can get him cheap though. He seems like a PF to me, he actually has a good handle for a guy his size, but he plays soft. Has really beefed up the last 2 years, might be still learning to use his size and strength. I think he was a wing player in HS and had a growth spurt, so might still have some upside playing inside.

[Mr Dew]

Can Thompson play C or is he strictly a PF? I admit, that I haven't seem him play much and know him based on the boxscores from last year.

[the_bruce]

Thompson is a horrible defender. He's also primarily a PF, and his game isn't all that close to what you'd want to run with love and/or Darko.

Wolves should just get a shotblocking C who fouls a bunch they can run with Love\Darko. Or get a hybrid PF with shotblocking skills.

[AQuintus]

There's several things that put Thompson over those 2 in my mind;

1. Jordan would be nice but both he and Whiteside aren't smart enough to play in the Triangle. Thompson isn't Einstein but I think he's smart enough to play in this offence.

If a 17 year old Andrew Bynum could do it, I don't see why these two couldn't. We would just have to use Love as the mid post set up guy and have Jordan or Whiteside playing on the backside of the Triangle picking up missed shots and getting easy dunks.

2. I don't think either of them can come in and give the minutes that the team would need right away with the foul prone Pekovic and struggling Darko. That could easily open up a decent amount of minutes and someone like Thompson, who's already got a 30mpg season under his belt, would be able to fill it.

I don't see that as a problem. Darko will still be getting 20-25 mpg and Peks will still be getting 10-15. That leaves another 10-15 for the 3rd guy, which is about the same mpg that Jordan's getting now.

3. I think he's just a better player. He's easily more skilled and has more of an ability to play multiple positions then Jordan.

He might be better overall but not in the things we need him to be better in. He's not a better athlete, he's not a better defender/ shot blocker, and he's not a better Center.

As for the multiple positions thing, we already have Love, Tolliver, and Beasley eating up all of the PF minutes, and we have Darko able to potentially play spot minutes there as well. We really don't need to have anyone play anywhere but at the C spot.

4. Finally, I just feel like he's gettable. I don't think Whiteside is going anywhere until they know what they have in him and unless Kaman suddenly grows a brain it looks like Jordan is the centre of the future for the Clippers. Thompson, on the other hand, is an odd man out. He's an easy mark to swoop in and get him cheap.

Valid argument, but at the same time, there's a reason that a skilled 6'11" guy is available for cheap, he's just not very good. DX listed his best case at draft time as Mark Blount. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm really not interested in another Marky Mark.

[shrink]

Honestly the kings do need a young 3rd guard that can play either guard position. It's cringe worthy every time luther head steps on the court. But Thompson should be able to get a much better player than Teague.

The key points to remember about the 3rd guard the kings would be looking for.
1. Good enough size to see minutes at PG or SG
2. Good shooter with range out to the 3pt line
3. Decent passer that can run an offense for spurts
4. Decent defender, not a stud defender but not a human turnstyle either

Wayne Ellington

I hadn't thought about that, but its interesting.

1. Ellington is 6' 4"
2. Ellington shot 3P 38.3% last season
3. Ellington played some reserve PG for MIN early this season, not sure he can run an offense
4. Ellington is a decent defender, though no stud

[the_bruce]

This is actually a fairly small set of players.
High Blk/xmp
low TOV (offense doesn't really run through them)
FG% > .480
More than 40 games

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... blk_per_mp

25 players

The no pile:(old, bad contract, sucks, or cornerstone of team)
Theo Ratliff
Chris Andersen
Joel Anthony
Samuel Dalembert
Serge Ibaka
Roy Hibbert
Amir Johnson
Marcin Gortat
Greg Oden
Kendrick Perkins
Louis Amundson
Andrew Bynum
Brendan Haywood
Etan Thomas
Erick Dampier
Dan Gadzuric
Emeka Okafor

The Maybe pile:
Ronny Turiaf - Cheap, decent contract
Hasheem Thabeet - recent lotto pick - very raw
JaVale McGee - his value is off and on, but he'd be a good fit
Joel Przybilla - still injured?
DeAndre Jordan - we passed on him then, but who knows now
Robin Lopez - I don't like him
Kyrylo Fesenko - Utah needs him
Brandan Wright - Thats an idea!

I'd add..
Anthony Randolph - good fit
Whiteside - we passed on him at the draft, but at that time we had Al, Love, Darko, and an incoming pekovic to deal with. Maybe the added front court player would have further discouraged Darko or Pek from signing.