Addressing the issues

[KM44]

Well, I have been gone for a week away from a computer, so now is my time to vent.

Let me just lightly say that i nearly punched through a wall when I found out about the king's draft decisions. I'm not going to get into it because the post will be too long, but Singletary is the only thing that might even have a chance of being positive. Thats debatable, but I will move on.

So here we are, still no solid point guard or power forward, artest on the brink of leaving, an aging center, and kevin martin. Where can we go from here? The easy way out is to take what we got and just run with it, possibly even make the playoffs, but I am sick of seeing that for the bast two years, so lets make a championship contender.

#1- please, no more crappy draft picks.
we could have traded up, picked randolph, traded back, anything would have been better than what we did. Sorry, i got off topic again, no bad picks, make them count.

#2- a point guard.
I'm sorry, but Beno does not have the potential to be a great starting point guard in the league. I was looking at the rosters of other teams and I came across a young point guard that has the potential to be great who happens to be a FA (restricted). Delonte West, the player who was picked one or two picks before martin who I wanted desperately. The guy plays a lot like beno, just younger and better. So I am going to take a stand here and say that we spend whatever it takes, even the whole MLE, to get west.

#3- a power forward
Unfortunately, this is no quick fix. Thompson will never live up to the draft spot he was taken at, and that will haunt him for the rest of his career. He might be solid, but he is not our future PF. For this one, I think we need to look to the draft next year so we can take a solid top 5 choice. How will we get in the top five you ask? Trading. The kings will most likely be in the later lottery again next year, so we will trade that pick and the pick from whatever team wants Artest. Yes, we are doing a sign and trade for artest. Because of his salary, off the court issues, and unique style of play, it is really hard to get equal value back for him. So we are going to have to trade for picks, then we take the picks and turn them into a great young top 5 PF in next year's draft. I think this is the most farfetched part of what I am proposing, but it is a possibility.

#4- a center
This is the easiet fix, because we already have our future center on our roster! Hawes showed tons of talent last year, and this year, he should be able to take the reigns as our starter. Miller was superb last season, and that is why I think that we should dump him before people realize that he is a big old white guy with a huge contract. That's also debatable, but the point is Hawes is our future. So trading miller will be interesting. I think the knicks would take him for a couple of contracts and some picks, possibly a first. (ie james & two 1st for miller). It might look bad at first, but the picks are vital toward the rebuilding process. As for a backup, we can run shareef into the ground and then hope that Ewing Jr can step in and hold someone down on the defensive end.

So here we are on our roster in about two years

PG- West, Singletary
SG- Martin, Salmons
SF- Garcia, Salmons
PF- 09 Pick? Thompson
C- Hawes, Ewing Jr.

So, my guess is that this will be universally hated, but I need to express my thoughts somehow, and I think that this is at least a direction to go toward.

[UKF]

When was the last Kings draft pick crappy? Quincy Douby hasn't lived up to expectations, but when he was given time last year he did produce. I'm not his biggest fan either, but not much light has been shined on him and he hasn't been given a real shot to show what he can do.

Also, what makes you think Jason Thompson will be a crappy pick? How many games of his have you watched? Probably not to many. But, the people who made the decision to draft Jason, watched a lot of him and there was obviously something that they liked. He was thought to go mid to late 1st round but there were talks of him going to Golden State at 14 so they decided to take him with the pick they had. Keep an open mind.

Couldn't agree with you more on your second point. I'm thinking our 09 Draft pick will wind up being a PG.

PG- FA Sign, Singletary/Cisco
SG- Martin, Salmons/Cisco
SF- Artest(but I would prefer that we trade him), Salmons/Cisco
PF- Moore, Thompson
C- Hawes, Ewing Jr.

[KM44]

True, I have only seen one full game of thompson, but I have watched clips and read reports on him. A poor defensive PF is not exactally what we need, especially with Hawes as our future center. You can pass by with one poor defensive big, but two? I just have doubts.

As for the drafting, douby was a TERRIBLE pick. We picked him two picks before Rondo when we needed a pg, not an undersized sg. Then this year's draft? That was definately questionable, even if none of the three have stepped on an NBA court yet.

[KF10]

True, I have only seen one full game of thompson, but I have watched clips and read reports on him. A poor defensive PF is not exactally what we need, especially with Hawes as our future center. You can pass by with one poor defensive big, but two? I just have doubts.

As for the drafting, douby was a TERRIBLE pick. We picked him two picks before Rondo when we needed a pg, not an undersized sg. Then this year's draft? That was definately questionable, even if none of the three have stepped on an NBA court yet.

He is not horrible. That's an inaccurate statement towards Thompson. He won the MAAC Defensive Player of the Year TWICE IIRC. From what I seen and read, he is a good, general and overall defender.

[KM44]

Really? That is almost the complete opposite of what I've seen and heard. I did not hear about his defensive player awards, so maybe he could work out, who knows. ESPN, SI, and Real GM tore into him on his defense, and when I saw him he looked a little bored on D. Maybe I'm crazy.

[BMiller52]

Really? That is almost the complete opposite of what I've seen and heard. I did not hear about his defensive player awards, so maybe he could work out, who knows. ESPN, SI, and Real GM tore into him on his defense, and when I saw him he looked a little bored on D. Maybe I'm crazy.

He averaged 2.7 BPG and got 12 RPG. He also is pretty athletic and strong. I think he'll be a pretty good defender if he's not already.

[KF10]

Really? That is almost the complete opposite of what I've seen and heard. I did not hear about his defensive player awards, so maybe he could work out, who knows. ESPN, SI, and Real GM tore into him on his defense, and when I saw him he looked a little bored on D. Maybe I'm crazy.

He average close to 3 bpg. Even though, that doesn't indicates a defender but it is taken into consideration. Yeah, surprisingly, those media haven't said anything positive to Thompson in general. The usual "Thompson is the surprise pick of the draft" blah blah blah. But yeah, he is a good overall defender.

[KM44]

All right then, I will lay off for a while until I actually see him play in the NBA. What about getting delonte west and trading artest & Miller?

[KingInExile]

This is from Thompson's profile at Rider:

Communication major...2007-08 MAAC Pre-Season Player of the Year...2007 Mid-Major All-American team...first team All-MAAC, second team All-District 3, MAAC Defensive Player of the Year...one of just three Division I players to average over 20 points and 10 rebounds for the 2006-07season, the other two being Kevin Durant of Texas and Nick Fazekas of Nevada... compiled 17 ‘double-doubles’ last season and now has 30 ‘double-doubles’ in three seasons...grabbed 20 rebounds in a victory over Manhattan, tying the Rider record for caroms in a game...enters his senior year with 1,346 career points, 11th highest ever at Rider, and 759 rebounds, sixth highest ever at Rider...in the nation ranked10th in rebounding, 24th in scoring, 34th in blocks and 76th in field goal percentage...in the MAAC ranked first in rebounding and blocked shots...attended the LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire Basketball Camps last summer...Second Team All-MAAC selection as a sophomore...in 2005-06 ranked second in the MAAC in blocks (48), fourth in rebounding, sixth in field goal percentage and seventh in scoring, and was the only player in the MAAC to rank among the top seven in more than two of those four categories...presented the Gilbert P. Rossi Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player the last two seasons...compiled 35 points and 20 rebounds in the College of Charleston Holiday Classic to earn All-Tournament Team honors...scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half, including the winning points, in the 2005-06 victory over LIU...returned from a concussion to compile 18 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in a 2006 MAAC playoff game...member of the 2005 MAAC All-Rookie team...CollegeInsider.com Freshman All-American team in 2005...competed in China with the MAAC All-Stars during the summer of 2005 and led the team in scoring...as a freshman led the Broncs in rebounding (fifth in MAAC) and was fourth on the team in scoring... started 21 games as a rookie and was third on the team in minutes played...led the 2005 Rider team with 29 blocked shots...recorded five ‘double-doubles’ as a freshman.

[UKF]

All right then, I will lay off for a while until I actually see him play in the NBA. What about getting delonte west and trading artest & Miller?

I would have no problem with grabbing Delonte and dealing Artest and Miller. If either is dealt, I think it will most likely be Artest, and hopefully it will be for a PG, but who knows?!

[KM44]

Very interesting bio, its fairly surprising how doubted he is by the media. As for Miller and Artest, what if we just traded them for expirings and picks? At least for miller, Artest we could probably get actual value back, but miller I'm afriad is in the same position as bibby, on the downslope. Could we get a mid-late first rounder for miller? As for Artest, I think that we could get at least a high first and possibly more.

[RIPskaterdude]

When was the last Kings draft pick crappy? Quincy Douby hasn't lived up to expectations, but when he was given time last year he did produce. I'm not his biggest fan either, but not much light has been shined on him and he hasn't been given a real shot to show what he can do.

Also, what makes you think Jason Thompson will be a crappy pick? How many games of his have you watched? Probably not to many. But, the people who made the decision to draft Jason, watched a lot of him and there was obviously something that they liked. He was thought to go mid to late 1st round but there were talks of him going to Golden State at 14 so they decided to take him with the pick they had. Keep an open mind.

Couldn't agree with you more on your second point. I'm thinking our 09 Draft pick will wind up being a PG.

PG- FA Sign, Singletary/Cisco
SG- Martin, Salmons/Cisco
SF- Artest(but I would prefer that we trade him), Salmons/Cisco
PF- Moore, Thompson
C- Hawes, Ewing Jr.

Ewing Jr. at C?!

[deNIEd]

Well, I think the point about Thompson is that, he may be a good player, but unlikely that he will ever be a great player. More of an impact of an Haslem than a Duncan. (I don't know exactly what his game is like, the comparison is just a broad one.) Regardless, we will most likely still need to get an allstar/superstar at PF in order for the team to be successful longterm. The way I see it.

PG: ______/Singletary/____
SG: Martin/_____/Douby
SF:______/Garcia/_________
PF: ______/Thompson/_____
C : Hawes/Sheldon/_______

Of the core 10, I still think we are missing 4, maybe 3. It is unlikely that either Salmons/Artest will be around by the time it takes to find a PG/PF.

In my mind necessities become
Starting PG
Starting PF
Starting SF
Backup SG
3rd String C
3rd String PF
3rd String SG
3rd String PG
3rd String SF

[KM44]

well, I do see where you are coming from on the depth charts, but I really think that garcia will be the starter of our future. So that leaves us pg and pf, which I said west and a top 5 pick of next year. It won't be easy, but hopefully it can work out. then we just need a backup 2, or we can retain salmons and use him as a backup 2/3.

[Ballings7]

I think Ewing Jr. will see minutes at the 3/4.... maybe see time at the 5 in going real small

[deNIEd]

Yeah, Garcia could easily start. But I think the team would just be MUCH MUCH MUCH better with him off the bench. It appears that he has no problems coming off the bench, and he just dominates other bench competition. Sort of like a Bobby Jackson of old.

A huge reason for our success during the Webber era was our bench being so strong. We could always count on the fact that our bench will outplay the other bench every single night. I think it'll be a given that our starting lineup won't be more talented than some, Portland for example, therefore, we will need to win out at other areas, coaching, fans, bench, chemistry, etc.

However, I really think, our situation isn't that bad, if we can land a top pick next year (full rebuild). A few very good PG's in the draft next year, with limited demand by lotto teams. And 2010/2011 has a good amount of quality PF's that can be obtained via free agency. The rest of the pieces would simply be filler and small additions.

[pillwenney]

I think it's way too early to say Thompson is this or that. But I would speculate that in the right system, he could be an excellent player in this league with all of the tools he has.