2023-24 General Thread

[OxAndFox]

Well there goes the first domino with Giddey for Caruso.

Still think the Kings might be offering guys that typically stay on the court in Barnes/Huerter for Lavine. Bulls get savings.
Then go to Wizards and do Vezenkov/Mitchell/Duarte/#13 for Kuzma.

Use the MLE on Royce O'Neale & Kris Dunn.
Use the BAE on Saric

Fox/Lavine/Keegan/Kuzma/Sabonis
Dunn/Keon/O'Neale/Saric/Len

Trade #45 for '25 2nd round pick
Still sign: Edwards
Edwards, Colby

Just spitballing here.

[BoogieTime]

Well there goes the first domino with Giddey for Caruso.

Still think the Kings might be offering guys that typically stay on the court in Barnes/Huerter for Lavine. Bulls get savings.
Then go to Wizards and do Vezenkov/Mitchell/Duarte/#13 for Kuzma.

Use the MLE on Royce O'Neale & Kris Dunn.
Use the BAE on Saric

Fox/Lavine/Keegan/Kuzma/Sabonis
Dunn/Keon/O'Neale/Saric/Len

Trade #45 for '25 2nd round pick
Still sign: Edwards
Edwards, Colby

Just spitballing here.

First domino to what?

Sounded to me like the Kings wanted Caruso for dealing value for Lavine… Now I don’t really see the deal

I think it will now be 13 for Kuzma

[OxAndFox]

Well there goes the first domino with Giddey for Caruso.

Still think the Kings might be offering guys that typically stay on the court in Barnes/Huerter for Lavine. Bulls get savings.
Then go to Wizards and do Vezenkov/Mitchell/Duarte/#13 for Kuzma.

Use the MLE on Royce O'Neale & Kris Dunn.
Use the BAE on Saric

Fox/Lavine/Keegan/Kuzma/Sabonis
Dunn/Keon/O'Neale/Saric/Len

Trade #45 for '25 2nd round pick
Still sign: Edwards
Edwards, Colby

Just spitballing here.

First domino to what?

Sounded to me like the Kings wanted Caruso for dealing value for Lavine… Now I don’t really see the deal

I think it will now be 13 for Kuzma

The deal that was bandied about was "the same as they offered for OG and Siakam" for both Lavine and Caruso. That would be Huerter/Barnes/future draft capital (at the time).

I would think the draft capital is for Caruso mainly and as you say, dealing value for Lavine. A GM doesn't only like a Lavine with his contract just to get Caruso. There is interest there and I have no doubt some variations of Caruso are in there or not were talked about.
Now whether or not the Bulls would prefer straight expirings or whether they want to put some vets around Giddey/White/Ayo/Pat. Maybe they value the shooting of Huerter at 25yo more than most to open up driving lanes for Giddey. plus having Barnes come off the bench and sit in the corner for 3s. They wouldn't be doing it JUST for wins, but to put certain archetypes next to Giddey for the future. Small price to pay.
IMO Barnes and Huerter are perfect for Giddey and I wouldn't be surprised if he averaged a triple double next season, if they can get shooters around him.
White, Huerter, Barnes and draft Da Silva and you have 4 good long range shooters around Giddey. Williams has shot well too on low volume so if he can increase that to 4-5 attempts and keep it around 37% it's pretty good.

[OxAndFox]

Should have answered the question first. First domino being the Bulls retooling. Not going to call it a rebuild just yet, depending on what happens with Lavine and DDR.
Another reason why Barnes/Huerter might just tickle the fancy of the Bulls is they will still have a lot of cap space next off season, but Vucevic, Barnes, Huerter offer more than $56m in expiring deals after that.

I would think they extend Williams with a 5 year deal and some time this season make a decision on whether White is in their future or not because he will be in high demand.

[BoogieTime]

Well there goes the first domino with Giddey for Caruso.

Still think the Kings might be offering guys that typically stay on the court in Barnes/Huerter for Lavine. Bulls get savings.
Then go to Wizards and do Vezenkov/Mitchell/Duarte/#13 for Kuzma.

Use the MLE on Royce O'Neale & Kris Dunn.
Use the BAE on Saric

Fox/Lavine/Keegan/Kuzma/Sabonis
Dunn/Keon/O'Neale/Saric/Len

Trade #45 for '25 2nd round pick
Still sign: Edwards
Edwards, Colby

Just spitballing here.

First domino to what?

Sounded to me like the Kings wanted Caruso for dealing value for Lavine… Now I don’t really see the deal

I think it will now be 13 for Kuzma

The deal that was bandied about was "the same as they offered for OG and Siakam" for both Lavine and Caruso. That would be Huerter/Barnes/future draft capital (at the time).

I would think the draft capital is for Caruso mainly and as you say, dealing value for Lavine. A GM doesn't only like a Lavine with his contract just to get Caruso. There is interest there and I have no doubt some variations of Caruso are in there or not were talked about.
Now whether or not the Bulls would prefer straight expirings or whether they want to put some vets around Giddey/White/Ayo/Pat. Maybe they value the shooting of Huerter at 25yo more than most to open up driving lanes for Giddey. plus having Barnes come off the bench and sit in the corner for 3s. They wouldn't be doing it JUST for wins, but to put certain archetypes next to Giddey for the future. Small price to pay.
IMO Barnes and Huerter are perfect for Giddey and I wouldn't be surprised if he averaged a triple double next season, if they can get shooters around him.
White, Huerter, Barnes and draft Da Silva and you have 4 good long range shooters around Giddey. Williams has shot well too on low volume so if he can increase that to 4-5 attempts and keep it around 37% it's pretty good.

We'll see. I saw Caruso as the bridge.

I don't think Chicago takes our excess players for Lavine, and I think it would be hard for our brass to justify a pick package for Lavine.

[Lost in LA]

A steal for Oklahoma City there, a smart well run organization.

If we believe that Fox and Sabonis are the real deal, with Murray on the up, you don't want a Lavine even if Monk leaves, especially at the price suggested. Lavine has to be a salary dump guy for the Bulls unless DDR goes to Philly. I still feel we need 5-6 really good players not three and a half stars and little or no bench.

[OxAndFox]

A steal for Oklahoma City there, a smart well run organization.

If we believe that Fox and Sabonis are the real deal, with Murray on the up, you don't want a Lavine even if Monk leaves, especially at the price suggested. Lavine has to be a salary dump guy for the Bulls unless DDR goes to Philly. I still feel we need 5-6 really good players not three and a half stars and little or no bench.

Generally, I agree with this. But at the end of the day, the top end might just not be there?

Matching up against the Celtics minutes distribution.

Celtics Finals Minutes:
This isn't who they would play on or anything. These minutes are what the Celtics had across the 5 games. Forget about the opposition etc, this is what a series might look like for the Kings at the moment if Monk returns and they trade for that third star(ish) guy.

Tatum (Sabonis) - 40.2
Brown (Fox) - 38.5
Holiday (Keegan) - 37.8
White (3rd Guy PF/C) - 36.7
Horford (Monk) - 30
Porzingis (Keon) - 20
Hauser (Another Bench Piece Defensive Guard??) - 15.5
Pritchard (Lyles) - 12.4

[codydaze]

Malik back!!

Read on Twitter

[BoogieTime]

Malik back!!

Read on Twitter

wow.... never been happier to eat crow.....

and its hard to believe, given the landscape

[BoogieTime]

Its also pretty weird timing, right after the Caruso thing fell through... Lavine/Caruso may have been option 1.

[LightTheBeam]

Out of town but had to stop by and scream LFG MONK BACK BABY!!

[OGSactownballer]

I must be one of the few people not surprised.

I have suspected from the beginning that this is what would happen. Too much noise felt like outside players were trying to hard to speak something into existence.

[OxAndFox]

I must be one of the few people not surprised.

I have suspected from the beginning that this is what would happen. Too much noise felt like outside players were trying to hard to speak something into existence.

Too many things were pointing at him staying. Fox's comments yesterday gave my faith in him staying a shake I have to say.
This is great to get it out there and now Monte can go about fixing the rest of the roster.

[OxAndFox]

I can't believe I'm nearing the point of talking myself into Kyle Kuzma. His contract just seems better and better each time you look at it.

In 2026-27 Kuzma ($19.4m) will be 11.38% of the projected cap
Monk will be 11.8%.
Sabonis will be 28.1%

To put that in perspective the NTMLE is set to be $15.6m.

If they structure deals to end 2025-26 the Kings could have substantial cap space with Sabonis, Keegan, Kuzma, Monk, Colby on the roster and Fox ready to sign.

[FarBeyondDriven]

I'm shocked Monk took seemingly less money to stay. But I'm pleasantly surprised, not because I feel Monk isn't easily replaced and am happy he's back, but because the Kings need all the talent it can get and getting guys to re-sign with us adds to our legitimacy as a franchise.

I'll remind everyone that, as we sit, we're still essentially just running the play-in team back but armed with draft picks and paying Monk and additional $10 million. We haven't improved on iota. But it's still nice to retain talent and it gives us more options on draft night and takes a couple of guys I had potentially being considered for us at #13 off the table. Now I think I'm inclined to go after Tyler Smith or Tidjane Salaun if either are still on the board so they could eventually take over at the 4 with Barnes being pushed to the bench.

[KF10]

Shocked that the Kings managed to retained Monk!

This is great news!

Will he be the starting 2 guard next to Fox?

After what we saw (when both Fox/Monk on the court at the same time) last season, I have some mixed feelings. I liked Monk coming off the bench to provide the scoring & playmaking punch. They are going to lose that when they move Monk into the starting 5. Defensively, Huerter is the better defender. I think they take a hit defensively when they move Monk at the 2.

So what do you have? Inserting Monk at 2 provides a bump in offense and better synergy with Sabonis/Fox. Defensively, the team takes a hit.

[LightTheBeam]

Shocked that the Kings managed to retained Monk!

This is great news!

Will he be the starting 2 guard next to Fox?

After what we saw (when both Fox/Monk on the court at the same time) last season, I have some mixed feelings. I liked Monk coming off the bench to provide the scoring & playmaking punch. They are going to lose that when they move Monk into the starting 5. Defensively, Huerter is the better defender. I think they take a hit defensively when they move Monk at the 2.

So what do you have? Inserting Monk at 2 provides a bump in offense and better synergy with Sabonis/Fox. Defensively, the team takes a hit.

I don't see Monk starting, and I don't see Huerter being on the team after draft night. Keon should clearly be the starter and Monk should maintain his 6th man role.

Things look a little clearer now.

Fox -
Keon - Monk
Keegan
??
Sabonis

Imo this is all that should be safe. Could add lyles or mitchell in here, but if a team wants him so be it. Time to use huerter, duarte, Barnes, Sasha, 13 and come away with a legit starting forward and a defensive forward.

13 + Barnes for Kuzma
Huerter for Bruce Brown
Duarte + sasha 2nds for thybulle

Fox - Keon - Keegan - Kuzma - Sabonis
Mitchell - Monk - Brown - Thybulle - Lyles - FA center

[typedrat]

I'm shocked Monk took seemingly less money to stay. But I'm pleasantly surprised, not because I feel Monk isn't easily replaced and am happy he's back, but because the Kings need all the talent it can get and getting guys to re-sign with us adds to our legitimacy as a franchise.

I'll remind everyone that, as we sit, we're still essentially just running the play-in team back but armed with draft picks and paying Monk and additional $10 million. We haven't improved on iota. But it's still nice to retain talent and it gives us more options on draft night and takes a couple of guys I had potentially being considered for us at #13 off the table. Now I think I'm inclined to go after Tyler Smith or Tidjane Salaun if either are still on the board so they could eventually take over at the 4 with Barnes being pushed to the bench.

Free agency hasn't started yet and we're not into the new season yet. At least wait until the California Classic is over in a couple weeks to start freaking out about how Monte isn't doing anything... and you don't think the team was busy trying to secure Monk?

[BoogieTime]

Malik back!!

Read on Twitter

wow.... never been happier to eat crow.....

and its hard to believe, given the landscape

Actually, no crow to eat... I was most likely right that he was getting a lot more

But loyalty, respect to Malik if true. He was already my second favorite King

Read on Twitter

[FarBeyondDriven]

I'm shocked Monk took seemingly less money to stay. But I'm pleasantly surprised, not because I feel Monk isn't easily replaced and am happy he's back, but because the Kings need all the talent it can get and getting guys to re-sign with us adds to our legitimacy as a franchise.

I'll remind everyone that, as we sit, we're still essentially just running the play-in team back but armed with draft picks and paying Monk and additional $10 million. We haven't improved on iota. But it's still nice to retain talent and it gives us more options on draft night and takes a couple of guys I had potentially being considered for us at #13 off the table. Now I think I'm inclined to go after Tyler Smith or Tidjane Salaun if either are still on the board so they could eventually take over at the 4 with Barnes being pushed to the bench.

Free agency hasn't started yet and we're not into the new season yet. At least wait until the California Classic is over in a couple weeks to start freaking out about how Monte isn't doing anything... and you don't think the team was busy trying to secure Monk?

relax, nobody is freaking out. I'm simply pointing out that the only difference so far between last year's play-in team and this years is we're paying Monk $10 million more. That there's a lot of work to do and Monk getting signed means it opens up our options on draft night and with trades.