The Grades Are In

[a-rod]

Tony Mejia - Pro Basketball News

The Brilliant
Sacramento Kings: Sure, DeMarcus Cousins is a gamble, but at No. 5, it's well worth it. He'll continue the face lift started by the drafting of key cogs like Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, Omri Casspi and Donte Greene these past few years, adding a rugged post presence to the mix. Paul Westphal has the right temperament to serve as Cousins first guide, and the acquisition of shot-blocking second-rounder Hassan Whiteside adds to the feeling that there's a culture change going down in Sacramento even though Geoff Petrie is still calling the shots. The Kings are becoming a decidedly tougher crew, with two more pieces that are considered high-risk, high-reward types added to the occasion. Given where Sac selected Cousins and Whiteside, its choices were no-brainers that took guts to make. Grade: A.
http://probasketballnews.com/story/?storyid=1060

Marc J. Spears - Yahoo Sports

WINNER: Sacramento Kings. The Kings landed the big man they coveted in Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins, who believes he is the best player in the draft. Cousins, who measures 6-foot-10, 292 pounds, has the talent and size to become an All-Star. Questions persist about his coach-ability and conditioning, but he appears motivated to prove himself. Kings assistant coaches Mario Elie and Truck Robinson won’t be afraid to hold Cousins accountable. Cousins also has legitimate competition for the starting center job in newcomer Samuel Dalembert. More good news for the Kings: Cousins wanted to play for the Kings. At least for now, Sacramento’s newest addition sounds motivated and energized.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=A ... sers062510

Tom Ziller - Fan House

Sacramento Kings: I may be biased, but umm ... Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins at No. 5 and Marshall center Hassan Whiteside at No. 33? Fifteen feet of wingspan for the price of their naturally allotted picks. What remarkable luck to get two high-upside players at these spots. Final Grade: A++++++
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/06/24/2010 ... ft-grades/

Christopher Reina - RealGM

Kings: I have DeMarcus Cousins ranked as the second best player in this draft and I hate to think how difficult it will be physically and emotionally to not only play against both him and Tyreke Evans, but also play with them. I am more than willing to say the Kings are about 25 games away from being on the level in terms of overall talent in comparison to the Thunder or Blazers, except they are the antichrist version. Grade for Sacramento: A+
http://basketball.realgm.com/src_featur ... z0rtWlCVBT

Chris Mannix - SI

After acquiring the disgruntled Samuel Dalembert from Philly, the Kings drafted another disgruntled big man: DeMarcus Cousins. Hard to argue with Cousins' potential -- 6-foot-10 without shoes, with a gigantic 7-6 wingspan and a standing reach of 9-5 -- but he earned a reputation as a sulker with a questionable attitude at Kentucky. Will he mature in the NBA? If he does, he has scary talent and could blossom into an elite center. The Kings got a great value pick in the second round in Marshall's Hassan Whiteside, the NCAA's leading shot-blocker (5.35 swats per game last season) who was projected in some early mock drafts as a lottery pick. Grade:B-.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/w ... z0rtXprCDo

Brian Kiley - Gather

Sacramento Kings- DeMarcus Cousins, PF, Kentucky- Grade: I. The enigmatic nature of Cousins makes this pick almost impossible to grade. Cousins has monster talent and has the physical gifts to be a perennial All-Star, but it is what is between his ears that may be his undoing. He has a penchant for bad behavior and was seen barking at coach John Calipari while at Kentucky. He seems confident in his own talent, and if he can keep his head on straight and work hard he could give the Kings the inside toughness that they have lacked in recent history. This pick could easily end up being an "A" or an "F".

Adi Joseph - nbadraft.net, Fox Sports

Another excellent draft day for Sacramento, which is quickly developing a reputation for top scouting. Cousins and Whiteside have been compared to Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, respectively, by cynics, and similar to that duo, they'll play together to start their careers. The difference: Chicago took Curry fourth and Chandler second. There's a chance both of these guys could be stars. There's also a chance both could be busts, as each has major character issues. I'd expect at least one – and likely both – to pan out as at least solid players. Whiteside is really a tremendous value pick.
http://www.nbadraft.net/2010-nba-draft-grades

CBS Sports

Big trouble. Tyreke Evans and the Kings' four clydesdales: Impressive in the clubs, lottery-bound (again) on the court. First-round talent who performed poorly in postseason interviews. Not the ideal carpool partner for earlier selection Cousins.

sprungonsports

Sacramento Kings (A) In one week, the Kings go from a weakness to strength at center. DeMarcus Cousins and Hassan Whiteside will spell Samuel Dalembert until they’re ready to shine alongside Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi, Jason Thompson and the rest of the Kings. Geoff Petrie has Sactown back on the map.

[SmiIIs91]

I liked how Chris Reina called the Kings the antichrist version of the goody-two-shoes-Brandon-Roy Blazers. WIth the memory of 2002 in their hearts, they return cold, bitter, hungry and above all: angry.

The Kings need those black alternates now. Also, I would like to add that the Webber-Divac teams were tough as nails. That was always the culture until the Maloofs decided to get involved.


Credit is on the image.

[Nicky Nix Nook]

I liked how Chris Reina called the Kings the antichrist version of the goody-two-shoes-Brandon-Roy Blazers. WIth the memory of 2002 in their hearts, they return cold, bitter, hungry and above all: angry.

The Kings need those black alternates now. Also, I would like to add that the Webber-Divac teams were tough as nails. That was always the culture until the Maloofs decided to get involved.

my thoughts EXACTLY

[PaKwAn]

im also liking that toughness reputation we are having!

[PaKwAn]

by the way, where can i get a "reke dmc" avatar?

im so pumped for this year's team it's like im having an IV insertion with energy drink in it....

[UKF]

by the way, where can i get a "reke dmc" avatar?

im so pumped for this year's team it's like im having an IV insertion with energy drink in it....

+1 A sig avatar combo would be cool

[RekeHavoc]

I liked how Chris Reina called the Kings the antichrist version of the goody-two-shoes-Brandon-Roy Blazers. WIth the memory of 2002 in their hearts, they return cold, bitter, hungry and above all: angry.

The Kings need those black alternates now. Also, I would like to add that the Webber-Divac teams were tough as nails. That was always the culture until the Maloofs decided to get involved.

my thoughts EXACTLY

cosigned. BTW whats up smills, I used to be bmiller52 but I got a diff name. You havn't been here for a while. You liking our draft?

[ICMTM]

by the way, where can i get a "reke dmc" avatar?

im so pumped for this year's team it's like im having an IV insertion with energy drink in it....

+1 A sig avatar combo would be cool

I'm on it people dang!

[AnDrOiDKing4]

I want my team to be mean, old school Pistons mean.

Cant wait.

[YC42Balla]

im also liking that toughness reputation we are having!

Yeah, It's awesome... we always had a some what weak center these past few years and now we have beasts!! It's definitely a huge face lift to our Franchise..

--As for the Draft Grades,
I really didn't agree with most of them.. I don't like how they are giving us low grades like "B-" and "A-"
whats up with that?? I believe we should get an "A+", Because we had an excellent draft!! but what ever.. I just want DMC/Whiteside to prove all their critics wrong!! ...just like Reke had to do.. I can't wait!!

[villatrynity154]

^^in your face all the time trash talkin dunk on you mean!!! that's what i want!

[SacKingZZZ]

The greatest thing of all is that both project to be really solid shooters in the pick and pop, exactly what you need next to a player like Tyreke.

[boffacheerios]

i want "webber taking out stockton on the first play" mean from cousins. the kinda mean that lets everyone know we mean business and are not to be shat on.

[villatrynity154]

THE SACRAMENTO KINGS-->"we don't fck around!" new slogan!!! Bckgrnd of Tyreke, Cousins, and JT all lookin gansta!

[PaKwAn]

The greatest thing of all is that both project to be really solid shooters in the pick and pop, exactly what you need next to a player like Tyreke.

I agree with this, you got a big bruiser who plays well down low, rebounds and can hit a jumpshot and you got a long wiry 7ft athlete who block's shots and is able to hit a jumpshot as well...

We already know what Cuz brings to this team, the Whiteside of the force though is still raw but you know that this kid will block shots no matter how raw he is, the thing that would help him is that he actually got a jumpshot that we rarely see with a shot blocking athlete...

[SVThawk]

I liked how Chris Reina called the Kings the antichrist version of the goody-two-shoes-Brandon-Roy Blazers. WIth the memory of 2002 in their hearts, they return cold, bitter, hungry and above all: angry.

The Kings need those black alternates now. Also, I would like to add that the Webber-Divac teams were tough as nails. That was always the culture until the Maloofs decided to get involved.


Credit is on the image.

I also loved Chris' comments. The antichrist version of Thunder and Blazers is a scary thing for the league to think about

[SacKings4evr]

That's a way cool graphic man!