John Salmons, your expectations and predictions

[blind prophet]

Stat line
MPG FG% 3p% APG PPG
29.5 .365 .222 1.8 7.7

First I think the majority of us have been disappointed with his overall offensive play so far this year. There may be some people who saw this coming, but not me.

I expected John to be an at least average spot up shooter, making good cuts to the baseline, and quasi reliable one on one if the shot clock was winding down.

All I have seen offensively is a liability, I mean set a screen or crash the boards if you can not buy a bucket.

Defensively John seems to me to be a real good one on one defender, no longer upper tier but solid, and a decent team defender as well.

Many times I have cringed as he forced a shot or did not make the extra pass to a hotter teammate.

I expect Donte to get more minutes as long as John continues to struggle.

I expect John to come out of his slump somewhat but still shooting barely above 40% by end of year and upping his scoring avg to 9.5ish

Do you guys think he will bounce back soon?

Are you ready to throw in the towel on John? I am not just yet but, at what point should we be concerned?

[SacKingZZZ]

I don't know about throw in the towel but I think it's time that Garcia gets the starting spot. John has progressively reverted into the player that we all knew wouldn't help this team. As he's struggled he's broken out of the offense (I know, I know ) more and more and just added more iso to the iso hell that is this team. If John keeps playing this way there is a strong possibility he finds himself amnestied because although his contract is basically only for one more year, that is a toxic deal that could only see a worse deal in return at this point. Play D and set up for spot shots, that's all he needs to do.

If I am Smart however, I may look to start using Salmons as the PG who brings the ball up the floor and sets up some stuff because when he did that in the last game is when he looked most comfortable. Could be worth a shot.

[ADoaN17]

It seems like all the new additions (Jimmer, Salmons, Hickson, and Hayes) beside Thomas have struggled this season. They are all having problems with their shot and their spots on this offense. Hickson is forced into iso and Salmons is forcing shots. I think Salmons is in a slump but the offense and lockout are to blame as well.

Thomas seems to do well because he can control the offense with the ball in his hand.

[KF10]

Probably my greatest fear about Salmons might have come true. He needs to get into some sort of rhythm to be fine during the game. If not, he will stink. By doing so, he needs the ball in his hands and go to his spots. If he can't hit from his spot consistently in the game, dude will struggle hard.

I hope I can chalk this up as him being on a shooting funk. Lets see if he can do better in Dallas (& others).

[SacKingsPejaFan]

He's been the worst player on the team. Shooting funk or not, he doesn't look to pass the ball, particularly when it's been a few possessions since he's gotten a touch. He forces everything and forgets or doesn't care that he has teammates. He thinks he's Kobe Bryant or something.

Amnesty him, and give Donte Greene the job. Then pursue Batum as a replacement. WT says Blazers just low-balled him so maybe we have a chance. We have the money.

[tru6playa]

Our issue is missing open shots - Jimmer, Garcia and Greene also contributed to that, especially from the 3-point mark. We were supposed to be a strong outside shooting team; however, that's been far from true thus far.

I agree that Salmons is either regressed as a player, or just not motivated to succeed in Sacramento. I had high hopes for him, especially considering all the success he had post-Sacramento in Chicago and Milwaukee. We need a Batum-type SF, or hell...I'd settle for Morrow.

[RIPskaterdude]

Not gonna say I told you so, but....

Salmons was a great player for us back in the day because the ball was in his hands. Go look at the difference of him starting and coming off the bench; they're like two separate players.

[408Kings]

Yeah, he was pretty much #2 guy during his first stint with the Kings and always had the ball in his hands. I don't think his defense is really chalked up to be anything more than average either. He's still tied for 21st in fouls. I don't think it'll get any better unless we change his role to 6th or 7th man.

I'd like to see a starting line up of:
Isiah Thomas
Marcus Thornton
Tyreke Evans
Jason Thompson/JJ Hickson
Demarcus Cousins

Bring Salmons off the bench and put the ball in his hands more maybe?

Or this if we need to go big:
Isiah Thomas
Tyreke Evans
Donte Green
Jason Thompson/JJ Hickson
Demarcus Cousins

And bring Marcus Thornton in as the 6th man.

Or F it...Salmons for Cheezeburgers. Any takers?

[LeBron's Time]

john salmons is terrible for us. I'm very disappointed on the day when kings do the worse trade of the year, getting salmons and moved down on the draft to draft a senior college player on a lottery pick. salmons isn't helping the team, kings pay him big amount of money by doing that. i rather trade beno for a future 2nd round draft pick or maybe two 2nd round picks and keep our original pick to draft knight or walker. petrie failed on that trade bigtime!

[pillwenney]

I would be in favor of amnestying him this second if it didn't put us below the minimum salary level. Unless things drastically improve though (which I don't foresee) then yeah. Waive his ass the day the season is over.

[RIPskaterdude]

Can't amnesty until the season is over.

[blind prophet]

I am going to give John about 5 more games, if it is more of the same think I will take that offer for cheeseburgers

With the minimum cap, wonder if we could trade him for a bad single year contract but get a late first rounder to a contending team by the all star break?

[SacKingZZZ]

The question is who would take him? He's not just playing bad, he's playing terrible right now. He just looks like he's giving up, he was playing alright defense at least towards the beginning of the season and as his offense has flown out the window he's lost all focus and intensity on the defensive end as well.

[SacKingZZZ]

It seems like all the new additions (Jimmer, Salmons, Hickson, and Hayes) beside Thomas have struggled this season. They are all having problems with their shot and their spots on this offense. Hickson is forced into iso and Salmons is forcing shots. I think Salmons is in a slump but the offense and lockout are to blame as well.

Thomas seems to do well because he can control the offense with the ball in his hand.

Which is no surprise at all really, your stars if given the opportunity will rise above the lack of a system, but those "role" players NEED that system in order to be effective. You can't have everyone break out of the system and produce, it's why they are called role players. They play a role and when there is no role for them to play they will be lost. The spacing has gotten better than under Westphal and it's a start, but this is a situation in major need of role definition and that is the coaches job. Smart says he's working on it so we'll see. Still don't see any sort of system but there are easy answers and simple play calls they can start going to that would help get those assist numbers up and involve guys like Cousins in more of a passing role as he was at the end of last year.

[SacKingZZZ]

Our issue is missing open shots - Jimmer, Garcia and Greene also contributed to that, especially from the 3-point mark. We were supposed to be a strong outside shooting team; however, that's been far from true thus far.

I agree that Salmons is either regressed as a player, or just not motivated to succeed in Sacramento. I had high hopes for him, especially considering all the success he had post-Sacramento in Chicago and Milwaukee. We need a Batum-type SF, or hell...I'd settle for Morrow.

It's time to make a move, or at least make contact and see if one of JJ or JT can get that done. Not that Batum will solve a single thing on his own, but he is more of an ideal fit on paper and that does mean something. There is a reason this team looks so awful with rotation after rotation and it speaks to the lack of coordination on the court as opposed to simple personnel problems but Salmons is just useless these days. Baby steps I guess.

[kevin44]

I predict John will be sitting on the bench where he belongs. Let someone else take his minutes. He has very little trade value. It's hard to believe he is the highest paid player on the team. He has two long years left. They never should have brought him back. Thanks Petrie.

[VeeJay24]

Wasn't all this said when the trade was made last year? I would like to see Donte' get a chance but he has to prove to the coach that he can be trusted. He has played well but he has to knockdown open shots and I don't understand why he hasn't. That is Donte' game. He has to slow down and stop rushing his shot.

But Salmons definitely should be on the bench right beside Outlaw

Oh and by the way please start Thompson!!!!

[shrink]

I would be in favor of amnestying him this second if it didn't put us below the minimum salary level. Unless things drastically improve though (which I don't foresee) then yeah. Waive his ass the day the season is over.

I believe the amnesty still counts towards the minimum salary, but skaterdude is right -- the window has been missed. It may not make sense anyway to get no production out of him by amnestying unless you had a use for the cap space he'd generate.

I agree though that he is certainly a bad contract. If you're interested in offering an incentive to move him, MIN might be a good place. Keep an eye out for players that may fit for you when we play today, and good luck in the game.

[pillwenney]

I'd rather just wait to amnesty him than give up assets to dump him.

[boogie-reke]

Was a mistake then, and still is.

We had Brandon Knight right in our hands, he fell to 7th, and we TRADED DOWN to draft Jimmer and to add insult to injury took Salmons and his fat contract right along with him.

SMFH.