Maloof to Theus: PLAY YOUNGSTERS!!!!!!ONEone!1!

[BMiller52]

"They've got to get their minutes; they've got to play," Maloof said. "If you don't develop your young guys when you have an opportunity to do it, it's going to come back to bite you in the future. Because now, you don't know whether or not they can play. That's what Reggie needs to find out. He needs to find a way to get these young guys in there. This isn't criticizing. It's just my opinion."
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"We have a big investment in some of these young players when we signed them, and I want to know if they can play," Maloof said. "We think they can (play) because we have a lot of confidence in (basketball president) Geoff Petrie and what he's been able to do in the draft. So I never count one of his players out. Never, never, never."
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Theus said the balancing act is not easy, particularly in light of the challenge of keeping his veterans "engaged."

"It can't be about Quincy Douby," he said. "It can't be about Shelden Williams. I can totally understand Spencer's numbers going up immensely, which I've done. But it can't be about those guys. I want those guys to play, but

[KingInExile]

When are the Maloofs going to learn to keep their F'n noses out of coaching decisions? Let Reggie do what he needs to do and STFU!

[RoyalCourtJestr]

When are the Maloofs going to learn to keep their F'n noses out of coaching decisions? Let Reggie do what he needs to do and STFU!

While I DO wish we'd play our youngsters more, I totally agree.

[deNIEd]

Maloofs should just tell Reggie that his job is secure and won't be fired.

I'm sure all Reggie is thinking about is winning, because he's afraid his ass is on the line.

If he knew he was safe, then I'm sure he would be willing to play the youngs more, and possibly help us get a better pick.

[Smills91]

I don't like the Maloofs calling out the coach in public. Talk to him in private, and let him do the job you hired him to do.

[a-rod]

I don't like the Maloofs calling out the coach in public. Talk to him in private, and let him do the job you hired him to do.

Maloofs should just tell Reggie that his job is secure and won't be fired.I'm sure all Reggie is thinking about is winning, because he's afraid his ass is on the line.If he knew he was safe, then I'm sure he would be willing to play the youngs more, and possibly help us get a better pick.

I agree...

[Dustin5566]

I don't like the Maloofs calling out the coach in public. Talk to him in private, and let him do the job you hired him to do.

The Maloofs will do anything to see their face on tv or their name in print

[pillwenney]

Maloofs should just tell Reggie that his job is secure and won't be fired.

I'm sure all Reggie is thinking about is winning, because he's afraid his ass is on the line.

If he knew he was safe, then I'm sure he would be willing to play the youngs more, and possibly help us get a better pick.

Or because that's kind of the natural inclination of people that compete for a living.

[SacKingZZZ]

Maloofs should just tell Reggie that his job is secure and won't be fired.

I'm sure all Reggie is thinking about is winning, because he's afraid his ass is on the line.

If he knew he was safe, then I'm sure he would be willing to play the youngs more, and possibly help us get a better pick.

Pretty much hit the nail on the head, deNIED.

He's following up Musselman for craps sake, he can do no wrong anyway!!!

[KingInExile]

So, if we are talking about young players here, realistically we are only talking about Hawes, Douby and Williams. If you take a look at the minute distribution throughout the season, I think it's unfair to say that the young guys have not been given a chance to show what they can do. Douby was given minutes early in the season and, with a few exceptions, he never really made the most of those minutes. He lost minutes because he didn't really prove that he deserved minutes.

As for Hawes, his knee surgery forced him to miss training camp and part of the early season. He started the season several steps behind and was competing for time in a clogged position. He's demonstrated that he deserves minutes and earned a steady spot in the rotation. If he wasn't injured right now he would still be getting those minutes.

Williams is the only guy that hasn't had a huge presence on the floor at any time during the season. However IMO that is mainly due to the fact that it is hard to integrate new players into a rotation late in the season, especially when they are young and still learning the NBA game. In the limited minutes he's had, especially now that Hawes is injured, Williams has shown promise. He has also shown that he has a lot to learn. I'm pretty sure Petrie and Theus has a good idea what his potential is and what he needs to work on. He is not being denied an opportunities. It's up to him to make the most of what time he has (Hawed has, Douby hasn't) and continues to develop over the summer.

[SacKingZZZ]

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Or because that's kind of the natural inclination of people that compete for a living.

But at a certain point you have to throw the white flag, otherwise you risk losing it all in relation to the bigger picture.

[pillwenney]

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But at a certain point you have to throw the white flag, otherwise you risk losing it all in relation to the bigger picture.

Yes. Giving minutes to two future role players that haven't really earned them and possibly being a whole two spots higher in the draft is exactly what I would call "losing it all".

[K-Town King]

I honestly think this is a non issue I'm sure that Theus was planning at some point to average out the minutes between the guys as we aren't fighting for a playoff spot Brad's minutes will go down immensely which gives Hawes and everyone will get there chances to prove themselves.

[SacKingZZZ]

So, if we are talking about young players here, realistically we are only talking about Hawes, Douby and Williams. If you take a look at the minute distribution throughout the season, I think it's unfair to say that the young guys have not been given a chance to show what they can do. Douby was given minutes early in the season and, with a few exceptions, he never really made the most of those minutes. He lost minutes because he didn't really prove that he deserved minutes.

As for Hawes, his knee surgery forced him to miss training camp and part of the early season. He started the season several steps behind and was competing for time in a clogged position. He's demonstrated that he deserves minutes and earned a steady spot in the rotation. If he wasn't injured right now he would still be getting those minutes.

Williams is the only guy that hasn't had a huge presence on the floor at any time during the season. However IMO that is mainly due to the fact that it is hard to integrate new players into a rotation late in the season, especially when they are young and still learning the NBA game. In the limited minutes he's had, especially now that Hawes is injured, Williams has shown promise. He has also shown that he has a lot to learn. I'm pretty sure Petrie and Theus has a good idea what his potential is and what he needs to work on. He is not being denied an opportunities. It's up to him to make the most of what time he has (Hawed has, Douby hasn't) and continues to develop over the summer.

They haven't, IMO, been given a fair chance. It's not just about the minutes. It's about getting the opportunity and being put in a position to succeed. Putting a guy like Douby out there and saying, "Ok, we want you to be a defensive role player and if you miss your two first shots your back on the bench" doesn't cut it, expect him to be a low minute role player and of course he's going to look like crap. Look what being in a different role did for John Salmons!

As for Williams, he is a player that showed some pretty decent stuff at the end of last season, we need to find out if given significant time he is a legit player. If he isn't then maybe that will give us another indication about the type of player we should look at drafting here in a few months. If we don't then that Bibby trade will eventually be nothing more than a salary dump which would be pretty sad.

Hawes is the only one that has really been given a chance to play, but that might not be too surprising considering Reggie was apparently really high on the Kings drafting him. It just angers me a little because there is a probability that a good portion of the players taking those minutes won't be here in the near future if things don't improve, which is the most likely scenario considering I think we and the organization have more than enough information on what this team is at this point.

Like I brought up before, it's like all those minutes given to Big Nasty last year, that cost us from getting a real extended look at Justin Williams or maybe a few young FA's out there at the time. This time the stakes are much higher however because it's a group of 1st round picks, two being recent lotto picks, that are getting crunched.

It comes down to this, the best development is in real game situations. If you don't play them now, when do you play them? The answer is you don't.

It's not all Reggies fault though. Petrie once again went out and did his best to stuff a middling veteren in front of his draft pick. Right after he said he most likely wasn't going to use the MLE, and that his team was going towards a rebuild. When Geoff??? He shouldn't have put Reggie in this situation to begin with.

[SacKingZZZ]

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Yes. Giving minutes to two future role players that haven't really earned them and possibly being a whole two spots higher in the draft is exactly what I would call "losing it all".

Where did you hear that they didn't earn them???

Like I said in another thread, we pretty much locked ourselves into the end of the lottery so most likely losing the majority of our games won't take us any higher anyway.

[KingInExile]

Douby is a mediocre combo-guard role player that does not really fill a need that the Kings have. He was given a chance early in the season to fill the need that Reggie and Petrie want him to fill, which is a backup point...he can't do that because that is not who he is. Is it fair to the rest of the team to continue to try to force fit him into a role that he's not able to fill?

Frankly, I say it's time to cut him lose. Move him as filler in a package or ship him off to get another pick this summer.

Williams is not even worth debating about until he's had the summer to develop the way that Petrie and Theus wants him to. Until them (and even after), his time must be earned by his performance.

[SacKingZZZ]

Douby is a mediocre combo-guard role player that does not really fill a need that the Kings have. He was given a chance early in the season to fill the need that Reggie and Petrie want him to fill, which is a backup point...he can't do that because that is not who he is. Is it fair to the rest of the team to continue to try to force fit him into a role that he's not able to fill?

Frankly, I say it's time to cut him lose. Move him as filler in a package or ship him off to get another pick this summer.

Williams is not even worth debating about until he's had the summer to develop the way that Petrie and Theus wants him to. Until them (and even after), his time must be earned by his performance.

And Mikki Moore is a mediocre non-rebounding PF, we had 2 of those already... (not to knock Mikki, I think he is a better fit than Reef and Kenny for the lineup we have, just trying to prove a point )

What you said may be spot on, he may not fill a need on the Kings but playing your young player is also about building up their value. They aren't a Kenny Thomas where they have a big contract weighing down their value to other teams. They are easily movable contractually, until you have to re-sign them to an extension that is. And it just so happens that resigning time isn't too far away.

Uh, you do know Williams is like already had a summer, and um, more than a few years of college to develop, right?

How do you earn minutes in 3 minute stretches? Justin Williams was the kind of player to put up big numbers in small spurts, he is a hustle big through and through and even he apparently didn't "earn" minutes. Shelden is more of a flow of the game type of player, 3 minutes here and there that add up to 7 at the end of the night is pointless. Might as well just waive the guy.

In that case we traded Mike Bibby for nothing. Literally... nothing.

[Ballings7]

Reggie needs to cut Brad and Mikki's minutes.

[KF10]

Reggie needs to cut Brad and Mikki's minutes.

Agreed. And obviously Miller is "banged" up throughout the season. So, it is wise to limit his minutes as well... Moore, supposedly, we need him to win games...I dont see it. True, he provides energy and hustle but playing big chunk of minutes (30-35) it is not fair for the youngsters IMO... Moore isnt that all special and he does not warrant THAT much of minutes anyways...

[pillwenney]

And Mikki Moore is a mediocre non-rebounding PF, we had 2 of those already... (not to knock Mikki, I think he is a better fit than Reef and Kenny for the lineup we have, just trying to prove a point )

Sure is, and he shouldn't have been signed in the first place.

What you said may be spot on, he may not fill a need on the Kings but playing your young player is also about building up their value. They aren't a Kenny Thomas where they have a big contract weighing down their value to other teams. They are easily movable contractually, until you have to re-sign them to an extension that is. And it just so happens that resigning time isn't too far away.

It doesn't exactly help his value if we put him in and he plays like crap. Although I will say that I think there may be a place for him on the team if the roster changes.

Uh, you do know Williams is like already had a summer, and um, more than a few years of college to develop, right?

So? Most players never come into the league ready to play. Fans in general are far too impatient with young players.

How do you earn minutes in 3 minute stretches? Justin Williams was the kind of player to put up big numbers in small spurts, he is a hustle big through and through and even he apparently didn't "earn" minutes. Shelden is more of a flow of the game type of player, 3 minutes here and there that add up to 7 at the end of the night is pointless. Might as well just waive the guy.

You earn minutes in practice and yes, by playing well when you do get opportunities. But when you still have veterans on the team like Brad and Mikki (and Ron at PF), then you can't just watch your team start to lose just so that Shelden can get extended minutes. Heck, I'd argue that Spencer is a "flow of the game" type player as well, and he has earned his minutes by playing well when given the opportunity. I agree that he needs a consistent opportunity to succeed, but the key to that, for me anyway, isn't watching our team lose when we could be winning just to let our younger guys play. It's to clear the space by getting rid of the vets, or in our case, by having never signed Mikki in the first place.