David Lee and Nate Robinson in Sacramento(KINGS WRITER)

[Dbloc123]

The Kings have, in the past, reportedly had interest in both David Lee and Nate Robinson, current restricted free agents of the New York Knicks. For Lee, the rumors came when Ron Artest first made the mill. A trade sending Artest to New York, it was reported, would require Lee to Sacramento in return. The Knicks never bit (not Isiah Thomas or Donnie Walsh), and Artest ended up bringing back Donté Greene, Bobby Jackson and the pick which became Omri Casspi.

Nate's connection to Sacramento is more recent: a deadline day 2009 rumor that the Kings offered Kenny Thomas in exchange for Robinson and Jared Jeffries, a player with a ruddy contract which extends in 2011. Shockingly, the Knicks did not bite, despite an apparent bloodthrist for contracts expiring in 2010, which Thomas' does. Clearly, by agreeing to exchange K-9's expiring contract for Jeffries' cantankerous deal, the Kings wanted Nate.

Yet, here we are, with Lee and Robinson clearly available. Lee nor Robinson has been rumored to be near signing an offer sheet -- Lee is reportedly in talks with Portland, a team which needs to spend the money Hedo Turkoglu passed up. I can't imagine, however, the Blazers will consider offering Lee what he wants, which would be a contract soaking up all $9.5 million Portland has available under the cap for next season. Nate hasn't been rumored heavily anywhere, really.

Will the Kings get involved this week? More importantly, should they?

http://www.sactownroyalty.com/2009/7/6/ ... e-and-nate

[edit] We need to start following the three paragraph rule. We are only allowed to quote three paragraphs and post a link (like you did) - ICMTM

[perezident]

i agree..the only way i want Nate on the squad is if we could part ways with Beno

[KingInExile]

A blog as a source? That doesn't exactly make me want to spend a lot of energy debating the idea.

[perezident]

But he does bring up alot of valid points -- which some of them we've been discussing for quite a long time though!

[Smills91]

Besides that, it's pure speculation and the author ultimately felt that neither player would be a good investment. This is an op-ed piece. No substance to it whatsoever. At least he understands this and clarifies that, Voison just tries to sell off he op-ed's as fact.

[tru6playa]

Misleading title, in a way. I was reading it like those players were IN Sacramento visiting with Kings' brass.

[rwheeler]

Regardless of this articles purpose, I just hope it doesn't become reality. D Lee is demanding wayyyy too much on the market IMO and while Nate would be exciting, he's just not a good match - chemestry wise.

[cdt3]

What is all this chemistry madness about Nate Robinson? Mike Bibby was traded to us because he was a shoot first PG and Bobby Jackson came here because he was a shoot every time PG and together they made the best basketball 1 spot we have ever had. We need Nate Robinson and Evans together because you need scoring at the 1 for the princeton to work. David Lee as long he is in the Noc too overpaid is a good fit as a 3rd scoring big in our system.

Chemistry my rear end, winning is 100% better for filling seats, and excitement. Nate brings in some clutchness also that the Kings are missing and will not have BJax back most likely next year.

[rwheeler]

Don't get your panties in a bunch...I threw the whole chemestry thing in there because Nate doesn't exactly represent a team player IMO. He leans more in the direction of a "me first" guy. He'll want to start, and if that doesn't happen he'll still demand big minutes off the bench. Unless we move somebody (i.e. Beno) I just think it causes a dramatic mess with our current roster.

You have a valid argument about the idea of an Evans/Robinson 1-spot which I cannot disagree. His energy would be great and the fans would love him. Instantly, the Spud Webb comparisons would be in full effect. He would most definetly generate some buzz to help fill seats.

[KingInExile]

Misleading title, in a way. I was reading it like those players were IN Sacramento visiting with Kings' brass.

Got to admit that this is basically my gripe: thread title is a bit misleading.

I agree with what Smills said (did I just say that?) that this is purely an opinion piece (as most blogs are) about whether Lee and Robinson are targets. My general opinion is that Lee might be worth pursuing, but the Kings really have no need for Robinson.

[KF10]

This is going to be a long summer if Petrie considers these players (even though the article speculates and is opinion based).

This is opposite of what we are trying to do. No need for these players.

[rwheeler]

My general opinion is that Lee might be worth pursuing, but the Kings really have no need for Robinson.

Worth pursuing at what cost? He's asking way too much right now. Portland would love to add him this very second, but simply refuse to pay him what he wants. I would rather stay focused on the young bigs we have invested in, hopefully re-sign Diogu and see how all that pans out instead of throwing David Lee into the mix.

And yet I have to ask myself...why am I engaging convo over a thread about this speculated/opinion based blog anyways?

[Wolfay]

Misleading title, in a way. I was reading it like those players were IN Sacramento visiting with Kings' brass.

Got to admit that this is basically my gripe: thread title is a bit misleading.

I agree with what Smills said (did I just say that?) that this is purely an opinion piece (as most blogs are) about whether Lee and Robinson are targets. My general opinion is that Lee might be worth pursuing, but the Kings really have no need for Robinson.

Wasn't Lee on your fantasy team?

I agree with Smills and KIE. We showed interest in the past, but that doesn't mean we have any interest right now. The draft changed things since then.

[rpa]

Mike Bibby was traded to us because he was a shoot first PG and Bobby Jackson came here because he was a shoot every time PG and together they made the best basketball 1 spot we have ever had.

a) Bibby wasn't shoot first. He was simply asked to shoot more in the Kings offense than he had previously. Remember that in Vancouver he put up a lot of assists
b) The difference between Bibby/Jackson & Robinson is their ability to defer. Bibby/Jackson had no problem deferring to other players on the team and letting them run the offense (if they didn't then the Princeton offense never would have worked). I have a hard time seeing Robinson (a known chucker) doing that.

We need Nate Robinson and Evans together because you need scoring at the 1 for the princeton to work.

What are you talking about. If you need anything from the 1 in the Princeton offense it's the ability to shoot/spread the floor. Look at the Lakers. The triangle they run is similar (a derivative perhaps) of the Princeton offense and they've never had a lot of scoring out of their 1.

Chemistry my rear end, winning is 100% better for filling seats, and excitement. Nate brings in some clutchness also that the Kings are missing and will not have BJax back most likely next year.

Nate hasn't proven he can be a catalyst to winning anything past a good lottery pick.

[KingInExile]

My general opinion is that Lee might be worth pursuing, but the Kings really have no need for Robinson.

Worth pursuing at what cost? He's asking way too much right now. Portland would love to add him this very second, but simply refuse to pay him what he wants. I would rather stay focused on the young bigs we have invested in, hopefully re-sign Diogu and see how all that pans out instead of throwing David Lee into the mix.

And yet I have to ask myself...why am I engaging convo over a thread about this speculated/opinion based blog anyways?

When I say "worth pursuing", I mean in the sense of talent and what he could offer to the roster. I'm not willing to go bankrupt for him and wouldn't recommend going after him at his current asking price unless it's a S&T involving us moving Beno and maybe Noc.

Misleading title, in a way. I was reading it like those players were IN Sacramento visiting with Kings' brass.

Got to admit that this is basically my gripe: thread title is a bit misleading.

I agree with what Smills said (did I just say that?) that this is purely an opinion piece (as most blogs are) about whether Lee and Robinson are targets. My general opinion is that Lee might be worth pursuing, but the Kings really have no need for Robinson.

Wasn't Lee on your fantasy team?

Yes, he was.

[SacKingZZZ]

Good players, but no, just no.

[rwheeler]

My general opinion is that Lee might be worth pursuing, but the Kings really have no need for Robinson.

Worth pursuing at what cost? He's asking way too much right now. Portland would love to add him this very second, but simply refuse to pay him what he wants. I would rather stay focused on the young bigs we have invested in, hopefully re-sign Diogu and see how all that pans out instead of throwing David Lee into the mix.

And yet I have to ask myself...why am I engaging convo over a thread about this speculated/opinion based blog anyways?

When I say "worth pursuing", I mean in the sense of talent and what he could offer to the roster. I'm not willing to go bankrupt for him and wouldn't recommend going after him at his current asking price unless it's a S&T involving us moving Beno and maybe Noc.

Agreed. I was just heckling you...I figured that's what you meant.

[dozencousins]

I dont want LEE or NATE on the KINGS both are bad fits & NATE with a bad attitude especially i can somewhat live with LEE on the KINGS though i dont want him with the team but NATE no way for sure .....

[cdt3]

Bibby career assists numbers are 6 and the same as the leagues greateest chucker Allen Iverson. Bibby was a shoot first guy in our system because the ball is run through both big guys which takes away from PG assists and they get more open shots. Bobby Jackson has a 2 assists per game average as a backup 1/2 which is the role Robinson would be great with. This is why they got Evans and Robinson would be similar compliments. All I'm arguing is hitting open shots from the PG is more important role in our offense than high assists.


If you have to overpay for a guy like Chandler who is making around $13mil why overpay for an injured role player if we could get Lee and Robinson at the same price. Of course we'll see where the numbers fall.

[Krimzen]

This is why they got Evans and Robinson would be similar compliments. All I'm arguing is hitting open shots from the PG is more important role in our offense than high assists.

We don't even know for sure what offense they will be running. Just because they are keeping Carril around doesn't mean they will be running the Princeton. They may use some concepts of it, but that doesn't mean we are running the offense out of high post with our bigs. That doesn't mean an undersized shoot first, second, and third PG who is poor defensively and will get paid a decent amount of money to come off the bench is a good complement to Evans either. We can only speculate what a good complement to Evans is right now, because there is no way to be completely confident about what he may be able to do at the NBA level. That is part of what this next season is about, seeing how our young talent develop and learning more about what the players we have can and can not do.

If you have to overpay for a guy like Chandler who is making around $13mil why overpay for an injured role player if we could get Lee and Robinson at the same price. Of course we'll see where the numbers fall.

At least Chandler brings us things we truly need: size, defensive presence, and shotblocking, which is more important than anything either of those players can bring to the table.

It isn't an either/or sort of deal though. It isn't a choice between overpaying Chandler or signing Lee and Robinson. Using that much cap on a backup PG and a PF who can't play defense takes away a lot of future flexibility. Same goes for spending a lot of cash on Chandler if we were to try to trade for him, but at least he could bring some skills we need more and we wouldn't be locked into him for 5 years like Lee. That cap room could be very valuable in facilitating other teams' trades by absorbing salary along with something thrown in for your trouble, like a younger player or pick.