RealGM

I was looking at some of the available big men this upcoming summer in free agency and there's a pretty decent crop in which to find our shotblocker. The names that stand out to me are Etan Thomas, Brenden Haywood, Sean Williams, Tyrus Thomas, and Marcus Camby. Do we even need to waste assets to pick up a big man this year with how many we could just outright sign?

Before the season started it seemed the only way we would aquire talent was thru a trade. Nobody in there right mind had Sacramento 1, 2, 3 or 4 on thier wish list. It will be interesting to see how free agents treat a Kings team that is on the rise. Not sure if we will compete with other teams for top free agent bigs, but i think its safe to say we should be in the mix more this upcoming offseason than in seasons past.

The Draft!

If you can get a big in the middle of the draft that you feel has all star potential then it does two things:

1. Gives you a guy that can grow with the rest of the young talent on this team
2. Gives you a guy you can evaluate for 4-5 years within the rookie payscale.

Camby is old! Thomas, Haywood, etc are not real solutions.

Tyrus Thomas is the guy I'd most likely take a chance on, but he's dumb as rocks and too short to play center. Brendan Haywood is a beast this year, but it's a contract year. And we're not throwing away money on the fat deal he would want.

What I really want to happen is that the Kings turn their bits and pieces (Kenny Thomas, May, Nocioni, Udoka) into a young guy who hardly gets PT but could do work here like JaVale McGee or Darko...

We're not lacking talent upfront, between Thompson and Hawes there's enough talent, we're lacking size, severely lacking size, I don't think lanky types a la McGee and Darko are the answer. We won't be in position to pick high on the draft, I'll reiterate my previous idea, I think Gortat would be a good fit on this team, if we can hang with good team with Brockman playing center, Gortat would definitely benefit this team.

I would get Sean Williams, I'm sure it wouldn't cost us much but the reward could be great... worth taking the risk

the draft!

---> Solomon Alabi <----

Anyone else think that Cole Aldrich might be the guy to target in the next draft?

Bac2Basics wrote:Anyone else think that Cole Aldrich might be the guy to target in the next draft?

He's on my short list along with Favors.

Too bad neither 1 makes it to our pick.

Yeah Aldrich would be ideal, but it just doesn't look like we'll be in a position to get him.

I think Haywood is worth going after. The guy is a real difference-maker defensively. He's been on some poor defensive teams, but he's a good shotblocker and an elite post defender. Offensively, he can finish well around the basket. I think he's exactly what we need. And because his game is largely based off of his great length, his game should age well (a la Camby--although Haywood is the much better defender in reality).

Depending on how well McGee is developing, I think we may be able to pry him away this year. We may have to overpay a little, but I think it could be worth it.

Aldrich no doubt would be someone I'd target. Kansas being my favorite team I've been able to watch Aldrich play, and he would be a great fit here, but I don't think we'll land him like said by mitch because of our position.

Tyrus wouldn't be bad depending on how much we would have to spend on him, but I agree with mitch also that McGee and Haywood, would be worth going after.

Draino wrote:I would get Sean Williams, I'm sure it wouldn't cost us much but the reward could be great... worth taking the risk

I like Sean williams shot blocking. The Nets want no part of him and could probably be had right now for a 2nd round pick or Sean May.

He could be a buy low option that could play well once his head is on straight and understands that he is not some gangster, but an NBA professional.

All that being said I think his attitude is crap and would need to be reigned in, but I think Mario Elie could do that.

Why? what is wrong with Hawes?
thought he was ur Center of the future?

I most certainly believe that, but I'm thinking depth purposes. Thompson, Hawes, Brockman, and (Haywood, Camby, Williams, Thomas, etc.?)

is hawes healthy?how come does he start the season so slowly?

Evans Is King wrote:Before the season started it seemed the only way we would aquire talent was thru a trade. Nobody in there right mind had Sacramento 1, 2, 3 or 4 on thier wish list. It will be interesting to see how free agents treat a Kings team that is on the rise. Not sure if we will compete with other teams for top free agent bigs, but i think its safe to say we should be in the mix more this upcoming offseason than in seasons past.

I still believe that the only way we aquire talent outside of the draft is through a trade.
Sacramento once possessed the best team in all of basketball. And yet we STILL weren't especially high on top free agents' destination lists. I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you...

In any case, without seeing any player on that list recently, I would blindly go with either Tyrus Thomas or Sean Williams simply because they are the youngest of the bunch. I think we would have a legitimate chance of signing either player outright, considering the whole rest of the league will have their attention focused elsewhere...

Silver Man wrote:Aldrich no doubt would be someone I'd target. Kansas being my favorite team I've been able to watch Aldrich play, and he would be a great fit here, but I don't think we'll land him like said by mitch because of our position.

Tyrus wouldn't be bad depending on how much we would have to spend on him, but I agree with mitch also that McGee and Haywood, would be worth going after.

I wasn't clear in my wording, but I wasn't referring to going after McGee. I was saying that if McGee develops well over the course of the rest of the season, that Haywood might be a bit more available in FA.