2023-24 General Thread

[OxAndFox]

It's good to see the Brown deal get done before the Kings can "start negotiations" with Monk.

I'm not sure if or how much damage the past week has done.

[typedrat]

Honestly, I think it would be very little, at least since it didn't go on too long. If anything I think it'd help, since it thoroughly proves that Vivek is able to be cowed pretty easily now.

[LightTheBeam]

Thoughts on Mike Brown -

We are in a really bad spot. He isn't a great coach. His rotations are not great, his stubbornness to continue to play Huerter/Barnes in the starting lineup/big minutes all year cost us a ton of games. His defense schemes are bottom tier in the league, we allow wide open 3s like candy, and we have zero answer to any team with size. He blitzs way too much on the perimeter and it led to easy buckets all year. Our pick and roll defense is also pitiful. We blew how many 20 point leads, which IMO is a direct look on the coach. We would go up playing team ball and then 2nd half start milking clock and playing trash iso or post up play. Now some of this is partially due to bad defense personnel, but a lot of this was easily covered with good coaching and he didn't bring that.

It reminds me of game 7 vs GS when he decided for some odd reason to let TD guard Curry for 20+ mins alone and get torched for 50.

The ideal replacement was Jordi who is head and shoulders better, but we let him go. And Mike just led the 2 best seasons since Adelman, although anyone can see it had much more to do with the roster being far and away better than the Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, Stauskas pathetic rosters we threw out many of those years. So its a terrible look to let him leave, and we are in a bad spot of being forced to overpay a mediocre coach because of optics.

Yup, I'll stand on this ledge alone. Overrated coach. He's the guy you want to right the ship, but not the guy that takes you to the next level.

You bring up some good points. I just don't see who this franchise would go to now Jordi is gone, as you point out and yes, that's the tough spot the Kings are in now.
IMO it's clear as day the Kings feel similar to you so they either need to cut him loose now or give him an extension that is commensurate with the rest of the NBA. If they are actually still on the fence with him then they should know they may have to burn through some cash if they fire him.
Heck, look at the money they burned through before this past season on players that were never going to suit up for Sacramento.

I agree with his defensive schemes need to be better regarding the 3pt looks opposition players get. I don't even think that is a personnel issue.
It's weird you know, as you point out, he stayed with Huerter/Barnes but wanted a more defensive approach yet didn't even give the defensive players on the squad a chance.
I know people don't like Duarte, but perhaps he gets in a groove with a consistent role as a starter? Not 3-4 games, give him 20-25 games before you yank him. Just tell him NO mid range jump shots unless its with a second on the clock and NO reaching on D.
Kessler Edwards may be that 3&D guy this team is looking for? Not suggesting he should play 30+ minutes. But 20-22? Sure.
You can see with Keon, sometimes these guys need a chance at some consistent time.

A bench of Monk/Huerter/Barnes/Lyles/Len would have been quite scary for opposition teams.

Well that was the problem, the second Jordi left there was no replacement for Brown. I think in an ideal world Jordi doesn't get poached, Brown had his 4th year set in stone, and after next year he's replaced. But that wasn't possible so they had to resign him and it was the right thing to do.

I completely agree about the roster rotations, my group chat pointed that out all season. Such inconsistency. One game Mitchell plays 15mins off the bench, the next he goes Keon, the next both DNP, the next both play. Same thing with Kessler/Duarte/Sasha trio, Len/McGee. There was no rhyme or reason and he didn't give guys a chance.

I kept hearing well maybe such and such keeps getting minutes because we don't want to kill their trade value, only for us to do nothing.

Mike needs help from Monte, it's not all on him. I've been begging for roster changes for 2 years. Monte screwed the bed. I wanted Washington for years, he goes to Dallas and is a huge part of the championship run.

This off-season is make or break. Another year handcuffed by the Huerter trade, but we have assets. #13 + 27 1st + 29 1st + 31 1st. I'm tired of seeing the real teams use future picks to acquire good-great players and being told we don't have the pieces. We can make a competitive offer for anyone. Time for Monte to put up, move Barnes/Huerter, add another solid forward, and bring Monk back by any means. Another year of development for Keon-Murray should be huge, would be great to have Colby develop as that would solidify one of the backup guard spots.

[BoogieTime]

Honestly, I think it would be very little, at least since it didn't go on too long. If anything I think it'd help, since it thoroughly proves that Vivek is able to be cowed pretty easily now.

shows to me Vivek is still cheap. Brown's market value was 10+ pretty easily IMO, and Vivek haggling in the media with lowballs

[Lost in LA]

Good result which could have been handled far better

[BoogieTime]

On cue, we are shopping this years draft pick according to national reports

Where the Kings are in development they only have a finite amount of resources and you can’t play around with prospects

[FarBeyondDriven]

On cue, we are shopping this years draft pick according to national reports

Where the Kings are in development they only have a finite amount of resources and you can’t play around with prospects

this is what poorly run organizations do. They keep mortgaging the future thinking they're a player away instead of continuing to add good young talent through the draft and developing it. There is nobody we're getting with the #13 pick via trade that is better than a player we could draft there. Sure, maybe for next year we get more production, maybe. But not enough to put us over the top and it won't make up for the cap hit and loss of a cheap rookie contract and being able to watch that prospect develop before our eyes and become a better player than the guy we traded for.

[BoogieTime]

On cue, we are shopping this years draft pick according to national reports

Where the Kings are in development they only have a finite amount of resources and you can’t play around with prospects

this is what poorly run organizations do. They keep mortgaging the future thinking they're a player away instead of continuing to add good young talent through the draft and developing it. There is nobody we're getting with the #13 pick via trade that is better than a player we could draft there. Sure, maybe for next year we get more production, maybe. But not enough to put us over the top and it won't make up for the cap hit and loss of a cheap rookie contract and being able to watch that prospect develop before our eyes and become a better player than the guy we traded for.

no, its what lower level playoff teams with stars in their primes do.

they dont gamble on youth that may not pay out with their limited assets. what position were Minnesota Indiana/Dallas/Clippers/Suns whoever in relative to what we are before their recent trades, and what did they do

go down the list of the standings and how many teams in the playoffs or with stars have draft picks outgoing?

And yes, many feel the Kings who had a positive record against the top 3 teams in the west aren't galaxies away from solidly competing

And for the billionth time, you have zero clue how these prospects will turn out, so stop the they will be better than proven players stuff

[OxAndFox]

Pacers have a ton of youth.
Dallas does too, Sacramento gave them half of it. There's also this dude called Lively that's having a small impact.
Suns gave up their youth to get to where they are now. And now they're stuck. Potentially a great team, but done nothing.
Clippers haven't done anything either. They are also in a tough position to improve with no youth, aging stars and no assets.

If the Kings trade the pick and don't get a bonafide star they will be the Chicago Bulls of the West in quick time.
I'm not against trading the pick, but the repercussions of it in the future are quite large.

When you add youth around your stars it makes it easier to go and trade for a superstar. Everyone knows that Keegan was the first one asked for when talking trade, it wouldn't be whoever the team trades the #13 (Grant/Kuzma/Lavine) for. It would be the player selected at #13, or Keon, or Keegan still, because of the potential. If you don't have the youth to deal, it makes it really difficult to trade for one.

[BoogieTime]

Pacers have a ton of youth.
Dallas does too, Sacramento gave them half of it. There's also this dude called Lively that's having a small impact.
Suns gave up their youth to get to where they are now. And now they're stuck. Potentially a great team, but done nothing.
Clippers haven't done anything either. They are also in a tough position to improve with no youth, aging stars and no assets.

If the Kings trade the pick and don't get a bonafide star they will be the Chicago Bulls of the West in quick time.
I'm not against trading the pick, but the repercussions of it in the future are quite large.

When you add youth around your stars it makes it easier to go and trade for a superstar. Everyone knows that Keegan was the first one asked for when talking trade, it wouldn't be whoever the team trades the #13 (Grant/Kuzma/Lavine) for. It would be the player selected at #13, or Keon, or Keegan still, because of the potential. If you don't have the youth to deal, it makes it really difficult to trade for one.

How many current playoff/playin teams haven't traded picks for help? the distant minority ones are probably very young and aren't in their primes like sabonis/fox

I don't see the Bulls as relevant as the Kings are already better with (if Fox plays like 2023) better foundational players.

The other teams value youth if they are good. These draft picks can be busts.

[OxAndFox]

You need a good mix of trading for talent and drafting, not just trading your pick every year, which if they do that this year its potentially going to be 3 years in a row after next season. There are many ways to skin a cat as they say. I'm not suggesting you won't be successful short term.
Dallas has had a good mix over the last few seasons. They have traded picks in and out.

Minnesota - Did what you're suggesting and now it's up in the air if they reduce payroll already.
OKC - Got there because of youth/assets. Traded for a then superstar in PG13, ironically for Sabonis etc and then used him to get SGA all while hoarding picks.
Denver - drafted one of the greatest players ever
LAC - been mentioned prior. Had youth and then traded for a superstar.
Suns - Been mentioned. Had youth and then traded for a superstar.
Dallas - Been mentioned. Drafted on of the greatest players even.
LAL - It's LA. LeBron.
GSW - drafted one of the greatest players ever and also one of the greatest cores.
HOU - Built through draft and added vets at right time.
Mem - Built through the draft, but have added vets for picks. The difference is they traded for the picks too.
SAS - only other team that "may" make POs next season. Drafted a unicorn.

East
Boston - Drafted two stars and have proceeded to trade picks/players in and out.
Mil - Drafted superstar. Have mortgaged their future and will be tough to improve.
Phi - Drafted superstar and also Embiid. Joke, and Maxey. Will be interesting to see where they go now.
IND - Mentioned previously. But Mathurin/Walker/Sheppard/Jackson 22 and under. Then Hali/Nesmith/Nembhard that's 24.
NYK - Largely traded for the roster, but their #1 was a FA signing.
Cavs - Traded for their star. Had the assets to do it because of youth (Lauri/Sexton)
Magic - Drafted their roster.
Heat - Traded for their guy and their 2nd/3rd best are drafted. They trade picks in and out.
Bulls - The Kings. Traded for their roster and rarely if ever trade FOR 1st round picks, they only send them out because "they're close"
Hawks - Drafted their star and traded picks for another. Have some young players with potential and still trade picks in and out.
Nets - Traded for the main parts of the roster via trade of superstar. In a weird position.

I'm not against trading pick(s) for talent, it just can't be your thing multiple years in a row.

[BoogieTime]

And Indiana/Dallas traded for stars had very little do with because they had youth on their roster, its because their management believed in their stars and thought they were ready to compete

If their management didn't believe in Luka/Kyrie, or Tyrese calling publicly for competing now, they wouldnt have traded for vets. If they were in last place, they wouldnt have traded for vets even if they had all the youth they ever needed.

[LightTheBeam]

On cue, we are shopping this years draft pick according to national reports

Where the Kings are in development they only have a finite amount of resources and you can’t play around with prospects

this is what poorly run organizations do. They keep mortgaging the future thinking they're a player away instead of continuing to add good young talent through the draft and developing it. There is nobody we're getting with the #13 pick via trade that is better than a player we could draft there. Sure, maybe for next year we get more production, maybe. But not enough to put us over the top and it won't make up for the cap hit and loss of a cheap rookie contract and being able to watch that prospect develop before our eyes and become a better player than the guy we traded for.

This team should really be looking at the Dallas model. I keep saying it.

Draft at #13 like Dallas did with Lively. Look for a cheap role playing wing in FA like they did with DJJ (Maybe Naji Marshall?). Clear out the bad starters (Huerter/Barnes). And then if only then we are in a good spot around the deadline, we should trade picks for players like Gafford/PJ to make a push.

I'm all for putting a competitive package together for a guy like Mikal Bridges, he's a true needle mover. Or like Indiana did with Siakam. But the idea of trading #13 + Barnes for Jerami Grant or Kyle Kuzma as if that's the one move needed to get us there is insanity.

It's the reason we sucked for all these years and have barely any young players to show for it. Keep trading picks for guys like Huerter who aren't needle movers.

[BoogieTime]

On cue, we are shopping this years draft pick according to national reports

Where the Kings are in development they only have a finite amount of resources and you can’t play around with prospects

this is what poorly run organizations do. They keep mortgaging the future thinking they're a player away instead of continuing to add good young talent through the draft and developing it. There is nobody we're getting with the #13 pick via trade that is better than a player we could draft there. Sure, maybe for next year we get more production, maybe. But not enough to put us over the top and it won't make up for the cap hit and loss of a cheap rookie contract and being able to watch that prospect develop before our eyes and become a better player than the guy we traded for.

This team should really be looking at the Dallas model. I keep saying it.

Draft at #13 like Dallas did with Lively. Look for a cheap role playing wing in FA like they did with DJJ (Maybe Naji Marshall?). Clear out the bad starters (Huerter/Barnes). And then if only then we are in a good spot around the deadline, we should trade picks for players like Gafford/PJ to make a push.

I'm all for putting a competitive package together for a guy like Mikal Bridges, he's a true needle mover. Or like Indiana did with Siakam. But the idea of trading #13 + Barnes for Jerami Grant or Kyle Kuzma as if that's the one move needed to get us there is insanity.

It's the reason we sucked for all these years and have barely any young players to show for it. Keep trading picks for guys like Huerter who aren't needle movers.

No, the reason the team sucked for so many years was because they were treadmilling and picking in the latter part of the lottery which is a total crap shoot and most of the time don’t result in players such as those your mentioning

How many Huerter/Barnes trades have there been? And they aren’t Kuzma/Grant level players

I’m not big on Grant or Kuzma either, I’d prefer to go after bigger fish as they’ve been doing, but that takes two to tango

[LightTheBeam]

this is what poorly run organizations do. They keep mortgaging the future thinking they're a player away instead of continuing to add good young talent through the draft and developing it. There is nobody we're getting with the #13 pick via trade that is better than a player we could draft there. Sure, maybe for next year we get more production, maybe. But not enough to put us over the top and it won't make up for the cap hit and loss of a cheap rookie contract and being able to watch that prospect develop before our eyes and become a better player than the guy we traded for.

This team should really be looking at the Dallas model. I keep saying it.

Draft at #13 like Dallas did with Lively. Look for a cheap role playing wing in FA like they did with DJJ (Maybe Naji Marshall?). Clear out the bad starters (Huerter/Barnes). And then if only then we are in a good spot around the deadline, we should trade picks for players like Gafford/PJ to make a push.

I'm all for putting a competitive package together for a guy like Mikal Bridges, he's a true needle mover. Or like Indiana did with Siakam. But the idea of trading #13 + Barnes for Jerami Grant or Kyle Kuzma as if that's the one move needed to get us there is insanity.

It's the reason we sucked for all these years and have barely any young players to show for it. Keep trading picks for guys like Huerter who aren't needle movers.

No, the reason the team sucked for so many years was because they were treadmilling and picking in the latter part of the lottery which is a total crap shoot and most of the time don’t result in players such as those your mentioning

How many Huerter/Barnes trades have there been? And they aren’t Kuzma/Grant level players

I’m not big on Grant or Kuzma either, I’d prefer to go after bigger fish as they’ve been doing, but that takes two to tango

It's not just that. It's bad decisions with draft picks. Using a bunch to dump bad decisions (Thompson, Stauskus, Landry, Holmes), trading for Huerter, selling 2nd rounders for cash year after year (Tillman, Hardy, Trent Jr, Kenyon Martin).

Trading the pick for another mediocre nearly 30 overpaid player isn't going to help. Hoping we hit the next Hali, JDub, Lively will.

[OxAndFox]

As I've mentioned, Dallas trades 1st round picks in and out, not just one direction. That matters. So do the Pacers.

The Kings received a 1st for the Cousins trade. When was another time they traded for a first?
If the Kings trade a bunch of 1sts for anything less than a superstar they will be stuck for years to come. They will still be good, but won't be that much better than now.

[OxAndFox]

On cue, we are shopping this years draft pick according to national reports

Where the Kings are in development they only have a finite amount of resources and you can’t play around with prospects

this is what poorly run organizations do. They keep mortgaging the future thinking they're a player away instead of continuing to add good young talent through the draft and developing it. There is nobody we're getting with the #13 pick via trade that is better than a player we could draft there. Sure, maybe for next year we get more production, maybe. But not enough to put us over the top and it won't make up for the cap hit and loss of a cheap rookie contract and being able to watch that prospect develop before our eyes and become a better player than the guy we traded for.

This team should really be looking at the Dallas model. I keep saying it.

Draft at #13 like Dallas did with Lively. Look for a cheap role playing wing in FA like they did with DJJ (Maybe Naji Marshall?). Clear out the bad starters (Huerter/Barnes). And then if only then we are in a good spot around the deadline, we should trade picks for players like Gafford/PJ to make a push.

I'm all for putting a competitive package together for a guy like Mikal Bridges, he's a true needle mover. Or like Indiana did with Siakam. But the idea of trading #13 + Barnes for Jerami Grant or Kyle Kuzma as if that's the one move needed to get us there is insanity.

It's the reason we sucked for all these years and have barely any young players to show for it. Keep trading picks for guys like Huerter who aren't needle movers.

This is the main reason I would be against trading #13 for the guys you listed, or Lavine for example.

If Monte decides to go all in, then hell yes, go get a true star.

[OxAndFox]

As I've mentioned, Dallas trades 1st round picks in and out, not just one direction. That matters. So do the Pacers.

The Kings received a 1st for the Cousins trade. When was another time they traded for a first?
If the Kings trade a bunch of 1sts for anything less than a superstar they will be stuck for years to come. They will still be good, but won't be that much better than now.

So can anyone think of any more in and out traded draft picks than the below?
We will see the end of what happens when you don't continually replenish your asset base if this continues with a trade of the #13 and if the 1st conveys next year without bringing another in. 1 x first round pick in over a 15-20 year span is not great as an organisation. In fact it would be probably last in the entire NBA, and for a team that continually selected in the top 10 it's amazing.

OUT:
July 6, 2023 - Kings trade Richaun Holmes/Olivier-Maxence Prosper (#24) for Cash Considerations.

July 6, 2022 - Kings trade Justin Holiday/Mo Harkless/'24 protected 1st for Kevin Huerter (2025 protected 1-12, 2026 protected 1-10). If not conveyed Atl will receive Sac 2026 & 2027 2nd round picks.

July ?, 2015 - Kings trade Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, a future first-round pick and the right to swap first-round picks in 2016 and 2017 to the 76ers in exchange for the rights to Arturas Gudaitis and Luka Mitrovic.

This one luckily didn't end up costing the Kings as much with the #14 pick going to Boston after a later trade with Philly.

IN:
February 20, 2017 - Kings trade DeMarcus Cousins, Omri Casspi for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, 2017 1st round Pick (NOP), 2017 2nd round pick (PHI)

Then that pick was #10 in 2017 where the Kings could have used it on Donovan Mitchell (#13)/Bam Adebayo (#14)
Instead traded #10 (Zach Collins) for #15 (Justin Jackson) & #20 (Harry Giles) where they could have even gone for any two of John Collins (#19), OG (#23), Kyle Kuzma (#27), Derrick White (#29), Josh Hart (#30).
I believe the 2nd round pick was used on Frank Mason at #34. Later that draft Dillon Brooks (#45) and Isaiah Hartenstein (#43) were taken.

So the Kings could have come away from the 2017 draft with De'Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell & Dillon Brooks.
Fox/Mitchell/Garrett Temple/Zach Randolph/WCS
George Hill/Buddy/Brooks/Vince Carter/Kosta Koufos

Not a great team by any stretch of the imagination but at that point with the youth it would have been an exciting time.
Interesting that Dillon Brooks was selected by Houston and traded to Memphis for a future 2nd, and then started for Memphis his rookie season.

[BoogieTime]

As I've mentioned, Dallas trades 1st round picks in and out, not just one direction. That matters. So do the Pacers.

The Kings received a 1st for the Cousins trade. When was another time they traded for a first?
If the Kings trade a bunch of 1sts for anything less than a superstar they will be stuck for years to come. They will still be good, but won't be that much better than now.

So can anyone think of any more in and out traded draft picks than the below?
We will see the end of what happens when you don't continually replenish your asset base if this continues with a trade of the #13 and if the 1st conveys next year without bringing another in. 1 x first round pick in over a 15-20 year span is not great as an organisation. In fact it would be probably last in the entire NBA, and for a team that continually selected in the top 10 it's amazing.

OUT:
July 6, 2023 - Kings trade Richaun Holmes/Olivier-Maxence Prosper (#24) for Cash Considerations.

July 6, 2022 - Kings trade Justin Holiday/Mo Harkless/'24 protected 1st for Kevin Huerter (2025 protected 1-12, 2026 protected 1-10). If not conveyed Atl will receive Sac 2026 & 2027 2nd round picks.

July ?, 2015 - Kings trade Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, a future first-round pick and the right to swap first-round picks in 2016 and 2017 to the 76ers in exchange for the rights to Arturas Gudaitis and Luka Mitrovic.

This one luckily didn't end up costing the Kings as much with the #14 pick going to Boston after a later trade with Philly.

IN:
February 20, 2017 - Kings trade DeMarcus Cousins, Omri Casspi for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, 2017 1st round Pick (NOP), 2017 2nd round pick (PHI)

Then that pick was #10 in 2017 where the Kings could have used it on Donovan Mitchell (#13)/Bam Adebayo (#14)
Instead traded #10 (Zach Collins) for #15 (Justin Jackson) & #20 (Harry Giles) where they could have even gone for any two of John Collins (#19), OG (#23), Kyle Kuzma (#27), Derrick White (#29), Josh Hart (#30).
I believe the 2nd round pick was used on Frank Mason at #34. Later that draft Dillon Brooks (#45) and Isaiah Hartenstein (#43) were taken.

So the Kings could have come away from the 2017 draft with De'Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell & Dillon Brooks.
Fox/Mitchell/Garrett Temple/Zach Randolph/WCS
George Hill/Buddy/Brooks/Vince Carter/Kosta Koufos

Not a great team by any stretch of the imagination but at that point with the youth it would have been an exciting time.
Interesting that Dillon Brooks was selected by Houston and traded to Memphis for a future 2nd, and then started for Memphis his rookie season.

That usually follows the state of the team

If they are rebuilding picks will tend to flow in, if they are competing picks will flow out. We never had a smart ownership/GM embracing the tank. Picks flow in if you are selling off players that either dont fit in and hurt your record, or if you are trying to get worse for draft positioning, or money issues, or if you just want to play youth and are not concerned about winning.

[OxAndFox]

As I've mentioned, Dallas trades 1st round picks in and out, not just one direction. That matters. So do the Pacers.

The Kings received a 1st for the Cousins trade. When was another time they traded for a first?
If the Kings trade a bunch of 1sts for anything less than a superstar they will be stuck for years to come. They will still be good, but won't be that much better than now.

So can anyone think of any more in and out traded draft picks than the below?
We will see the end of what happens when you don't continually replenish your asset base if this continues with a trade of the #13 and if the 1st conveys next year without bringing another in. 1 x first round pick in over a 15-20 year span is not great as an organisation. In fact it would be probably last in the entire NBA, and for a team that continually selected in the top 10 it's amazing.

OUT:
July 6, 2023 - Kings trade Richaun Holmes/Olivier-Maxence Prosper (#24) for Cash Considerations.

July 6, 2022 - Kings trade Justin Holiday/Mo Harkless/'24 protected 1st for Kevin Huerter (2025 protected 1-12, 2026 protected 1-10). If not conveyed Atl will receive Sac 2026 & 2027 2nd round picks.

July ?, 2015 - Kings trade Nik Stauskas, Carl Landry, Jason Thompson, a future first-round pick and the right to swap first-round picks in 2016 and 2017 to the 76ers in exchange for the rights to Arturas Gudaitis and Luka Mitrovic.

This one luckily didn't end up costing the Kings as much with the #14 pick going to Boston after a later trade with Philly.

IN:
February 20, 2017 - Kings trade DeMarcus Cousins, Omri Casspi for Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, 2017 1st round Pick (NOP), 2017 2nd round pick (PHI)

Then that pick was #10 in 2017 where the Kings could have used it on Donovan Mitchell (#13)/Bam Adebayo (#14)
Instead traded #10 (Zach Collins) for #15 (Justin Jackson) & #20 (Harry Giles) where they could have even gone for any two of John Collins (#19), OG (#23), Kyle Kuzma (#27), Derrick White (#29), Josh Hart (#30).
I believe the 2nd round pick was used on Frank Mason at #34. Later that draft Dillon Brooks (#45) and Isaiah Hartenstein (#43) were taken.

So the Kings could have come away from the 2017 draft with De'Aaron Fox, Donovan Mitchell & Dillon Brooks.
Fox/Mitchell/Garrett Temple/Zach Randolph/WCS
George Hill/Buddy/Brooks/Vince Carter/Kosta Koufos

Not a great team by any stretch of the imagination but at that point with the youth it would have been an exciting time.
Interesting that Dillon Brooks was selected by Houston and traded to Memphis for a future 2nd, and then started for Memphis his rookie season.

That usually follows the state of the team

If they are rebuilding picks will tend to flow in, if they are competing picks will flow out. We never had a smart ownership/GM embracing the tank. Picks flow in if you are selling off players that either dont fit in and hurt your record, or if you are trying to get worse for draft positioning, or money issues, or if you just want to play youth and are not concerned about winning.

That makes 0 sense. It's easy to say, never had a smart ownership/GM. A complete cop out.

Are the Kings literally the only team that has had this? I haven't done the research on it, but let's just say the Kings have traded FOR 1 x 1st in the last 20 years. Who is the next "worst" in this area?

Anyway, so you actually make THE point that Sacramento should be trading for draft assets. If it was because of dumb ownership/GM they didn't surely they shouldn't be moving down the same path? It certainly hasn't worked previously NOT trading for draft assets and no team looking to contend should switch that off. IE Dallas Mavericks. IE New York Knicks. IE Indiana Pacers.