Wesley Johnson over Demarcus Cousins

[Busch Legion]

Speaking of the Wolves, don't be too hard on GM David Kahn for taking Wes Johnson over DeMarcus Cousins. The Wolves didn't think he'd be a fit next to Love. But that wasn't the biggest reason they passed. There was a bigger concern that Cousins would be too much to handle in the locker room -- especially on such a young team.

Those concerns, according to sources, are already being borne out in Sacramento. While Cousins has played very well in the summer league, preseason and in the Kings' first three regular-season games, there are concerns.

Sources close to the Kings tell me that Cousins has earned his reputation for being difficult. Several players on the team have complained privately about his attitude and he's already butted heads with assistant coaches in practice.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_ ... eling-love

RUH ROH.

[shrink]

With a team that needs to take chances on a superstar, I'd have still gambled on Cousins.

And even if I was convinced I like Wes Johnson better, the Wolves STILL should have taken Cousins, and traded him to SAC for the #5 pick and another asset. The Kings were already crowded at SF, so they had no need for Johnson, and they were desperate for an exciting center to help bring fans back to their team.

I guess we'll just wait and see. Right now though, the general consensus on picking Johnson was "not good to "horrible"

[Devilzsidewalk]

meh, I don't know what to say. Obviously these chemistry problem stories get real old as a fan, but I think I'd rather have a good team w/ a few problem child types then an embarrassingly bad team of guys w/ sweet chemistry that hang out and play board games every weekend

[Esohny]

meh, I don't know what to say. Obviously these chemistry problem stories get real old as a fan, but I think I'd rather have a good team w/ a few problem child types then an embarrassingly bad team of guys w/ sweet chemistry that hang out and play board games every weekend

How many terrible teams have great chemistry? If they're that bad, they'll be at each other's throats before long, and not playing as a team is probably contributing to their suckage anyway. That said, I still wanted Cousins, but it's not like Johnson wasn't the consensus next guy on the board, at a minimum.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I'm just saying I wouldn't have personality, chemistry, or A/S/L very high on my draftee ratings if I had a really bad team w/ a top 5 pick

[AQuintus]

And even if I was convinced I like Wes Johnson better, the Wolves STILL should have taken Cousins, and traded him to SAC for the #5 pick and another asset. The Kings were already crowded at SF, so they had no need for Johnson, and they were desperate for an exciting center to help bring fans back to their team.

The rumor at draft time, at least according to Sac fans, was that the Kings would have been happy to take and keep Johnson if Minnesota took Cousins.

[eyeteeth]

Honestly, I've thought for a while that DMC will end up playing here after tossing about the league for 6 or 7 years. He'll be older and slightly chastened, and the Wolves will be looking for an impact player to get them to whatever next round in the playoffs they're competing for. The Wolves will have a rep as a good team to play for and they will take a flyer on rehabbing DMC.

[GopherIt!]

meh, I don't know what to say. Obviously these chemistry problem stories get real old as a fan, but I think I'd rather have a good team w/ a few problem child types then an embarrassingly bad team of guys w/ sweet chemistry that hang out and play board games every weekend

I agree, tearing up the town > settler's of catan

[Peezo]

I still like the fact that we took a high character guy with a lot of talent over the upside of Cousins. DMC might be really nasty one day, but we were not the right environment for him this year. If we were a more established squad than I would have jumped at the chance to get him. Anyone who says things like explosive personalities and lack of veteran leadership don't matter hasn't looked at championship teams. The only teams where crazy players succeed are championship caliber squads imo. Who was going to mentor him here, Bassy or Beasley?

A knock on Wes is his lack of upside, but what rookie can't get better. He is a silky smooth shooter who can dunk with some flash. I love this kid and I think he has plenty of growth from here.

Let SAC deal with the head case.

[Peezo]

And Settlers of catan is sweet.

[shrink]

And even if I was convinced I like Wes Johnson better, the Wolves STILL should have taken Cousins, and traded him to SAC for the #5 pick and another asset. The Kings were already crowded at SF, so they had no need for Johnson, and they were desperate for an exciting center to help bring fans back to their team.

The rumor at draft time, at least according to Sac fans, was that the Kings would have been happy to take and keep Johnson if Minnesota took Cousins.

That's not how I heard it. They already had Casspi and Donta Green, two young SF's that they really like. If they were going to pass, they would have taken Greg Monroe. That's still a longshot though. They loved Cousins pre-draft and Monroe only has a fraction of the drawing power of Cousins.

[funkatron101]

Yep... I had supported a Cousins for Wes + asset trade well before the draft, but I am happy enough with the result, since I was a fan of Wes.

Cousins is a dick..Plain and simple. With that said, the guy will be just fine. The Kings will be perfectly happy dealing with his attitude, IMO.

[revprodeji]

Sactown claimed they were good with either Wes or Cousins. I would not risk it for a minor trade down. These have bit us in the past.

I like Perry Jones if we are in the position still to need a big guy.

[Esohny]

Sactown claimed they were good with either Wes or Cousins. I would not risk it for a minor trade down. These have bit us in the past.

I like Perry Jones if we are in the position still to need a big guy.

Sadly, the best place for an frontcourt upgrade would be at center, but there aren't any in the draft. Greg Oden and Marc Gasol will be restricted free agents next season, I suppose.

[C.lupus]

Sactown claimed they were good with either Wes or Cousins. I would not risk it for a minor trade down. These have bit us in the past.

I like Perry Jones if we are in the position still to need a big guy.

Sadly, the best place for an frontcourt upgrade would be at center, but there aren't any in the draft. Greg Oden and Marc Gasol will be restricted free agents next season, I suppose.

Memphis will be interesting to watch. They've got Rudy and Conley on the books for $16m and $8m per year now, have Gasol coming up as a RFA, have Mayo coming up the next year, and of course have a looming lockout/new CBA coming up. I don't see them being able to keep all four of those guys at the rate they are going.

[shrink]

With the Conley extension, MEM's front office remains #1 on my "WTF?!?" list for the fourth consecutive year.

[revprodeji]

I could see us dumping a ton of money on Oden.

1.) We like rebuild/rebranding high drafted prospects.

2.) We know Kurt watched portland a lot.

Oden is a RFA. Make a crazy offer and make Portland man up.

[C.lupus]

A healthy Oden on this team would be manna from heaven.

[Krapinsky]

Conley has looked good so far this season (including the preseason). And, honestly, I'd rather have Conley at $9M (I've also seen it reported at $8M) than Felton at $7M. I'd also rather have Ridnour at $4M than both those guys, but let's leave that for the other thread. That said, this extension doesn't really make any sense and Memphis overbid on their own player for the second time in a few months.

[funkatron101]

A healthy Oden on this team would be manna from heaven.

Another one? Holy crap!