Offseason quickly approaching

[PetrieUnderstudy]

It is unfortunate for us Kings fans but often times the offseason including the draft, free agency then going into preseason and the beginning of the new season is our most exciting time because we have hope that maybe things will be different. Well we've gone another season and things aren't different on the court. We're still a bad basketball team that doesn't share the ball, turns it over too much, and doesn't play defense. It amazes me how Coach Malone is supposed to be some defensive genius yet we continue to be one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. I'm tired of hearing how it is the players. Pete has got rid of almost every player. Does the organization just continue to pick up non-defensive, poor fundamental basketball players.

While I like Malone's candidness about saying how much the team stinks, he's stating the obvious. Maybe he needs to start saying that he's a bad basketball coach until the outcome on the court shows otherwise. Has he lost the team already?

More changes obviously are in store and it is that time of year for Kings fans that brings new excitement.

The draft: If we can luck out (never seems to happen) then maybe we can draft a franchise changer. No matter what the case, Pete and Co. can't miss this time. We might need to package the pick if we aren't excited about the prospects at our spot with a Landry or Thompson and try to get a proven veteran.

Free agency: First in house. We have Isaiah to consider but at how much? He really needs to be our 6th man. Can we get Rudy to renegotiate or does he even want to be here? Pete is supposed to be a cap genius. Can he work some magic? Some names I'd like to see considered...Lance Stephenson (likely way to much $), Evan Turner, Kyle Lowry, Avery Bradley, Trevor Ariza. Some more under the radar guys...Rodney Stuckey, Jason Smith, Jodie Meeks. If Isaiah asks for too much should we turn our attention to Lowry? Who would you like to see?

Trades: Pete has been aggressive and I don't see that changing this offseason so it will be fun to watch. Would the Lakers sign and trade Jodie Meeks for JT?

We need better fundamental basketball players. Guys that know how to play basketball. That can pass, shoot, and defend. We are definitely more athletic than we've been in years past but athleticism isn't equating to anything more than some nicer highlight dunks.

Here's to more changes and eternal hope!

[SacSanity]

I understand the frustration with Mike Malone being called a Defensive minded coach, yet we are still horrible at defense. In my opinion Malone gets a pass this season. He has went through many roster changes and had to adjust accordingly.

The draft: All I care about this years draft is that our F.O. recognizes and picks to fill an actual need, not just a player they like. The amount of players that we passed on that would have filled a gap sickens me. If we trade up or down I don't care, as long as its the "potentially correct" move.

Free Agency: IT needs to be our first consideration, whether we keep him or not. As you said, Lance Stephenson would be great but again, I think he's gonna get paid. Other than that, I do not see to many options in F.A.

Trades: As long as JT and/or Landry get traded, mission accomplished. The Landry signing hurt my head and JT is so up and down, (mainly down) its just time to go. If we could get Lowry I'd be down.

Overall, I feel what the F.O. is doing is in the right direction. Rome wasn't built in a day.

[Big_Cat]

Why is anyone even talking about free agency?

If Gay doesn't opt out, King's are already at close to $70 million with the draft pick. Meaning we're only a million or two from hitting the lux tax.

If Gay opts out and say has an salary starting around $14 million, than Sacramento is ALREADY over the salary cap at around $64 million. Meaning the most we can offer would be the MLE. So guys like Lowry, Stephenson, anyone who can command more than the MLE is already out of the picture.


If Gay opts out and has a salary starting around $14 million, and Isaiah asks for any salary even around $6 million...we'd basically be hitting the lux tax.



We're going to lose Isaiah for nothing most likely. We're not adding any MLE player. We're probably not going to sign anyone above $1-2 million level. We simply can't afford it.


Honestly. Take a look at our salary situation before you start hallucinating about what free agent we're going to sign. We're not signing anyone.

[PetrieUnderstudy]

No one is hallucinating. I mentioned that Rudy's contract would need to be renegotiated. I suggested packaging pick (if 7th like always) with Landry for cap space. Other than Stephenson (which I said was unlikely due to money) and Lowry, who did I list that is above MLE? The others are in that MLE range. Lowry would be in place of IT if previously mentioned addressed and if I'm not mistaken the Kings could go over cap to resign IT. This ownership and management group want to be in the playoffs definitely going into new arena. They will continue to be aggressive.

[Big_Cat]

The best thing this franchise can do is to never use the MLE again until we already make the playoffs. People many times assume that the MLE and players below the MLE don't really do much in terms of cap space, but bad MLE players is the primary reason I believe so many franchises are or have been f***ked for so long.

Here are some fun numbers.

Between Landry, Thompson, and Reggie Evans, they make the same as a Marc Gasol, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook.

Between Landry, Thompson, and Derrick Williams, you could afford a Lebron James, Chris Bosh, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant.

Instead of Jason Terry and Travis Outlaw, you could have Mike Conley.

Instead of Terry, Williams, and Outlaw you can afford any PG not named Chris Paul, Deron Williams, or Derrick Rose.

[Big_Cat]

No one is hallucinating. I mentioned that Rudy's contract would need to be renegotiated. I suggested packaging pick (if 7th like always) with Landry for cap space. Other than Stephenson (which I said was unlikely due to money) and Lowry, who did I list that is above MLE? The others are in that MLE range. Lowry would be in place of IT if previously mentioned addressed and if I'm not mistaken the Kings could go over cap to resign IT. This ownership and management group want to be in the playoffs definitely going into new arena. They will continue to be aggressive.

Lol. What's the point of cap space if you solely use the 7th pick to get rid of Landry.

Our biggest problem right now is the lack of talent on the roster. And you want to get rid of more talent, just so you can make some silly free agency signings...the same signings that got us into this mess? How did trading a higher pick and Beno for Jimmer end up?


And yes we can go over the cap to resign Isaiah. But unless you decide to trade away basically our last shot of making this roster into something decent (aka our pick), then resigning Isaiah pushes us dangerously close to the lux tax level. We'd have to get really creative just to not hit the luxury tax. Not the salary cap, but the luxury tax. All for what...so we can get the 10th seed next season?

[longfellow44]

Just in defense of malone and our teams poor defense. What is the guy supposed to do with a roster filled with players that dont play defense or are too small to stop dribble penetration or are too young and raw like mclemore. Team defense is founded on experince and avouding obvious mismatches. Our team has two obvious mismatches and lacks experience. Not to mention a huge roster overhaul.

As far as moves go this summer i have a few things I would like to see happen.

If not a top 5 pick I want to trade it with landry or thompson to clear w little space and get a better fit at shooting guard. Someone like afflalo.

Second restructure gays deal to be around 13 mil per season

Resign isiah to a contract under 8 mil per season

Sign ekpe udoh for under 3 mil perseason.

Go into the new season with this roster
Thomas/mccallum
Afflalo/mclemore
Gay/williams
Evans/thompson/acy
Cousins/udoh/gray

That roster is improved on defense and has much morr flexibility. Following season we let all expirers go and just sign a decent backup small forward and shooting guard.

[Big_Cat]

Just in defense of malone and our teams poor defense. What is the guy supposed to do with a roster filled with players that dont play defense or are too small to stop dribble penetration or are too young and raw like mclemore. Team defense is founded on experince and avouding obvious mismatches. Our team has two obvious mismatches and lacks experience. Not to mention a huge roster overhaul.

As far as moves go this summer i have a few things I would like to see happen.

If not a top 5 pick I want to trade it with landry or thompson to clear w little space and get a better fit at shooting guard. Someone like afflalo.

Second restructure gays deal to be around 13 mil per season

Resign isiah to a contract under 8 mil per season

Sign ekpe udoh for under 3 mil perseason.

Go into the new season with this roster
Thomas/mccallum
Afflalo/mclemore
Gay/williams
Evans/thompson/acy
Cousins/udoh/gray

That roster is improved on defense and has much morr flexibility. Following season we let all expirers go and just sign a decent backup small forward and shooting guard.

Your roster costs $72.95 million. Over the lux tax (not sure what team is giving you a TPE for Outlaw or Terry).


In 2015, if Affalo doesn't opt out, the team would have around $4.5 million in cap space.

[longfellow44]

^^Assuming no major moves and we simply resign Thomas to an 8 mil contract and use our draft pick we will be at a much higher salary than the team that I created.

At least with this team our defense isn't so terrible. We move the money we are paying landry to a postion of more need we remain deep at pf and C if not ubber talented out side of Cousins.

I don't see a realistic way of putting this roster together next season where we keep Thomas and don't go over the luxury tax. Honestly I wouldn't want to be our front office right now because they have some seriously important decisions to make. If they make the wrong choices they can set this roster back several seasons, they could also tie up our salary situation so badly that we become a treadmill team with no hope of improving. With out a commitment to add defensive personnel this team may have no hope anyway.

[PetrieUnderstudy]

First off it isn't my money and I could care less if the team is in luxury tax as long as the team is winning. If Ranadive and Co. give Pete the green light then go for it Pete.

Big_Cat I agree with you about signing MLE free agents only when signing the wrong ones. The Kings basically have their star in Cousins. If Cousins isn't good enough to lead the team to being one of the top 10 teams in the league then I guess we're f'd no matter what we do. I believe we need to spend wisely and start piecing the right players around what we've got. Right now that's Cousins, Gay, and Isaiah.

Believe it or not the organization is in the shape it is in today not because of the bad signing of Landry, eh signing of Thompson and Outlaw but the cluster f..k of draft picks selected in recent years.

Comparing combined salaries of multiple King suit racks to All-Stars proves nothing. Those guys would only come here had we drafted them or hood winked a GM to trade them to us.

Back to the draft...Kings have been in lottery every year since 2007. Buckle your seat belts this is scary.

2013 Kings select Ben McLemore could've selected Michael Carter-Williams, Trey Burke, Tim Hardaway Jr. or Giannis Antetokounmpo

2012 Kings select Thomas Robinson could've selected Damian Lillard, Harrison Barnes, Terrence Ross, Andre Drummond, John Henson, Terrence Jones, Evan Fournier, Miles Plumlee

2011 Kings select Jimmer Fredette via John Salmons trade could've selected Brandon Knight, Kemba Walker, Klay Thompson, Alec Burks, Morris twins, Kawhi Leonard, Nikola Vucevic, Kenneth Faried, Reggie Jackson, Jimmie Butler
...in 2nd round took Tyler Honeycutt and Isaiah Thomas (great pick) could've had Chandler Parsons over Honeycutt

2010 Kings select DeMarcus Cousins (good pick) but could've selected Paul George
2nd round took Hassan Whiteside but could've had Lance Stephenson

2009 Kings select Tyreke Evans could've selected Steph Curry, DeMar DeRozan, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Taj Gibson
2nd round took Jon Brockman via trade could've had Jodie Meeks, Patrick Beverly, Danny Green

2008 Kings Jason Thompson could've selected Roy Hibbert, Ryan Anderson, Serge Ibaka, Nicolas Batum, George Hill, Nikola Pekovic, DeAndre Jordan, Omer Asik
2nd round took Sean Singletary and Patrick Ewing Jr. but could've had Goran Dragic

2007 Kings select Spencer Hawes could've selected Thadeus Young, Arron Afflalo...hell they could've drafted Carl Landry and Aaron Gray

PG Damian Lillard/Goran Dragic/Isaiah Thomas/Michael Carter-Williams
SG Stephen Curry/Lance Stephenson/Jodie Meeks
SF Paul George/Chandler Parsons
PF Serge Ibaka/Thadeus Young
C Nikola Vucevic

This is perfect world painting and no one expects anyone to get it right every time but to give you all an idea. Some may trade out Ibaka for Hibbert or where ever you want but the point is the Kings are a bad team because they've been in the lottery 7 straight years (soon to be 8) and they've missed on quite a few picks. Maybe the scouting department is to blame. While signings like Landry, Thompson, and Outlaw weren't good missing on the past 7 lotteries has been devastating.

[Big_Cat]

This is perfect world painting and no one expects anyone to get it right every time but to give you all an idea. Some may trade out Ibaka for Hibbert or where ever you want but the point is the Kings are a bad team because they've been in the lottery 7 straight years (soon to be 8) and they've missed on quite a few picks. Maybe the scouting department is to blame. While signings like Landry, Thompson, and Outlaw weren't good missing on the past 7 lotteries has been devastating.

2013 is useless to talk about. Everyone knew that the draft was terrible. Last year was basically another 2000. There might be 8 guys in the whole draft that is in the league 8 years from now.


But the fact that we've f**ked up every pick from 2008 until 2012 (outside of Boogie), is preciously why we need a top pick this year. You can't make the argument that "we've tried the whole tanking thing and it didnt work". Of no sh*t Sherlock, it didn't work because we failed at every freaking pick. Don't even be greedy.

Boogie/Curry/Drummond
Lillard/Boogie/Kwahi
Kemba/Boogie/Barnes
Boogie/Curry
Boogie/Drummond
Boogie/Klay

Basically...if we just had a single player worth keeping in any year between 2008 and 2012 (minus 2010), we'd be in great shape right now. (Don't even think about the fact we could have had GSW's backcourt and Det's frontcourt right now)



The reason guys like Landry, Thompson, Salmons, etc. are terrible for a franchise, is because they are NBA talent that aren't capable of doing anything on their own. However, they are good enough to win those few extra games that ruin draft picks.



I still cannot understand why people want to make a push now and want to contend immediately. Our roster is far from a team that has the potential of contending. At best we are what Denver was when they had Carmelo. A first or second round bounce year in and year out.

[Big_Cat]

^^Assuming no major moves and we simply resign Thomas to an 8 mil contract and use our draft pick we will be at a much higher salary than the team that I created.

At least with this team our defense isn't so terrible. We move the money we are paying landry to a postion of more need we remain deep at pf and C if not ubber talented out side of Cousins.

I don't see a realistic way of putting this roster together next season where we keep Thomas and don't go over the luxury tax. Honestly I wouldn't want to be our front office right now because they have some seriously important decisions to make. If they make the wrong choices they can set this roster back several seasons, they could also tie up our salary situation so badly that we become a treadmill team with no hope of improving. With out a commitment to add defensive personnel this team may have no hope anyway.

And you think trading away our draft pick is the answer to prevent this?

Face it. We already have 1 foot and 4 toes on the treadmill. The only last bit of hope is in this 2014 draft pick.


Our cap situation is god awful. And if we resign Isaiah and Gay, our roster is basically locked in place without any real hope of improving. We'll be close to the luxury tax and won't be anywhere near good enough to justify that price tag.

If we let Isaiah and/or Gay go, there goes a huge chunk of talent, on our already talent depleted roster. Meaning we'd need to look at the draft to replenish the talent.



We absolutely blew an amazing opportunity this season. If we were able to draft Embiid we'd have a dynasty. If we drafted Wiggins or Parker we'd have one of the highest potential duo (Boogie/Wiggins or Parker). If we drafted Randle or Exum we'd be looking at a solid roster that could be made into a contender with a few additional moves.

Instead we'll be drafting guys that most likely will simply be average starters in the league. We're already this f**king bad, and we do everything we can to win in the second best draft in the past decade.

[SacSanity]

^^Assuming no major moves and we simply resign Thomas to an 8 mil contract and use our draft pick we will be at a much higher salary than the team that I created.

At least with this team our defense isn't so terrible. We move the money we are paying landry to a postion of more need we remain deep at pf and C if not ubber talented out side of Cousins.

I don't see a realistic way of putting this roster together next season where we keep Thomas and don't go over the luxury tax. Honestly I wouldn't want to be our front office right now because they have some seriously important decisions to make. If they make the wrong choices they can set this roster back several seasons, they could also tie up our salary situation so badly that we become a treadmill team with no hope of improving. With out a commitment to add defensive personnel this team may have no hope anyway.

And you think trading away our draft pick is the answer to prevent this?

Face it. We already have 1 foot and 4 toes on the treadmill. The only last bit of hope is in this 2014 draft pick.


Our cap situation is god awful. And if we resign Isaiah and Gay, our roster is basically locked in place without any real hope of improving. We'll be close to the luxury tax and won't be anywhere near good enough to justify that price tag.

If we let Isaiah and/or Gay go, there goes a huge chunk of talent, on our already talent depleted roster. Meaning we'd need to look at the draft to replenish the talent.



We absolutely blew an amazing opportunity this season. If we were able to draft Embiid we'd have a dynasty. If we drafted Wiggins or Parker we'd have one of the highest potential duo (Boogie/Wiggins or Parker). If we drafted Randle or Exum we'd be looking at a solid roster that could be made into a contender with a few additional moves.

Instead we'll be drafting guys that most likely will simply be average starters in the league. We're already this f**king bad, and we do everything we can to win in the second best draft in the past decade.

I have to agree with your point of view... May I ask what you would do to remedy this situation?

[scotch_and_dice]

Look, I love Thomas, he's one of the few guys in the NBA that's really easy to root for (good, honest, mature, not cocky but confident), but he needs to be signed for around 4-5 mil per at most, otherwise we should use him for s&t bait. We can't afford to keep overpaying the role players on this team.


Sent from my GT-N5110 using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Big_Cat]

I have to agree with your point of view... May I ask what you would do to remedy this situation?

Try to get the best possible pick this season. If we end up with a mediocre pick, then strongly sit down and ask ourselves

A) Is success simply making the playoffs a few years, but never realistically winning a championship (Denver with Melo, Denver with Lawson/Karl/Iggy, Milwaukee with Ellis/Jennings, Atlanta, Memphis right now, anyone in the east seeds 3-8 outside of Chicago). Am I okay with just winning 2-4 playoff series in the next 6-8 years then rebuilding again.

If that's the case. Resign Isaiah, resign Gay, trade the pick+Landry for pure cap space, do the best that we can.

B) Championship or Bust. Stop signing long-term free agents (no deals over 2 years). Look to sign and trade Isaiah, or sign him to a small enough contract where we can flip him for assets. Only resign Gay if he comes at a price tag of $12-13 million.

And do the unthinkable. Look at options of trading Boogie. If we do not get that game changing piece in the draft this year. We will be too talented to end up in this draft position again, and future drafts won't be nearly as stacked as this one (stacked doesn't mean everyone gets a stud. I mean stacked like 2003, where 4 teams are able to get franchise/near franchise players). We don't have the cap space to bring in more talent. So unless we wait and hope we get lucky and move up 8-10 spots in the lotto next year, or McLemore develops into a stud (probably the same chances of Jimmer developing into a stud)...then the reality is we probably do not have the time, flexibility, or the available moves to build a contender around DeMarcus before he wants out.

If the mindset is championship or bust. I'd look to completely rebuild.

[Silver Man]

I have to agree with your point of view... May I ask what you would do to remedy this situation?

Try to get the best possible pick this season. If we end up with a mediocre pick, then strongly sit down and ask ourselves

A) Is success simply making the playoffs a few years, but never realistically winning a championship (Denver with Melo, Denver with Lawson/Karl/Iggy, Milwaukee with Ellis/Jennings, Atlanta, Memphis right now, anyone in the east seeds 3-8 outside of Chicago). Am I okay with just winning 2-4 playoff series in the next 6-8 years then rebuilding again.

If that's the case. Resign Isaiah, resign Gay, trade the pick+Landry for pure cap space, do the best that we can.

B) Championship or Bust. Stop signing long-term free agents (no deals over 2 years). Look to sign and trade Isaiah, or sign him to a small enough contract where we can flip him for assets. Only resign Gay if he comes at a price tag of $12-13 million.

And do the unthinkable. Look at options of trading Boogie. If we do not get that game changing piece in the draft this year. We will be too talented to end up in this draft position again, and future drafts won't be nearly as stacked as this one (stacked doesn't mean everyone gets a stud. I mean stacked like 2003, where 4 teams are able to get franchise/near franchise players). We don't have the cap space to bring in more talent. So unless we wait and hope we get lucky and move up 8-10 spots in the lotto next year, or McLemore develops into a stud (probably the same chances of Jimmer developing into a stud)...then the reality is we probably do not have the time, flexibility, or the available moves to build a contender around DeMarcus before he wants out.

If the mindset is championship or bust. I'd look to completely rebuild.

No. Just simply no. Not only is this a bad idea, but this won't happen. It's been stated Cousins is our center piece and that we are building around him. He is not going anywhere, simple as that.

[PetrieUnderstudy]

Championship or bust is a completely idiotic approach coming from an organization that hasn't sniffed the playoffs in years. When the best team in Sacramento history was assembled do you think it was put together with the thought of winning a championship? We caught lightening in a bottle. Peja and JWill were unproven rookies. CWebb was a super talented PF that really hadn't accomplished anything. Vlade was a solid upper echelon center on average teams. Christie was a role player headed for journeyman status. In 1997-98 the team was 27-55 and with the aforementioned additions went 27-23 in the lockout shortened season. That core then went on to win 44, 55, 61, 59, 55, and 50 games.

I think we would all be ecstatic to be close to what those teams were and they never won a championship. Since 1998 only 6 franchises have won championships. The Lakers have won 5, Spurs 4, Heat 3, Celtics 1, Pistons 1, and Mavs 1.

Let's not think about championships. Let's get to the playoffs first!

[enderwilson]

2009 Kings select Tyreke Evans could've selected Steph Curry, DeMar DeRozan, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson, Jeff Teague, Taj Gibson
2nd round took Jon Brockman via trade could've had Jodie Meeks, Patrick Beverly, Danny Green

Arguably we've stunk it up in the draft more often than we should have over the past 7 years. The onus of this falls directly on Petrie. However, despite all this 2009 represents everything that is perplexing to me about the draft and why it can turn into a real crap shoot. At the end of that year we were so high because we arguably came out with the second best, if not THE best (Blake Griffin was injured that whole season), rookie that year. Tyreke going 20/5/5 was something not seen since LeBron arrived in the league. All of us were saying all he needed was to develop a jump-shot and he would be the second coming. But after that second year, I began to wonder whether or not we should have picked Curry. Now the answer is pretty obvious.

Which is the problem with prognosticating after the fact. Hind sight will always be 20/20, but you don't have 4-5 years to evaluate a player before you draft him. You get what you get. Of course I can see that even without hindsight the FO could have made better choices these last few years. With the new owners and GM I'm hoping the pattern will change. It is my sincere hope that we get a winner in this years draft (as it is every year), but 2009 is an example of how even the best possible pick could turn into a lemon.

[Big_Cat]

I think we would all be ecstatic to be close to what those teams were and they never won a championship. Since 1998 only 6 franchises have won championships. The Lakers have won 5, Spurs 4, Heat 3, Celtics 1, Pistons 1, and Mavs 1.

Let's not think about championships. Let's get to the playoffs first!

This is why only 6 franchises have won championships...and only a handful of franchises have won championships period. Because certain teams understand the "championship or bust" mentality, while others think "let's just get to the playoffs first."

Again, it boils down to what do you want. A title or another 2002 run (aka a team that never won anything). There is absolutely a ceiling on every core a team may have. Once you start to make a push and run at the playoffs, unless you have players who can develop a lot more or you have the cap space or future trade assets, then it's fairly realistic to project an approximate ceiling on what a franchise may have. You don't go from a mediocre playoff team into a contender. You go from a playoff team with a lot of potential into a potential contender.

Look at the teams in the playoffs right now. GSW, Dallas, Memphis, Houston will not win a title with their current core. Toronto, Washington, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Atlanta won't win won either. They just don't have the flexibility or the untapped growth necessary to push them one step higher.

[SacKingZZZ]

It is unfortunate for us Kings fans but often times the offseason including the draft, free agency then going into preseason and the beginning of the new season is our most exciting time because we have hope that maybe things will be different. Well we've gone another season and things aren't different on the court. We're still a bad basketball team that doesn't share the ball, turns it over too much, and doesn't play defense. It amazes me how Coach Malone is supposed to be some defensive genius yet we continue to be one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA. I'm tired of hearing how it is the players. Pete has got rid of almost every player. Does the organization just continue to pick up non-defensive, poor fundamental basketball players.

While I like Malone's candidness about saying how much the team stinks, he's stating the obvious. Maybe he needs to start saying that he's a bad basketball coach until the outcome on the court shows otherwise. Has he lost the team already?

More changes obviously are in store and it is that time of year for Kings fans that brings new excitement.

The draft: If we can luck out (never seems to happen) then maybe we can draft a franchise changer. No matter what the case, Pete and Co. can't miss this time. We might need to package the pick if we aren't excited about the prospects at our spot with a Landry or Thompson and try to get a proven veteran.

Free agency: First in house. We have Isaiah to consider but at how much? He really needs to be our 6th man. Can we get Rudy to renegotiate or does he even want to be here? Pete is supposed to be a cap genius. Can he work some magic? Some names I'd like to see considered...Lance Stephenson (likely way to much $), Evan Turner, Kyle Lowry, Avery Bradley, Trevor Ariza. Some more under the radar guys...Rodney Stuckey, Jason Smith, Jodie Meeks. If Isaiah asks for too much should we turn our attention to Lowry? Who would you like to see?

Trades: Pete has been aggressive and I don't see that changing this offseason so it will be fun to watch. Would the Lakers sign and trade Jodie Meeks for JT?

We need better fundamental basketball players. Guys that know how to play basketball. That can pass, shoot, and defend. We are definitely more athletic than we've been in years past but athleticism isn't equating to anything more than some nicer highlight dunks.

Here's to more changes and eternal hope!

Somewhat. Right now they are still sorting through the mess Petrie and the Maloofs made. Sometimes it's tough turning that paper clip into a sports car. There are some clear problems strategically, and yes, there is an overall lack of the "right" pieces. Still way too many guys whose best asset is their ability to put points up on the board. I've nailed down all the problems they are having and why they are having them but my biggest points are:

1. This team still isn't a pick and roll team. They simply don't have the front court or back court personnel to make it work as your first option play. This teams pick and roll was better with Vasquez here, but it still wasn't scaring any teams. Just to show you the kind of effect personnel has, it took a PG averaging nearly double digit assists last year and made him look rather marginal. My opinion is the same as it has been for the last few seasons, this team needs to run more motion offense, whether that's through Cuz or Gay in the low or high post. When guys move this team gets easier baskets, Cousins gets less frustrated, and it will give players more energy to expend on the defensive end. When they run pick and roll I'd like to see more pick and pop with Cuz. They've started doing that the last few games and while I know people hate seeing Cuz shoot, he's pretty good at it and at least it's an open look more often than not.

2. Personnel not being used the right way, can't have your cake and eat it too. People bag on Carl Landry but per minute he's done a decent job when he's actually played, but probably under what he's capable of scoring wise because the opportunity is not there. Derrick Williams is the most perfect example of this right now. Williams came in to this organization with a much different outlook, Rudy Gay comes in, and blammo, he's right back to the same exact role he had in Minnesota that allowed the Kings to trade a player who rarely plays for them now for him. On paper you see talent and potential, but you can't have your cake and eat it too. If that potential can't be realized on your team, what does it matter? Don't sit and wait until all the value has dried up. The Kings organization could write a book on that the last decade. Either clear a spot for that player or move him. I said the same thing about JT the last few years and it looks like he may unfortunately be an example of too far, too late.

Whick leads to:

3. Wrong guys on the wrong team. You need to pick your core, right now it looks like Gay and Cuz are a lock, IT? Looking at the cap, probably not at this point. You have to assume a team will be willing to pay IT enough to snag him away thanks to the Kings cap situation, which could only be construed as bad management if the intention was to keep Isaiah. I'm not sure it ever was. Not sure I like the talk of McLemore being "untouchable" if IT is a long term fit. Maybe even if not. Rumors made it sound like the Kings were looking to make more sense by getting the "right" PG for McLemore. One of your back court positions has to be able to defend. For instance, look at the difference defensively and offensively, especially offensively for Cuz and Gay, when Ray McCallum is playing. He defends well and moves without the ball and moving gives your best players passing options instead of 100% iso. Evans in the same story. Need more of those types, less of the others. Your last paragraph is pretty much spot on IMO.

One thing that has to be acknowledged with this teams poor play isn't just the poor play, it's how they play. It's hard for players to buy in, and buying in in the NBA means doing the pain the butt things like playing energetic individual and team defense, and moving/cutting without the ball. Why play hard when you pretty much know the team wants you gone? And by you I mean a lot of the role players, which are still naturally scorers so it's even a harder adjustment.

Is it the coach? Partially, but has it really just been the coach the last 8 years or so? I'm a pick a side type. You either get your coach the right players, or you get your players the right coach. This team still doesn't make sense, there is no right coach. Maybe Mike D'Antoni. Or Don Nelson. Someone who can junk the game up with gimmicks so you are hard to match up with. Though I don't see the point with one of the most dominant bigs to come in since Shaq. Speaking of Shaq, I hope they are picking his brain, I think he knows exactly how this team can and should play. Maybe he doesn't give a crap but watching Cuz in the pick and roll every play has to want to make him hurl.

All in all, I really like Malone. When things go bad he at least makes adjustments play wise. That's more than any of the last horde of coaches this team has had.