Kings put No. 8 pick on trading block

[Kings2013]

You guys think you're keeping Staukas?

You guys think you're keeping McLemore?

Do you wish you had traded the pick instead?

I'm still in the process of trying to see the best in this pick. I hope this pick wasn't the case of the best of bad scenarios (didn't like Payton/Vonleh, no quality trade offers), and that they actually envision Stauskas making an impact in this league

[MasterIchiro]

My opinion is the Kings board was

1) Smart
2) Gordon
3) Stauskas/Payton

Had the Magic taken Vonleh instead of Gordon, then you would have ended up with either Gordon or Smart. The Magic threw a curve ball at this draft. They had to pair a defensive whiz alongside Vucevic and they seem to be in rebuild mode where athleticism outweighs skill and they have to swing for the fences - Gordon + Payton are both great athletes but neither has NBA range. Both play great defense.

You guys needed Gordon more than Stauskas but Smart was the guy you guys were praying for imo which is why Nik will be playing some PG. Payton wouldn't have given you the shooting you need.

[SacKingZZZ]

I don't think anyone really was hyped on Nik before the draft. Moreso I don't think anyone considered him a remote option. I'm sure it wasn't because of just him but for fit reasons and the fact that this team had McLemore and I think the general idea was this team would benefit from a more experienced player who plays defense at SG.

[enderwilson]

The thing I remember from all of PDA's interviews was his emphasis on shooting, passing, and acquiring talent on this team. He may have discussed defensive players but that was never emphasized. The names that were mentioned the most on this board for the draft were Smart, Randle, Vonleh, and Gordon. Come the Kings turn, only Vonleh was on the board. Considering what PDA had been emphasizing, going for Stauskas makes sense. I'm not a PDA bandwagoneer, but after the fact, this move seems consistent with what he's been saying all along. Yes, making moves via trades was part of the discussion, and we did put the 8th up for trade immediately after the lottery, but we shouldn't expect PDA to make trades that are detrimental to the team. Also shows that we lack the talent 'capital' to make deals, which I believe goes into the calculus of 'acquiring talent'.

As far as our defense goes, if we're going to expect individual defense to cure our team's woes, then were going to need a complete overhaul roster wise. Again not an easy feat apparently. Until better players are more available to us, this team is going to have to learn team defense. This will be Malone's cross to bear.

[OGSactownballer]

I don't think anyone really was hyped on Nik before the draft. Moreso I don't think anyone considered him a remote option. I'm sure it wasn't because of just him but for fit reasons and the fact that this team had McLemore and I think the general idea was this team would benefit from a more experienced player who plays defense at SG.

I wouldn't use the term "really hyped". But I remember for a long time when I would look at the DX mock and see Doigie McBuckets by our name, I was really scared. So I took the time to look up this kid Stauskas because he was in McDermott's comparison as an equal quality shooter. I was impressed enough by what I saw to think that he would be a possible steal if we traded down anywhere from twelve on and that I'd far rather have him the. Be stuck with McBuckets and another no defined position in the NBA forward.

[ICMTM]

I don't think anyone really was hyped on Nik before the draft. Moreso I don't think anyone considered him a remote option. I'm sure it wasn't because of just him but for fit reasons and the fact that this team had McLemore and I think the general idea was this team would benefit from a more experienced player who plays defense at SG.

I wouldn't use the term "really hyped". But I remember for a long time when I would look at the DX mock and see Doigie McBuckets by our name, I was really scared. So I took the time to look up this kid Stauskas because he was in McDermott's comparison as an equal quality shooter. I was impressed enough by what I saw to think that he would be a possible steal if we traded down anywhere from twelve on and that I'd far rather have him the. Be stuck with McBuckets and another no defined position in the NBA forward.

I didn't think/know he was an option so I didn't really do the due diligence on him like I did with others. Hindsight seems to suggest that the Kings felt he was it and did not want to awake anyone of the "sleeper" so to speak.

[teerfour+40LG]

I don't think anyone really was hyped on Nik before the draft. Moreso I don't think anyone considered him a remote option. I'm sure it wasn't because of just him but for fit reasons and the fact that this team had McLemore and I think the general idea was this team would benefit from a more experienced player who plays defense at SG.

realgm's smartest kings fan was on the nik stauskas train months ago.

viewtopic.php?p=39322650#p39322650

I was really on that train too because I say that Nik Stauskas is a better point guard than Marcus Smart and better defender than Isaiah Thomas!

Yes, but he's better than Ben McLemore in all areas of the game except maybe top speed and vertical. His PG abilities are just as good as Marcus Smart's if not better, especially if turnovers are taken into consideration.

I don't have a problem with

Isaiah / McCallum
Stauskas / Ben

There's space for him.

Isaiah Thomas is more responsible for that than Stauskas, who is a better defender than Ben or IT. I wouldn't hold it against him especially because replacing Ben with him makes the defense slightly better and because there's not really a better defender to draft. The nearest draftable defenders are Aaron Gordon and maybe Gary Harris, but eh.

[SacKingZZZ]

I don't think anyone really was hyped on Nik before the draft. Moreso I don't think anyone considered him a remote option. I'm sure it wasn't because of just him but for fit reasons and the fact that this team had McLemore and I think the general idea was this team would benefit from a more experienced player who plays defense at SG.

realgm's smartest kings fan was on the nik stauskas train months ago.

viewtopic.php?p=39322650#p39322650

I was really on that train too because I say that Nik Stauskas is a better point guard than Marcus Smart and better defender than Isaiah Thomas!

Yes, but he's better than Ben McLemore in all areas of the game except maybe top speed and vertical. His PG abilities are just as good as Marcus Smart's if not better, especially if turnovers are taken into consideration.

I don't have a problem with

Isaiah / McCallum
Stauskas / Ben

There's space for him.

Isaiah Thomas is more responsible for that than Stauskas, who is a better defender than Ben or IT. I wouldn't hold it against him especially because replacing Ben with him makes the defense slightly better and because there's not really a better defender to draft. The nearest draftable defenders are Aaron Gordon and maybe Gary Harris, but eh.

But at 8 though? There were plenty of ideas thrown around that this team could/would move down to maybe get someone in that range but at 8? I wouldn't have been surprised if someone like he or Lavine ended up on this team but pre-draft I would certainly have thought they would be moving down in the process. I don't think anyone saw him at 8 coming and honestly, and I don't think any GM's did either. Maybe, never know. I wonder what the other GM's above the Kings were thinking if Pete really did call them looking to move up for Stauskas. There must be some kind GM's because they may very well have been able to fleece Pete! haha.

[teerfour+40LG]

But at 8 though? There were plenty of ideas thrown around that this team could/would move down to maybe get someone in that range but at 8? I wouldn't have been surprised if someone like he or Lavine ended up on this team but pre-draft I would certainly have thought they would be moving down in the process. I don't think anyone saw him at 8 coming and honestly, and I don't think any GM's did either. Maybe, never know. I wonder what the other GM's above the Kings were thinking if Pete really did call them looking to move up for Stauskas. There must be some kind GM's because they may very well have been able to fleece Pete! haha.

When Charlotte got Detroit's pick in the draft lottery, I was pretty confident that they'd take Nik at #9, so that's when Nik Stauskas at #8 became a legit pick for me. Before that, I just had him ranked 2nd behind Marcus Smart as the Kings best draft option.

[SacKingZZZ]

I don't think anyone really was hyped on Nik before the draft. Moreso I don't think anyone considered him a remote option. I'm sure it wasn't because of just him but for fit reasons and the fact that this team had McLemore and I think the general idea was this team would benefit from a more experienced player who plays defense at SG.

I wouldn't use the term "really hyped". But I remember for a long time when I would look at the DX mock and see Doigie McBuckets by our name, I was really scared. So I took the time to look up this kid Stauskas because he was in McDermott's comparison as an equal quality shooter. I was impressed enough by what I saw to think that he would be a possible steal if we traded down anywhere from twelve on and that I'd far rather have him the. Be stuck with McBuckets and another no defined position in the NBA forward.

I didn't think/know he was an option so I didn't really do the due diligence on him like I did with others. Hindsight seems to suggest that the Kings felt he was it and did not want to awake anyone of the "sleeper" so to speak.

In the end the Kings limited workout schedule was the telling tale. Supposedly the options they were looking at were the few names attached to them workout wise. Seems like that pick was made months ago. Malone has been selling Vivek and co on Stauskas for the whole year apparently.

[City of Trees]

http://grantland.com/features/sacrament ... -stauskas/


I recommend everyone watch this. Inside the draft room you can see PDA's board. It's shows his top two guys, guys they had concerns for, and even tells us what Philly offered us to move back to 10.

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[SactownHrtBrks8]

http://grantland.com/features/sacramento-kings-draft-nik-stauskas/


I recommend everyone watch this. Inside the draft room you can see PDA's board. It's shows his top two guys, guys they had concerns for, and even tells us what Philly offered us to move back to 10.

Sent from my SM-G900T using RealGM Forums mobile app

Great video, I watch the first couple and I was waiting for the new one to come out. Ultimately, it seems like our need for ball movement and outside shooting is really what determined the pick.

[Aiq]

Pacers Fan here,
I absolutely love the Stauskas pick for you guys. He is a phenomenal shooter, high bbiq, very good passer, ball handler and underrated athlete. I think he immediately starts for you guys allowing Ben to come in as a 6th man this year and eventually move to the SF position after Rudy's contract runs out the following year. The pick and roll with Nik is going to be pretty damn lethal for you guys. Can't wait to watch you guys this year, if I get league pass you will certainly be #2 for me.

[Nyce_1]

Magic fan here,
I'm so appreciative of you guys passing on Payton. Enjoy Stauskas.

[Kings2013]

Philly offered two 2nd rounders to move from 10 to 8? In the end I guess they got the guy they were looking to move

[City of Trees]

The Board said stay put for Gordon and Stauskas. I'm assuming Gordon was their number #1 option.

Interesting to see they had Smart labeled as a concern.

Also glad to see the Payton talk wasn't smoke. The board showed them planning on moving down for him if both Gordon and Stauskas were gone at 8.

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[ICMTM]

Magic fan here,
I'm so appreciative of you guys passing on Payton. Enjoy Stauskas.

Nyce1 was my 1st tag in my youth...anyhow back to Payton. I'm glad we passed on him as well.