Kings Off-Season

[SacKingZZZ]

The moves were made with 2019 in mind as the year they wanted to spend so it didn't matter. That plan should be well out the window by now if reality finally hit them square between the eyeballs.

But... it would have been much easier last year and this year to take on bad contracts to pick-up assets. But like you say, hopefully the only screw-up one time and not repeatedly.

Of course it would have, but have they done that, or were they ever interested in doing that in the first place? Even with the money they had they didn't take on assets and bad deals. They still have some wiggle room this year and waiting might prove to be smart I think but all in all, that opportunity has been wasted so far. It's looking more and more likely that the Kings aren't thinking about going that route and never did. It's probably too late now unfortunately anyway. There will be less teams to make those kind of deals with since almost every team has space next summer.

[SacKingZZZ]

The moves were made with 2019 in mind as the year they wanted to spend so it didn't matter. That plan should be well out the window by now if reality finally hit them square between the eyeballs.

Which was still a huge mistake. Barnes should never have been stretched. The Kings, at least for now, should never stretch any player. The percentage of time where a rebuilding team like the Kings, or at that stage, a non contending team that doesn't attract FAs, should never stretch a player.
Have a look at the Hawks, who IMO done the right thing with Jamal Crawford.
His contract was $28.7 over 2 years. $17.2 was guaranteed and you only need to pay the guaranteed money on a stretch which would have been $3.44 over 5 years. However they negotiated a buyout for a reduced amount and they COULD have then stretched it which would have reduced it to $2.65 annually over 5 years. They STILL didn't do it, they understand where they sit and the cap hit this year ($10.94) and next ($2.3) is the best way to go.
If it meant the difference between getting a can't miss rebuild package of picks for space then yes you consider it, however that is the only time. I don't know how many times that has been offered up in the history of the NBA though?
The stretch provision shouldn't have been used here at all. Just take the hit and wait, it didn't, and never was or will help.

I can't see how they were looking at things in a true rebuilding fashion outside of draft and development. At the moment we just have to hope that the Kings draft picks and young players pan out because they pushed all their eggs into one basket this year. No pick next year and their cap space isn't worth nearly as much. I'm more concerned about the young players usage or the inability to fit them all in simultaneously than I am about them being busts. The Kings have had their part in making more than a few busts in my opinion. I like the young building blocks so I'm OK but it would have been nice for them to try and emulate a team like Philly or Boston and diversify but that wasn't their thing apparently.

[dckingsfan]

The moves were made with 2019 in mind as the year they wanted to spend so it didn't matter. That plan should be well out the window by now if reality finally hit them square between the eyeballs.

But... it would have been much easier last year and this year to take on bad contracts to pick-up assets. But like you say, hopefully the only screw-up one time and not repeatedly.

Of course it would have, but have they done that, or were they ever interested in doing that in the first place? Even with the money they had they didn't take on assets and bad deals. They still have some wiggle room this year and waiting might prove to be smart I think but all in all, that opportunity has been wasted so far. It's looking more and more likely that the Kings aren't thinking about going that route and never did. It's probably too late now unfortunately anyway. There will be less teams to make those kind of deals with since almost every team has space next summer.

Can't disagree with you - they kind of missed that pitch badly.

[Popovich]

I found a newest interview with Bjelica with local sport channel on Serbian language, I will cut and translate scenes which I think you will find interesting and which are in relation to NBA or where Minnesota and Sacramento is mentioned

First of all I hope you guys know how to turn on translation, if not go to Settings >>>Subtitles/CC >>>English , but before that you need to turn captions ON by clicking on a caption button which is like a square and comes before settings wheel button.
No offence , I am telling you this because I guess most of you guys are not used to watch videos on foreign languages

Bjelica was interviewed by Serbian local sport channel and he was asked about a basketball camp in Žarkovo in suburb of Belgrade as well as about national team but mostly he was asked about his transfer from Minnesota to Sacramento and how all of that went through. This video is shorter version of the original video for which I will provide link below. It is trimmed to the time where Belly is mainly talking about NBA, his transfer, old and new club and off course about summer off season and this basketball camp.

I guess most of you Wolves fans will not like what you will hear.

I made this video for purpose of informing NBA basketball fans from RealGM forum , particularly for fans of Kings and Timberwolves teams.

Bjelica said other things about Serbian National team and he announced that he will be playing these approaching games.

Watch on YouTube

PS

I want to inform realGM members that my next video will be one basketball game which most of you never saw before and it was played just 20 miles north of where I live. Some of the participants of that game were Stephen Curry, Patrick Beverly, DeAndre Jordan, Boban Marjanović, Miroslav Raduljica, Marković Beasley etc...

[Popovich]

Mentioned video in post above is in Clippers and Warriors section of the forum.

Here is one more new interview:

Don't forget to turn on ENG captions, ok?

Watch on YouTube

PS.

Next Interview will be with Big Bobby about Gregg Popovich, NBA and Clippers and so on....

And I don't ask or need subscriptions or likes, this makes no difference to me or has any importance in my life, I just want to gain and share information's, that's all.

[NYG]

What would be the acceptable protection on a pick in a Mahinmi/Meeks + 1st for Randolph swap?

[kalenclayton]

What would be the acceptable protection on a pick in a Mahinmi/Meeks + 1st for Randolph swap?

I would personally ‘19 top-10 protected and ‘22 2nd

*edit: the protection would need to be declining. So maybe top-10, top-8, top-6, unprotected

[dckingsfan]

Sactowndog started a useful discussion on the Wizards board... thoughts?

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=1715607&start=860

[BoogieTime]

Not a fan of Oubre, but I’d certainly do WCS straight up, as offered on that thread. Would rather have Washington’s first than Oubre, who I don’t even think has proven to be better than Jackson though (with Buddy/Bogdan starting for me personally). Maybe I’d take Oubre if we absolutely couldn’t get a first this year, for salary ending this summer

[dckingsfan]

Not a fan of Oubre, but I’d certainly do WCS straight up, as offered on that thread. Would rather have Washington’s first than Oubre, who I don’t even think has proven to be better than Jackson though (with Buddy/Bogdan starting for me personally). Maybe I’d take Oubre if we absolutely couldn’t get a first this year, for salary ending this summer

Would you want Wall or Beal? Just curious.

[BoogieTime]

Not a fan of Oubre, but I’d certainly do WCS straight up, as offered on that thread. Would rather have Washington’s first than Oubre, who I don’t even think has proven to be better than Jackson though (with Buddy/Bogdan starting for me personally). Maybe I’d take Oubre if we absolutely couldn’t get a first this year, for salary ending this summer

Would you want Wall or Beal? Just curious.

Personally not really, but I have a confidence in Fox/Hield. They are risky players with Walls contract and Beals injury history. You live in DC, do you want any of the Wizards here?

[dckingsfan]

Not a fan of Oubre, but I’d certainly do WCS straight up, as offered on that thread. Would rather have Washington’s first than Oubre, who I don’t even think has proven to be better than Jackson though (with Buddy/Bogdan starting for me personally). Maybe I’d take Oubre if we absolutely couldn’t get a first this year, for salary ending this summer

Would you want Wall or Beal? Just curious.

Personally not really, but I have a confidence in Fox/Hield. They are risky players with Walls contract and Beals injury history. You live in DC, do you want any of the Wizards here?

Lived in Davis and then in Chevy Chase... now Houston.

I get you on Wall/Beal. Why not let a Fox/Hield/Bogdanovic trio play out to see what you have?

I think that two of Bagley, Bjelica, Giles, Labissiere or Davis will play out.

I personally would move Randolf, Shupert, Koufos, McLemore (37M) as fast as I could to keep Joerger from playing them. I would see a trade for Mahinmi, Smith and Oubre as palatable - I would immediate buy out Mahimni and Smith. I would let Mahimni know he wasn't going to play and see if he could work out a deal with another team so that next year's cap hit would be 12M.

That would give Bogdanovic, Jackson, Hield and Oubre at the wings for the next two seasons.

My two cents.

[BoogieTime]

Bogdan apparently left today’s Euro game with that knee issue... is the team snake bitten? Hope he will be completely fine

[SacKingZZZ]

Didn't Bogdan basically have a cleanup procedure done or something like that because of a slight tear? It shouldn't still be bothering him. Hopefully he's just being cautious.

[Popovich]

Didn't Bogdan basically have a cleanup procedure done or something like that because of a slight tear? It shouldn't still be bothering him. Hopefully he's just being cautious.

I am not so informed about that but I can say that he had a surgery on that knee before. But I must say this injury was announced from Serbian national team coach while I had impression that Djordjevic took him out because he had like 1 triple from 3 attempts, all forced over solid D and from NBA perimeter distance and 3 TO in just a 3 minutes of play. Before that coach said to the players that he wants to see more ball movement,less shots for 3pt unless they are open and also he do not want to see some wild shots and isolation's for one on one opportunities. We lost that game vs Greece particularly because players showed tendency for one on one solutions and individualism. Before the mentioned game Serbia have averaged 30 assist per game and at the match vs Greece, opponents and Bogdan ( who hugged the ball in the last minutes trying to do everything by himself) reduced assists on below 15. Bogdanovic already had some statements before like "I don't want to play for national team any more" etc , after being heavily criticized by the coach or staff.
Of course I don't say this is the reason while he was not even on the bench after he got out, I only say it was my impression. And it can be very wrong impression as Bogdan loves national team and I don't doubt his in will to play for his country. That mentioned statement was made when he was very young.

On the other side Belly played both games at his old NT good level , IMO and also according to stats he was the best player in Serbian squad in both games, that lost on Crete and this win over Estonia in Belgrade. He showed elegant play and I was very pleased to see him back in NT after 2 years of absence. I will show you his highlights and some stats.

Watch on YouTube

[SacKingZZZ]

Didn't Bogdan basically have a cleanup procedure done or something like that because of a slight tear? It shouldn't still be bothering him. Hopefully he's just being cautious.

I am not so informed about that but I can say that he had a surgery on that knee before. But I must say this injury was announced from Serbian national team coach while I had impression that Djordjevic took him out because he had like 1 triple from 3 attempts, all forced over solid D and from NBA perimeter distance and 3 TO in just a 3 minutes of play. Before that coach said to the players that he wants to see more ball movement,less shots for 3pt unless they are open and also he do not want to see some wild shots and isolation's for one on one opportunities. We lost that game vs Greece particularly because players showed tendency for one on one solutions and individualism. Before the mentioned game Serbia have averaged 30 assist per game and at the match vs Greece, opponents and Bogdan ( who hugged the ball in the last minutes trying to do everything by himself) reduced assists on below 15. Bogdanovic already had some statements before like "I don't want to play for national team any more" etc , after being heavily criticized by the coach or staff.
Of course I don't say this is the reason while he was not even on the bench after he got out, I only say it was my impression. And it can be very wrong impression as Bogdan loves national team and I don't doubt his in will to play for his country. That mentioned statement was made when he was very young.

On the other side Belly played both games at his old NT good level , IMO and also according to stats he was the best player in Serbian squad in both games, that lost on Crete and this win over Estonia in Belgrade. He showed elegant play and I was very pleased to see him back in NT after 2 years of absence. I will show you his highlights and some stats.

Watch on YouTube

Really? Wow, I didn't know any of that was going on. I do know it sounded like he was burnt out after last season and as the NBA season wore on he seemed like he was wearing down. I didn't know he was playing with the national team this year at all. I thought I heard he was taking the offseason off completely. It took me a bit by surprise when I saw he was playing.

I'm excited about seeing Bjelica with the Kings this season. With all the skills he has there is no reason he shouldn't help unless the coaching staff blows it.

[BoogieTime]

Bjelica is a good player, with all the room to make an Ingles type impact. He’s going to start IMO (at PF). Randolph won’t play much, so save that.

I only wish he were younger

[Popovich]

Bjelica is a good player, with all the room to make an Ingles type impact. He’s going to start IMO (at PF). Randolph won’t play much, so save that.

I only wish he were younger

I agree , but only with one conditions and that falls on coach. IMO Bjelica is always good and almost always performs well in situations when he is used in a right way. It is kinda hard to explain this but Bjelica is not special or particularly good in any segment of the game. It is hard to highlight any part of his game where he is specially good at (that is why when you watch him you can get impression about some mediocre player, that is until you look at the stats at the end), instead he is solid in every each bit. He needs to be used as some sort of glue guy or like a material to fill in the holes. In Minnesota he acted like a stretch forward spot shooter and that was pretty much it, rarely he had opportunities to hold the ball. This approach of the staff to his role helped him improve his 3pt shot but reflected negatively on other aspects of his game. I believe that in Sacramento his role will be quite different and that he will be utilized in a way that will uncover his true potential.

[codydaze]

Bjelica is a good player, with all the room to make an Ingles type impact. He’s going to start IMO (at PF). Randolph won’t play much, so save that.

I only wish he were younger

I like Belly and think he was a good pickup but you're either overrating him or underrating Joe Ingles if you think he'll make an Ingles like impact. Ingles is huge for Utah on both sides of the ball, and their style of play isn't very similar. We should be hoping for more of an Ilyasova type impact which is still solid.

[SacKingZZZ]

I'd say Bjelica is around an Ingles level. Both being terrific do a little bit of everything role players. Impact wise it's hard to say because impact has everything to do with opportunity and ideally he's not cutting into the minutes of the Kings young bigs so we'll see how that works.