Zach Lowe expressing a wish to see Richaun Holmes move elsewhere...
Someone rescue Richaun Holmes
Does Holmes head home after playing 9 minutes as Domantas Sabonis' backup and watch YouTube videos of Tyrese Haliburton tossing him lobs -- or slipping Holmes pocket passes for his patented push shot?
Holmes might be the good player on a long-term contract most likely to be traded this summer. He may not be a heavy-minutes starter on a great team, but he's overqualified for his new role scrounging Sabonis' leftovers. (The Kings have dabbled in playing them together, but that's not an answer.)
Holmes is an elite backup who can start for lots of good teams. He's a legitimate scoring threat on offense. Give him a good point guard and tidy spacing, and he can sky for alley-oops. His funky push shot is not just a cool quirk. Holmes has hit almost 60% from floater range over the last two seasons, per Cleaning The Glass.
He's a hoppy shot-blocker, but just so-so defending in open space and too small to jostle with behemoth centers. He's due $36 million over the next three seasons -- pricey for a backup, but fair-ish for a core reserve who might start half your games. Value is in the eye of the beholder; I'm not sure the Kings should expect great return when they trade Holmes.
Holmes is good, and fun, and I'd like to see him play more somewhere.
followed today by the Kings announcing Holmes will miss remainder of season for personal reasons...odd
