Season Grades

[Kings2013]

Here are my personal grades. Yours?


DeMarcus Cousins – A-. Huge. One of the bright spots. When we gave him that extension last summer it could have went in one of two directions. Fortunately it has went in the right one and it looks as though the franchise could have IMO a potential top 5-7 player for many years. Can’t move this grade up until we see him continuing to improve on D (which he has this year), calm down the techs and maybe get in better condition

Rudy Gay – A-. Went from a guy with huge question marks to one of the top 5 SFs in the game in Sacramento. Seems like a good guy off the floor as well. Needs to cut down the turnovers. I’d like him to stay but can he continue at this pace? I really think he can continue his evolvement into one of the best veteran wings in the league

Isaiah Thomas – A-. I’m just a fan. Made MIP strides this year and it is hard to take lightly a guard who can put up 20+/6+ on reasonable efficiency. Personally I think I saw his defense take a stride from the 1/3 point to the last stretch of the season, and he appeared to deal with screens better by better anticipating them and nimbly using his speed. Needs to obviously work on the defense and floor awareness and I would like to see him back next year regardless if he comes off the bench (I also believe no one will pay him too much more than 6.5 or so)

Ben McLemore – C-. He’s a good kid who from what we hear has a great work ethic, but a year ago after the draft many thought he was the talent of the draft and had a chance at the R.O.Y… Was atrocious starting for most of the year but it wasn’t his fault he was thrust into that role. Did show more down the stretch of the season (which isn’t saying much), but the fact remains I don’t know whether or not he will be a quality starting calibure player in this league as of now, and based on expectations before the season it is a letdown.

Jason Thompson – C. In and out of the starting lineup, the consummate do a bit of everything standard big. Its hard for me to hate on JT because his effort never seems to be lacking. Some complained about his team defense. Although his contract is considered a negative I think he is actually serviceable as a backup big.

Marcus Thornton – D-. Went from a guy who we thought could be serviceable as a starting 2 to being atrocious on the floor and a rumored to be malcontent off of it.

Derrick Williams – C-. I don’t like low-motored guys. I sooner like guys with no talent who put it on the floor than the inverse. Showed glimpses when he started at the 3 before the Gay trade. While many of us wanted him to get a look at the starting 4 it doesn’t look like Malone trusts him there. I wouldn’t mind dumping him this summer but if he sticks around hopefully he shows why PDA first sought out his services.

Ray McCallum – A-. I’m a fan. Good all around good-sized guard who looks to be a solid rotational player for the next 10 years. Showed good flashes starting at times. Plays D, plays smart and doesn’t turn the rock over. I think he could be the best second rounder of the 2013 draft and shows that our brain trust can sniff out talent.

Reggie Evans – B. Can’t hate on a guy who leaves it on the floor. Whether or not he should be starting is obviously debatable, but good vet on and off the floor who doesn’t mind being here from the comments he has made to the media.

Quincy Acy – C+. I like him. Younger version of the aforementioned Evans. Some say he is a little small to be providing a strong interior presence and seemed to lose confidence when replaced in the rotation, which isn’t his fault. I think he’s a good young piece that can be solid in the future and definitely a keeper on his current contract.

Travis Outlaw – C-. I personally just don’t care for him although he did show more down the stretch of the season to make us hope he will be a solid rotational player next year if he is not dumped.

Carl Landry – Inc. Out of respect for an injured player who has been through a lot I won’t say too much but I didn’t see the angle for signing him in the first place and he is now the biggest contractual constraint on the roster.

Malone – B-. The record remains the same from the Smart era although other factors may be at play for that, including a tougher conference. I think we have to give him more than this year with so many different parts, but the fanbase won’t be as tolerant if the Wins don’t start increasing next season.

PDA – B+. The draft of Ben/Ray looks decent, as Ray looks strong as a 2nd pick and Ben was consensus pick. Gay was huge, and gave this teams its 2nd star. The Williams trade looked above average when it happened. Quincy was an underlooked piece in the Gay trade and the Cuz extension was strong. I personally don’t hold him accountable for the Landry signing which I personally believe was influenced strongly by the ex-warrior contingent (Malone, Vivek etc.)

[teerfour+40LG]

Quincy Acy: C
As long as Quincy Acy is on the bench, he's a good player to have. On the court? Not really.

DeMarcus Cousins: A

Jared Cunningham: A
Did a good job as a D-League SG stand-in.

Reggie Evans: A
By himself made the Kings a top defensive rebounding team. Cheap contract. Veteran.

Rudy Gay: A-
I'm disappointed that he stopped posting up and started ISOing from the perimeter. I choose to believe that it's Reggie Evans' fault so I can push my agenda to get the Kings a stretch 4.

Aaron Gray: F
His first game was good, the rest weren't. He sucks.

Carl Landry: Excused
I'm curious to see how he fits next year.

Ray McCallum: A
I was very mad that we picked RayMac over Jeff Withey, and RayMac sucked at first, but he improved ridiculously fast. I like him as a backup PG, and I especially like his defense.

Ben McLemore: F
Ben is like an 8 year old mentally, and he kind of plays like it given how often he'll just slip and fall. He's unfit to play in the NBA right now. All those years of homelessness have seemingly turned him into a small timid mammal. Hopefully that mentality isn't too ingrained in him so he can shake it off in a couple years.

Travis Outlaw: A
He rebounded okay and hit a decent percentage of his threes. Not bad for a bench player.

Isaiah Thomas: A
Played excellent.

Jason Thompson: C
He needs to go to a good team. The Kings are killing him.

Derrick Williams: F
Derrick Williams needs to have a long talk with the coaches about who he is and who he should be as a player. He has the physical tools, athleticism, length, and standing reach, and the BBIQ to be much better than he is, even on this team with Rudy Gay.

[blind prophet]

Pretty good thread so far, I'll think about it some more.

If not a single player gets a F, then you are a homer let me get that out of the way now.

[bibby1023]

Ben McLemore: F
Ben is like an 8 year old mentally, and he kind of plays like it given how often he'll just slip and fall. He's unfit to play in the NBA right now. All those years of homelessness have seemingly turned him into a small timid mammal. Maybe in a couple years he can shake that mentality, but he'll literally have to fight against who he is, and that's not easy.

what?

[SactoKingsFan]

Quincy Acy: C+
Demarcus Cousins: A-
Jared Cunningham: INC.
Reggie Evans: B
Rudy Gay: B+
Aaron Gray: F
Chuck Hayes: INC.
Carl Landry: INC.
Ray McCallum: B
Ben McLemore: D-
Travis Outlaw: C-
Patrick Patterson: D-
John Salmons: F
Isaiah Thomas: B+
Jason Thompson: C-
Marcus Thornton: F
Greivis Vasquez: D
Derrick Williams: D-

Malone: C+

PDA: B

[Javidad]

Quincy Acy: C+
He was great right after the trade however he seems to have faded as the season went on. This wasnt entirely his fault as the superior bearded player came into town.
Demarcus Cousins: A
Cousins was our shining star of the season. He played up to his talent and his contract this season. He improved in every way that we asked of him minus the complaining. If he can put a bit of a lid on it next season I see him as an all star.
Reggie Evans: B
He is going to be a great mentor for all our bigs, Acy,Thompson, Cousins as he is pound for pound one of the best defensive players at his position.
Rudy Gay: A-
Showed why he got that lucrative contract from memphis in the first place. He is the 3 we have been searching for for years now. I would like to see him and Wiliams play together more but I will gget more into that later.
Aaron Gray: No comment

Carl Landry: INC.
Cant knock a player for being injured.
Ray McCallum: B+
Jumped into the starting roll without blinking. I think he is the perfect back up for Thomas if we keep him. Big strong and plays within his abilities. Was a steal in this draft in the second round. Looking forward to big things
Ben McLemore: C-
He looked lost at times but I blame this more on coming from Kansas than anything else. He just doesnt know his place yet which is fine as he is still a rookie. Kid has all the talent in the world and sometimes it just takes a lil while for everything to click which im willing to give him.
Travis Outlaw: C+
There is so much hate for this guy but he played his roll perfectly this season even hittin g a couple dagger 3s for us.
Patrick Patterson: F
Did nothing for us and once he was traded became the player he used to be. It was more us giving up on him too early but yea malo.
John Salmons: D
No comment really just was bleh
Isaiah Thomas: B+
Made great leaps in this passed season as a PG. Improved his assist numbers. He needs to become a bit more pass first. I have no problem resigning him for up to 8 million this off season
Jason Thompson: C
I love JT and I feel for the guy as his roll on the team has been questioned for the past 19827398123 seasons. He is a consumate professional though and always brings his effort to the game.
Marcus Thornton: F
Bad attitude
Greivis Vasquez: D+
Simply got out played and thought he was a better player than he was
Derrick Williams: D
I love D-will and really thing he has the talent to be a starter in this league. He just needs for it to click like mclemore. However, he has 1 season left or else i can see him dissapearing from the league. The coaching staff needs to show some faith in him and let him know that he is a part of this team.

Malone: B-
He is slowly transforming this team. I love how he coaches except for one thing. Against pick and roll teams he needs to have Williams, Mclemore, McAllum and Gay on the floor on the same time. A bunch of 6 '4 and up guards switching on every screen a la Brooklyn. This will drive opposing teams crazy. I also did notice that the first three minus Gay have fantastic chemistry together and play their best ball when on the floor together

PDA: B-
The rudy trade saved him in my eyes. But the landry debacle really bothers me.

[Wolfay]

Quincy Acy: C+
Mostly adequate 3rd/4th big.

Demarcus Cousins: A+
Defense still leaves a bit to be desired, but he's improved every single aspect of his game and attitude. You can't ask for more than that. He needs to do it again next season.

Jared Cunningham: Incomplete.

Reggie Evans: B
The next (sober) Keon Clark????

Rudy Gay: B+
A legit option 1b. Best SF we've had since Artest. His defense isn't though.

Aaron Gray: C
Good cheerleader, adequate garbage time player.

Carl Landry: INC.

Ray McCallum: B
What more do you want from a second rounder? (Just ignore that Isaiah was a 60th pick)

Ben McLemore: C
Came on strong towards the end of the season. He's only a rookie, and I have hope now! Most importantly, he's not Marcus Thornton.

Travis Outlaw: C
I can't hate this guy.

Isaiah Thomas: B
He would have an A if his already meh defense didn't take a nosedive this season. He's the ultimate competitor though and Nate Robinson wishes he was Isaiah Thomas.

Jason Thompson: C
I think he's one of the most screwed over guys in franchise history, however I don't feel like he's gives it his all 100% of the time and the complaining about every call NEEDS TO STOP NOW.

Derrick Williams: D
Had moments, but he has largely been the same disappointment he was in Minnesota.

Malone: B
Said he would change the culture of the team, and that didn't quite happen. Of course he didn't have a lot to work with, and he did get Cousins to the next level and kept him mostly under control. That's praise worthy if you ask me. Very good drawing up plays after timeouts.

PDA: B
Again he didn't have a lot to work with, including a crap draft. He did however, make I thought was a brilliant trade for Rudy Gay. Not a lot is left over from the M****f era, so I give him a lot of credit for that as well.

Vivek Ranadive: A++++ Extra Credit Valedictorian Summa Cum Laude GOAT Superhero
I LOVE YOU VIVEK. The era of cash considerations is over!!

[KF10]

Quincy Acy: C+
Mostly adequate 3rd/4th big.

Demarcus Cousins: A+
Defense still leaves a bit to be desired, but he's improved every single aspect of his game and attitude. You can't ask for more than that. He needs to do it again next season.

Jared Cunningham: Incomplete.

Reggie Evans: B
The next (sober) Keon Clark????

Rudy Gay: B+
A legit option 1b. Best SF we've had since Artest. His defense isn't though.

Aaron Gray: C
Good cheerleader, adequate garbage time player.

Carl Landry: INC.

Ray McCallum: B
What more do you want from a second rounder? (Just ignore that Isaiah was a 60th pick)

Ben McLemore: C
Came on strong towards the end of the season. He's only a rookie, and I have hope now! Most importantly, he's not Marcus Thornton.

Travis Outlaw: C
I can't hate this guy.

Isaiah Thomas: B
He would have an A if his already meh defense didn't take a nosedive this season. He's the ultimate competitor though and Nate Robinson wishes he was Isaiah Thomas.

Jason Thompson: C
I think he's one of the most screwed over guys in franchise history, however I don't feel like he's gives it his all 100% of the time and the complaining about every call NEEDS TO STOP NOW.

Derrick Williams: D
Had moments, but he has largely been the same disappointment he was in Minnesota.

Malone: B
Said he would change the culture of the team, and that didn't quite happen. Of course he didn't have a lot to work with, and he did get Cousins to the next level and kept him mostly under control. That's praise worthy if you ask me. Very good drawing up plays after timeouts.

PDA: B
Again he didn't have a lot to work with, including a crap draft. He did however, make I thought was a brilliant trade for Rudy Gay. Not a lot is left over from the M****f era, so I give him a lot of credit for that as well.

Vivek Ranadive: A++++ Extra Credit Valedictorian Summa Cum Laude GOAT Superhero
I LOVE YOU VIVEK. The era of cash considerations is over!!

This is similar to my grades too.