Kings looking for 3rd team to help in getting Josh Smith

atlantabbq99 · Post #1 » by **atlantabbq99** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 6:29 am

I'm not exactly sure what the 3rd team would have to do, but i'm guessing it would be to take on some contracts.

Would the Hawks be interested if the player coming back would be Derrick Williams and/or Jason Thompson?

D21 · Post #2 » by **D21** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:44 am

Williams bring the same problem than Scott during this last regular season : can have some good games, but is mainly in negative +/- , while having a good playing time.
Only one season at 30% or more from 3pts, very few assists... even if it was not a the right system, I seriously doubt he's a player for Bud.

I don't know for Thompson

Post #3 » by **Hawk Eye** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:05 pm

Since I think were essentially done in FA and not going to use all of our cap, I wouldn't mind us taking back an expiring or two. Only if it comes with future 1st's though

theatlfan · Post #4 » by **theatlfan** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:09 pm

As with PrestonMott, I wouldn't mind getting some assets in exchange for eating an expiring contract like Derrick Williams' but I don't think we'd could eat Thompson's without significant sweetener. The problem is that his contract goes for 2 more seasons - cutting into '15-'16 cap room - and I think is partially guaranteed for the season after.

I like Thompson as a player - he's a swing big who is average at everything. Average rebounder, average defender, average scorer, etc. Decent 3rd big, excellent 4th big. Seems like a guy you have to use as an obstacle for young big to get PT. Sure, he's overpaid, but everyone is. The problem is that with Antic and possibly Brand, I think he's redundant, and with Muscala and Payne working their way through the DC, I can't see the 2nd year on his contract as particularly appealing.

Post #5 » by **HMFFL** » Thu Jul 17, 2014 4:51 pm

I'd like to see us get involved if it means we acquire any assets to build for the future.

How do you think the dynamics between Demarcus Cousins and Josh Smith will be?

theatlfan · Post #6 » by **theatlfan** » Fri Jul 18, 2014 12:37 am

HMFFL wrote:I'd like to see us get involved if it means we acquire any assets to build for the future.

How do you think the dynamics between Demarcus Cousins and Josh Smith will be?

Actually not bad - well not as bad as many are thinking. On D, I think they fit together very, very well. Cousins can be the space clogger inside which should allow Smith to come flying through with help. O is more questionable but I still think it wouldn't be as bad as some project. Cousins' range does extend to the midrange especially around the high post and Smith's passing has always been highly underrated. They'd be deadly on the 4/5 PNR. If they had the proper pieces on the perimeter, I'd think they could be an above average duo assuming that Smith doesn't get very old, very quick (considering his age and game, this is a very distinct possibility).

I don't see SAC as having the pieces in the back court to make that front court duo work though. I know the stats guys love Collison, but he's not a starting PG in the NBA - more like a very good backup. Gay did better with SAC individually, but TOR went from below average to well above average while SAC's dial didn't move very much after he was traded for spare parts. So even if SAC lands Smith, the fact is that they still won't be very good overall. The unfortunate truth is that many will put these failures at Smith's feet, but outside of a LeBron, I really don't see a PF who could change their fortunes this year.