2011 NBA Offseason: Sacramento Kings
Draft Grades, Offseason Needs, Free Agents
Written by Paul Banks of the Washington Times, David Kay and Peter Christian of the The Sports Bank. Send Paul an e-mail here: paulb05 AT hotmail DOT com.
All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Sacramento Kings (Last Year: 24-58)
2011 NBA Draft Team Grade:
The Kings shook up their backcourt on Draft Day by acquiring John Salmons, and drafting Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas. I don't love the Salmons deal at all, but Fredette and Thomas should be really nice fits in Sacramento. Tyler Honeycutt has first-round talent and was a solid selection at No. 35. I would have liked to see the Kings add some frontcourt depth with one of their picks even though they did draft two bigs last year. (Team Grade: Makes sense)
Live 2011 NBA Draft Grades:
10. Jimmer Fredette, PG, BYU
This pick actually makes a lot of sense because Jimmer is a shooter than can play alongside a ball dominant two guard like Tyreke Evans. Plus with Sacramento dealing Beno Udrih, they almost had to grab a point here. (Pick Grade: LOVE IT!)
35. Tyler Honeycutt, F, UCLA
A value pick for the Kings as Honeycutt has first round talent but is not NBA-ready quite yet. His length will be a huge asset at the next level but he needs to get stronger and probably isn’t ready to contribute as a rookie. (Pick Grade: Makes sense)
60. Isaiah Thomas, PG, Washington
Damm it. I actually had the Kings taking Isaiah Thomas at No. 60 for a while but changed it earlier this week. Since they needed point guard help before they traded Beno Udrih, drafting a gamer like Thomas on top of Jimmer Fredette could be a steal. I think Thomas will enter the league with a HUGE chip on his shoulder. (Pick Grade: LOVE IT!)
*** 2011 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
2010-11 Season Summary:
Amid speculation that the franchise could be moving from Sacramento to Anaheim or somewhere else, the Kings did not show much growth in the second year of their youth movement. A big reason for that was the injury issues second-year guard Tyreke Evans struggled through, costing him 25 games this past season, resulting in a dip in production.
Evans is obviously the foundation of the franchise, but the Kings seemingly found a reliable scoring threat inside. DeMarcus Cousins put together a solid rookie season, proving that he was the most talented low-post scorer in last year's draft class. Some of the red flags that surrounded him coming out of Kentucky did arise in his rookie campaign, as his emotions often got the best of him. Still, he has the potential to be a special post player if he can mature with time.
Outside of Evans and Cousins, the roster was somewhat scrambled. Samuel Dalembert, Jason Thompson and Carl Landry shared minutes in the frontcourt. Dalembert brought some size and defense to the paint, while Thompson was not nearly as effective as he was during his first two seasons in the league, primarily due to a decrease in playing time but did seem to return to his old form late in the season.
The biggest surprise of the season came when Landry was dealt to New Orleans for second-year shooting guard Marcus Thornton. Thornton found himself strapped to the bench early in the season with the Hornets, but made the most of his opportunity in Sacramento, averaging 21.3 points per game and providing the Kings with an outside threat.
The grass is slowly turning from brown to green for this franchise especially now that they know the team is staying in Sacramento for at least one more season. There are a few young pieces that form an encouraging core, but the Kings are still quite a long way from having the best lawn in the neighborhood.
2011-12 Projected Depth Chart:
C: DeMarcus Cousins/Chuck Hayes
PF: J.J. Hickson/Jason Thompson/Hassan Whiteside
SF: John Salmons/Donte Greene/Tyler Honeycutt
SG: Marcus Thornton/Francisco Garcia
PG: Tyreke Evans/Jimmer Fredette/Isaiah Thomas
NBA Free Agents:
C-Samuel Dalmbert (UFA)
SG-Luther Head (UFA)
PF-Darnell Jackson (UFA)
PG-Pooh Jeter (UFA)
Off-Season Transactions:
Kings acquire 10th pick (Jimmer Fredette) and SG John Salmons in three-way trade for 7th pick and PG Beno Urdih
Kings acquire PF J.J. Hickson from Cavs for SF Omri Casspi and future first round pick
Kings waive SG Jermaine Taylor
Kings re-sign SG Marcus Thornton to 4-year, $33 million contract
Kings sign C Chuck Hayes to 5-year, $21 million contract
2011-12 Team Salary: Approximately $41.9 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Stick to the Script: The re-building effort in Sacramento continues this offseason. Management has done a solid in job in drafting talented young players and putting their team in an enviable position of having the most salary cap flexibility in free agency. The Kings need to stick to that script and not jump the gun by doing anything insanely stupid like over-signing a mid-level free agent to a monster deal that cripples their future cap space. They will add at least one key player through the 2011 NBA Draft, but they must be wise and not reckless in spending money during free agency.
2. Backcourt Mate for Tyreke: The Kings will be looking for a guard who can shoot the rock and play alongside Tyreke Evans. Sacramento may have found that player at the end of this past season in Thornton, but he is a free agent. He was a great fit next to Evans since Evans operates at his best when the ball is in his hands and Thornton is a threat with his ability to shoot the rock. He likely earned a nice payday this offseason and if it is a reasonable price, expect the Kings to bring him back especially since he will only be 24 years old at the start of next season.
If Thornton does not return, Sacramento still needs an upgrade from Beno Udrih and Francisco Garcia. There should be some talented guards available in the NBA Draft with the Kings' lottery pick or they could also use a chunk of their cap space to fill this need.
3. Defensive-minded Big: Samuel Dalembert was the only player on the Kings roster to average more than one blocked shot per game, providing the team with a true defensive presence in the middle. Dalembert is a free agent this offseason and could want to join a playoff contender rather than return to a team in the midst of re-building. DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson are both talented players in their own right, but neither offers the rim protection that Dalembert does. If Sacramento is unable to re-sign Dalembert, it needs to pursue a shot blocker to replace what he brought to the floor.
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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All other e-mail, including advertising and link proposals, send to: wpc112@gmail.com
Sacramento Kings (Last Year: 24-58)
2011 NBA Draft Team Grade:
The Kings shook up their backcourt on Draft Day by acquiring John Salmons, and drafting Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas. I don't love the Salmons deal at all, but Fredette and Thomas should be really nice fits in Sacramento. Tyler Honeycutt has first-round talent and was a solid selection at No. 35. I would have liked to see the Kings add some frontcourt depth with one of their picks even though they did draft two bigs last year. (Team Grade: Makes sense)
Live 2011 NBA Draft Grades:
10. Jimmer Fredette, PG, BYU
This pick actually makes a lot of sense because Jimmer is a shooter than can play alongside a ball dominant two guard like Tyreke Evans. Plus with Sacramento dealing Beno Udrih, they almost had to grab a point here. (Pick Grade: LOVE IT!)
35. Tyler Honeycutt, F, UCLA
A value pick for the Kings as Honeycutt has first round talent but is not NBA-ready quite yet. His length will be a huge asset at the next level but he needs to get stronger and probably isn’t ready to contribute as a rookie. (Pick Grade: Makes sense)
60. Isaiah Thomas, PG, Washington
Damm it. I actually had the Kings taking Isaiah Thomas at No. 60 for a while but changed it earlier this week. Since they needed point guard help before they traded Beno Udrih, drafting a gamer like Thomas on top of Jimmer Fredette could be a steal. I think Thomas will enter the league with a HUGE chip on his shoulder. (Pick Grade: LOVE IT!)
*** 2011 NBA Offseason Needs and Free Agents listed below this comment box. ***
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Yeah
06-29-2012
09:24 am
xxx.xxx.xxx1.14
(total posts: 1)
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demarcus cousins is a douchebag with personality issues. Thomas Robinson is the complete opposite. I hope this kid has a great NBA future and cousins dickhead attitude doesnt rub of on TRob.....
@Fitz
06-28-2012
08:45 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx7.27
(total posts: 2)
10
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I posted that before the draft started. I didn't assume Thomas would be available. I'm real happy with the pick.
Fitz
06-28-2012
08:02 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx4.86
(total posts: 1)
10
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@Erik- Robinson is a much better pick. They are set down low for the next 7 or 8 years with Robinson and Cousins
Erik
06-28-2012
07:15 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx7.27
(total posts: 2)
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8
Please don't trade down; just take Barnes.
Jay
06-11-2012
01:17 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx6.17
(total posts: 1)
12
14
The Kings draft board should be Kidd-Gilchrist, Barnes, and Drummond in that order. Any of those picks will be a nice upgrade to a team filled with young talent.
G.O.A.T
05-23-2012
08:32 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.170
(total posts: 1)
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The Kings depth chart next year should be
PG Thomas SG Evans SF Barnes/MKG PF Cousins C Thompson Thornton as a 6 man. THey would solidify the SF position for the future as well as define roles for Evans and Cousins. Evans will be a combo guard who will be more of a scorer. Hopefully Thomas develops into a play-making point guard instead of just a scorer.
Geiger
05-12-2012
03:44 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.234
(total posts: 1)
25
13
I think the Kings back-court isnt a major need and they'll probably look at the 3 in this draft..MKG or Barnes are major possibilities. A center like Dummond could be a nice consolation prize, allowing a move of Thompson to the bench. I hope they figure it out though and get some luck on their side.
Prefered depth chart: Thompson Cousins MKG Evans Thomas Thorton as a 6 man
jhymas25
05-11-2012
08:30 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.0.6
(total posts: 1)
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23
I think the Kings have a ton of needs still, way past what is said here. I'm a huge Kings fan but Jimmer doesn't seem like a true starter at either the point or shooting guard; maybe he'll develop into a good bench player. And I'm not sure a team can really be successful with starting Marcus Thornton either. He seems more like a 6th man type; instant offense, no defense. So it seems that they still need a point guard, shooting guard, and small forward before they can really compete.
Right now it seems the small forward position is the biggest need, but I don't think that there is going to be any playoffs with starting either Thomas or Thornton in the back-court. Hopefully they can improve any of those three positions in the draft. On the bright side, I like the front-court of Cousins (who looks like a star to me) and Thompson (who is a good complimentary player).
Cinderella
11-02-2011
12:30 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx.125
(total posts: 1)
25
32
This is exactly what I was looinkg for. Thanks for writing!
Ben
06-24-2011
11:00 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.253
(total posts: 1)
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36
Courtesy of CBSsports "Jimmer Fredette. Grade: D. The Kings fell in love with a big name, found themselves on the bad end of a big three-team deal and generally continued their pattern of directionless instability. Kings fans suffered through a tough year to get to draft night and almost certainly leave feeling disappointed." I think CBS is a little confused! Jimmer is a big name, becuase he is a BIG TIME player. GO KINGS!
mprofetta
06-24-2011
10:39 am
xxx.xxx.xxx.217
(total posts: 1)
33
38
The Kings are desperately in need of DEFENSE, so they draft (arguably) three of the WORST defenders in the draft. Ugh. Losing 110-108 is still LOSING.
Fitz
06-23-2011
08:34 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx3.52
(total posts: 1)
35
37
Their Evans and Jimmer back court reminds me a lot of the Golden State back court of Ellis and Curry in that their gonna score a ton of points, even though neither are true point guards
Walter
06-21-2011
05:18 pm
xxx.xxx.xxx4.88
(total posts: 1)
40
36
First comment... we're going to have comment boards like this all over the site soon. We're still working out the kinks, so this is not the finished product.
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2010-11 Season Summary:
Amid speculation that the franchise could be moving from Sacramento to Anaheim or somewhere else, the Kings did not show much growth in the second year of their youth movement. A big reason for that was the injury issues second-year guard Tyreke Evans struggled through, costing him 25 games this past season, resulting in a dip in production.
Evans is obviously the foundation of the franchise, but the Kings seemingly found a reliable scoring threat inside. DeMarcus Cousins put together a solid rookie season, proving that he was the most talented low-post scorer in last year's draft class. Some of the red flags that surrounded him coming out of Kentucky did arise in his rookie campaign, as his emotions often got the best of him. Still, he has the potential to be a special post player if he can mature with time.
Outside of Evans and Cousins, the roster was somewhat scrambled. Samuel Dalembert, Jason Thompson and Carl Landry shared minutes in the frontcourt. Dalembert brought some size and defense to the paint, while Thompson was not nearly as effective as he was during his first two seasons in the league, primarily due to a decrease in playing time but did seem to return to his old form late in the season.
The biggest surprise of the season came when Landry was dealt to New Orleans for second-year shooting guard Marcus Thornton. Thornton found himself strapped to the bench early in the season with the Hornets, but made the most of his opportunity in Sacramento, averaging 21.3 points per game and providing the Kings with an outside threat.
The grass is slowly turning from brown to green for this franchise especially now that they know the team is staying in Sacramento for at least one more season. There are a few young pieces that form an encouraging core, but the Kings are still quite a long way from having the best lawn in the neighborhood.
2011-12 Projected Depth Chart:
C: DeMarcus Cousins/Chuck Hayes
PF: J.J. Hickson/Jason Thompson/Hassan Whiteside
SF: John Salmons/Donte Greene/Tyler Honeycutt
SG: Marcus Thornton/Francisco Garcia
PG: Tyreke Evans/Jimmer Fredette/Isaiah Thomas
NBA Free Agents:
C-Samuel Dalmbert (UFA)
SG-Luther Head (UFA)
PF-Darnell Jackson (UFA)
PG-Pooh Jeter (UFA)
Off-Season Transactions:
Kings acquire 10th pick (Jimmer Fredette) and SG John Salmons in three-way trade for 7th pick and PG Beno Urdih
Kings acquire PF J.J. Hickson from Cavs for SF Omri Casspi and future first round pick
Kings waive SG Jermaine Taylor
Kings re-sign SG Marcus Thornton to 4-year, $33 million contract
Kings sign C Chuck Hayes to 5-year, $21 million contract
2011-12 Team Salary: Approximately $41.9 million
NBA Offseason Needs:
1. Stick to the Script: The re-building effort in Sacramento continues this offseason. Management has done a solid in job in drafting talented young players and putting their team in an enviable position of having the most salary cap flexibility in free agency. The Kings need to stick to that script and not jump the gun by doing anything insanely stupid like over-signing a mid-level free agent to a monster deal that cripples their future cap space. They will add at least one key player through the 2011 NBA Draft, but they must be wise and not reckless in spending money during free agency.
2. Backcourt Mate for Tyreke: The Kings will be looking for a guard who can shoot the rock and play alongside Tyreke Evans. Sacramento may have found that player at the end of this past season in Thornton, but he is a free agent. He was a great fit next to Evans since Evans operates at his best when the ball is in his hands and Thornton is a threat with his ability to shoot the rock. He likely earned a nice payday this offseason and if it is a reasonable price, expect the Kings to bring him back especially since he will only be 24 years old at the start of next season.
If Thornton does not return, Sacramento still needs an upgrade from Beno Udrih and Francisco Garcia. There should be some talented guards available in the NBA Draft with the Kings' lottery pick or they could also use a chunk of their cap space to fill this need.
3. Defensive-minded Big: Samuel Dalembert was the only player on the Kings roster to average more than one blocked shot per game, providing the team with a true defensive presence in the middle. Dalembert is a free agent this offseason and could want to join a playoff contender rather than return to a team in the midst of re-building. DeMarcus Cousins and Jason Thompson are both talented players in their own right, but neither offers the rim protection that Dalembert does. If Sacramento is unable to re-sign Dalembert, it needs to pursue a shot blocker to replace what he brought to the floor.
2013 NBA Mock Draft - May 22
2013 Fantasy Football Rankings - May 22
2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 21
Charlie's 2014 NFL Mock Draft - May 20
NFL Picks - Feb. 3
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