Sacramento Kings 2018-2019 Preseason Media Presser
Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 12:16 pm
Welcome everyone to yet another edition of the Sacramento Kings Preseason Media Presser! As always, I like to begin with a look at the previous season for us and how it ended, and going through to the offseason up to training camp.
This time last season in my media presser, the main goal was to make the playoffs. After not making the playoffs the season before that with basically the same starting group, I knew my roster had talent led by Derrick Rose and that the playoffs were a good goal to set. With the almost the same starting lineup going into last season, I bolstered my bench with some solid signings that I felt fit the team. I made a couple of trades in the season, one that swapped Reggie Jackson for Iman Shumpert and the other that brought in Jeff Teague and Nicholas Batum for points. The moves were simple but effective in building a team that could pass the ball and play defense. I went on to win the Pacific division unexpectedly and with fierce competitiveness by the Clippers, obtained the #1 overall seed in the West, and made it to a Game 7 Finals overtime experience that ended in a loss to the Detroit Pistons.
It was a spectacular season. I cannot put it in any other way.
Going into the offseason, I was presented a difficult decision to make: Rose, Barnes and Shumpert were all under contract into the next season and roll with the same group that made the Finals, or take notice that Jeffrey Duren is the future and to begin collecting young assets to grow with him. A choice of “use Duren to build the team” or “build a team around Duren.” The other factor is that I just went $19M deep into the tax, and with Rose and Noel under max contracts and Duren’s RFA coming up, there was no cap relief coming up for any of the subsequent seasons. It was tough, but the decision to build a team around Duren and relief cap was the right choice.
I began by sending Derrick Rose to the Portland Trailblazers for young PG Ronald Small and SG Lawrence Arbogast. Small’s passing, defense and athleticism was noted by our scouting department this season. I then sent over Iman Shumpert to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the #14 pick of the draft and Harrison Barnes to the Philadelphia 76ers for the #10 pick of the draft. With the 10th and 14th pick, I selected SF Don Houghton and PF Arthur Hardie.
The RFA period was quiet. Jokic was a douche.
The UFA period was quiet but successful. With a rebuilding team I only looked to grab key backups that would be great role players on competitive teams on very affordable contracts. I was able to bring in Joel Embiid, Paul Webb, William Turner, Kevin Quinn and Elias Satterfield. I think most of these guys will find new homes on a competitive team by the end of the season.
Training camp was a mixed bag that has left me uneasy going into future camps. The good news is that the team overall had a solid camp with improvements in their currents. What left me feeling uneasy was the fact that a total of 5 guys received hits in their potentials on the team. 2 of them were insured (Duren and Pearsall), but new rookie Don Houghton was hit and Noel once again has been a bitter disappointment in training camp two seasons in a row. Pearsall jumped to blue potential despite being hit due to insurance saving him an his athleticism jumping enough to push him into blue potential territory.
Looking forward this is meant to be a rebuild season, but the Pacific looks terrible. It’s possible to be somewhat competitive with this team, but I wouldn’t expect any big moves or a push from my team this season.
Floor is open to questions.
This time last season in my media presser, the main goal was to make the playoffs. After not making the playoffs the season before that with basically the same starting group, I knew my roster had talent led by Derrick Rose and that the playoffs were a good goal to set. With the almost the same starting lineup going into last season, I bolstered my bench with some solid signings that I felt fit the team. I made a couple of trades in the season, one that swapped Reggie Jackson for Iman Shumpert and the other that brought in Jeff Teague and Nicholas Batum for points. The moves were simple but effective in building a team that could pass the ball and play defense. I went on to win the Pacific division unexpectedly and with fierce competitiveness by the Clippers, obtained the #1 overall seed in the West, and made it to a Game 7 Finals overtime experience that ended in a loss to the Detroit Pistons.
It was a spectacular season. I cannot put it in any other way.
Going into the offseason, I was presented a difficult decision to make: Rose, Barnes and Shumpert were all under contract into the next season and roll with the same group that made the Finals, or take notice that Jeffrey Duren is the future and to begin collecting young assets to grow with him. A choice of “use Duren to build the team” or “build a team around Duren.” The other factor is that I just went $19M deep into the tax, and with Rose and Noel under max contracts and Duren’s RFA coming up, there was no cap relief coming up for any of the subsequent seasons. It was tough, but the decision to build a team around Duren and relief cap was the right choice.
I began by sending Derrick Rose to the Portland Trailblazers for young PG Ronald Small and SG Lawrence Arbogast. Small’s passing, defense and athleticism was noted by our scouting department this season. I then sent over Iman Shumpert to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the #14 pick of the draft and Harrison Barnes to the Philadelphia 76ers for the #10 pick of the draft. With the 10th and 14th pick, I selected SF Don Houghton and PF Arthur Hardie.
The RFA period was quiet. Jokic was a douche.
The UFA period was quiet but successful. With a rebuilding team I only looked to grab key backups that would be great role players on competitive teams on very affordable contracts. I was able to bring in Joel Embiid, Paul Webb, William Turner, Kevin Quinn and Elias Satterfield. I think most of these guys will find new homes on a competitive team by the end of the season.
Training camp was a mixed bag that has left me uneasy going into future camps. The good news is that the team overall had a solid camp with improvements in their currents. What left me feeling uneasy was the fact that a total of 5 guys received hits in their potentials on the team. 2 of them were insured (Duren and Pearsall), but new rookie Don Houghton was hit and Noel once again has been a bitter disappointment in training camp two seasons in a row. Pearsall jumped to blue potential despite being hit due to insurance saving him an his athleticism jumping enough to push him into blue potential territory.
Looking forward this is meant to be a rebuild season, but the Pacific looks terrible. It’s possible to be somewhat competitive with this team, but I wouldn’t expect any big moves or a push from my team this season.
Floor is open to questions.