Sacramento Kings Preseason Presser 2009-2010

[NOLa.]

I can hardly believe this will be our 20th season in this league. It doesn't feel all the long ago that we switched over to this league on a new FBB system that we weren't used to and had to just experience the game first and go through the trial and error process of learning this game. We had our first rookie draft and then experience our first training camp, then wondered "can we go back to the old system?"

It's been mostly funny, often dramatic, sometimes upsetting, but it's always been fun.

~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~~'*'~

Another season in the books. I'll be honest, it wasn't my finest season in keeping up with the team. I turned the keys over to my general manager in hopes he could put this team, at least, on cruise control. He had some ups and downs, the biggest down being that we came in 2nd in the Pacific division, ending our stretch of reigning division champions. However, our general manager did an excellent job in the playoffs with our coach and helped our team reach our third Finals appearance in team history. Unfortunately, our gameplan was not up to par with the Bucks and we got swept 4-0. The blame on the collapse starts at the top, and as such I am back actively managing this team.

Upon my arrival, it seemed clear to me that I could take the trio core of McGrady, Chandler and Hinrich and attempt to make the Finals again. Our cap situation was fine as we were usually able to sign contributing vets for the minimum deal and have been able to pay the luxury tax even as a 4+ year repeater. The team was talented and young enough to stay in their prime as well.

The other unpopular option was to start over from scratch if able to find suitors for the trio. It wasn't an easy choice, but this was the route I ultimately chose. We have often seen teams hold onto their star players, only to have to sign these players for long-term, high salary contracts to retain the rights to the players so the team doesn't lose the player for nothing in UFA. Fortunately for us, we were able to find teams to send our core to hopefully compete for championships.

The first trade was to the 76ers in which we sent Titan Chandler for rookie Tyreke Evans and multiple picks in each of the upcoming 3 drafts. While many see an All Star center being traded for a rookie and picks that may or may not be lotto picks, we here in Sacramento have been in this situation before in trading stars for picks, and it worked out fairly well if planned correctly. We are patient and do not need these picks to be Top 3, as the picks are used to build up the team, not make it.

The second trade, and one that hit closest to home, was sending our best player ever Tracy McGrady to the New Jersey Nets for young big Timofey Mozgov, Mike Miller, and the Nets 2012 pick. This was a sad moment, but absolutely needed. We had multiple offers on the table from many teams, but the deciding factor was the ability to get a stud center who should grow into a capable defender and rebounder. The addition of the sophomore center is welcomed to team up with rookie Tyreke Evans.

Finally, we traded Hinrich to the Wizards in exchange for rookie PG Darren Collison and the Wizards 2012 pick. The addition of Collison is important, as we completed to need of gathering a young PG, combo guard, and center to start our rebuild, along with multiple picks. It wasn't pretty during the process, and it still isn't pretty after the smoke has cleared, but the general consensus in the Kings organization is that we have done very well in getting value in return for All Star players.

Training camp was very kind to us this season, as Darren Collison received a much needed bump while Tyreke, Mozgov, and DJ Augustin improved. PF James Johnson, a very late first round pick, also improved in every defensive potential area. We then capped off free-for-all by picking up rookie Chris Douglas-Roberts, who had a great camp.

Our projected starting lineup for the season consists of the following:

C: Timofey Mozgov - Sophomore
PF: James Johnson - Rookie
SF: Tyreke Evans - Rookie
SG: Darren Collison - Rookie
PG: DJ Augustin - Sophomore

We're very excited to see this young core grow.

Any and all questions are welcomed!

[Darth Vegito]

Training camp was very kind to us this season, as Darren Collison received a much needed bump while Tyreke, Mozgov, and DJ Augustin improved. PF James Johnson, a very late first round pick, also improved in every defensive potential area. We then capped off free-for-all by picking up rookie Chris Douglas-Roberts, who had a great camp.

hmm.no questions. Seems a bit suspicious is all. Didn't you input some DCs for a sim like 9 seasons ago once? Yep, I remember. Explains everything.

[IamQuailman]

Um that projected starting line up doesn't include Mike Miller? Care to expand?

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[kucoach7]

That may have been the best training camp I have ever seen. What is the secret to your training success?

[NOLa.]

Training camp was very kind to us this season, as Darren Collison received a much needed bump while Tyreke, Mozgov, and DJ Augustin improved. PF James Johnson, a very late first round pick, also improved in every defensive potential area. We then capped off free-for-all by picking up rookie Chris Douglas-Roberts, who had a great camp.

hmm.no questions. Seems a bit suspicious is all. Didn't you input some DCs for a sim like 9 seasons ago once? Yep, I remember. Explains everything.

Some say I got the magic touch.

Sent via Morse code

[TrayWithAnA]

How does it feel to single-handedly doom the rest of the Atlantic teams you didn't trade with? Did you realize that you sent all three of these guys as far away from Sacramento and the Western Conference as possible?

[NOLa.]

Um that projected starting line up doesn't include Mike Miller? Care to expand?

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Mike Miller is not part of our long-term plans, and the future of this organization starts now. To begin our long journey back to competing for a title, we need to evaluate all of our young, unknown players.

Mike Miller will see the court at some point of the season. Whether he is in a Kings jersey or not when that happens remains to be seen. For now, we have to devote our time and resources to our new long-term players.

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[IamQuailman]

Um that projected starting line up doesn't include Mike Miller? Care to expand?

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I'm tanking.

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Fify


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[NOLa.]

That may have been the best training camp I have ever seen. What is the secret to your training success?

I always start by insuring my biggest investments. It's probably the easiest step to take and isn't that costly, and I absolutely love insurance.

I think the good results in training camp came from the excitement from the buzz around all the new young players. The fans of Sacramento haven't seen a rebuild like this since the 1995-1996 season, which has created a lot of hype for this team looking down the road a few seasons from now.

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[IamQuailman]

How do you have so much success in TC?

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[JNR]

GWR: Let's look back on the past 4 years of your trio. Two finals appearance, one championship, only one year that you didn't make the conference finals. Do you sometimes feel like you could have done more with that amazing talent, or are you satisfied with the remarkable accomplishments you achieved?

[NOLa.]

GWR: Let's look back on the past 4 years of your trio. Two finals appearance, one championship, only one year that you didn't make the conference finals. Do you sometimes feel like you could have done more with that amazing talent, or are you satisfied with the remarkable accomplishments you achieved?

I'm very satisfied with those accomplishments. The game is so random in each aspect of the game: lotto, RFA, UFA, TC, and injuries. I also faced some high lux tax bills and was able to keep the train going. In the end I got a ring out of it. I would have loved 4 rings in that span, but I'm never foolish enough to believe that it's a gimme to win because I'm the favorite. It took me 15ish seasons to get the first ring and I don't doubt it will take me that much longer to get another, if I even do.

The greatest foolish mistake for a GM to make is to think he can topple and and every GM on a given basis in gameplanning once playoffs starts. It makes me proud to get to that level of accomplishment when I had Darth and Tray in my division competing very highly and I believe we all pushed each other. I also ran into a brickwall that was the Nuggets run by thesyndicate who put up one of the nastiest defenses in the league during his run.

It's always been fun and I had a blast during that time. I believe that's a huge accomplishment and I loved this question. Thank you, JNR.

[Xist2Inspire]

Random Reporter: While your team already looks pretty solid defensively, I'm curious as to how you plan to get all of the pieces to fit on offense. While Collison's an all-around shooter, Gordon and Augustin are 3pt snipers, Tyreke and Douglas-Roberts prefer the midrange game, and Mozgov & Johnson are complete non-factors. With all that, what are your offensive plans for the season?

[NOLa.]

Random Reporter: While your team already looks pretty solid defensively, I'm curious as to how you plan to get all of the pieces to fit on offense. While Collison's an all-around shooter, Gordon and Augustin are 3pt snipers, Tyreke and Douglas-Roberts prefer the midrange game, and Mozgov & Johnson are complete non-factors. With all that, what are your offensive plans for the season?

I agree that the team has more potential moving forward in defense than on offense. We don't have a true young prospect that will be a #1 option. Tyreke will be an excellent contributor but we see his role as a 6th man type in the future, and Gordon has a ways to go in development.

We will continue to look to acquire a #1 guy either through trade or the draft. Its easier said than done, so we will have to be proactive in our search.

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[IamQuailman]

Whybdidbyou ignore my question

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[NOLa.]

How do you have so much success in TC?

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I win some and I lose some. Training camp is very random and has always had a give-and-take feel for me and my team. My old trio core of McGrady, Chandler, and Hinrich all had very good training camps in their tenure as a King and still had good/great camps on other teams.

I've even had other players like Richard Jefferson, Ike Diogu, Shaun Livingston, Shandon Anderson, and others fairly recently have okay camps with me, only to be boosted by TC once on another team (bastards).

Then I have players like Luol Deng, Jarrett Jack, and Eric Gordon. Deng and Jack got hit after their rookie season and Gordon was hit in his first TC ever. These names may not be impressive to some, but to have a lotto pick get hit consecutively like that throws off your team build each time.

I've had my success and failures with TC for sure.

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[IamQuailman]

How do you have so much success in TC?

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I win some and I lose some. Training camp is very random and has always had a give-and-take feel for me and my team. My old trio core of McGrady, Chandler, and Hinrich all had very good training camps in their tenure as a King and still had good/great camps on other teams.

I've even had other players like Richard Jefferson, Ike Diogu, Shaun Livingston, Shandon Anderson, and others fairly recently have okay camps with me, only to be boosted by TC once on another team (bastards).

Then I have players like Luol Deng, Jarrett Jack, and Eric Gordon. Deng and Jack got hit after their rookie season and Gordon was hit in his first TC ever. These names may not be impressive to some, but to have a lotto pick get hit consecutively like that throws off your team build each time.

I've had my success and failures with TC for sure.

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All that aside, how do you really have so much success?

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[NOLa.]

How do you have so much success in TC?

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I win some and I lose some. Training camp is very random and has always had a give-and-take feel for me and my team. My old trio core of McGrady, Chandler, and Hinrich all had very good training camps in their tenure as a King and still had good/great camps on other teams.

I've even had other players like Richard Jefferson, Ike Diogu, Shaun Livingston, Shandon Anderson, and others fairly recently have okay camps with me, only to be boosted by TC once on another team (bastards).

Then I have players like Luol Deng, Jarrett Jack, and Eric Gordon. Deng and Jack got hit after their rookie season and Gordon was hit in his first TC ever. These names may not be impressive to some, but to have a lotto pick get hit consecutively like that throws off your team build each time.

I've had my success and failures with TC for sure.

Sent via Morse code

All that aside, how do you really have so much success?

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Alpha team

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[TrayWithAnA]

Whybdidbyou ignore my question

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This

[NOLa.]

How does it feel to single-handedly doom the rest of the Atlantic teams you didn't trade with? Did you realize that you sent all three of these guys as far away from Sacramento and the Western Conference as possible?

My apologies for not seeing this legitimate question. My attention was focused on the resident troll.

It was not intentional to try and make the non-trade teams worse. I actually had brief talks with all but one Atlantic team, and the division was the most active in trying to get one of my main 3 players.

I believe that two notable teams, the Heat and the Knicks, will still be playoff teams, so I don't think they are doomed. Anything can happen in the playoffs.

I did think it was funny that it worked out the way it did in trading all three across the continent in the same division. The league's power balance really shifted in the span of 24 hours and the East got a lot more competitive. It will be interesting to see how this shakes out over the next three seasons.

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[78#]

Reporter from Houston:

On your original gameplan, Mike Miller was listed on the IR list, but now he's on the depth chart for playing time. Did a trade fall through or have you decided to keep Miller and make a run for the playoffs?

[NOLa.]

Reporter from Houston:

On your original gameplan, Mike Miller was listed on the IR list, but now he's on the depth chart for playing time. Did a trade fall through or have you decided to keep Miller and make a run for the playoffs?

A trade did not fall through, nor did we change our vision of rebuilding this team. We were given the opportunity to change the DC or have the Commissioner Oversight Board make some recommended changes.

Mike Miller will be utilized at the two positions we need his leadership the most while we make the transition.

Mike Miller is also off the trade block.

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[WigNosy]

How were you able to be so patient and execute a decade-long reset?