Sacramento Kings Preseason Media Presser

[NOLa.]

Welcome everyone to another edition of the Sacramento Kings Preseason Media Presser! To start off, we will quickly run through the prior season and then hit on the offseason now that training camp has been processed.

After a rough offseason a year ago, we knew the actual regular season was going to be tougher. We were not very competitive, but I am happy to say that despite having the least amount of talent on my team, the Sacramento Kings were not even in the bottom 3 of the league. In the end, the season went as expected for the team.

Regardless, we were a lotto team and finished the season with the 5th highest odds of the #1 pick thanks to new addition of the Charlotte Bobcats. Never knowing the blessing of draft lotto gawds before, we were finally looked upon with favor and received the #2 pick of the draft. This was quite unexpected, and we knew exactly who we wanted at #1 if we were lucky enough, but we had to wait one pick. Fortunately, our #1 rated player Jeffrey Duren became available for selection. Duren was the only top 3 target in the draft who had a complete game: not weak in any area for a combo guard and strong in several as a 6'5 guard. The one downside is we picked for potential, and Duren is seasons away from realizing his true talent. We are patient enough to wait for him to mature into the star he's meant to be.

Restricted free agency saw my team go into the period with two players up for bid in Reggie Jackson and Nikola Vucevic, while also having max money available to bid on others. We sent what we felt were fair contracts to Reggie and Vucevic, and were very fortunate to sign Vucevic to a team friendly deal. Reggie Jackson signed a deal $1,000,000 more than I offered, so we were very happy to match the offer. Reggie and Vucevic are key pieces on building hopefully what will be a sustainable team, and we really like what they bring to the table and are clearly worth their contracts.

With the new signings, we approached the Bucks about Vasquez given their openness to looking to clear up cap. Vasquez fit the mold of a player worth the long term contract that still had room to grow. We like Vasquezs size and playmaking ability in getting other players open. With our team, we don't have a true elite scorer. Having a guy like Vasquez will help our scorers.

After several good phases of the offseason, we began looking into the UFA class. With a lot of money to spend, I figured to just throw out a lot of MLE-level deals to guys I would be happy with on my team. I was able to sign Spencer Hawes from the Celtics on perhaps the best value contract I've ever given. Joining him is Alonzo Gee, Devin Harris, Chase Budinger, and Jimmer Fredette. The haul, although mostly expirings, was perhaps the biggest haul I've had.

It was unexpected given the youth of my team and plans to rebuild for another season, so we are at a bit of a crossroads. We hope to sell some of our veteran players in exchange for youth, but given the makeup of the team, I don't see how it would hurt to try and compete with this lineup.

Open to questions now.



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[false9]

Who do you expect to start on opening night?

[NOLa.]

Who do you expect to start on opening night?

I've been having fun with the different lineups but I think this is how I'm going to setup for the first sim.

C: Hawes
PG: Vucevic
SF: Barnes
SG: Jackson
PG: Vasquez

We can play around with any position. Maybe insert Noel and move Vucevic to 6th man, or go smallball with Barnes at the PF position.

Should be fun to play with this season for sure.


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[Inner_GI]

Do the surprise signings in FA change the strategy or expectations for this season? The west looks pretty weak this year.

[NOLa.]

Do the surprise signings in FA change the strategy or expectations for this season? The west looks pretty weak this year.

This is a question we are torturing ourselves with. Those signings were not meant to happen except for a rare circumstance where things feel our way, but it did happen and I was left with half a roster that is heavy with veterans to compete and the other half of developing guys on rookie deals.

I'm trying to trade Spencer Hawes, and I'm willing to even package him with other assets if it can help add youth to my team. This is the direction I want to go, but if I can't get a team to commit to taking Hawes I will have to roll with the team I have.

Truthfully if I end up not having a trade for Hawes by the first sim, I probably will not trade him, and that could be true for the rest of the guys I have. I'm happy to compete with this team even though they may not be the strongest group.


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[WigNosy]

You have stockpiled quite a bit of young talent. Is there anyone in particular that you expect to become the team leader as you move forward?

[JNR]

GWR: Reggie Jackson seems prepared to lead this team. Do you see him being your go-to guy on offense?

[NOLa.]

You have stockpiled quite a bit of young talent. Is there anyone in particular that you expect to become the team leader as you move forward?

I think that guy currently is Reggie Jackson. He quietly had a huge leap in production last season and he had another solid training camp as he develops into a key option we hoped he would become.

Looking further down the road, it has to be Duren. Much like Reggie Jackson, Duren has come in very raw. Duren has the advantage of being younger as a rookie than Jackson and has the potential to be an all-around great player. It will take time but we are patient with players we feel can be very valuable long-term assets.


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[NOLa.]

GWR: Reggie Jackson seems prepared to lead this team. Do you see him being your go-to guy on offense?

I think Reggie is starting to develop into the go-to position. He still has room to grow, like converting from inside at a better rate, but his offense is starting to show signs on maturity. After receiving additional playing time last season he responded well by finishing 2nd on the team in scoring.

We hope after surrounding the team with talent that he responds by improving his play even more.


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[Bowtothebill23]

What level player can Duren be? Is he a guy who can be an MVP candidate or do you view him more as simply an All Star?

[NOLa.]

What level player can Duren be? Is he a guy who can be an MVP candidate or do you view him more as simply an All Star?

I definitely don't see MVP level. Duren doesn't have the scoring potentials or raw athleticism to push him there. An All Star Appearance doesn't seem too lofty of a goal for Duren. If he can grow into his scoring and passing abilities he can push for that spot. We knew picking Duren wouldn't be a sexy pick, but it was the right pick for the build I want to go for with this team.


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[NickMalone77]

Nick Melon; The Advocate: Is it true you gave out a bottle of your special sauce to all of the newest Kings to commemorate your big FA signings this offseason?

[kucoach7]

How juicy is that Blazers pick looking right about now?

[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: What role do you see Nerlens Noel playing for you this year and going forward?

[78#]

Why do you and your owner have such a lukewarm relationship despite all the success you've had as GM of this organization?

[NOLa.]

Nick Melon; The Advocate: Is it true you gave out a bottle of your special sauce to all of the newest Kings to commemorate your big FA signings this offseason?

This is very true, and it's also a big reason why our acquisitions signed with us. Hawes and the rest came by for the annual BBQ picnic and really got to experience the team building chemistry firsthand.


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[NOLa.]

How juicy is that Blazers pick looking right about now?

If there's one thing I know about this league, it's that at any point during the season it only takes one big move to completely change the landscape of the league. The Blazers pick just like a lot of team's picks around the league has an uncertain value.


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[NOLa.]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: What role do you see Nerlens Noel playing for you this year and going forward?

At the moment, I see Noel as a 6th man that can come in at the 4 or 5 position and play solid defense and rebound. He isn't an offensive threat, but we are okay with that. His defense is what makes him valuable to us and he is at a level where he can put his talent to use.

Down the road, I can see Noel as the starting 4 or 5, wherever he is needed. In potential matchups is like to put him on a teams best scoring option at the forward spots.


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[ballsohard]

Which of the young prospects do you have your eye on in the college sim?


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[NOLa.]

Why do you and your owner have such a lukewarm relationship despite all the success you've had as GM of this organization?

We are both competitive, but the owner is always in a win-now mode for sales, while me, the GM, is focused on a sustainability path to building a winning team. The owner has not liked my new change in direction by offering middle tiered guys long-term deals that are not minimum or maximum contracts, but it's for the best of the team that we build a sustainable team.


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[IamQuailman]

After a turbulent season last year, are you ready to just get back to basketball?

[Xist2Inspire]

Not much has been said about Harrison Barnes, who has quietly continued to get better and better. What are you hoping to see from him in a contract year?

[Inner_GI]

Nola, you may claim 5 points for your presser.