Sacramento Kings Preseason Media Presser (2023-2024)

[NOLa.]

Last season seems like a blur. Going into the season with high expectations with a solid roster, I definitely felt I had a team that could challenge for a championship. During the season I ran into some tough injuries, most notably to Duren for half the season, but still finished with 60 wins in the #1 seed in the West. I got all the way to Game 7 in the Western Conference Finals where the team fell to the eventual champions, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In the draft, I was hoping to be able to trade up just a few spots the grab a few guys I liked around the late-lotto picks. Unfortunately, I wasn't successful in trading for a higher pick or an established talent with the pick I had, and selected Farmer who looks to be a serviceable backup.

RFA was definitely a busy time for me. I had Erik Haynes and Donovan Mitchell as RFAs, and Haynes took a flat contract to help the team. I was able to match Mitchell, and was unable to work anything out for Tua with the Spurs as the pool of assets was shallow on my team. Aaron Donald, unfortunately, left kicking and screaming out of the team's training grounds by a naked cat. But that wasn't even the oddest event in the offseason for us.

I offered Jeffrey Duren a supermax contract knowing he declined this contract once before in RFA, but I was optimistic he wouldn't do it a second time. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The last message I received from Duren was that I provided the best offer, but he is now in a Nuggets uniform. With no Duren and Haynes/Mitchell now restricted from trade, the team is in a limbo.

Training camp then showed up and decided to take out Rocco Farmer (luckily insured). Luckily it didn't decide to kill Haynes and Mitchell, too.

Trade block has been updated, entire Kings for sale. Haynes and Mitchell are restricted but available after next RFA is over fml

[Wombataholic]

Is Duren dead to you now? If he wanted to come back, would he be welcomed?

[NOLa.]

Is Duren dead to you now? If he wanted to come back, would he be welcomed?

[JNR]

GWR: With Duren gone, is Mitchell ready to step up and be the primary scorer?

[NOLa.]

GWR: With Duren gone, is Mitchell ready to step up and be the primary scorer?

I seriously hope so. I got to see what life would be like without Duren last season when he was out half a season, and Mitchell did play well at PG. I think him and Haynes will step up just enough to make us a playoff team, and Paul George and Kyrie Irving will help balance the scoring out. If last season is any indicator, I won't have a true primary scorer, but I'll have a team of contributors.

[IamQuailman]

Losing Duren hurts a lot, but you mentioned George and Irving. These two guys have championship-level pedigree and can bring something to the team that could benefit you more than you realize. Irving still looks like he will be a dominant scorer. And George does a bit of everything, which will only help your team out all season. My biggest question is who steps up at the 4? Do you want to try to be an active player on the trade market in looking for a PF to play next to Haynes? Or will you just ride this out? Because, honestly, I think your team could compete still for the Pacific crown.

[NOLa.]

Losing Duren hurts a lot, but you mentioned George and Irving. These two guys have championship-level pedigree and can bring something to the team that could benefit you more than you realize. Irving still looks like he will be a dominant scorer. And George does a bit of everything, which will only help your team out all season. My biggest question is who steps up at the 4? Do you want to try to be an active player on the trade market in looking for a PF to play next to Haynes? Or will you just ride this out? Because, honestly, I think your team could compete still for the Pacific crown.

Just plug away anyone who has a pulse at this point. The team can probably make the playoffs but I'm certain the game will just break Haynes and Mitchell's leg if we get too close to doing well.

[false9]

What can we do to help you get your smile back?

[NOLa.]

What can we do to help you get your smile back?

A frown upside down is a smile.

[garbageman]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: What do you think of the two teams in your division with new GMs? When will either team be a threat to the division?

[AngryBanana]

Chet Ubetcha:

I know you touched on it, but going into round one of the Free Agency, did you ever consider going after one of the other high end free agents in case Duren did not re-sign? Or were you that confident that you would retain him?

[ballsohard]

Is the build dead or does it have life left in it?

[NOLa.]

Sham Smith, Bulls.com: What do you think of the two teams in your division with new GMs? When will either team be a threat to the division?

Any other year I would have been excited, but now I'm just excited to share the misery with my fellow division fellows. Their talent and luck in training camp seems to match mine, so it will be a while until any of us could really be a threat to the division, but they will before I do.

[NOLa.]

Chet Ubetcha:

I know you touched on it, but going into round one of the Free Agency, did you ever consider going after one of the other high end free agents in case Duren did not re-sign? Or were you that confident that you would retain him?

I definitely tried even with the hopes of having Duren re-sign. I remember confidence, I used to have it, but now not so much.

[NOLa.]

Is the build dead or does it have life left in it?

If it has life it won't be long until the game sniffs it out and squashes it, but I'm assuming it's dead.

[WigNosy]

Do you think Erik Haynes is ready to make the all-league squad this season?

[NOLa.]

Do you think Erik Haynes is ready to make the all-league squad this season?

I think he can potentially be a 1st Team guy. Without Duren he can finally showcase his skills, demand a trade, and leave when his contract is up.


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[digiskunk]

With Duren gone, have you considered the possibility of a rebuild in, perhaps, a season or two?

[NOLa.]

With Duren gone, have you considered the possibility of a rebuild in, perhaps, a season or two?

Yes, the team is on the block. Any and everyone is available, but I haven't received any messages. Other teams can smell death and are afraid.

[NickMalone77]

Nick Melon; The Advocate: Do you see a world tour about to take place after your song? Will that tour successfully take your mind off the upcoming season ahead?

[Xist2Inspire]

Random Reporter: After a fairly strong start for Sacramento and a terrible one for the rest of the Pacific, has the cloud begun to lift now that it's clear that the Kings still own the division?