08-15-2020, 09:04 AM
https://theathletic.com/1997870/2020/08/...hats-next/
Since Sacramento is the topic of the day, here are some excerpts from John Hollinger's piece on Vlade's firing. Obviously, taking Bagley over Luka was a huge factor. Here are some comments about the moves made more recently:
"But that pick obscures the other big issues facing the Kings, such as the series of free-agent misses the team made in the summer of 2019. Sacramento went all-in on middling veterans based on the wayward logic that they were one or two pieces away from being really good, and those deals will handcuff them going forward. Divac’s 2019 free-agency coda was one for the ages: Four years, $85 million for Harrison Barnes; three years, $37 million for Cory Joseph; two years, $25 million for Trevor Ariza; three years, $40 million for Dewayne Dedmon; and a four-year, $94 million extension for Buddy Hield"
And here are some comments about how they should move forward:
"If they’re being realistic, they should probably think about taking a step back instead. They can start by trading the 32-year-old Bjelica, who has one year left on a $7.1 million deal and should generate strong interest from contenders. They should also listen to offers on Barnes and Hield, both of whom failed to live up to cap-clogging contract extensions given to them last summer."
"Most importantly, however, this might be an offseason in which the Kings look to observe the Hippocratic oath. With a major transition in the front office and a roster that is more set for next year than not, “First, do no harm” should be the primary order of business. Too many times in this franchise’s recent past, it’s failed to heed that advice."
Since Sacramento is the topic of the day, here are some excerpts from John Hollinger's piece on Vlade's firing. Obviously, taking Bagley over Luka was a huge factor. Here are some comments about the moves made more recently:
"But that pick obscures the other big issues facing the Kings, such as the series of free-agent misses the team made in the summer of 2019. Sacramento went all-in on middling veterans based on the wayward logic that they were one or two pieces away from being really good, and those deals will handcuff them going forward. Divac’s 2019 free-agency coda was one for the ages: Four years, $85 million for Harrison Barnes; three years, $37 million for Cory Joseph; two years, $25 million for Trevor Ariza; three years, $40 million for Dewayne Dedmon; and a four-year, $94 million extension for Buddy Hield"
And here are some comments about how they should move forward:
"If they’re being realistic, they should probably think about taking a step back instead. They can start by trading the 32-year-old Bjelica, who has one year left on a $7.1 million deal and should generate strong interest from contenders. They should also listen to offers on Barnes and Hield, both of whom failed to live up to cap-clogging contract extensions given to them last summer."
"Most importantly, however, this might be an offseason in which the Kings look to observe the Hippocratic oath. With a major transition in the front office and a roster that is more set for next year than not, “First, do no harm” should be the primary order of business. Too many times in this franchise’s recent past, it’s failed to heed that advice."