Changing the Kings' prospects

[Crow]

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/20/499881 ... kings.html

Anyone want to offer a set of changes to the roster and the way they play?

[Bobbofitos]

Hard to disagree with that article. Kings are somewhat of a laughingstock.

[Crow]

After just a few minutes of looking, I think I'd trade anyone on the team including Cousins (and as many as possible for decent or semi-decent and different behavior / returns) but would probably retain at least one of Robinson / Thompson and at least one of Fredette / Thomas (probably Thomas as Fredette's RAPM estimate is horrendous but he might get trade value back right now) and start to rebuild around that.

I'd get a new coach and GM. I'd probably emphasize trying to build a good offense first over defense to start the climb as it is probably easier and more realistic.

In the short-run I'd play J. Fredette | T. Robinson | J. Salmons (or others) | J. Thompson | M. Thornton (or others) more.

In general I'd shorten the rotation of players and lineups used. Hayes and Brooks would still play. Evans would play and shoot less. Garcia and Outlaw would play less or not at all. Johnson might get a few more weeks to determine whether he sits or plays more. Right now it appears he should sit.

[Mike G]

It's hard to figure the decline of Tyreke Evans. As a rookie, he looked like a franchise player. Apparently his effectiveness was mostly about quickness, and his topped out at 20 ?

Jimmer has superstar numbers, as a 10 mpg sub -- 23.9 PER and .196 WS/48 (up from 10.8 and .012), shooting .632 AND leads the team in Ast%.
Isaiah Thomas was a shocker for a #30 pick last year, and he improved every month.
This year, all his numbers have tanked. Ast% from 26 to 16, FTA/36 from 4.0 to 2.3, WS/48 from .124 to .028
His eWins/484 are down less severely, from 1.06 to .54. Jimmer is up but also less dramatically, from .27 to 1.17

[Dr Positivity]

Tyreke's rookie season was IMO a result of teams' scouting not catching up on how to play him yet. Tyreke only did really two things well his rookie season, drive to the rim in the halfcourt and take the ball coast to coast off a rebound. Without a jumpshot or really being a threat to pass on like any drive, it's easy to gameplan him in the halfcourt to just protect the drive, and likewise for the transition play I'm guessing they just planned on defending against it. My system of grading talent has Tyreke as an average to below average talent. Because what Tyreke is great at (driving to the basket and finishing) only is accounted for in 1/3 of what I take into account in regards into talent, and he basically throws close to a gutterball on the other 2/3s. IMO most people are judging the Kings backcourt lotto picks talent wrong - Jimmer is the all-star talent and Tyreke is the bust. I think Jimmer's perimeter skill talent is worth as much as Tyreke's physical tools, and Jimmer is smart/has court vision while Tyreke is awful in that category. Jimmer does well with 2/3 of talent to me and bombs the other 1/3, which Tyreke dominates in but bombs the 2/3 Jimmer does well in. Game, set, match Jimmer

If I'm the Kings I trade Tyreke ASAP and try Jimmer and Thornton a lot of minutes together this year, if Jimmer can pass enough to make it work, nice fit because of the spacing, especially because of providing space to Cousins inside and vica versa. Sort of a darkest timeline version of Curry/Klay. That's a decent start. Not sure what to make of Robinson, I'm not a fan of his talent but I guess I could see him having an Oakley type of role in the league as basically a guy who rebounds, hits midrange jumpshots and is a dick to play against. Upside doesn't impress me and I think there's a pretty big risk of him being Jordan Hill 2.0

[Bobbofitos]

Jimmer is most certainly not the all star talent. He would struggle to guard Aaron Barzilai in the halfcourt, much less an NBA caliber player.

[v-zero]

Jimmer is most certainly not the all star talent. He would struggle to guard Aaron Barzilai in the halfcourt, much less an NBA caliber player.

Agreed, Jimmer is pretty awful. As a starter he might just be the worst starter in the league.

[talkingpractice]

I have Jimmer at < 3 per 100 on defense. Even Dave Berri (the only person who thinks Jimmer is any good) would get off for 30 on Jimmer.

[v-zero]

I have Jimmer at < 3 per 100 on defense. Even Dave Berri (the only person who thinks Jimmer is any good) would get off for 30 on Jimmer.

Whilst I'm not defending the flaws in Wins Produced as a predictive stat, I should point out that even it has him as a -2 overall for last season.