In the very early morning yesterday, aside from the pre FA news about Bogdan Bogdanovic signing the Kings kept having meetings with very little news. Even Otto Porter who was offered a 4 year maximum offer did not sign the offer sheet with us. Likewise , Andre Iguodala took his offer from us and got a similar per year deal with his home team Golden State Warriors.
I watched most of this with eager trepidation. While I wanted us to make an impact, we have nine players in their first or second year and Trill is only in his third season. We have the youngest team in the league, so I wanted us to focus on getting productive veterans (that would be the veterans mentors for our young core) that did not kill our cap flexibility, nor take time from the kids who needed to grow together on the court. So the Otto Porter contract (while he was young) scared the crap out of me.
Finally I woke up (on the fourth of July no less) to HUGE news, the Sacramento Kings (who desperately needed another point guard, and a small forward, and to a lesser extent another big man) checked off not one but two of those needs off the list within mere minutes of each other. They first signed PG George Hill who was the fourth, or fifth best Pre-FA pg, depending on how you view him vs Jrue Holiday. I have him ahead, especially for my Kings who needed a mentor more, then they needed more youth who might block productive minutes on the court from going to the two newly drafted Kings point guards.
Source: https://media.giphy.com/media/PVOuSVjlp1GBW/giphy. gif
Hill scored nearly 17 per game last season and hit over 40 percent of his treys for the second straight season. His assist totals are a tad low but all in all 3 yrs for 57 million (while a bit of an overpay) seems about right. He at the time, since we missed out on Collison (who had spent the last several years with us) was the last starting type pg available. I also hear that his contract is easy to get out of in the third season, similar to two of the contracts we saved huge money with this season by waiving them. I am beyond psyched to add a veteran of his caliber. Sure he may have injury concerns but if you think about it that ensures the youngsters have the possibility to play even more, especially our second rounder Frank Mason.
At the other end of the spectrum, we also signed Zach Randolph (to a two year 24 million dollar deal) as well. While we kinda needed a shooting big, a bit more then a traditional type of big man I still really like the signing. First of all, Zach can either start or come off the bench. He was actually fourth in 6th man of the year voting last season. He can teach toughness to all our big men and regarding Giles and Papa G he can show them, especially Giles how to be effective without being as athletic. Giles was of course SUPER athletic prior to the knee injuries and is saying he is 100 percent but he can only benefit from the tutelage of the 16 yr veteran. I expect Randolph to play about 24 minutes per game.
source: https://media3.giphy.com/media/Iqm1BpuogdDfG/giphy. gif
What I like most besides the mentoring aspect of these two signings, is the fact that now all of our young guys, regardless of the position they play will have to earn their minutes. Both of the guys can still play at a very high level too. Also Randolph is still a very good rebounder. He averaged 8 rebounds in under 25 minutes per game last season. That was a weakness for the Kings, (after the Cousins trade) although Giles does have a chance to be a very good rebounder in the future.
Source: slamonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/geroge_hill_zach_randolph_kings_fb-300x169. jpg
We now need a small forward. I am personally hoping for either Vince Carter, or C.J. Miles personally.
The Kings roster is really starting to shape up now.
PG- Hill/Fox/Mason
SG- Buddy/Bogdan/Richardson
SF- Temple/Jackson/FA
PF- Skal/Randolph/Giles
C- Trill/Randolph/Koufos/Papa G
Thanks for reading! What team do you follow, and how do you feel about your offseason so far?
Interesting that Randolph left Memphis. I think he will be a good player for the Kings
Yeah, that kind of shocked me too to be honest.
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Sacremento has surprised me this off-season! They, in my opinion, were one of draft nights' big winners and so far are looking to be winners in free agency also!
Thanks for the props! Who is your favorite team?
I am sad to say I am a Knicks fan but mainly because KP is my boy!!!!
Was this you two years ago lol jk
well no Ironically I am a Knicks fan because he was drafted to them. I have only been a fan of basketball since 2015 when he got drafted so I knew nothing about basketball and was like " Lemme find a cool young player that has potential" Then I did and now I find myself loving the sport!
That is an awesome story. He is becoming a real stud too.
He truly is a unicorn with what he can do with his size nevermind him just being 21 years old, meaning he just gonna get better!
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