[BMA1078]

Time to get Kevin Martin out of here. Package him with Noc for someone, anyone...now.

[Slick Nick]

After tonight's "shooting" performance in Orlando we could have said that about half the team.

[Long]

Finally? I was calling for it last year. This year has only strengthened my thoughts.

[KingsExaminer]

The team is 3-18 on the road this season. How about we wait until we see these guys get comfortable (at home)?

The worst thing we can do is overreact and rush into something. We are not in a hurry. We've got a top 10 scorer in the league and people are clamoring to just ship him out at any cost. Get serious.

[EJay]

BMA1078, on 22 January 2010 - 09:32 PM, said:

Time to get Kevin Martin out of here. Package him with Noc for someone, anyone...now.

Let's say for one minute that you're right and Kevin can't co-exist with Evans. How the hell do you fail to pile on Thompson and Hawes when they've been worse? The front line is the the team's biggest problem yet you want to bring up and deal with a problem lower that's on the totem pole.

I don't get it.

[EJay]

Slick Nick, on 22 January 2010 - 10:01 PM, said:

After tonight's "shooting" performance in Orlando we could have said that about half the team.

Martin only took 7 shots in 41 minutes. He obviously recognized that his shot wasn't falling and deferred to others. He contributed 5 rebounds and 5 assists tonight, which is pretty good for a 2-guard. And that's exactly what many of you were bitching about him not doing .. other things besides scoring. The past 2 games, Martin has 9 rebs and 10 assists.

[BMA1078]

Package those stiffs in a deal with him as well. I'm sure Petrie can swindle Hawes and or Thompson off on somebody.

[Long]

EJay, on 22 January 2010 - 11:05 PM, said:

Let's say for one minute that you're right and Kevin can't co-exist with Evans. How the hell do you fail to pile on Thompson and Hawes when they've been worse? The front line is the the team's biggest problem yet you want to bring up and deal with a problem lower that's on the totem pole.

I don't get it.

FWIW, I never liked Spencer either and that was from the minute they drafted him.

[Long]

Now that people are coming down hard on Spencer and Thompson, are you going to admit that Petrie really hasn't been that good? Like I said a few weeks ago, the Evans pick was a no brainer.

[Happy]

Long, on 23 January 2010 - 09:46 AM, said:

FWIW, I never liked Spencer either and that was from the minute they drafted him.

I cant stand Spencer either and never could. He is SOFTand has little to no post game. Whens the last time you saw him dunk on somebody, or even take it strong? Hes a 7'1 wing player who jacks up Ill advised 3's, is weak on D,the boards and only averages 2 ast per game.

[KingsExaminer]

Long, on 23 January 2010 - 07:48 AM, said:

Now that people are coming down hard on Spencer and Thompson, are you going to admit that Petrie really hasn't been that good? Like I said a few weeks ago, the Evans pick was a no brainer.

I'm not going to admit that. People got spoiled by our early season success. The fact is, we are very early in our rebuilding effort. Thompson is still a 14 and 9 player in his 2nd season from Rider. The Evans pick was not a no brainer; it only seems that way now because the guy has become such a stud. Plenty of people were pulling for Ricky Rubio or Jonny Flynn. Hawes can't be defended right now, other than to say he's only 21. I'd hardly be ready to label him a bust. A disappointment this season, yes.

Petrie smartly won't rush into any useless deals. You don't just give away players like Martin until you know for sure it's a lost cause. After 5 games? Uh, no.

How about Omri Casspi and Jon Brockman? Petrie deserves credit there. Or are we already giving up on Casspi because he's had 2 bad weeks?

[Slick Nick]

Did you ever think about becoming a psychologist or a hostage negotiator? Because after statements like that, I'm going to come back off of the ledge.

[Long]

KingsExaminer, on 23 January 2010 - 09:52 AM, said:

Hawes can't be defended right now, other than to say he's only 21.

But we should be expecting more from him in his THIRD season. Seems he hasn't improved at all.

[NutterReborn]

I watched the Bulls v Suns game last night and I think I thought to myself at least 5 different times "One pick away from Noah"

[cynic]

NutterReborn, on 23 January 2010 - 01:51 PM, said:

I watched the Bulls v Suns game last night and I think I thought to myself at least 5 different times "One pick away from Noah"

Man if only...I was furious at the original Hawes pick too. I said he's Brad Miller 2.0, and it looks like that's what he's going to be.

[EJay]

Long, on 23 January 2010 - 07:48 AM, said:

Now that people are coming down hard on Spencer and Thompson, are you going to admit that Petrie really hasn't been that good? Like I said a few weeks ago, the Evans pick was a no brainer.

Why would I? Overall, he has been good. Look at his draft history. Considering his draft position most of the years, I think he's done quite well.

Has he missed on some picks? Yep. But so has Jerry West and some of the other elite GM's in the league.

Since '94, the Kings have made 4 top 10 picks:

1994- Brian Grant (8)
1998- Jason Williams (7)
2007- Spencer Hawes (10)
2009- Tyreke Evans (4)

Grant and Williams both had long, productive careers while Tyreke looks like he'll be a star. Hawes is the only real question mark among the 4.

Outside the top 10, Petrie has made some really good picks in Corliss Williamson (13), Peja Stojakovic (14), Gerald Wallace (25), Kevin Martin (26), Michael Smith (35), and Lawrence Funderburke (51).

Obviously the jury is still out on Thompson, Casspi, Brockman, and, really, Garcia.

Point is, Petrie has hit on most of his high picks and has done quite well with the lower picks, especially those in the 20's. That's not easy to do.

Long, on 23 January 2010 - 11:15 AM, said:

But we should be expecting more from him in his THIRD season. Seems he hasn't improved at all.

I agree 100%. Hawes has regressed IMO. When he first came into the league, it seemed like he had some low post skills that would seemingly get better. He's all but abandoned that part of his game and lives on the perimeter. While he's shown some flashes of aggressive play (remember the Lakers game a few years back when he dunked in transition to seal the game?), he mostly plays really soft.

By now, you know if he's gonna be a player or not. And he's nothing more than capable backup or maybe a starter on a team that needs it's center to be an outside threat. Unfortunately, that's not what the Kings need from him.

As for Thompson, I'm willing to give him one more year .. but it isn't looking good thus far. There was a stretch of time during the first couple weeks of the season that he looked impressive and showed flashes of becoming a damn good player. But it suddenly came to a stop and he's back to playing tentatively and in foul trouble all the time. Plus, I'm sick of all the whining. Just play ball.

IMO, had Joakim Noah slipped to #12, Petrie would have drafted him instead of Thompson. I have little doubt about that.

[KingsExaminer]

EJay, on 23 January 2010 - 03:49 PM, said:

IMO, had Joakim Noah slipped to #12, Petrie would have drafted him instead of Thompson. I have little doubt about that.

Different drafts. Noah went one pick ahead of Hawes, which is what Nutter was referring to.

[BrokenFist]

EJay, on 23 January 2010 - 05:49 PM, said:

Lawrence Funderburke (51).

I miss Fundy!

[since1998]

KingsExaminer, on 24 January 2010 - 01:52 AM, said:

I'm not going to admit that. People got spoiled by our early season success. The fact is, we are very early in our rebuilding effort. Thompson is still a 14 and 9 player in his 2nd season from Rider. The Evans pick was not a no brainer; it only seems that way now because the guy has become such a stud. Plenty of people were pulling for Ricky Rubio or Jonny Flynn. Hawes can't be defended right now, other than to say he's only 21. I'd hardly be ready to label him a bust. A disappointment this season, yes.

Petrie smartly won't rush into any useless deals. You don't just give away players like Martin until you know for sure it's a lost cause. After 5 games? Uh, no.

How about Omri Casspi and Jon Brockman? Petrie deserves credit there. Or are we already giving up on Casspi because he's had 2 bad weeks?

Now, I admit, I was spoiled by these energetic, hustling, competing Kings of November-December 2009. Petrie should still fix the logjam in the SF position. I think Westphal is now confused on whom he'll give playing time. I think its better that Westphal has only nine players on his team which I think he's best at: Coaching on maximum player utilization and efficiency. Then that leads to motivation, experience and confidence. Then generates rhythm, chemistry and trust. Watching today's game vs the Heat, the Kings look like summer league auditions.

Here's to hoping for a Kings win in Detriot, Feb. 10, 2010. Go Kings!

[cynic]

Hawes is the 2nd softest center in the league, right above Brad Miller.