Quantcast
Channel: SB Nation - Sacramento Kings
Viewing all 2536 articles
Browse latest View live

Woj: Nets interested in Marcus Thornton

0
0

In the latest twist in trade chatter, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Nets are interested in Kings wing Marcus Thornton. Woj reports that the Nets are interested in flipping Jason Terry and Reggie Evans for Thornton.

Later, Woj noted that talks have been ongoing, and are expected to continue.

Talks on the deal have gathered momentum in recent days, sources told Yahoo Sports, and are expected to continue until Thursday's trade deadline.

He also noted that the length of Jarrett Jack's contract makes a proposed Jack-for-Terry deal unlikely.

Brooklyn has discussed a deal involving Terry for Cleveland's Jarrett Jack, too, but sources tell Yahoo Sports that is an unlikely scenario based on the length of Jack's contract, which guarantees a total of $12.6 million in the final two years of his deal through the 2015-16 season

Woj noted that by the Nets going after Thornton, they are not out of the Jordan Hill sweepstakes.

Thornton has $8 million coming his way this season then is fully guaranteed $8.5 million next season. After that, Thornton comes off the books. Thornton is 26 years old and for his career has averaged 13 points per game on 43% shooting from the floor, a shade under 36% from beyond the arc, but only one assist per game. Thornton has averaged 21 points per game in his half-year stint with the Kings in 2011, he also played 38 minutes per game.

This year, he's having the worst year of his career, putting up only 8.3 points and shooting barely above 30 percent from deep.  Thornton has the reputation as a gunner and isn't a strong defender.  Terry and Evans make a combined $7.4 million this year.  A straight-up deal would thus save the Nets more than $3 million in luxury tax and open up another roster spot.  The Nets have had interest in Thornton at various points in his six-year career.

One thing is for sure, the Nets, who were thought to be conservative at this year's deadline, are quite aggressive and looking to improve right now.

Trade Rumor: SacTown Royalty's Perspective


Special StR Ticket Offer for 2/25 game against the Houston Rockets

0
0

The Kings are offering Sactown Royalty members a special price for next Tuesday's matchup against the visiting Houston Rockets.

With the trade deadline all around us it's almost easy to forget that there are actual games left to be played.

A week from now the Kings will be hosting the Rockets to try to win the season series, and the Kings have generously provided a discounted group rate for Sactown Royalty members to attend the game.  Using the discount link below, you can get upper level tickets for as low as $14 and lower level seats for just $58 with no additional fees.

The pricing for the tickets that will be found in the link is as follows:

  • Lower corner = $58
  • Upper sideline = $26
  • Upper corner = $19
  • Upper baseline = $14

Click Here -> Buy Tickets Here

Special Code: kings

All StR users who purchase tickets through this link will also receive a bonus Kings drawstring bag, pictured below:

Bag_medium

Those bags will be available to purchasers at the Redemption Central table located on the concourse at section 104.

A big thank you to the Kings for providing this and all the other offers they have given us this season.  There are just 15 home games left this season so if you haven't been able to go to a game yet, or want to catch one before the season's over, this is as good an opportunity as you can get.

NBA trade rumors: Kings guard Isaiah Thomas is on the market, per report

0
0

Sacramento's starting point guard is set to make quite a bit of money in restricted free agency.

Isaiah Thomas is having the best season of his career in Sacramento, but the Kings are still willing to part with the 25-year-old point guard before he reaches restricted free agency this summer, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

Bookmark This

Thomas was reportedly included with Ben McLemore and draft picks in a trade pitch to the Boston Celtics in an effort to bring back Rajon Rondo, but that deal fell through. Still, the trade attempt made it clear that the Kings are willing to part with Thomas for the right price.

Thomas, the last pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, is making less than $1 million this season, which is a remarkably small number considering his production. The Kings are about to head into restricted free agency with him, where he is expected to garner a significant amount of attention.

Thomas is averaging 20.2 points and 6.3 assists per game, but his diminutive 5'8 frame might be a cause for concern, both for the Kings, and for any team mulling over a big, long-term money for the point guard.

There's no question that Thomas can put up points, and he has been great in the fourth quarter all season. He has value, but exactly how much remains a question.

More from SB Nation NBA:

The Hook: What's Rajon Rondo worth? | Kings make big offer

Every NBA trade rumor | NBA newsletter: Good morning, it's rumor central

Trade deadline previews | Will Love stay or go? | Lakers face Pau decision

Ziller: The best (and worst) of NBA All-Star Weekend

Flannery: Kobe's basketball mortality | Shootaround: New age of stars

Sacramento Kings trade rumors: The NBA's most active cellar-dweller

0
0

Isaiah Thomas is reportedly on the block, but what about the rest of the roster?

The typical path for the various cellar-dwellers around the league this season has been the "tanking" route in an effort to secure the highest possible pick in the draft; on top of that, they're almost all in the "sellers" market, looking to unload pricey assets to acquire young talent and/or draft picks.

Bookmark This

But not the Sacramento Kings. Despite being tied for the worst record in the Western Conference, this team is looking to take action now. It's already forked over the big bucks to 'Boogie' (DeMarcus Cousins) and made the decision to bring in guys like Derrick Williams and Rudy Gay along the way. The Kings also owe a first-round pick to the Chicago Bulls (via Cleveland) for J.J. Hickson (ugh), but it's top-12 protected this season, which makes it all the more interesting that they're trying to add veteran assets at this point in the season. Right now they're well within that bottom-12 bubble, and with this draft coming up, why not just hang out in that spot?

Still, there seems to be a plan in place. On top of the acquisitions they've already made, they recently attempted to lure Rajon Rondo from Boston. It appears Sacramento wants to get good now by bringing in proven veterans rather than delving once again into the uncertainty of the NBA Draft. And who can blame them?

All the Kings' men

The Kings actually have an interesting roster, one that doesn't appear on the surface as if it should be 18-35 at the All-Star break. But they're still quite bad defensively — though they're steadily improving — and Cousins and Isaiah Thomas aren't much helping that. Sacramento has already shown interest in bringing in a franchise-caliber point guard in Rondo, which means they're likely not sold on the thought of employing the tiny Thomas as their starter for the long haul. He's a very exciting offensive player, but he's a major liability on the defensive end and he's more of a scorer than a facilitator, so it kind of makes sense. Besides, he'll be entering restricted free agency this summer and will likely command a pretty substantial salary on the open market for his services.

Sacramento could also use an athletic "four" to put alongside Cousins, preferably of the "stretch" variety. Cousins takes up plenty of space on the block and in the paint, and he's an absolute monster from there with the ball in his hands. A power forward who can shoot the ball would be a hugely valuable asset, especially if he's also capable of defending in space against the pick-and-roll, something 'Boogie' does poorly.

But great point guards and "stretch fours" are difficult to come by in this league. Everybody wants them, and those who have them want to keep them. So what can the Kings offer?

Assets

While they're still $10 million below the luxury-tax line, the Kings are all capped-out, which means they have zero flexibility to take on any contracts that exceed 150 percent of their outgoing price tags, per NBA rules. They also don't have the ability to trade their first-round pick as it belongs to the Bulls via the Luol Deng trade to Cleveland. (The Cavs originally owned it but sent it to Chicago in exchange for the small forward.)

They have some intriguing, tradable young talent in Sacramento, but given that McLemore is apparently off the marketand Thomas is a difficult piece to trade, it will be interesting to watch moving forward. Thomas' contract — worth less than $1 million — won't be able to bring back much in equal value, especially considering his performance this season. On top of that, teams are going to have to pay a pretty penny to employ him. It might not be worth it despite the fact he's putting up 20.2 points and 6.3 assists per game.

The Kings might be one of the active teams at the moment, but they're running out of assets to pitch and moves to make if they'd like to get better with less than 48 hours until the Feb. 20 afternoon deadline.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NBA NEWSLETTER

Get news, links and Ziller's #hottakes in your inbox every weekday morning.

More from SB Nation NBA:

The Hook: What's Rajon Rondo worth? | Kings make big offer

Every NBA trade rumor | NBA newsletter: Good morning, it's rumor central

Trade deadline previews | Will Love stay or go? | Lakers face Pau decision

Ziller: The best (and worst) of NBA All-Star Weekend

Flannery: Kobe's basketball mortality | Shootaround: New age of stars

Report: Isaiah Thomas is available

0
0

Will the Kings trade their Point Guard this week in the face of a potential luxury tax bill?

Isaiah Thomas is in the midst of his best season to date, averaging 20.2 points and 6.3 assists a game (21.5 and 6.9 as a starter).  He is in the last of his three year rookie contract, set to become a Restricted Free Agent this summer.  He and Kyle Lowry will be the premiere Point Guard Free Agents this summer.

Thomas also appears to be the most valuable piece the Kings are willing to give up in a trade, as ESPN's Marc Stein reports:

Now there's an important distinction to be made here.  It's one thing for a player like Thomas to be available, and a whole other for him to be traded.  Anyone, and I mean anyone, on this team is available if the right offer came along.

With regards to Thomas, I wrote yesterday that if the Kings were to trade him, they would be smart to do so now when his value is the highest it has ever been and likely will be.  He's a player that is ready to contribute at a high level immediately, has a small cap hit for this season, and will be a restricted free agent this summer, meaning that team will have key control over his free agency (Note that all these advantages apply to Sacramento as well if they don't trade him).

One potential issue with Thomas lies in the fact that his re-signing this summer could put the Kings over the luxury tax.  As of this moment, the Kings have about $68.2 million in salary obligations next year if Rudy Gay opts into the final year of his contract.  That number doesn't take into account Thomas or the Kings 1st round pick next year.  Let's assume that the Kings pick 7th again.  That would bump the Kings cap to $71.1 million. Per ShamSports, the 2014 Luxury Tax Threshold is $71.748 million.  Even if the cap is increased by a couple million (which would be a big change), that pretty much guarantees that re-signing Thomas would put Sacramento over the cap.  That's also for just an 11 man roster, 12 man if you add Isaiah, meaning the Kings would need another player just to be at the minimum roster limit.

The ideal scenario for Sacramento is for Rudy Gay to opt out of his contract and sign a longer extension for a smaller annual amount.  That would give the Kings plenty of room to re-sign Isaiah without hitting the tax.  But if he doesn't, the Kings should probably still sign Isaiah, because the tax hit will only last a year, with the Kings obligations falling dramatically after next year (Gay, Thornton, Outlaw all come off the books) and even more if Thompson and Landry are moved for smaller contracts.

So yes, Isaiah Thomas is available, but if I was a betting man, he's going to remain a King because the asking price will be high, and rightly so.  Thomas is young, improving and already playing at a high level.  He might not be a "pass-first" Point Guard, but his 6.9 assists a game as a starter would rank him 10th in the entire league, and his 21.5 points a game would tie him with Kyrie Irving and trail just Stephen Curry among all Point Guards, and he's in just his 3rd year.  That's not a player you get rid of without getting something substantial in return.

NBA trade rumors: Marcus Thornton trade to Nets making progress

0
0

The Nets and Kings are moving closer to a deal, which would see Marcus Thornton head to Brooklyn.

The Nets and Kings are reportedly making continued progress on a trade that would see Jason Terry and Reggie Evans head to Sacramento in exchange for guard Marcus Thorntonaccording to Sam Amick of USA Today Sports.

News of the potential deal broke on Tuesday afternoon when Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported that the two teams were discussing the trade. Per Wojnarowski's report, the parameters of the deal involve a Thornton for Terry and Evans swap, although the length of the talks indicate that other pieces might be involved.

Bookmark This

Thornton is making $8 million this season and is also owed $8.5 million in the 2014-15 campaign before his contract comes off the books. The 26-year-old guard is averaging just 8.3 points per game on 38% shooting from the floor, although for his career, Thornton has averaged 13.5 points per contest and a 43.2% field goal percentage. Back in 2010-11, the five-year guard was a fixture in the Kings lineup, averaging 34.9 minutes a night and 18.7 points per game before seeing his minutes decrease over the last couple of seasons.

Terry and Evans are set to earn a combined $7.4 million this year, meaning the trade would save the Nets over $3 million in luxury tax, while also opening up another roster spot. The contracts for both Terry and Evans expire after the season, making neither too much of a financial burden for the Kings.

With the Nets currently sitting in seventh place in the Eastern Conference (but only four games out of third place), the team is clearly trying to improve, though shedding some money from their luxury tax bill is also a concern. The Kings are simply looking to dump Thornton's contract and add two veteran players who will fit in as rotation pieces for the rest of the season, while also opening up cap space for this offseason and beyond.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NBA NEWSLETTER

Get news, links and Ziller's #hottakes in your inbox every weekday morning.

Kings vs. Warriors Preview: Back in action

0
0

The Kings get ready to finish off the season with a visit from their Bay Area rivals. They'll have to do it without DeMarcus Cousins and possibly Marcus Thornton.

The All-Star break is over and now the Kings get ready to take on the Warriors (7:00 pm on Comcast SportsNet California and KHTK 1140) in the first of their 29 remaining games. DeMarcus Cousins is doubtful with a strained hip flexor, and Marcus Thornton might be out with a case of the traded to the Nets.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME

Rudy Gay vs. Andre Iguodala

Without Cousins, Gay is going to be the focal point of Sacramento's offense and he's going up against perhaps the best perimeter defender in the NBA.  If he gets shut down, the Kings have very little chance of winning this game.  Conversely, he'll have to work on the defensive end to make sure Iguodala doesn't contribute more offensively than is normal, since that's just a bonus for the Warriors.

3 THINGS

1. Golden State isn't fully healthy either.  Andrew Bogut is questionable for tonight, and Festus Ezeli and Nemanja Nedovic remain out.  Those losses aren't nearly as meaningful as the Kings playing without Cousins, but it;s still something, especially defensively where Bogut is an anchor.

2. The Warriors will come out looking to win this game at any cost.  At this point in the season they're not just worried about playoff seeding, they're worried about making the playoffs at all.  The Suns, Warriors, Mavericks and Grizzlies are all within a game of each other, and one of them will end up missing the playoffs.  For Golden State, every game is a must win, especially against bad teams like Sacramento.

3. When you think Warriors, you tend to think of incredible offense, but the Warriors have actually been a similar offensive team to the Kings this year.  They're just 12th in Offensive Rating (Kings are 13th).  Instead, the Warriors have been fantastic on defense with the 3rd best defensive rating in the league.  Bogut's a big part of that, but so is Andre Iguodala.

PRE-GAME HAIKU

The break is over.
The playoffs are out of reach,
but don't stop trying.

PREDICTION

Kings 118, Warriors 101 after a laundry mixup has the Kings and the Warriors wearing each other's jerseys.

Aldridge: Nets 'finalize' deal for Marcus Thornton, send Jason Terry and Reggie Evans to Kings

0
0

According to David Aldridge, the Nets and Kings have a deal in place that will send Jason Terry and Reggie Evans to the Kings in exchange for Marcus Thornton. This after hearing from multiple outlets that a deal was close.

Thornton is averaging just 8.3 points and a career-low 38.1 percent shooting from the floor, but over his career he's been better, averaging 13.5 points, and during the 2010-11 season averaged 21.3 points in 27 games as a member of the Sacramento Kings.

Earlier, there were multiple reports are starting to come out regarding an imminent trade between the Sacramento Kings and the Brooklyn Nets that would send Marcus Thornton to Brooklyn in exchange for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans.

We've reported on this deal several times over the past 24 hours as details started to trickle in, but now, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Ken Berger of CBS Sports and Howard Beck of Bleacher Report, the deal is nearing its final stages.

Now, the Nets have Thornton, a scorer off the bench, and were able to get younger without giving up any real assets


Report: Kings and Nets nearing completion on Marcus Thornton for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans deal

0
0

The Bayou Bomber is Brooklyn bound.

Yesterday a report came out from Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski that the Kings and Nets were in discussions regarding a trade of Marcus Thornton for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans.  Now multiple reports have come out in the last hour that the trade is nearing completion.

As of yet, no additional players or teams have been added to the deal.

For Sacramento, this trade doesn't save that much money (about $956,000 next year), but it does break up Thornton's contract into two smaller pieces and also gives the Kings a couple of veterans on cheap deals that will both be expiring contracts next season.  Terry can also act as a secondary ball handler in a pinch.

Thornton is having a career-worst year in almost every category, but Brooklyn must believe that he can return to his former self as a bench scorer surrounded by multiple veterans on a playoff team.

If this trade goes through as is, it's probably not the last move the Kings make before Thursday.  At the very least I expect the Kings to trade Jimmer Fredette if only to get something of value for him before he leaves in Free Agency this offseason.  Woj reported yesterday that the Kings have had discussions with several teams regarding Fredette, and in Sports Illustrated's trade breakdown today, they mentioned the Wizards as one of the teams interested.  Jason Thompson and Carl Landry will also likely be shopped, but their long term deals will make it tough to move them.

UPDATE 10:36 AM: Per David Aldridge and Adrian Wojnarowski, the deal structure is in place but there is still some slight haggling on the Kings possibly sending a future 2nd round pick to the Nets.  Here's a link to the Kings current future pick obligations.

UPDATE 10:40 AM:SportsCenter is reporting the trade has been agreed to in principle.

UPDATE: 10:44 AM:

UPDATE 2:10 PM: The Kings have sent out a press release on the trade.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. ---- The Sacramento Kings today acquired guard Jason Terry and forward Reggie Evans from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for guard Marcus Thornton, according to Kings General Manager Pete D'Alessandro.

"Adding Jason and Reggie provides our roster with toughness and veteran leadership that will help this team continue to grow," said D'Alessandro. "They bring a wealth of NBA experience to Sacramento that will undoubtedly make a positive impact on our younger players. We also thank Marcus for his contributions and wish him great success going forward."

Terry, a 15-year NBA veteran, has accrued career averages of 15.4 points (.446 FG%, .379 3pt%, .846 FT%), 2.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.31 steals and 32.5 minutes per game in 1136 contests with the Atlanta Hawks (1999-2004), Dallas Mavericks (2004-2012), Boston Celtics (2012-13) and Nets (2013-14).

A member of the 2011 NBA Champion Mavericks, Terry was also named the league's 2009 Sixth Man of the Year after posting one of his best campaigns as a professional, registering 19.6 points (.463 FG%, .366 3pt%, .880 FT%), 2.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.32 steals in 74 games for Dallas. Additionally, the 6-2 guard touts 93 playoff games on his resume, including 21 appearances during the Mavs run toward a championship when he tallied 17.5 points (.478 FG%, .442 3pt%, .843 FT%), 1.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists.

Terry won a National Championship at the University of Arizona in 1997 and two seasons later earned First-Team All American and Pac-10 Player of the Year honors before being selected 10th overall in the 1999 NBA Draft.

In Evans, the Kings receive a veteran known for his rebounding, hustle and tenacious style of play. Through 12 NBA seasons, the 6-10 forward is averaging 4.0 points (.465 FG%, .521 FT%) and 7.2 rebounds per game in 738 career contests with the Seattle Supersonics (2002-03 - 2005-06), Denver Nuggets (2005-06 - 2006-07), Philadelphia 76ers (2007-08 - 2008-09), Toronto Raptors (2009-10 - 2010-11), L.A. Clippers (2011-12) and Brooklyn Nets (2012-13 - 2013-14).

Acquired by Sacramento in February 2011, Thornton was in his fourth season with the Kings after spending two campaigns with New Orleans prior to being selected 43rd overall in the 2009 NBA Draft. Through 315 career games, he is averaging 13.5 points (.432 FG%, .359 3pt%, .830 FT%), 3.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26.3 minutes per game. Thornton twice matched his career-high in a Kings uniform, registering 42 points on Mar. 14, 2011 versus Golden State and matching the output this season on Jan. 24 against the Indiana Pacers.

NBA trade rumor: Pelicans want to trade Eric Gordon or Tyreke Evans

0
0

The Pelicans are look at trade possibilities for either of their highly-paid guards.

Bookmark This

The New Orleans Pelicans are "working hard" to trade either Tyreke Evans or Eric Gordon before the Feb. 20 deadline, reports Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. The Pelicans acquired Gordon in the package that sent Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers and signed Evans to a four-year, $44 million contract last summer.

The Pelicans have struggled this season, however, putting together a 23-29 record leading up to the All-Star break. Evans has struggled in his first season away from the Sacramento Kings, averaging 12.6 points on 41 percent shooting. His three-point shooting has been terrible, shooting just 14 percent from beyond the arc.

Gordon has been another question mark for the franchise. He's missed significant time in his first two years of the franchise and is currently averaging a career-low 15.8 points per game. In 2012 he signed a maximum-contract offer sheet with the Phoenix Suns as a restricted free agent but the Pelicans matched the contract.

The Pelicans have been tweaking their roster since trading Paul and going under new ownership. The team has begun building around 2012 first-overall pick Anthony Davis, but injuries have stalled their season. It's unclear what the asking price for either Gordon or Evans could be, and both players come with significant salary implications.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NBA NEWSLETTER

Get news, links and Ziller's #hottakes in your inbox every weekday morning.

Marcus Thornton traded to Nets for Jason Terry and Reggie Evans

0
0

The Nets were looking to add some bench help, and they've done that in the form of Thornton.

The Brooklyn Nets have acquired Marcus Thornton from the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Jason Terry and Reggie Evansaccording to NBA.com's David AldridgeThe Nets have also announced the deal.

The Nets were looking to improve their bench for the stretch run, and negotiations intensified with the Kings on Tuesday before the deal was ultimately finalized on Wednesday. No picks were involved in the deal.

After averaging double-figure scoring for the past three seasons, Thornton's production has dropped in 2013-14 as the Kings doled out inconsistent minutes to the shooting guard.  he 26-year-old is averaging just 8.3 points on the year and posting career-worst shooting percentages.

Thornton became expendable this offseason when Sacramento used its lottery pick on Kansas shooting guard Ben McLemore, who can step into a bigger role on a team that has a lack of depth at the 2-guard position. Thornton's contract runs through the 2014-15 season, and he's being paid $8.1 million this season with a salary bump that will pay him $8.6 million next year.

Bookmark This

Nevertheless, Thornton upgrades the Nets' bench. The five-year guard may be having a rough season, but during his time with the Kings, he did show an ability to score in volume when given the opportunity. Terry has dealt with injuries this year and has been bad when he has played, while Evans has also contributed very little.

Brooklyn does add nearly $3 million in luxury tax payments with this deal, but at this point, that's a small amount in the grand scheme of things. The Nets may not even be done adding salary, as Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports they're progressing on adding Los Angeles Lakers forward Jordan Hill with their Disabled Player Exception.

Wojnarowski, as well as ESPN's Marc Stein and Ohm Youngmisuk, both reported the Nets and Kings were on the verge of a deal.

Kings vs. Warriors Fan Predictions

0
0

Link to The Leaderboard

Below are a series of prediction questions for tonight's game. The first four questions will be asked every game, while the 5th will change each game.

Point value for predictions are listed next to the questions. If you believe that more than one player will lead a category, you can vote for multiple players, and this is worth double points if you are correct, but zero if you are wrong. Alternately, if you only guess one player when multiple players are tied, you get zero points.

All submissions must be input before tip-off. Any submissions after tip-off will not count. You are allowed only one submission and may not change unless specifically stated.

Questions:

1. Who do you think will win the game, and what will the final score be? (1 point for guessing winner. 2 points for guessing winner and correct score of one team. 5 points for guessing winner and exact score)

2. Who will be the game's leading scorer? (1 point for guessing scorer, 2 points for guessing exact points scored)

3. Who will be the game's leading rebounder? (1 point for guessing rebounder, 2 points for guessing exact rebounds)

4. Who will be the game's leading assist man? (1 point for guessing assist man, 2 points for guessing exact assists)

5. Predict Ben McLemore's 3PA, Rudy Gay's Turnovers & Jason Thompsons Offensive Rebounds (1 point for one right, 3 points for two right, 5 points for all right)

NBA trade rumor: Jordan Hill draws interest from Nets, Cavs, Suns and Mavs

0
0

The Nets are prepared to trade for Jordan Hill but the Lakers are keeping their options open.

The Brooklyn Nets are prepared to trade for Los Angeles Lakers big man Jordan Hillaccording to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. Brooklyn can fit Hill into the disabled player exception they were awarded after Brook Lopez was ruled out for the remainder of the season and can offer the Lakers financial relief, but reports indicate Los Angeles is exploring options besides Brooklyn.

Update (4:35 p.m. ET): ESPN's Marc Stein reports that the Cleveland Cavaliers have jumped into the fold and are the main contenders with Brooklyn to acquire Hill from the Lakers.

The Phoenix Suns have also engaged in talks about trading for Hill, according to Wojnarowski. The Suns have held negotiations with the Lakers about the availability of Pau Gasol previously and could potentially offer more than the Nets in exchange for Hill. Phoenix holds multiple 2014 first-round draft picks they could send to the Lakers in exchange for a frontcourt player.

Silver Screen and RollWill the Lakers trade Pau Gasol?

The Lakers and Dallas Mavericks have also discussed a Hill trade, reports ESPN's Dave McMenamin. It's unclear what the Mavericks would be willing to offer in a trade, or what the Lakers would demand from Dallas.

Brooklyn has already completed a trade, acquiring shooting guard Marcus Thornton from the Sacramento Kings, and is reportedly wiling to take on the luxury tax hit by trading for Hill as well. The Lakers appear to be holding discussions with multiple teams as they seek out the best available offer prior to the Feb. 20 deadline.

Kings have interest in Bucks' guard Gary Neal?

0
0

The Kings are apparently going after anyone and everyone before the trade deadline.

With the deadline less than 24 hours away, the Kings are continuing to remain active even after completing the Marcus Thornton to Brooklyn trade.

The latest rumor has the Kings interested in Bucks swingman Gary Neal:

Neal signed a 2 year, $6.5 million contract this summer with Milwaukee as the Bucks were seemingly trying to chase a playoff spot, but with those hopes utterly dashed, Neal is now on the market.  Neal is currently averaging 10 points a game on 39% shooting so he's obviously a hot commodity.

The Kings interest may have been before the Thornton deal went down because as of now I just don't see a trade here.  The Kings won't trade Jimmer for Neal because that adds salary for next season, something that they don't want to do in the face of a possible luxury tax bill (even without signing Isaiah they'll be close to it if Rudy opts in).  The Bucks also wouldn't be taking Thompson or Landry since they 1) don't need any more frontcourt players and 2) don't want to clog up future cap space more than necessary.

Golden State Warriors @ Sacramento Kings Preview: Sleep Train = Dubs ticket to a W?

0
0

The All-Star Break is over and now it's time to get back to business.

Warriors (31-22) vs Kings (18-35)

TV: CSN Bay Area | Radio: KNBR 680

Tip-Off: 7:00pm PST

Venue: Sleep Train Arena

Blog Buddy: Sactown Royalty

I hope you all enjoyed the All-Star break, but I've got some mixed feelings about the weekend. All-Star Sunday was a blast, but I have to say All-Star Saturday was quite frustrating. It was frustrating to see former Warrior Marco Belinelli (who I projected to be out of the NBA within 2-3 yrs) win the competition with 2 airballs and numerous clanks. (Isn't it amazing what the money ball can do for you?) It was even more frustrating to witness a potentially solid All-Star Dunk Contest turn into the worst one ever because of a silly format.

But moving on, now it's time for business. And by business I mean playoff business.

The Warriors come into tonight win with a 58.5% winning rate. Now anyone who lived through the Cohan-era of "It's a Great Time Out!" GSW hoops can definitely appreciate that. But with last season's success and the summer roster enhancements that's simply underachieving to many Warriors fans. Unless the team steps up in a major way post-All-Star break with a few bad bounces here and there, the Warriors could be back in the lottery. If that happens, expect some major consequences. Owner Joe Lacob will hold people accountable.

Don't miss my man Andy's preview of this upcoming 29 game stretch.

But taking it one game at a time, it all starts tonight against our NorCal rivals the Sacramento Kings. At 18 wins, it's easy to think the Kings are going to be an easy W for the Dubs. I think otherwise.

If he suits up tonight, I expect DeMarcus Cousins to have a dominant outing. Last time around he torched the Warriors for 24 points on only 13 shots. He proved to be too strong and agile for Andrew Bogut who is out tonight. Since Toronto sent him packing, Rudy Gay has been defying all inferential hoops statistics known to man. I'm not exactly eager to see what he's got tonight. Isaiah Thomas reminds me of a pesky little guy on NBA Jam who perennially has turbo on. These guys are better than their record indicates.

My Starting 4

Make sure to join the Golden State of Mind group on Start Four, so you can WIN-WIN-WIN!

See: Golden State of Mind Start Four contest, win tony.psd gear!

Here's my picks for tonight:

  1. Stephen Curry (10): I mean he did spend some good time with GSOM. Why wouldn't I start him tonight? See: Stephen Curry Talks to GSOM: Reflecting on being voted into 2014 NBA All-Star game by fans and what goes into draining 3's and crazy handles
  2. Andre Iguodala (5): Here's hoping some All-Star rest sets him up for a big second half.
  3. Jermaine O'Neal (3): With Andrew Bogut out, he'll be in the starting lineup tonight.
  4. Carl Landry (2): If only he cost less than Marreese Speights in real life.

Predictions

  • Jermaine O'Neal parties like it's 2005 and drops 20 and 9.
  • Marcus Thornton is not a Warrior Killer tonight.
  • Warriors by 1 (Long time readers know what this means. I can't explain it, but something weird happens when these two teams square off.)
Poll
Are the Warriors headed to the playoffs this year?

  62 votes |Results


Question of the Game: Michael Malone

0
0

Have a question for Kings head coach Michael Malone? Leave it in the thread and he may answer it tonight!

The Kings are finally back in Sacramento and there is a basketball game tonight! The question of the Game is for Kings head coach Michael Malone.

Up until now, we had only done the Question of the Game with players, but I decided to switch it up for today's game and have you all pose a question for the coach. I will ask Malone the question that gets the highest number of recs (and how reasonable it is). The answer will then be posted right here in the thread.

Make sure to keep it to one question unless you have two questions that tie in together.

Malone has coached the Kings to a 18-35 record so far this season - not exactly where he had likely hoped the team would be at this point. Nonetheless, the Kings have had stretches where the improvement is evident. It will be interesting to see how he coaches these players (and the new players that come via trade) in the home stretch of the season.

So leave your question for Malone in this thread and start pressing those rec buttons!

Scouting Report: Jason Terry and Reggie Evans

0
0

SBNation's NetsDaily provides us with a scouting report on our recent acquisitions.

The Sacramento Kings have acquired Jason Terry and Reggie Evans from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Marcus Thornton.  Reed Wallach, editor of NetsDaily, was kind enough to provide some scouting reports for our newly acquired players.

I'll turn it over to Reed:

Jason Terry

Terry was expected to come in and have a big impact on the team in the locker room. He is a loud guy who has been a key contributor to a championship team, he knows how to act on the sidelines. As for his on the court product, the Nets knew they were acquiring an aging shooter, he has made the fourth most threes in NBA history, but they expected him to come in and give some significant minutes and spread the floor. However, Terry never found his footing with the Nets and then went down with a knee injury that sidelined him for a few weeks. After that, Terry got sparse playing time and when he did, it wasn't too pretty. He's shooting 36% from the field, and the only thing he was good for in Brooklyn was pumping up the crowd from the bench. Net Income called him the LVP in our most recent roundtable.

Reggie Evans

Reggie Evans is a very frustrating player. He is one of the most talented rebounders I've ever seen. I have never seen a man go after the ball with such reckless abandon and put forth such an effort to get a loose ball. However, that is all Evans could do: rebound. Reggie is an undersized big man, he sometimes played center for the Nets and he is only 6'8". He isn't a great defender on the ball and his offense is atrocious. Last season, when he started, him and Gerald Wallace were a nightmare on the floor together, for the Nets were essentially playing 3-on-5. Evans can't hit a free throw and can't make layups let alone anything outside of the paint. Evans was always a flawed player, but his hustle bought him a starting position for 56 games last season. However, this season, hustle isn't cutting it.

So there you have it.  Not exactly glowing recommendations, but that's ok.  This doesn't seem to be a move that the Kings made purely based on talent acquisition.  Breaking up Thornton's contract into two contracts makes it much easier to include in future deals.  Flexibility is key.  And, of course, we can hold onto the slimmest of hopes that one or both players might have a Rudy Gay-esque revival.

A big thanks to Reed for his input!

Purdue Basketball In The NBA And Europe

0
0

The pro basketball Boilers are having a lot of success over in Europe.

It has been over a month since we last caught up with the former Purdue basketball players that are getting paid phat stacks of cash to play basketball. Most of those guys are still kicking around in Europe, but we have three guys in the NBA and one in the D-League. Here is the most recent update on them:

Carl Landry - Sacramento Kings - Landry has returned from his injury to play in 14 games so far. His minutes are still way down, however. He is only getting about 12 minutes per game and he is averaging only 3.6 points per game. He is still not 100% after missing the start of the year due to hip surgery, but $6.5 million in salary this season probably helps ease the pain.

Robbie Hummel - Minnesota Timberwolves - Rob and the T-Wolves are fading in the West's playoff race, now six games out where they would be solidly in if they were in the East. He has managed to draw a pair of starts this season, but continues to be well down in the rotation and doesn't even play some nights. He has played in 30 of 53 games and is averaging 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. At least he is doing better than Shabbazz Muhammad, who was their No. 1 pick this last year and has proven to be incredibly overrated.

E`Twaun Moore - Orlando Magic - Orlando is bad at 16-40, but Smooge is at least getting about 18 minutes per night.  Few nights ago he had 17 in a loss to Milwaukee, but Milwaukee has the worst record in the NBA. He is averaging six points per game and is shooting about 35% from three. The 17 points tied a career high and he looks to be in line to make a roster somewhere next year.

D.J. Byrd - Kirchheim (Germany) - D.J. has upped his scoring to 12.6 points per game in the second division over in Germany. He is shooting an impressive 40% from three and is hitting at an 88% clip from the free throw line. He is now starting for his team, which is 12-11 on the season.

Chris Kramer - EWE Baskets Oldenburg (Germany) - Oldenburg is 15-6 and is in fourth place in the Basketball Bundesliga, putting them solidly in playoff position as they try to qualify for next season's EuroBasket. Kramer is also a starter for his team and is averaging 9.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.

Chris Booker - Krka (Slovenia) - Booker is still playing for Krka Novo Mesto in the Slovenian League and is even a starter. They are playing in the Eurochallenge, which is two levels below the EuroBasket, but is still a continental competition. They advanced to the last 16 and can reach the quarterfinals with a good result in their final game. As for Booker, he is averaging 7.6 points in the Adriatic League and 8.2 in the 10 EuroChallenge games his team has played.

Nemanja Calasan - Vichy (France) - Chally has played in 11 games for Vichy over in France, averaging 8.5 points per game. His team is 14-8 in the third level of French professional basketball.

Willie Deane - Krasny Oktyabr (Russia) - Deane is having a very successful season for his Russian team at 18.2 points and 7.4 assists. His team is based in Volgograd, a.k.a. Stalingrad from the turning point battle of World War II.

Keaton Grant - Ludwigsburg (Germany) - KG is a starter for his German team and is averaging 15.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. Ludwigsburg is 11-9 and holding on to the final playoff spot in the Basketball Bundesliga. He has a second game against Kramer coming up on May 1, the final game of the regular season.

Lewis Jackson - Erie BayHawks (NBA D-League) - LewJack is still in the D-League, and judging by the fact that the Knicks absolutely suck and are in desperate need of a point guard, his 10.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 7.1 assists should get him a look. He is currently fourth in the D-League in assists. Unfortunately, the Knicks' management is completely and utterly incompetent.

JaJuan Johnson - Giorgo Tesi PT (Italy) - JJ is having a decent season over in Italy, averaging 14.3 points and 6.7 rebounds as he tries to get back to the NBA. He is listed as the starting center for his team, who is 8-11.

Scott Martin - Newcastle Eagles (England) - Martin has played in 19 games this year, which is impressive considering his lengthy injury history. He is averaging 30 minutes per game and 16.3 points for Newcastle, who is 17-4 and is in second place in the British Basketball League.

Brandon McKnight - LrMNKY (Finland) - McKnight has seen action in 25 games in the Finnish League and he is averaging 16.5 points and 3.5 assists as he runs the point. His team is not very good at 8-22.

David Teague - Bohemios (Uruguay) - Teague has not played since the last update, so I don't know of he has been cut or what.

Chris Lutz - Petron Blaze (Philippines) - The new Philippine season just started here in February and Lutz is averaging 8.7 points per game in a 1-2 start.

Gary Ware - St. Polten (Austria) - Ware played a game for a French team, but has played mostly in Austria for St. Polten, who is a dismal 1-20 and will likely get relegated to the second division at the end of the year. He does start and is averaging 14.9 points.

NBA trade rumors: Cavs, Kings eye Jarrett Jack-Jason Thompson swap

0
0

Even a third team could be involved in this 11th hour potential deal.

Bookmark This

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in talks with the Sacramento Kings to trade guard Jarrett Jack for forward Jason Thompsonaccording to NBA insider Marc Stein of ESPN.

Sacramento seems intent on adding another point guard to play behind incumbent starter Isaiah Thomas. Jack played for Kings head coach Michael Malone when he was with the Golden State Warriors last season and in New Orleans. During those stints, he had two of the best years of his career.

Thompson is a capable big man who can provide production up front, but the Cavs have a lot of depth in the post, which is why they are seeking a third team to send the big man to. Top overall pick Anthony Bennett is the player who needs the most development, and the Cavs have already invested heavily in him.

Jack is 30 years old and would give the Kings a veteran presence in a disenchanted locker room. The fact that he'd play under Malone means the potential deal make more sense.

Kings get sloppy, fall to Warriors 101-92

0
0

The Kings couldn't keep it together, and lost an ugly game to the Golden State Warriors

The Sacramento Kings had an explosive third quarter against the Golden State Warriors.  Isaiah Thomas led the charge, throwing in some incredible dribbling and scoring displays, and the Kings took a one point lead, their first of the game, as the third quarter came to a close.  Unfortunately it was the only quarter the Kings executed well.  The Warriors prevailed 101-92.

This was a sloppy game, as both teams were shorthanded.  The Kings were without DeMarcus Cousins, who sat out with a strained hip.  Jimmer Fredette was limited as he's still recovering from illness.  And of course the Kings were without the now-departed Marcus Thornton, and without newly acquired Jason Terry and Reggie Evans.  The Warriors were without Andrew Bogut, who sat due to injury.  The Warriors were also without Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks, who were traded to the Lakers moments before tipoff, in exchange for Steve Blake.

Rudy Gay took on a larger portion of the workload with Cousins out, and struggled to maintain his efficiency.  He forced several shots, and finished with 16 points on 6-21 shooting.  He also had four turnovers.  Isaiah Thomas led the team with 26 points and seven assists, but he also had seven turnovers.

The Warriors were led by David Lee's 23 points and 11 rebounds, and had 5 other players finish with double digit scoring.

A curious note, in a game where the Kings were being destroyed inside, Aaron Gray received a DNP-CD.

For the opponents perspective, check out Golden State of Mind.

Viewing all 2536 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images