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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 Dwight Howard's FTA, James Harden's FTs made, and Francisco Garcia's 3PM (1 point for one right, 3 points for two right and 5 points for all right)

With Jimmer Fredette's time as a King coming to a close, we look back at what was and what wasn't.

Jimmer Fredette's time as a Sacramento King is coming to an end.  Few players in Kings history have been as polarizing to a fanbase as Fredette, as he brought in many new fans to the team that just wanted to see him play and do in the NBA what he did in college.

Jimmer faced an uphill battle the minute he became a King.  He came to the Kings in one of the worst NBA deals in recent memory, with Sacramento trading down three spots in the draft and taking on more salary (John Salmons) in the process.  The Kings also took another Point Guard with the last pick in the draft, a little guy from the University of Washington by the name of Isaiah Thomas.

At the time, drafting Jimmer made some sense despite guys like Kawhi Leonard, Klay Thompson and Nikola Vucevic (who the Kings likely drafted if Jimmer or Kemba Walker weren't available) still on the board.  The Kings organization was still very high on Tyreke Evans, and considered him the face of the franchise.  Jimmer was drafted with the hope that he could be the perfect complement to Evans; a guy who could share ball-handling duties while spacing the floor.

But it wasn't meant to be.  First, a lockout cut training camp and summer league and limited practice opportunities due to the constrained schedule.  Then Head Coach Paul Westphal was fired just 7 games into the season.  The more critical development for Jimmer though was the fact that he simply wasn't ready to be an NBA Point Guard.  His handle was awkward, his confidence wasn't there, and his defense was atrocious.  Fredette's struggles opened up the door for Isaiah Thomas, who quickly proved that he was ready and already very good.

Over the next two years, the opportunities grew fewer and fewer for Fredette.  In his rookie year, he averaged 18.6 minutes a game, but that decreased to 14.0 minutes last year and 11.3 this year.  Despite all that, Jimmer managed to improve his game each and every year.  His shooting has gone up from 38.6% to 47.5%.  His three point percentage has skyrocketed to the top of the league at 49.3% from a rather pedestrian 36.1%.  His handle and playmaking ability improved, and while his defense never became good, it wasn't for a lack of trying.

Jimmer was a class act throughout his time in Sacramento, never complaining and never giving up.  As his time in Sacramento comes to a close, I can't help but feel happy for him that he now gets to go to a team of his choosing, one where his abilities can be used more effectively.  Jimmer can still have a long and successful career, and for his sake I hope he does.  But a small part of me is a little sad that it wasn't able to happen here.  Few people can electrify a crowd when they get going like Jimmer can, or shoot the ball as well.  It's fitting that the last real memory we'll have of him as a King was his excellent game against the Knicks, the best game of his career.

Here's hoping he has many more of those games ahead of him.  Best of luck to you Jimmer, wherever you may go.

The former BYU star is on his way out in Sacramento, and Philadelphia actually makes a lot of sense.

Right now, the Sixers are the antithesis of a fun NBA team. I'm currently getting my kicks watching Byron Mullens taking (and making!) mid-range jumpshots of inbound plays. It's a sad time to be watching Philadelphia play night in and night out, and there's a good chance that I might have a nervous breakdown before the next 25 games are up.

But there is one man set to become a free agent that could make all of this pain and suffering worth it: Jimmer Fredette. Multiple media outlets are reporting that the Sacramento Kings will be buying out Fredette, which could come as early as tomorrow. The Sixers are dealing with an impending buyout of their own and will have an open spot on their 15 man roster, making a union between Philly and Fredette all the more likely.

The two part question is: Should the Sixers pursue Provo's native son, and would he even want to sign here? To both I answer yes.

With rookie shooting guard Ben McLemore and new head coach Mike Malone in the fold, Jimmer essentially became an afterthought for the Kings. He's played sparingly this season, and hasn't seen the floor in Sacramento's past two games. However, he's shooting 47.5% from the floor, and nearly 50% from beyond the arc, all of which are career highs for him. Fredette's only strength is perimeter shooting, but still struggled prior to this season to find his groove from outside. Frankly, he would be the closest thing the Sixers would have to be a pure scorer, a two guard who can be the threat from long range that James Anderson is not. The 24 year-old would probably salivate over the idea of playing in Brett Brown's fast paced offense, where he could run-and-gun like he did at BYU until he can't get his arms over his shoulders anymore.

He will also be a free agent this summer, and there is no better way to net yourself a nice contract then by playing on a Sixers team in which he would most certainly see 20 plus minutes a game. Fredette's situation differs from that of Danny Granger because teams love veterans with playoff experience, and Jimmer's poor defense would likely net him a spot on the end of a bench of a title contender. His DRtg of 111 this year is actually a career best for him, which should do a good job of scaring off a team like San Antonio or Phoenix.

It would be Sam Hinkie's M.O. to go out and sign a guy who was a former first round pick, and a source told Liberty Ballers that the team would indeed entertain the idea of signing the former BYU guard.

A merger of the two parties could end up paying dividends for both.

Pending Jimmer Fredette's buyout, it appears the Kings are trying to fill his roster spot with former Pacers guard Orlando Johnson.

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly interested in signing shooting guard Orlando Johnson to a 10-day contract.

The Indiana Pacers waived Johnson last week when they dealt Danny Granger to the Philadelphia 76ers for Evan Turner and Lavoy Allen. News 10's Sean Cunningham was the first to report the news.

Source: Sacramento Kings will sign Orlando Johnson tomorrow. Pretty sure it's a 10-day contract. #NBAKings

— Sean Cunningham (@News10Sean) February 26, 2014

NBA columnist with Sheridan Hoops, Michael Scotto confirmed Cunningham's report.

Just spoke to Orlando Johnson (@Pace_O11) who confirms he will join the Sacramento Kings on a 10-day contract. 1st reported by @News10Sean.

— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 26, 2014

The news comes the same day reports surfaced that the Kings will buy out Jimmer Fredette's contract.

Johnson was originally drafted by the Kings with the 36^th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, but was dealt to the Pacers for cash. The 6'5'' guard received a little time as the backup shooting guard in Indiana while Granger was hurt. In one-and-a-half seasons, he played in 89 games, averaging 3.3 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game.

Johnson was known for his scoring instincts and his 6-11 wingspan coming out of the 2012 draft.

In another report, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle linked the Kings to forward Royce White. White failed to make the 76ers' roster earlier this season after being traded by the Houston Rockets. It's been reported that White has an anxiety disorder and left the Rockets on bad terms. This deal seems unlikely with the news about Johnson, and Feigen acknowledged that.

@News10Sean reports Kings will sign Orlando Johnson, likely to a 10-day. Probably answers the Royce White question here, at least for now.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) February 26, 2014

The Kings were destroyed by the visiting Houston Rockets, and DeMarcus Cousins is now one technical away from being suspended after getting ejected in the 3rd.

The Kings were absolutely beat down by the Rockets on Tuesday night.  The Rockets were in control right from the get go, outscoring the Kings 42 to 17 in the first quarter.  James Harden nearly set an arena record for points in a half but fell just short scoring a mere 30 points in the first 24 minutes.  Harden would finish with a season-high 43 points on just 20 shots, going 15-16 from the line.

Dwight Howard played just 24 minutes but still managed 20 points,11 rebounds and 2 blocks.

DeMarcus Cousins had a good first half for the Kings, scoring 16 points, but picked up 2 technicals in the third quarter and was promptly ejected.  It was Cousins' first ejection of the year, but it puts him at 15 technicals, one away from a mandatory suspension.

Rudy Gay led the way for the Kings with 25 points on 10-16 shooting after starting off 0-5.  Isaiah Thomas had a tough shooting night, going 4-14, and no other King was able to really get going.  Rookie Ray McCallum played a season-high 25 minutes and finished with 6 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.

In a somewhat surprising development, Jason Thompson picked up two quick fouls in the first five minutes and did not play another minute.  Instead, Reggie Evans, Aaron Gray, Derrick Williams and Carl Landry got the majority of the big man minutes.  No word as of yet if Thompson's hurt or if there's something else afoot.  Evans had a near double-double with 8 points and 8 rebounds and used all 6 of his fouls in 24 minutes.

The Kings will now get a few days off before facing the Lakers in Los Angeles on Friday in the first game of a back-to-back

For the opposing perspective, visit The Dream Shake.

Cousins picked up his 14th and 15th technicals on Tuesday, meaning the next one will result in an automatic suspension.

Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins is no stranger to the technical foul, and Cousins picked up two more of them on the way to an ejection from a 129-103 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.

Cousins' fuse was lit after he was called for a weak foul trying to defend a Dwight Howard alley-oop. Cousins was clearly upset with official Courtney Kirkland over the call, and the big man was soon whistled for his first technical for arguing.

Kings head coach Mike Malone took up the cause as Cousins fumed over on the bench, but then the 23-year-old really lost it, unleashing a tirade on Kirkland that resulted in a second technical and ejection:

The two technicals were Cousins' 14th and 15th on the season, and one more triggers an automatic suspension. Cousins reached that threshold last season when he led the league with 17 technicals.

Following his temper tantrum, Cousins took to Twitter to apologize for his actions:

Disappointed with the way I acted out on the court tonight. I want to apologize and say sorry to my team and the fans for letting them down

— demarcus cousins (@boogiecousins) February 26, 2014

While the apology is nice to see, it doesn't mean all that much unless Cousins tones down his act on the court. In his three prior NBA seasons, Cousins never finished lower than fifth in the league in technicals, and he's leading the league again this year.

To be fair to Cousins, numerous other stars, including Howard, often join him near the top of the technical foul leaderboard. But Cousins has built himself a bad reputation, and he also doesn't have nearly as much goodwill as some other players because the Kings have been so bad. While it would be a bit much to expect Cousins to completely change his act, it would be beneficial to himself and his team if he was able to keep his emotions better in check.

There is reason for cautious optimism regarding the strides Rondo has made in improving his jump shot in recent seasons.

Now that the trade deadline has passed, and those pesky rumors involving Rajon Rondo can finally be put to bed (well, at least until the summer), we can start examining Rondo’s game and just how he has looked since returning from injury. It hasn’t all gone smoothly for Rondo. He is starting to play more and more minutes, yet the Celtics are still sitting him for the occasional game as they did against the Kings last Saturday.

Even beyond his inconsistent minutes, though, Rondo is still shaking off the rust after being out for nearly a year. He is shooting just 39% from the floor since his return (which would be the lowest single-season total of his career), and the Celtics offense is still performing better with him on the bench than on the court.

Most notably, Rondo is struggling to score when driving to the hoop, which has been a strength of his in years past. According to NBA.com, the point guard is shooting just 34.8% on drives this season as he works to fully regain his quickness, explosion, and confidence. Some of this is likely a result of Rondo’s supporting cast as well; the lack of any impact perimeter scorers on the Celtics roster allows opposing defenses to focus on Rondo more than they could in the past.

But beyond the rust and inconsistency that Rondo has shown, one facet of his game has proven to be a pleasant surprise since his return in January. The 28-year-old’s jump shot, long his biggest weakness, has looked much improved so far this season.

While he has only played in 13 games (meaning many of his stats should be taken with a grain of salt), Rondo’s increased willingness to shoot more three-pointers is an encouraging sign. Thus far in 2014, he has taken 2.6 three-pointers per game and has nearly equaled the amount of three-point attempts he took back in 2011-12 despite playing in 40 less games.

Even more reassuring is that Rondo is actually making a fair share of his threes as well. The eight-year veteran is shooting 35.3% from behind the arc, which is roughly even with the league average mark of 35.8%.

So Rondo is both taking and making more threes, and he has also shown improvement on his pull-up jumpers. Per NBA.com, Rondo is averaging just over four points per game on pull-up shots, while shooting 42% on such takes. These results could be crucial for Rondo’s growth in the half court offense, allowing him to better succeed in pick-and-roll opportunities. In years past, teams have simply gone under the screen when defending Rondo, both daring him to shoot and clogging up the paint to prevent him from driving.

In many ways, Rondo’s performance from behind the three-point line and on pull-up jumpers is a continuation of the improvements he had begun making in years past. As Grantland’sKirk Goldsberry wrote back in January, Rondo had already become an effective mid-range shooter, especially from the elbow areas:

Rondo was actually one of the best elbow shooters in the league last season. Out of 141 NBA players who attempted at least 100 shots from the elbows, Rondo ranked fourth in field goal percentage in that zone—trailing only Jason Smith, Steve Nash, and Jose Calderon. Those are pretty good numbers for a guy who can't shoot. Per Synergy Sports, he also earned a "very good" rating for shots off the dribble, and an "excellent" rating for long 2-point jumpers.

Rondo’s shot chart so far this season shows continued reason for optimism. The Celtics point guard is not only shooting more often, but is also beginning to make defenses pay when they leave him open near the perimeter:

Although 13 games of solid shooting are not nearly enough to declare Rondo a consistent jump-shooting threat, his performances are trending in the right direction. Even prior to his ACL injury, Rondo had made significant improvements on his mid-range shot, and that progress has only continued further out to the three-point line.

All of this is part of the greater offensive burden Rondo will have to carry as a leader both on and off the court for a Celtics franchise that hopes to rebuild around him. Adding at least a league-average jumper will go a long way in helping to enhance and round out Rondo’s offensive game. With the Celtics’ gaze focused very much on the future, Rondo has 24 stress-free games left to continue honing his jump shot, working off the rust, and adding to his offensive repertoire.

For the time being, taking more jump shots is a good thing for both Rondo and the Celtics.

Alex Skillin is a regular contributor to CelticsBlog. He writes, mostly about baseball and basketball, at a few other places across the Internet. You can follow him on Twitter at @AlexSkillin.

The Kings were destroyed by the Rockets in a well-rounded disaster of a game.

The Sacramento Kings trailed the Houston Rockets 42-17 after the first quarter. Then the game got worse. Poor effort, bad decisions, ejections, and a waived off 3/4 court buzzer by Ray McCallum. The Rockets won 129-103, but it wasn't actually that close.

Jimmer Fredette was inactive for Tuesday's game, and the Kings roster found various ways to honor him and say goodbye. In a heartwarming Jimmer tribute, Jason Thompson played just 5 minutes despite having played well in previous opportunities this season.

Other members of the team opted for a sign of solidarity, often playing with a lack of effort, as though only four men were on the court, as though they expected Jimmer to be there. DeMarcus Cousins was so upset by Jimmer's absence that his emotions boiled over, resulting in him being ejected from the game. Some might criticize the team, but I was moved by these acts of tribute.

But let's put Jimmer aside for a moment, and focus on the specifics of the game. The big story of the night was DeMarcus Cousins. Cousins was ejected in the third quarter, putting him at 15 technical fouls for the season. One more this season will result in a mandatory one-game suspension.

Cousins received the first technical for jawing at the refs after what Cousins felt was a ticky-tack foul call. We don't know what Cousins said specifically, but on the replay he was laughing as he made his comments. Despite the laughter, it drew the technical, catching Cousins by surprise.

A few minutes later, during a timeout, Coach Michael Malone was talking with the refs when Cousins charged into the conversation and was clearly swearing out the official. Cousins had to be held back by Corliss Williamson, as well as other players and coaches. I will not be the least bit surprised if Cousins earns himself a healthy fine for his actions.

A lot gets made of Cousins and his tendency to pick up technical fouls. It's important to note that the technicals aren't really an issue. Blake Griffin has 13 on the season, but you don't hear much about it. The issue with Cousins is how he earns his technicals. At first glance the first tech seems undeserved, but it was the result of Cousins constantly chirping at the refs. He'd been complaining to the refs for several minutes leading up to the call. And after the call, Cousins fell apart. He was staring down refs during game action. Swiping at players. Pouting. Complaining. And the way he charged at the ref, when Malone was clearly arguing on Cousins' behalf, was ridiculous. A player can lead a team and still have plenty of technical fouls over the course of the season. But Cousins cannot lead the team while earning these kinds of techs.

Worth noting, the Kings had cut the Rockets lead to 15 when Cousins was ejected. It was the closest the Kings had been to Houston since the opening minutes of the first quarter. The game unraveled for good after the ejection.

After the game, Cousins apologized via Twitter:

Disappointed with the way I acted out on the court tonight. I want to apologize and say sorry to my team and the fans for letting them down

— demarcus cousins (@boogiecousins) February 26, 2014

Our own Blake Ellington also got some quotes from Cousins' teammates after the game.

Isaiah Thomas on the Cousins ejection: "He knows he can't act like that but at the same time, I mean, I can't blame him."

— Blake Ellington (@BlakeEllington) February 26, 2014

Rudy Gay on DMC: "..you got to put your hand in the fire to realize how hot it is...Sooner or later he's going to figure out how hot it is."

— Blake Ellington (@BlakeEllington) February 26, 2014

If you DVR'ed the game, don't bother watching. It really was a pathetic showing. One player I'd single out for praise is Rudy Gay. He started the game 0-5, but went 10-11 the rest of the way, finishing with 25 points. Gay was the leader on the court. He attempted to calm Cousins after the first technical. He worked to get the team re-engaged after Cousins' ejection. He led the team in effort, particularly in the second half.

Isaiah Thomas did not have a good night, but also stood out as giving effort and not giving up even when the game was clearly out of reach. Isaiah finished with 12 points, but went 4-14 from the field. He also added five assists.

For the Rockets, James Harden has his way with the Kings. He finished with 43 points and eight assists. Dwight Howard added 20 points and 11 rebounds.

For the opponent's perspective, be sure to visit The Dream Shake.

The Kings are expected to sign Royce White once they complete a buyout of Jimmer Fredette.

The Sacramento Kings have worked out forward Royce White and the former 2012 first-round pick is "likely" to sign a 10-day contract with the team, according to USA Today's Sam Amick. White has struggled adjusting to the NBA, never playing a regular season game with either the Houston Rockets or Philadelphia 76ers after he was traded.

White's anxiety disorder has caused issues with his career in the NBA. He's played 17 total games of organized basketball since being drafted, spending time with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers during the 2012-2013 season. White averaged 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in the D-league. He has not played with any D-league team or NBA team since his brief stint with Rio Grande.

The Kings cannot make the deal official until they clear a roster spot. Sacramento is expected to complete a buyout of guard Jimmer Freddete soon, but the sides have not agreed to terms yet. The buyout is close to being official, however, and could be announced Wednesday, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

The Kings could be signing the controversial but talented young forward to a 10-day contract soon.

Yesterday it was reported by Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle that the Kings had worked out former first round pick Royce White.

Today, USA Today's Sam Amick reports that White will likely sign a 10-day contract with the Kings.  The Kings will need to free up a roster spot to do after signing Orlando Johnson to a 10-day contract today, but that spot could become available soon as Jimmer Fredette's buyout talks progress.

White was selected 16th in the 2012 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, who were willing to take a chance on him despite his serious anxiety issues, which have been well documented.  That partnership came to an end this summer after numerous instances in which White felt the Rockets weren't being supportive enough of his mental health issues.  White was traded to the Sixers, but then cut before the season began.  He has yet to play a single minute in the NBA, although he has spent some time in the D-League.

Funnily enough, White has a connection to the Kings, in that the draft pick that was used to take him was part of the 3 team trade that sent Kevin Martin to Houston and Carl Landry to the Kings.

White definitely has NBA talent, averaging 13.4 points, 9.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his lone year of college, and as such I can see why the Kings would be willing to take him on to a 10-day contract, but beyond that, he'll have to show considerable promise to make it worth it for the Kings to sign him any longer.

What are you going to do about that Jimmer jersey?

As The Jimmer Fredette transitions from Kings present to Kings past, we take a moment to reflect on where he lands in the pantheon of Sacramento Kings that have worn the number 7. The Jimmer is only one of five players to log even nearly a season as the #7 for the Sacramento Kings (Bobby Hurley leads at 242, The Jimmer is at 171, Ronnie Price is at 87, Keon Clark is at 80 and Danny Ainge comes in at 75). The rest are Dahntay Jones (25), Michael Hawkins (24), Rashad McCants (24), Dominic McGuire (10), Vincent Askew (9) and Bill Wennington (7, though he did log another 77 games as the number 34).

Ainge was the best player to wear the #7, Hurley the most tenured, Fredette led in CPMP (comments per minutes played), Price had the best dunk, Clark looked like Zorak from Space Ghost, McGuire turned his back on a franchise, McCantsanity had folks clamoring for his re-signing that off season (come on, show of hands), and Bill Wennington owns a championship ring. Vincent Askew has a name that you can have some fun with, Dahntay Jones not so much and I think that Michael Hawkins was the drummer for Foo Fighters.

Sew So, what are you going to do about that The Jimmer jersey? Leave it as-is, or transform it into something a bit more eclectic? I do not own a The Jimmer jersey, but I do possess a pair of The Jimmer Jockeys, and I need to decide what, if anything, to do with them. Help me out by taking to the pole poll. Thanks.

The last major hurdle to a new downtown arena has been cleared.

It's official.  Judge Timothy Frawley has upheld the City Clerk's decision to toss STOP's petitions to put the arena on the ballot.  Fox40 was first to report:

#Breakingnews#FOX40 Judge throws out STOPs lawsuit that would force vote on Downtown Sacramento arena.

— Stefanie Cruz (@Stefanie_Cruz) February 26, 2014

Frawley heard arguments last Friday but refrained from giving a final ruling until written arguments had been submitted by yesterday.  He had indicated that he was tentatively in favor of the city and that STOP would need to be extremely convincing for him to change his mind.  STOP filed their argument late last night, but it was not enough to convince the Judge.

In his decision, the judge sided with the city regarding the fact that a vote would violate the city charter:

Judge also agrees with city's claim that ballot initiative would conflict w/City charter and is "beyond the powers of the voters to adopt."

— Dale Kasler (@dakasler) February 27, 2014

Judge Frawley concluded with this (emphasis mine):

In reaching its decision, the court also has taken into account the sheer number of violations committed by the proponents. The court is not aware of any case where the petition process, from beginning to end, was so infected with errors. The law should not demand perfection, but neither should it condone carelessness or indifference. The integrity of the electoral process demands that proponents make a serious and determined effort to understand and comply with the election requirements. The court simply is not persuaded that occurred here. The evidence before the court suggests that the proponents were, at best, careless regarding the requirements of the election laws. As Respondents argue, allowing the measure to move forward when the petition process was so infected with errors and omissions undermines the integrity of the election process.

You can read the full 14 page decision by the Judge here, thankfully linked by Aaron Bruski.

The likelihood of an appeal from STOP is strong, but this is twice now that the petitions have been deemed irreparably flawed.  The deadline for anything to get put on the June ballot is March 3rd anyway, which is this Monday.

So barring anything unexpected, the last major hurdle towards a new downtown arena has been cleared.  The city council will vote on approving bonds in May, and groundbreaking could begin as soon as September.  If the timeline holds, the new arena will be ready for the beginning of the 2016-17 season.

It's been a long, long road to get to this point, with many twists and turns, and multiple drivers, but the end is finally in sight.

James Ham of Cowbell Kingdom returns, and we had a lot to talk about.

The Sactown Royalty Show is back! Our friend James Ham returns to the show, and we had a lot to cover. James, of course, is a great listen, and this was a great episode.

We'll be talking about the Jimmer Fredette's buyout, STOP being stopped, DeMarcus Cousins' techs, Ben McLemore's development, and much more! Check it out.

I also want to apologize for not having a show last week. We ran into some technical issues, and didn't get the resolved in time to get an episode recorded. Hopefully those episodes are now behind us. Thanks for your patience.

Like the show? Subscribe to us on iTunes or on Stitcher! Leave us ratings, leave comments, let us know how we're doing. Ratings and comments on iTunes really help us out with promoting the show. And of course, continue the discussion in the comments below.

As always, thanks for listening.

We can't quite call Royce White an NBA wash-out for this particular reason.

Royce White is working out for the Sacramento Kings and may sign with them this week. (The team has officially added Orlando Johnson; it's unclear whether that will prevent adding White as well.) As a Kings fan, I naturally hope it works out for the team and White should they join up. As a realist who has watched White's NBA career implode without actually starting, I'm skeptical it will amount to anything.

There's one reason, though, to hold out hope beyond the simple "anything can happen" narrative.

White was drafted by Daryl Morey and the Houston Rockets in 2012. As White battled publicly with Morey over how the franchise helped the rookie deal with his mental health issues, the GM quickly realized drafting White was a mistake. Not necessarily because White couldn't be an NBA player, but because the franchise was not equipped to convince White to actually become a functioning member of an NBA team. White was consistently combative and aired the issue out on social media. He got in a productive month in the D-League last season, but never played for the Rockets during the regular season.

This past summer, after White's eventful rookie season, the Rockets traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers for basically nothing. The interesting wrinkle is that Philly's GM Sam Hinkie was Morey's deputy in Houston for a long stretch, including during the 2012 draft. It stands to reason that as a front row observer of the White saga, Hinkie knew what he was getting himself into.

Hinkie cut White before the regular season even began. (He got some preseason minutes.) Months later, in an attempt at self-deprecation, Morey made a case that the White pick was the worst in the history of the NBA Draft.

There are two ways to view why Hinkie traded with his old boss and close friend for a prospect he knew first-hand was a problem.

A daily column on the NBA.2/26: The most depressing trade ever
2/25: Are the 76ers too terrible?
2/24: There's still no competitive balance
2/21: Quiet deadline=busy summer
2/19: Love's clock is ticking
2/18: Figuring out Rondo's value

1. Hinkie still believed in White. The murmurs have always been that coach Kevin McHale had pushed for drafting White after working him out, but it seems unlikely that the Morey-Hinkie front office would use a valuable first-round pick to appease a coach going nowhere. Morey and, by extension, Hinkie were almost assuredly intrigued by White. Most GMs were, based on commentary leading up to the draft. But a number of them passed on him for "safer" picks.

When Hinkie took the White problem off of Morey's hands, was it an attempt to buy low on a prospect he had seen plenty of first-hand, a low-risk high-reward gambit? Did he think he could do what his friend Morey could not, which is get White onto the NBA team? If so, was that just optimism or delusion?

Or ...

2. Hinkie helped Morey out by disappearing his friend's mistake.

Morey would have been pilloried had he waived White outright before the 2013-14 season, even in the quest for enough cap space to sign Dwight Howard. Morey joked to season ticket holders about White being the worst pick ever; it'd be a lot less funny if White had been waived by Morey directly. That he was able to trade away White (packaged with cash to cover White's salary and rights to a Turkish player) removes Morey from the failure just a touch.

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More importantly, the fact that White was given a chance somewhere else and failed puts this failure on White's shoulders. That White failed on one of the most overmatched teams in recent NBA history is an extra chip on the stack. And if it's Royce White's fault that Royce White isn't in the NBA, then it's not Daryl Morey's fault.

If Morey had waived White, a reasonable person could see fault on both sides: White was too hard to work with, and Morey was unable to navigate a difficult situation. When White washes out with a second team, White gets hung 100 percent with the bad reputation. That lessens the hit to Morey's rep. That reasonable person shifts from "both sides failed" to "White has proven to be unworkable."

What if Hinkie never intended for White to work out in Philadelphia? What if Hinkie intended to drop White all along, and did the deal only as a favor to the guy most responsible for Hinkie becoming an NBA GM (excluding Hinkie himself)?

We'll never know if that was the case. Even if it is, it'd be par for the course in the NBA, no great scandal. But because it's a possibility, it gives us reason to believe that White isn't destined to be a washout, that he can make it work once separated from Morey's orbit.

And that's what matters here, because Morey and Hinkie will be fine regardless. The only thing at risk right now is Royce White's career.

He's been efficient and he's been a leader for the Kings, but will he be here long-term?

Rudy Gay is entering the prime of his career and seems to have found a home in Sacramento, at least for now.

That last part is what may have some Kings fans on edge at the moment, and rightfully so. The 27-year-old small forward has been stellar since being traded from the Toronto Raptors earlier this season. The combination of DeMarcus Cousins, Isaiah Thomas and Gay has proven to be potent (the Kings have hovered around .500 when all three of them healthy and on the floor together). But with the team not threatening for a playoff spot yet and his looming decision of whether or not to opt out of his $19.3 million next season, it's difficult not to wonder what is in store for Gay in 2015 and beyond.

Following another loss Tuesday night against the Houston Rockets, I caught up with the eight-year veteran to get his thoughts on staying with the Kings.

"This could be a good home for me, but you know obviously, I have to sit down with my family ... and really plan out, you know, the pros and cons of being here or anywhere else," said Gay, who also mentioned that he doesn't want to cloud his mind with that decision right now.

This two-sided answer is expected and similar to what Gay told ESPN's Marc Stein earlier this month, but it should be noted that he does seem to appreciate the Kings front office and believes they treat their players well. (This is something we are starting to hear more about the Kings brass around the league.) Gay also said he is OK with the direction the team is heading.

"The organization is great. They've been nothing but great to me since I've been here," Gay said. "They work hard to keep guys happy ... I mean obviously this team hasn't been up to the stature in a long time - up to a playoff stature in a long time - but I think, you know, that's in the future. I can see that in the future because of the new direction this organization is going."

Will that be enough to keep a guy entering the peak of his career in Sacramento? Hard to say, but that $19.3 million option next season would be difficult to pass up I imagine. He may opt out and the Kings could then dangle long-term stability in front of him in the form of a four-year deal or so. The other options being he walks or they pay him that $19.3 million for next season. USA Today's Sam Amick also has reported that the Phoenix Suns would be interested in Gay if he opts out.

So yeah, a lot of uncertainty.

Two things are for sure at this point though:

1. Rudy Gay has revived his career in Sacramento.

2. Rudy Gay is not only a leader on the Kings; he is the leader, in my opinion.

Let's take a look at that first point. It's been well documented about how Gay's efficiency has increased since arriving in Sacramento. He is currently averaging 20.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.5 steals per game - all of these numbers are higher than his career averages in each category. Over the last three games, he is averaging 26.3 points, 7 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.7 steals. His field goal percentage has dropped a little since he got off to that blistering 50-percent+ start with the Kings (he is now at his career average 45 percent). That dip could mean he is coming back down to reality or it could be related to his Achilles injury. Cousins' injury problems also could have played a factor because Gay clearly is the most efficient when he has a dominant center to play alongside of.

Cousins is able to take the defensive pressure off Gay, which allows him to fit into the role of the No. 2 option on offense, a role he excels in.

Which brings me to the second point.

With the Kings not on a path to the playoffs and the front office trying to make the roster moves to get them there, Gay has put it on himself to be the veteran in the locker room that provides guidance to the younger players.

"Be a leader, you know, for these young guys and just be somewhat of a mentor," Gay told Sactown Royalty. "You see somebody like a Ben McLemore and a Ray McCallum could be really good pros in this league, but they need somebody to coach them. I mean obviously, you have coach [Michael Malone], but I'm with them on a different level and, you know, I've been around the league and I think I can tell them a couple more things that need to be done. Not just him, you have Cuz [DeMarcus Cousins], you have Quincy [Acy], who came here with me, and Derrick [Williams]. There's a lot of guys here and I take that as a challenge. So right now, I'm just really trying to be the best leader, lead by example."

Case in point: Gay watched the Kings' franchise player, Cousins, get ejected Tuesday for spouting off at the refs. As the buzzer sounded on the 129-103 beat down by the Houston Rockets, Gay (who finished with 25 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block) walked up to all of his teammates who had their heads down and shoulders slumped and gave them high fives.

As for Cousins, Gay said he spoke to him in the locker room.

"I think it's already understood, you know, what happened today. I mean he [Cousins] lost his composure and I think sometimes you got to put your hand in the fire to realize how hot it is. He's done that time and time again. Sooner or later he's going to figure out how hot it is," Gay told reporters after the game. "He's maturing. Today, it didn't show, but he's maturing. He's growing up and I think he really realizes about this game because, you know, it's a big chance for him. He has a lot to prove in this league."

Cousins has made strides with his temperament this season, but the ejection on Tuesday and the back and forth with Kris Humphrieson Saturday definitely was a step back in that progress.

One has to wonder if Gay is OK hanging his hat on being dependent on a guy like Cousins, who has a volatile personality, to help take the Kings to the next level. You also wonder if he is comfortable remaining in this mentor role for a long period of time, instead of on a team with more like-minded veterans that is closer to contending for a title.

Gay has that combination of solid numbers and a strong locker room presence that doesn't come around very often, especially in Sacramento. The Kings front office has some difficult decisions ahead, specifically with what to do with Isaiah Thomas and how the size of his looming contract may impact the long-term prospect of signing Gay (that's a whole other article).

Bottom line, Rudy Gay is a keeper and if it were up to me, and they are able to do so, the Kings should do everything in their power to lock him into a deal sooner rather than later.

The third-year sharpshooter will soon secure his release from the Kings.

Welcome to another edition of the Orlando Pinstriped Post Mailbag, in which feature Tyler Lashbrook and I tackle your Orlando Magic questions. You can submit one via email to OPPMailbag@gmail.com or via the Orlando Pinstriped Post Facebook page.

Let's get to today's topic.

cw2.pieper asks, via the FanShots:

Should the Magic be interested in Jimmer [Fredette]?

Fredette, set to take a buyout from the Sacramento Kings any day now, makes an interesting midseason buyout case. Typically, players who take February buyouts have several seasons' and a few postseasons' experience. The 2014 buyout crop includes such players as Danny Granger, Caron Butler, Metta World Peace, and the Magic's own Glen Davis.

But Fredette, a third-year guard set to leave a lottery team, stands as an outlier. A Kings team that, in theory, could use his shooting has instead decided to move forward without him. And so a 25-year-old former lottery pick will enter the free-agent market.

Orlando makes sense as a possibility for Fredette given its deficiency in three-point shooting: the Magic rank 21st in three-point tries per game (19.9) and 18th in percentage (35.4). Ranged shooting is Fredette's stock in trade, as he's connected on 40.2 percent of his career triples while attempting 2.6 per game. Further, Fredette has improved his three-point percentage in each of his NBA seasons, including a 49.3-percent mark in the 2013/14 campaign.

To be clear, Fredette has weaknesses: his lack of size and quickness makes him a defensive liability, and he never quite developed into a playmaker; he has to play off the ball offensively, and yet there are few opposing point guards in the league he can check at the other end.

The Magic can afford to invest in players like Fredette: young, inexpensive specialists whom they can develop over the course of the team's rebuilding effort.

Having addressed those points, we ought to acknowledge the possibility of Fredette's landing in Orlando as remote. Between Victor Oladipo and Arron Afflalo, the Magic have scant few wing minutes available. And in E'Twaun Moore and Doron Lamb, Orlando already has two combo-guard types in whom it has invested over a year of player-development capital. As Tyler recently noted, the final months of the Magic's season afford them the opportunity to evaluate Moore and Lamb, whose futures with the club remain up in the air. Adding Fredette would cut into their minutes and thus complicate the process of assessing how they might fit with the team.

One could argue Fredette boasts more upside than either Moore or Lamb, but I'd counter that Orlando's familiarity with those incumbent players trumps whatever advantage Fredette's reputation gives him. You may, of course, feel differently.

In short, cw, signing Fredette has its merits. The league certainly has room for specialists, and Fredette's expertise aligns with one of Orlando's most significant needs. Ultimately, I don't see a gaping chasm between what Fredette offers and what the likes of Lamb, Moore, and 10-day contract signee Adonis Thomas do, which explains my indifference to Fredette.

I am happy you thought to ask about him, however, as your doing so gives me a platform to make this point: when looking for players to fill out their rotations, rebuilding teams like Orlando ought to consider players like Fredette: young, skilled, inexpensive guys who flopped with their former teams for philosophical or fit issues.

Jimmer is a free agent. Should the Cavs try to get him?

Jimmer Fredette and the Sacramento Kings are close to reaching a buyout deal to make THE JIMMER a free agent. I'm not exactly sure why they want to do that, but they do.

The contract buyout for Sacramento's Jimmer Fredette is on target to be completed today, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 26, 2014

Jimmer is a pretty limited player, but he's a great shooter. He's a career 40% shooting from three-point range and is shooting 49% from there this season.

He's also a guard which is something that the Cleveland Cavaliers really need right now. With both Dion Waiters and C.J. Miles hurt, the Cavs' depth at the shooting guard position is nonexistent. Jimmer could help with that. Jason Lloyd wrote about the possibility of the Cavs getting Jimmer in his final notes from last night's game.

Now Jimmer. The Cavs have internally discussed the merits of pursuing Jimmer Fredette, but right now that seems unlikely. Fredette's buyout with the Kings will be complete on Thursday, and once he clears waivers, he'll be free to sign with any team.

Lloyd goes on to talk about how the Cavs could really need depth at the guard spot if Miles and Waiters are out for much longer. The problem with that is that neither injury is thought to be serious. They'll be back sooner or later and then Jimmer wouldn't have a lot of playing time. And since Jimmer will be a free agent and able to pick where he wants to go, it probably makes more sense for him to go somewhere that can guarantee him a more permanent opportunity.

All things considered, I think Jimmer would be able to help this team with his shooting. But once Waiters and Miles come back, there's not really much of a need for him. He'd probably be better off going elsewhere and getting a better chance to play consistently.

Kings center DeMarcus Cousins was met with a penalty from the league on Thursday afternoon.

The NBA has suspended Kings center DeMarcus Cousins one game and fined him $20,000 for an incident against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night, the league announced on Thursday.

The suspension is for punching Rockets point guard Patrick Beverley, and the $20,000 fine is for verbal abuse of an official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner, according to the NBA.

Cousins was ejected early in the second half in Sacramento, when he was furious with a foul called against him that sent Dwight Howard to the free throw line:

The punch, which went largely unnoticed, occurred early in the first quarter of that same game.

Cousins is averaging 22.3 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, shooting 48.3 percent from the floor this season. He will not be able to play in the Kings' road game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday. Sacramento has lost all eight games that Cousins has missed this season.

In Tuesday night's game against the Rockets, DeMarcus Cousins picked up his 14th and 15th technical fouls after arguing a call in the 3rd quarter. That puts him at 15 for the year with one more tech meaning that he gets suspended for a game, and every two techs after that mean another suspension. Cousins has been among the league leaders in technicals each year he's been in the league.

Coach Malone jokingly mentioned in his media availability yesterday that there were players on the team that were taking bets as to when Cousins will pick up his 16th technical, so I thought, why not let's do exactly that and make this part of our prediction contest!

So, the rules and predictions:

1. Pick Over/Under which I have set at 5 games for DeMarcus to pick up his 16th foul (He has averaged a tech every 3.27 games). This is worth 1 point to get right.

2. Pick the game you think he will pick up his 16th technical in, here's the schedule. Guessing this correctly is worth 10 points. However, if the technical is rescinded it will not count.

3. Predict DeMarcus' final technical foul count for the season.

On a lighter note (and by lighter I mean the Kings roster will be lighter), the NBA just announced that DeMarcus Cousins suspended for Friday's game against the Lakers for punching Patrick Beverly. I totally missed when that happened, but here's the video proof. Cousins was also fined $20,000 for verbally abusing an official. This will be Cousins' first game missed due to suspension this season. The Kings are 0-9 with Cousins out of the lineup.

The Bulls need more shooting, and Fredette is intrigued by Tom Thibodeau's recent success with score-first point guards such as Nate Robinson and D.J. Augustin.

Recently bought-out guard Jimmer Fredette is "strongly leaning" toward joining the Chicago Bulls once he clears waivers, according to NBA.com's David Aldridge.

ESPN's Marc Stein confirmed the report, stating the Bulls are "closing in" on a deal with Fredette and that a signing is likely when he clears waivers at 5 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Fredette, the No. 10 pick in the 2011 draft, was acquired by the Sacramento Kings in a draft-day trade to much fanfare. But the BYU product never really caught on in Sacramento, getting inconsistent playing time almost exclusively as a reserve, thanks in large part to his porous defense.

However, Fredette still has some value as a gunner off the bench. The 25-year-old is a 40.2 percent three-point shooter for his career, and he's at 49.3 percent from deep this season.

That shooting is exactly why the Bulls have so much interest. Chicago, despite showing some improvement recently, remains one of the worst offenses in the NBA. The Bulls rank 28th in offensive rating and are near the bottom in all of the three-point shooting categories.

Tom Thibodeau has had a lot of success reviving the careers of score-first point guards, including players like Nate Robinson, D.J. Augustin and John Lucas III. That success is a big selling point for Fredette, and perhaps Thibodeau can work his magic again. If Fredette can carve out a niche in Chicago, he could certainly help make their weak offense a bit more potent.

The Bulls have had concerns about signing a player for the rest of the season and possibly going into the luxury tax at the end of the year, but they now feel comfortable that they can avoid the tax.