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Nik Stauskas proving easy to root for

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Based on early impressions, Stauskas seems poised to be a fan favorite.

Sacramento Kings rookie Nik Stauskas was introduced to the city and the media on Saturday, and he's already started making a strong impression.  Upon landing in Sacramento, Stauskas tweeted out a message to Kings fans.  A manifesto, if you will.

Stauskas followed that up with his press conference Saturday.  He came across as eager to work, eager to prove himself, and not taking anything for granted.  He talked about how reaching the NBA has been a lifelong goal, but now he needs to set out new goals.

While his play will ultimately determine how supportive fans will be, Stauskas is saying all the right things so far.  With the right spark on the court, he's well on his way to being a fan favorite in Sacramento.  And while he may not yet realize exactly how big it is to be a fan favorite here, he'll figure it out soon enough.


With Rudy Gay on board, re-signing Isaiah Thomas should be Sacramento's Free Agency Priority

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Free Agency is officially set to begin tomorrow, July 1st at midnight.  The Kings biggest worry has been taken care of already, as Rudy Gay has already opted in for 2014-15.

With that $19.3 million decision though comes the fact that as of now Sacramento doesn't have very much wiggle room under the luxury tax to add further talent without trades.  That makes it all the more important for the Kings to retain what talent they do have, which brings us to Isaiah Thomas.

Thomas has received his Qualifying Offer and is set to be a Restricted Free Agent, but if I was the Kings he'd be the first stop I make at midnight on July 1st.  Even if you aren't convinced he's the long term starter for this team, keeping him is still important because losing his production and talent would be a big blow to a team already lacking in both.  Getting assets back in a Sign and Trade isn't much of a guarantee either.  Last season the Kings got a couple 2nd round picks and Greivis Vasquez for Tyreke Evans, but the Kings were lucky the Pelicans had something of value that Sacramento wanted.  If Isaiah were to sign with a team that doesn't, he could conceivably walk for nothing.

Thomas is a good young player who has improved every year he's been in the league.  We've documented just how good he is several times in the last few months alone.  The Kings aren't going to be able to land a player of similar value in Free Agency this year and probably not via trade.  Not with how close they are to the tax.

Building a good team, something the Kings haven't been in years, means you have to keep the assets you do have.  Isaiah Thomas is a big time asset, probably Sacramento's most valuable player after DeMarcus Cousins.  If you can make decisions like giving Carl Landry $6.5 million a year, you can spend a little bit to retain a player as talented and as valuable as Isaiah Thomas.

[Editor's note: Jason Jones had a similar take in Monday's Sacramento Bee.  Check it out.]

Could Nik Stauskas be the long-lost Splash Brother?

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Who is this kid? Some (incorrectly) say Jimmer Fredette 2.0. But a combination of Klay Thompson and Steph Curry is being tossed around.

The comparisons between the 6'6" Nik Stauskas and the 6'2'' Jimmer Fredette are just as amusing as they are frequent. Regardless of where you stand on that, there is another player that the Kings rookie compares himself to: Klay Thompson.

Kings owner Vivek Ranadive took that comparison a bit further on Saturday when he referred to Stauskas as a mixture of the Splash Brothers, calling him "Klay Curry" at the introductory press conference with the Sacramento media.

That's pretty high praise for a guy who hasn't played a game in the NBA yet, but something many Kings fans surely welcome. The comparison to Thompson is mainly because of their size and shooting ability.

You can see their shooting forms are similar in these videos

Stauskas admits that he and Thompson are different players with different skillsets, however.

"I get to the basket a little bit more than he does and I distribute to my teammates a little bit more in the pick and roll. Our games, overall are just different. We're not the exact same player, but I think there are some similarities," Stauskas said.

Stauskas' ability to create off the dribble is one of the main things that separated him from Doug McDermott in the eyes of the Kings front office in Thursday's draft. But there are always doubts, and the biggest one with Stauskas is his defense. Head coach Michael Malone, who coached Thompson and Stephen Curry in Golden State, uses Thompson as an example of why folks should give the Michigan standout a chance to improve in that area.

"When we took Klay out of Washington State our first year in Golden State at 11, we knew we were getting one of the better shooters in the draft with size. No one at that time talked about him being an elite defender, which he has kind of turned into. He's kind of turned into their best perimeter defender in Golden State," Malone said. "So everybody wants to criticize Nik about 'is he going to be able to guard?' Well, let's give him a chance. Let's let him learn the NBA and continue to work and get bigger and get stronger, and I think he'll have no problem doing that."

Thompson's defense is something Stauskas wants to emulate.

"When Klay came into the league … I think people questioned his defense and then over the last couple of years, he's actually become a very, very good defender in the NBA and I think that's one thing that I want to become like him where as make those steps up in defense," Satuskas said.

And then there is Stauskas' ability to play off the pick and roll. Here's Malone.

"The one difference - when Klay came into the NBA, he was not as comfortable playing pick and roll and being a facilitator as much as Nik is. I think that's a big difference."

But wait, Ranadive compared Stauskas to the other Splash Brother too with his "Klay Curry" reference. It is worth noting that while he accepts the comparisons to Thompson, Stauskas typically follows that up with how he wants to eventually become more like Curry.

"He's a guy that I think is extremely crafty with the ball and obviously, he shoots it very well off the dribble and off the catch so, those are guys that I think I play like and hopefully I can continue that moving forward," said Stauskas, who was a big fan of Jason Williams growing up and used to call himself "White Chocolate."

As Malone acknowledges, Thompson is more of a catch and shoot player, but Curry can also score off the bounce. The coach referenced the different ways in which Stauskas can score as one of the main things you could point to if comparing him to Curry.

"Nik is a guy who can get threes like Steph Curry, he can dribble, pick and roll, shoot a pull up three, so that's where you get some of the Steph Curry comparisons," Malone said.

Again, Nik Stauskas is no where near the level of Curry or Thompson right now - he has no experience in the NBA, after all.

Kings general manager Pete D'Alessandro wouldn't go as far as comparing individual aspects of Stauskas' game to the Golden State sharpshooters, but said they have similar work ethics.

"Everything you know about those guys [Thompson and Curry], they're basketball players, they're gym rats, they're guys who love to be in the gym - Chris Mullin type players - and we see him as one of those type of mentality players, and that's a huge thing for us," D'Alessandro said.

D'Alessandro commented on the Stauskas-Fredette comparisons also.

"Nik is 6'6'' at the shooting guard … there are some similarities to the way he plays, but they don't play exactly the same way. It's a guy who can catch and shoot, a guy who can shoot off the dribble and his size and athleticism kind of, I think, sets him apart as a different player," D'Alessandro said. "And that's not a knock on Jimmer, I just think they're different. Where I hope they're similar is if he can shoot it like Jimmer, that's a pretty good thing."

With all of this said, the numbers should be compared. So here are the career college stats of Stauskas, Fredette, Thompson and Curry.

Points

Assists

Rebounds

FG%

3P%

Years

Stauskas

14.1

2.3

2.9

46%

44%

2

Thompson

17.9

2.6

4.8

42%

39%

3

Curry

25.3

3.7

4.5

46%

41%

3

Fredette

18.7

3.7

2.6

45%

39%

4

What do these stats mean? Nothing really. Not until we see Stauskas step onto an NBA floor.

In the end, Stauskas isn't Jimmer Fredette (he really, really isn't in my opinion due to his size and the other aspects of his game). Could he be similar to Klay Thompson or Steph Curry? Maybe. For the Kings' sake, we can all certainly hope he is. We'll get a glimpse next month in Summer League.

NBA free agency 2014: Lakers interested in Isaiah Thomas, according to report

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Isaiah Thomas, Mr. Irrelevant in the 2011 NBA Draft, will have multiple teams to sign an offer sheet with this summer.

The Los Angeles Lakers have interest in restricted free agent Isaiah Thomas of the Sacramento Kingsreports Aaron Bruski of NBC Sports. The Kings extended a $1.1 million qualifying offer to Thomas, giving them control over his free agency.

Thomas is an interesting option for the Lakers, who could have drafted the score-first point guard late in the second round of the 2011 NBA Draft. He's improved each year in Sacramento, averaging a career-high 20.3 points along with 6.4 assists per game last season.

He's undersized for the position, standing at just 5'9 and 185 lbs, but he's proven to be a dynamic scorer in his time with Sacramento. Thomas is limited on defense and is likely best served in an off-the-bench scorer role, however. Still, point guard has been a sore spot for Los Angeles, and Thomas could be a change-of-pace scoring punch.

The Lakers are said to be approaching free agency carefully. Los Angeles is open to signing a superstar player to a maximum contract but will carefully pick-and-choose any secondary options if they don't land either LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony.

Other teams interested in Thomas include the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons and Dallas Mavericksaccording to Bruski.

NBA Free Agency 2014: Open Thread

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Stick with DBB as we sift through all the r0_omers and news of free agency.

NBA free agency is here. This is where you can talk with all your fellow DBBers about the incessant onslaught of NBA roomers [sic] that NBA writers are tweeting about -- whether they're from scam texts or their dogs barking three times suggesting LeBron's up to his old 2010 tricks again. Teams can't officially sign anybody until the moratorium ends July 10, so it should be a pretty calm nine days. (Sarcasm!)

We'll do our best to work through what we read from reliable sources and then put things up on the front page. Please be patient with us as we work diligently to feed you information as best and often as we can. We will update this post with links to the stories that go live, but you can also follow us on Twitter and/or LIKE us on Facebook. Do it.

To get you started off Moosey: Pistons will have to fight the Magic, Blazers, Hawks and Pelicans off with a bat, as those are the teams reportedly interested in the Pistons' restricted free agent.

UPDATE, 12:05 a.m. ET:Pistons reportedly making play for Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas. No, not Isiah Thomas.

UPDATE, 3:15 a.m. ET:Pistons one of the many teams reportedly interested in Trevor Ariza.

UPDATE, 10:55 a.m. ET:Pistons set to meet with Anthony Morrow

UPDATE, 1:18 p.m. ET:Is Monroe Plan C for the Lakers?

UPDATE, 1:32 p.m. ET: A Greg Monroe / Ryan Anderson swap has been discussed

More in a minute...

NBA Free Agents 2014: Pistons reportedly make big offer to Isaiah Thomas

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No, not Isiah Thomas. Isaiah Thomas. The little Kings point guard with a big game.

You can tell silly season is under way as the Detroit Pistons have been linked to a player that seems at first blush to make zero sense for the team -- Isaiah Thomas. No, not Isiah Thomas. Isaiah Thomas.

The Pistons have reportedly laid out an offer for $8 million per year for three years, according to NBA writer Aaron Bruski. If that number sounds familiar it is because it happens to be the identical deal the Pistons signed Jennings to a season ago.

In the past week or so the Pistons have said they were focused on less flashy signings and were more focused on trying to find a bigger reserve point guard to back up Brandon Jennings. Thomas would not be a backup to Jennings and he is certainly not a large man. He is listed at 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds.

Still, Thomas is an electric scorer and budding playmaker. He is so small that defense is and will always be an issue, but when your incumbent is the defenseless Jennings I guess it's less of an issue.

So how does any of this make sense? For one, Thomas is a clear upgrade on Jennings, even if he isn't exactly a championship-caliber upgrade. Two, this is the Kings. And the Pistons have been associated with the Kings recently.

It seems Goodwill is saying something here without really saying something here. But the logic is pretty easy to follow. When the Pistons and the Kings were in discussions over a Josh Smith trade, it was reportedly the Pistons who backed away.

The deal on the table was Smith for spare parts such as some combination of Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, Derrick Williams and Jason Terry.

The Kings then drafted Nik Stauskas, a perimeter shooter that seemed to overlap with previous draft pick Ben McLemore. Clearly something is brewing in Sactown.

So could this possible Thomas interest from the Pistons be part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Kings that sends some combination of Thomas and spare parts and maybe even McLemore to Detroit in exchange for Josh Smith and other assets? And what would those assets be? Could the Kings want to take on Jennings? It seems unlikely but any deal for Thomas only makes sense if Jennings isn't also in the picture. Would it also cost the Pistons Kyle Singer or a future pick?

Everything is crazy and nothing makes sense, therefore everything makes sense.

It's past midnight. Let the games begin.

If you want to talk about free agency in general, there's a thread for that. Detroit Bad Boys always has you covered.

NBA Free Agency: Day One Open Thread

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The first day of free agency is usually full of fun. Use this thread to discuss it all.

The Sacramento Kings are not expected to be major players in free agency this summer.  With Rudy Gay opting into the final year of his contract, worth $19.3 million, the Kings have essentially no cap room unless they swing a trade to clear cap space.  Of course, this franchise is quickly developing a habit of throwing expectations off the top floor of the Nakatomi Plaza.  But even if the Kings hold to expectations, free agency is a lot of fun.  Use this thread to discuss signings and rumors of any team.

We'll of course be keeping a close eye on Isaiah Thomas and his restricted free agency proceedings.  Jon Santiago of Cowbell Kingdom reported Monday afternoon that Isaiah may not be an immediately player in the market.

Jon then added some detail on when we might see Isaiah enter the fray:

It would make sense for Isaiah to wait for other, bigger-name guards to be off the market.  Waiting would give Isaiah the chance to cash in on teams becoming desperate to land an impact guard if they strike out on Lowry and Bledsoe.

Celtics pursue Isaiah Thomas, have reportedly discussed Rajon Rondo trade

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The Celtics were the first team to call Thomas when free agency started, leading some to speculate a trade of Rondo is in the works.

Sacramento Kings restricted free agent guard Isaiah Thomas has already garnered plenty of interest in free agency, with the Boston Celtics putting in the first call to Thomas, according to Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst confirmed the Celtics' interest in Thomas, also stating that the Kings and Celtics have "recently" held trade talks about a possible Rajon Rondo deal. The Kings made an offer for Rondo before the trade deadline, and there were some discussions during the draft about a possible trade.

Boston's interest in Thomas as well as the selection of Marcus Smart in the draft would seem to signal that Rondo may be on the move. The Celtics don't have the cap space to sign Thomas, so perhaps a trade with the Kings could be worked out.

Why this makes sense

There have already been rumors that the Celtics would look to trade Rondo if they weren't able to acquire Kevin Love, and at this point, it seems unlikely Love ends up in Boston. By trading Rondo for Thomas, the Celtics would get a younger, cheaper player as they continue to rebuild. Boston would also likely nab another asset from Sacramento.

As for the Kings, they would get a star point guard to pair with DeMarcus Cousins. A Rondo-Cousins pairing would be awfully dynamic, and having Rudy Gay to play off those two makes him even more dangerous. Sacramento is desperate to actually start winning, and this would be a nice core to try with.

Why this doesn't make sense

The Celtics might be a long shot for Love at this point, but until the star power forward is traded, they're technically still alive. Any trade of Rondo would likely eliminate Boston from the Love sweepstakes, because Love surely wouldn't want to remain with the Celtics long term if Rondo was dealt.

While the Kings would love Rondo, the price would surely be quite high. The Celtics could ask for another young player like Ben McLemore, and it may be tough to give up both Thomas and McLemore for the high-priced Rondo.

Likelihood

A deal like this would make some sense for both sides, and there has been quite a bit of smoke in terms of these two teams making a deal. I wouldn't call a Thomas-for-Rondo deal likely, but I'll give it a 50 percent chance of happening.


Boston Celtics Reportedly After Isaiah Thomas, Kent Bazemore, Jordan Hill

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Rumor has it...

Surprise, surprise, surprise! According to multiple reports, the Boston Celtics were one of the first teams to call restricted free agent point guard Isaiah Thomas when free agency opened last night at 12 AM. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge was the man who made the call, according to BasketballInsider's Alex Kennedy, which will only raise questions about the possibility that Rajon Rondo could be traded.

Keep in mind, the only way the Celtics can "sign" Isaiah Thomas is if it's through a sign-and-trade. As explained in part one of our salary cap preview, the Celts have no cap space, therefore the only have their exceptions to use to sign a player, or their exceptions and non-guaranteed contracts to make a trade.

What does interest in Thomas mean for Rondo?

Thomas was first reported as a possibility for Boston last December when there were rumblings about a massive Rondo blockbuster trade, and again before the draft, when there was talk that the Celtics and Kings could be discussing a move for the #8 pick.

Even more intriguing is Adrian Wojnarowski's draft night report that the Celtics were considering dealing the #6 pick for Kings guard Ben McLemore. Perhaps there is something brewing behind the scenes, like a Thomas and McLemore for Rondo swap. While that return may not be enough to complete a deal, it could work as a solid foundation.

I ask this of you. Would you prefer to have Isaiah Thomas signed to a four-year, $32 million deal as the point guard as the Celtics, with last year's #7 pick Ben McLemore as well, or would you rather go into the 2015 offseason with an unsigned Rondo who would likely command five-years, $100 million?

I'd take Thomas and McLemore, especially considering Thomas' fit in the motion offense as someone who can shoot off-ball. I had McLemore ranked as my #3 prospect last year and still think he has tons of potential as a scoring guard, so he would be a valuable asset as well.

However, thinking outside the box, it wouldn't surprise me if Sacramento was looking for a big man who could complement DeMarcus Cousins in a trade. Is it out of the question that they'd like to move Thomas for a player like Jared Sullinger or Kelly Olynyk? I don't think so, but that still would be an interesting trade for Boston since they'd be paying a backup point guard quite a lot of money with Rondo set to be a free agent.

Former Lakers Kent Bazemore, Jordan Hill receive a call

I was very excited to hear that the Celtics made a call to two of my favorite Laker free agents, guard Kent Bazemore and big Jordan Hill. If you've been reading my offseason preview series, you'll remember that Bazemore is the top guard I outlined as an option for the Celts, and Hill was a perfect choice if they couldn't receive a true rim protector like Larry Sanders or Marcin Gortat via trade.

From the offseason previews, here are my thoughts on Hill:

Because of his small role on a horrendous team last season, few people realize that he was one of the best rebounders in the NBA, averaging 6.3 contested rebounds per 40 minutes, according to SportVU. He was also 24th best in the league, grabbing a 43.7 percentage of contested rebounds. In other words, Hill could provide a Kris Humphries-like impact, but he's also a superior defender, is two-years younger, and will cost a lot less.

And on Bazemore:

Bazemore is like a lesser version of Lance Stephenson, without any of the personality issues. Like Stephenson, "Bazed God" is a combo guard who can handle secondary pick-and-roll duties and be relied upon to make the right play, whether it's pulling up for a shot, driving to the basket, or passing it to a teammate.

While Bazemore isn't a lockdown defender like Stephenson is, he still plays with enthusiasm, intensity, and love for the game. Bazemore frequently anticipates passes and jumps the passing lanes, and he already has a handful of exciting chase down blocks on his resume. With his size, he could potentially defend three positions.

In my opinion, signing both or either of these players would be major steals. Danny Ainge has talked about finding players that make "championship plays," and both Hill and Bazemore certainly do that.

Hill is basically a more talented and younger version of Kris Humphries, and would come at a much cheaper price tag. He was one of the few bright spots for the Lakers last season and could probably come in and start at center for the Celtics. Even though he isn't a true rim protector, he'd be an upgrade over what they already have.

And Bazemore...I like everything there is to like about him. I think he's one of the most severely underrated free agents, only because he didn't receive a chance until late last season with the Lakers' season was over. As I wrote before, I think he's like "Lance Stephenson lite" with his impact on the game. Hustle. Grit. Intensity. Do-it-all player on the offensive end. And he'd come at a bargain for the Celtics? Sign me up.

CelticsBlog Offseason Preview:

Part 1: Do the Celtics have any salary cap space?

Part 2: Finding a Big Man Rim Protector in Free Agency

Part 3: Can the Celtics find a go-to wing they can lean on?

Part 4: ooking for sparks at the guard position

Poll
Who'd you rather have? (Note: Salaries used are projections of the highest amount Rondo and Thomas are likely to receive.)

  1722 votes |Results

Get to know Nik Stauskas: a Q&A with Maize N Brew

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Zach Travis of Maize N Brew, SB Nation's Michigan Wolverines blog, answers some questions about Kings rookie Nik Stauskas.

Our fearless leader Aykis16 conducted a Q&A with Zach Travis of Maize N Brew, SB Nation's Michigan Wolverine's blog.  Zach was kind enough to share his insights as to the type of player we're getting with rookie Nik Stauskas.  Enjoy!

A: Statistically, Nik improved a bunch from his freshman year to sophomore year.  What to you was his biggest improvement?

Z: As a freshman, Nik Stauskas played primarily a secondary role in the offense, an outlet for Trey Burke passes and a specialized gunner that helped keep the defense honest.  Stauskas was perfectly suited for this and delivered with a high ORtg (122.8) and eFG% (59.7%).  When Burke left the Michigan offense opened up.  Burke's replacement was a true freshman, and Michigan suddenly found itself with a lot of capable wing scorers but no reliable distributor.  Michigan's offense changed its focus to take advantage of this shift in talent, but it was only able to because Stauskas made such a leap as a facilitator for the rest of the offense.

Between year one and year two the shooting, rebounding, and defensive numbers are all the same.  However, Nik was able to continually play at a high offensive rate (his ORtg went from 122 as a freshman to 124 as a sophomore) while his role in the offense expanded (his usage rate went up 7.7%) because of the improvement made to his on the ball ability.  As a sophomore, Nik because a deadly weapon in the pick and roll game.  His shooting always made him a deadly threat for teams that played soft, but as a sophomore he showed an ability to win one on one matchups and get into the paint where he could finish shots and find open passes when the defense broke down.  He became one of Michigan's primary catalysts on offense (alongside fellow sophomore Caris LeVert), because he was able to attack the rim (his FT rate jumped 20%) and find open teammates (his assist rate jumped over 10%).  No longer was he a shooter on the wing that primarily threatened to hurt defenses that collapsed, as a sophomore he became the focal point of Michigan's offense, and did it without sacrificing any of the efficiency from his previous year.

A: The one nickname I've heard of Nik's from Michigan is "Tube" for all his YouTube videos.  Any others we should be aware of?

Z: That is actually a new one to me.  I don't think Stauskas developed many nicknames during his time at Michigan that went very far.  He was always well known for flashing the three goggles after a big shot or playfully getting into it with opposing crowds, but no nicknames ever came out of it.

If I had to guess why, I'd imagine it has something to do with the pervasiveness of the "Not Just A Shooter" meme, which became something an announcer would say at least once a game in response to something Nik did.  This became a pretty big joke on Michigan's twitter-sphere and was probably as close to a nickname as Nik ever got.

A: It's well documented that Nik's greatest weakness lies on the defensive end.  In your opinion, do you think he can ever become a good defender?

Z: Just work at it.  Nik has good athleticism and length, so the physical tools are there for him to become at least a good defender.  One issue he had while at Michigan was that - at least in his sophomore year - he was shouldering such a big part of the offense that Michigan was content to let him take weaker assignments on D to keep him fresh for the other end.  In the end, defense is just something he needs to focus on in the same way he spent time improving his offensive game.  I don't see a physical reason why he can't be a good defender, or even a great one.  It just depends on how bad he wants to improve in that area.

A: We all know Nik can shoot.  What other part of his game stands out to you?

Z: His ability to shoot is impressive, but I think that ignores just how impressive it is that he is able to get his shot off in some instances.  Nik's ability to shoot the three off the bounce is nearly as good as his catch and shoot abilities.  Last year he had the lowest percentage of assisted three point makes on the team (just 71.7%), but shot the most attempts (208) and made those shots at the highest percentage on the team (44%).  As I mentioned above, Nik is a brutal player to guard in the pick and roll because he forces guards to go over top of the screen to contest shots, and teams that hedge soft open themselves up to a blizzard of open looks off the dribble.  But Nik was also very good at simply breaking a defender down and getting an open look in isolation (check out his big shot against Wisconsin in Madison for a prime example).  So yeah, Nik can shoot, but his ability to find his own shot from so many places on the court is what makes him such an impressive scorer and not just a shooter.  It also opens up so much else on offense to him, because a defender and any help defenders in the area have to be worried first and foremost about Nik's shot, leading to openings elsewhere.

A: How did Nik handle the jump in responsibility his second year from being a role player to being the go-to guy?

Z: Nik handled the increase in responsibility as well as anyone could have expected.  The jump in his role in the offense (an eight point increase in usage rate) is rarely ever coupled with an increase in offensive efficiency, but NIk's increased passing and ability to get both shots at the rim and shots on the perimeter on his own made guarding him a very tough job.

The really impressive thing was how well he dealt with the pressure in season.  At one point Indiana exposed what was then the blueprint for stopping Stauskas.  The Hoosiers matched Yogi Ferrell on him, played a lot of denial defense, and kept Ferrell right up in Stauskas to make it hard for him to get the ball and get into the offense.  Iowa and Wisconsin appropriated this strategy with similar results, and it looked like Stauskas had finally been cracked.  However, Michigan was able to tweak its approach.  Stauskas used more backdoor cuts to punish over-playing guards, and he became more comfortable simply overpowering and shooting over these smaller guards.  His second half against Michigan State was a clinic in how to take advantage of a smaller defender.  Teams tried different things to limit Nik's effectiveness, but Nik and John Beilein were able to come up with an answer for almost everything.

A: Aside from defense, in what other areas do you think Nik might struggle with in the NBA?

Z: I don't think Nik is as good a rebounder as he could be given his size and athleticism, although that could be a function of his being such a perimeter oriented player.  However, it would be nice to see him provide a bit more help on the boards.  I'm also not sure if he will have as much success in isolation on offense in the NBA.  He should still be deadly in the pick and roll, but until I see him break down a wing defender and consistently get good shots at the rim against talented rim protectors, I will question whether he has quite enough athleticism to do that at a high level in the NBA.

Thankfully, I don't think any of this matters much.  Nik should be a great asset at the next level.  He has an elite skill (shooting) that isn't entirely dependent on being part of the offense (he can get his own shot), and he brings enough skill in ball handling and passing to give his team options when he is on the floor.  If he deals with his defensive issues, he could be an NBA player for a long time and have a very productive career.

*****

A big thanks to Zach for answering our questions.  For more of his Michigan insights, you can follow Zach on Twitter.

Why a Rajon Rondo-Isaiah Thomas swap makes sense for both teams

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The Celtics already have two premium point guards on their roster, so why would they be interested in Kings' free agent Isaiah Thomas? For that matter, why would the Kings let Thomas leave? We explain.

Isaiah Thomas is one of the best scoring point guards in the NBA. The 25-year-old averaged 20 points per game last season, doing so at above-average efficiency. (He's had a .574 True Shooting percentage in each of his first three seasons, which is honestly kind of spooky.) He's also a better passer than you'd think, averaging 6.3 assists per game last season with an assist percentage of 32, solidly in the "point guard" territory. (Below 30 percent and you wade into combo guard territory.)

Based on production, one of Isaiah's closest comps is Kyrie Irving ... who just agreed to a five-year, $90 million early extension. Thomas is a restricted free agent, and is unsurprisingly popular with teams who need a point guard. Teams like the Mavericks, the Heat, the Lakers and ... uh ...

Oh.

Well, the Celtics do not exactly need a point guard. They have Rajon Rondo, a four-time All-Star. They just drafted Marcus Smart at No. 6 in a brilliant draft. Thomas can't play the two due to size issues; Rondo can't play the two due to scoring/shooting issues. So it's not a chase that makes much sense unless the Celtics intend to trade Rondo. Who happens to be a player the Kings have reportedly been very interested in.

On the surface, it makes little sense as to why the Kings, a team shallow in the talent pool, would be willing to lose Thomas in free agency. Rondo will make $13 million this season, while Isaiah is expected to draw closer to $8 million. With DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay drawing massive salaries, every dollar counts. But it's important to understand Sacramento's needs and timeline in potentially seeking to give up Thomas and likely another asset for Rondo.

* The Kings have plenty of scoring. Cousins and Gay each averaged better than 20 points per game last season, and both did so just above league-average efficiency. The problem with the Kings' offense wasn't either of those two or Thomas. It was everyone else on the roster. The team's power forwards and shooting guards were really bad on offense, and prior to Gay's midseason arrival, small forward was another gaping hole.

Rondo is the game's best passer now that Steve Nash has conceded his legs to necrosis. If he can set up Kings draft pick Nik Stauskas, hit Cousins and Gay in good spots and pick apart opposing defenses on the pick-and-roll and dribble penetration, the Kings' floor game will look much more balanced on offense. And don't count out the Kings' confidence in assistant coach Chris Jent (who worked on LeBron's jumper for years) and exec Chris Mullin to help new recruits shoot better.

* Defense matters. Isaiah is a fighter and he's surprisingly strong, but he's still 5'9. There's no changing that. He has trouble challenging jumpers by basically anyone. His reach is proportionate, which means it's also lacking, which causes trouble when he has to guard someone one-on-one. He hasn't shown an ability to defend the pick-and-roll with anyone consistency, which is admittedly a team-wide problem. For such a quick player, his steal rate was also surprisingly low -- he didn't play the passing lanes much last season.

Rondo is a four-time All-Defense honoree and played on a few of the best defenses of the past decade. The Kings need defense everywhere, and point guard is a pretty darned important spot in that respect.

* The Kings need to keep fans engaged and excited. This is similar to the situation the Pelicans face, and one of the key reasons New Orleans used a future first to nab Omer Asik. The timeline for the Kings to make noise in the West is short. With a new arena slated to open its doors in two years and the franchise closing in on a decade since its last playoff appearance, big splashes are the best weapons against ennui. While Isaiah is just fine on paper and fun to watch, landing an All-Star caliber player like Rondo is just so much more buzzworthy.

Perhaps that sounds like a stupid way to build a team, to focus on getting fans excited. But it's unquestionably a real goal and serious necessity for mid-market teams. The margins for viability are slimmer, especially with an expensive new building -- half of it paid by team ownership -- coming into play.

Does such a deal make sense for Boston? Only Danny Ainge knows the Celtics' motivations to add Thomas after drafting Smart. Only Ainge knows what else his team might be able to snap up for Rondo on the market, or whether it's feasible to land another star to play with Rondo in short order.

But there's an easy rationale for the Kings here, in spite of how good Isaiah Thomas has been.

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NBA Free Agency: Isaiah Thomas talking to Detroit Pistons, per report

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While talks are developing, could Isaiah be headed to the Motor City? Rumors of offers in the range of 3 years $24 million are swirling.

Start your engines! It has begun!

Isaiah Thomas is reportedly in talks with the Detroit Pistons. While this may seem like a strange landing spot, having just locked up Brandon Jennings at $8mil a year, the Pistons are rumored to be very interested.

Our friend, Aaron Bruski of ProBasketballTalk reported last night that the Pistons could be throwing around numbers as high as 3 years, $24 million, which might be a little high for the Kings.

NBA twitter has since begun to do what it does best... and speculate! The NBA's official twitter account went as far as to report that an actual offer had been made, but they aren't sourcing their intel. It's not clear if they've heard that talks have progressed that far, or if they are just extrapolating from Bruski's tweets last night. But rumors are news too right?!

While it's unclear if an actual offer has been issued by the Pistons, we did hear from one source that talks are "as serious as it gets." But, it's unknown at this point how close either side might be to agreeing to some kind of deal. For what it's worth, Jared Zwerling from NBA TV and Bret Poirier added these nuggets, and I tend to believe them:

I'm not sure that there's anything to worry about right now, but this should serve as a dose of reality for King's fans. I still feel like the Kings could try to keep him, especially if they can find a sucker team to take either of the JT's contracts. We will have to see. One possibilty could be revisiting the Josh Smith talks, but we will just have to wait and see how this progresses. Stay tuned for more updates!

Isaiah Thomas Drawing Substantial Interest In Free Agency

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U-Dub's Isaiah Thomas is a hot free agent target this season. Where will he end up?

He may not be a big name like LeBron or Melo, or even a big man like Chris Bosh, but 5'9 guard Isaiah Thomas continues to show he is one of the hotter free agents in the NBA, drawing interest from as many as six teams according to NBA sources.

Reports on Twitter this morning stated the Seattle native was offered a 3-year, $24 million contract from the Detroit Pistons, who desperately need backcourt help. Thomas was also contacted by the Celtics, per BostonHub.com. Boston's interest seems unusual as they have several guards already on their roster, and is fuelling rumors that the Celtics may be looking to deal Rajon Rondo.

Thomas played for the Sacramento Kings last season, averaging 20 PPG, 6 APG, 3 RPG and shot 45% from the floor. Given the parameters of  Kyrie Irving's deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers --a 5 year, $90 million max contract -- and the relative dearth of quality free agent point guards in this year's free agent class -- nobody could blame IT for holding out for a better offer than Detroit. We'll see if he gets it.

The Definitive Nik Stauskas Youtube Compilation

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Former University of Michigan sharpshooter and new Sacramento King, Nik Stauskas, is Youtube famous. Kings fans on social media have been going crazy over this kid's clips. When you're done watching these videos... you'll understand why.

Summer league is only a few days away. But for NBA fans longing to catch a glimpse of their latest draft pick, a few days can seem like an eternity! Searching desperately for a glimmer of hope or validation, late June/early July is the time of year basketball fans sprint to their computers to become experts on their new favorite players. It's undeniable. We're all guilty of it. Firing up Youtube, devouring any and every last clip we can find, like a bunch of junkies looking for a fix.

Luckily for Kings fans, rookie shooting guard Nik Stauskas is "Youtube famous." Coaches at the University of Michigan took to calling Nik "Tube" for posting a series of impressive backyard training videos to his own Youtube channel. We're talking about the kinds of videos that become legendary amongst die hards and casual fans alike. It didn't take long for Kings faithful to figure out that the youngster's Youtube game was REAL strong.

Kings fan social media circles have been going crazy over the kid. So many of his videos are being shared that it's getting pretty difficult to keep track of them all. Find a comfy spot, because I decided to do the work for you. Here are all the best Nik Stauskas Youtube videos the internet has to offer.

To kick things off, lets start with this clip of Stauskas' highlights from the 2013-2014 season. This video literally (not literally) got me so pumped, I started running down the street singing "Oh Canada" in the middle of the night. Spoiler alert... he's an offensive monster. The Jimmer comparisons stop HERE:

There's been some debate about whether or not Nik has the ability to handle the ball at a high level. Well he looks pretty damn good in these drills. Keep in mind he's only a freshman in this first clip and the stuff he's already doing with his left hand is REALLY impressive:

Nik hit the weight room pretty hard after his freshmen campaign at Michigan. After packing on 15 lbs of muscle and adding 6" to his vertical over the summer, he wanted to put his newly acquired hops on display:

Not entirely convinced Nik is an elite shooter? Well here he is going 70/76... outside... in the RAIN. He hits 40+ in a row and he doesn't miss until about 3:30 into the damn video:

Wondering what exactly it was that caught Pete D'Alessandro's eye when he visited Stauskas for a pre-draft workout in Chicago? Well here's a glimpse at one of those very workouts. Note the unbelievably effortless stroke on his jumper:

Draft Express always puts together the best scouting reporting videos. They're basically required viewing this time of year. Want to get better acquainted with Nik's strengths AND weaknesses? Here's a very comprehensive breakdown:

Finally, and this one might be my favorite, here's a look at draft day in New York through the eyes of Nik and his family. It's about 15 mins of some really inside stuff that we normally don't get to see from this vantage point. The commentary from his parents when Nik takes the stage with Adam Silver is priceless. This is really cool:

I dunno about you guys, but I can't wait to see this kid play! Hopefully that holds us all over till Summer League. If you find any videos I missed, share them in the comments. And in the meantime, thanks for all the videos "Tube!"

Inside The Kings Draft War Room Part 2

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Part 2 of Grantland's behind-the-scenes Draft 3.0 piece, that takes us inside the Kings draft war room, came out today!


Sixers Engaged Kings Over Eighth Pick?

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A Grantland documentary following Sacramento showed that the Sixers engaged the Kings in talks for the eighth overall pick.

With the tenth overall pick, five second rounders, and a disgruntled power forward in Thaddeus Young, the Sixers looked prime to make some moves higher into the draft lottery. Yet the third pick came and went with no movement, and eventually the Sixers drafted Elfrid Payton at 10 for Orlando in exchange for Dario Saric, among other things. Once the dust cleared, it turned out Philadelphia did indeed make a play for the Sacramento Kings eighth overall pick, albeit not an incredibly strong one.

In the second part of a Grantland documentary short following the Sacramento Kings front office, Kings owner Vivek Ranadive announced Philadelphia had offered the tenth overall pick, as well as two second rounders (which picks are unknown) for pick number eight. This came after the Kings apparently tried to make a play for the third overall pick in which they would have seemingly taken Joel Embiid. The Sixers would keep their pick and take Joel Embiid, and Sacramento would stand pat and select Michigan's Nik Stuaskas.

Frankly, I'm pretty glad things worked out the way they did. Liberty Ballers had received word that Noah Vonleh would have been the target at ten, so it's safe to say a move up to eight would have been for him. I've always been a big Vonleh fan, and he would have fit in perfectly well next to Nerlens Noel, Embiid, Matt Geiger, whomever. But being able to stay at ten and get their 2017 1st round pick back, a 2015 2nd rounder, and Dario Saric (who they would have selected at ten if not for the Orlando deal) likely far exceeds anything Vonleh would have done here.

Not to mention, there was not a whole lot of motivation for Sacramento to accept this deal. Second rounders don't really hold too much weight value wise, and there's a good chance they could have missed out on Stauskas at ten. Charlotte would end up taking Vonleh on draft night, but under this hypothetical deal he would have already been on the board at eight, and the Hornets could have very easily taken the Michigan product  at nine. The Kings would've been left with their asses out at ten, and all they go out of it would have been some measly second rounders.

Throwing Thaddeus Young in that deal probably doesn't help facilitate things either, because they have a lesser version of him in Derrick Williams, and his contract is still a turnoff. What they opt to do with him this year will be an interesting storyline, as it's been made clear he plans to opt out after the 2014-15 season.

Regardless, a non-deal between Philadelphia and Sacramento ended up working out really well for both sides.

Could Greg Monroe sign the one-year qualifying offer to become unrestricted free agent next summer?

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The talented 24-year-old post could demand a larger salary on the open market in 2015.

Detroit Pistons forward Greg Monroe has been extended a qualifying offer, but the restricted free agent is threatening to sign it in order to become an unrestricted player next summer, according to Zach Lowe of Grantland.com.

Why this is a good idea

Specifically, Monroe is reportedly considering signing the QO if Josh Smith is not moved from the roster in a rumored deal for Sacramento Kings point guard Isaiah Thomas. For Monroe, the impetus would be to move to the open market in the summer of 2015 as an unrestricted free agent.

Monroe's presence in Detroit is clearly affected by Smith. Last season, the Pistons tried out a three big-man rotation of Monroe, Smith and Andre Drummond with disastrous results. Smith is clearly better suited to play power forward, and with Monroe occupying that position there appears to be a need for change.

In the open market, Monroe would likely be able to fetch a similar sum as he would in RFA, but the Pistons wouldn't have the opportunity to match. This would give him the ability to choose a roster of his liking where there would hopefully be less interference positionally. At the end of the day, Detroit does need to find a solution to their Big 3 problem.

Why this is a bad idea

Even Lowe points out that this is unlikely to happen and probably more posturing than anything:

Reading between the lines, a sign-and-trade involving Thomas and Josh Smith may be in the works, and multiple sources say Monroe’s camp has made it known Monroe will sign the one-year qualifying offer if Smith remains on the roster. Monroe’s camp denies that, and that kind of empty threat is not atypical from top restricted free agents. It’s really their only form of leverage.

Trying to force Smith out when new head coach and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy hasn't even had a chance to make an impact doesn't seem wise for Monroe. Smith was their big signing in the summer of 2013 and unless Detroit gets what they want for him, they are unlikely to quit on him so quickly, especially at the behest of another player on the roster.

It's not entirely clear what the best move is for the Pistons, but dumping Smith for pennies on the dollar isn't how Van Gundy wants to kick off his tenure.

Likelihood it happens

Again, this is probably just Monroe's camp trying to receive some grease on their squeaky wheel. Monroe is still eligible to sign an extension with the Pistons, so it could be a play there. In any case, it's unlikely Detroit bolts at his request, and if Smith moves it will be under Van Gundy's own volition. I'd put this a doubtful 2/10 chance of happening. Grade: C-

MarShon Brooks invited to Summer League mini-camp, other invites announced as well

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Some returning favorites, as well as some interesting additions highlight the 16-man roster that has been announced for a pre-Summer League mini-camp.

The Sacramento Kings issued a press release announcing the 16- man roster who will be attending a mini-camp to decide on a final summer league roster. The roster includes some returning Kings, some interesting veterans, and a whole lot of prospective rookies. The most surprising name is MarShon Brooks, who had not previously been announced as being in any way affiliated with the Kings.  The rest of the minicamp roster includes:

5. Quincy Acy, F, 2 yrs

55. Sim Bhullar, C, R

0. Marshon Brooks, G, 3 yrs

7. Rion Brown, G, R

9. Jared Cunninghan, G, 2 yrs

20. Ra'shad James, G, R

52. Dwayne Jones, C, 5 yrs

35. Brendan Lane, F, R

3. Ray McCallum, G, 1 yr

16. Ben McLemore, G, 1 yr

40. Eric Moreland, F/C, R

18. Jake Odum, G, R

42. Josh Owens, F, R

10. Nik Stauskas, G, R

32. Nick Wiggins, G, R

13. Derrick Williams, F, 3 yrs

While many of these names honestly mean little to nothing to me, a couple of the new additions are very intriguing. MarShon Brooks has struggled outside of a great rookie year, but has shown that he is an NBA talent. I see him at least making it to our training camp, and possibly the final roster.

Sim Bhullar is the other one that intrigues me. With his size and position, I see him being a project for the Kings for the next couple years regardless of how he does in Summer League. If they could get him on a good fitness plan, and really help him work on his skills. A guy that size should have a space on an NBA roster.

On the other new names, aside from the obvious Nik Stauskas, (whom I am sure everyone is looking forward to seeing). The other rookies are more than likely going to be D-League prospects. One interesting name is Dwayne Jones, who has 5 years of experience in the NBA, and is 7-10 years older than almost everyone on the roster (he is 31). Great to see an older guy get another chance to prove himself.

As far as returning names, Ben McLemore and Ray McCallum are obviously there. I was a little surprised to see Quincy Acy on the roster, but knowing his work ethic, it wouldn't surprise me if that was his request, and it probably will be good for his game. Derrick Williams also pleasantly surprised me, whether this was his doing, or the teams, we know that this kid has great talent, but he seems to mentally psyche himself out when he isn't getting the consistent minutes. Also great to see that we are giving Jared Cunningham another go.

The team will be coached by Chris Jent. He is probably a great choice by Michael Malone for these young guys. I heard Malone interviewed on Deuce and Jason's show last week, and he talked about how much it meant to him to get the opportunity to coach a summer league team.

This mini-camp aspect is an interesting one. I do not recall us doing that before, but I could be wrong and that could be a yearly tradition. It gives the guys an opportunity to get to know each others' games before stepping out on the court with them. So far 3 games are scheduled, with at least 2 more being contingent on the Kings' standings. The Scheduled games are as follows:

Friday, 7/11, vs San Antonio, 7:00 p.m., Cox Pavilion

Sunday, 7/13, vs. Charlotte, 3:00 p.m., Cox Pavilion

Monday, 7/14, vs. D-League Select Team, 1:30, Thomas and Mack Center

All in all it looks to be a very interesting year in summer league. Be sure to check out the press release on the Kings' web site for even more info.

What do you hope to get out of Summer League? Any of the new faces intrigue you?

NBA free agents 2014: Orlando Magic "courting" Patrick Patterson, according to report

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The Raptors forward is a restricted free agent.

Citing a "source," David Baumann of CBS Sports reports the Orlando Magic are "courting" Patrick Patterson, a restricted free agent of the Toronto Raptors.

Patterson, 25, arrived in Toronto in December as part of the Rudy Gay trade with the Sacramento Kings. As a Dino, Patterson averaged 9.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 23.3 minutes. The Kentucky product shot 47.7 percent from the field and 41.1 percent on three-pointers.

The Magic are well stocked at power forward--they have Aaron Gordon, Tobias Harris, Jason Maxiell, Andrew Nicholson, and Kyle O'Quinn under contract--but Patterson would nonetheless add much-needed outside shooting to the club.

The Raptors have the right to match any offer Patterson signs with another team. It's unclear at which dollar amount they'd consider letting him leave.

The Houston Rockets initially selected Patterson with the 14th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. They ultimately traded him to Sacramento in order to open salary-cap space.

Keep up with all of our Magic coverage

The Sactown Royalty Show Ep 51: Sam Vecenie of Upside & Motor

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Sam Vecenie joins us to talk about Nik Stauskas, the Kings' draft process, and NBA free agency.

The Sactown Royalty Show is back!  This week I'm joined by Sam Vecenie.  Sam was a long-time contributor to Fear the Sword, SB Nation's Cavaliers blog, and is now Editor in Chief of Upside & Motor, a blog specializing in the NBA Draft.  Sam has a ton of insight to share, and it should be a great episode.

Sam will be sharing his insights on Nik Stauskas, and we'll be breaking down the Grantland video showing the Kings' draft process.  We'll also talk about the free agency season.

The show begin at 9pm PT, and you can listen live here.

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.

And a big thanks to Audible.com for supporting us. To get your free 30-day trial and a free audiobook, sign up here. Using that particular link gets you the special offer, and let's them know you heard about them through our show.

As always, thanks for listening.

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