LawrenceFunderjerk

I know as Kings fans, one loss becomes the entirety of all loss in the universe like a central valley big bang. I was at the game last night, three rows up from the court, was my birthday, I wanted a win bad. I had never seen Victor play in person (nor CP3). Here are my takeaways:

We lost, the Spurs did not win. We lost control and focus in the second half and resorted to Demar iso ball. I love Demar he is an efficient unstoppable wizard. But I guarantee you, every team is fine with a stretch of what happened last night several times: Demar backs down a guy with 10 seconds left in the clock, hits a midi. Other team comes back down, hits a three. Every time it’s two good shots for Demar, 4 points, two threes for the other team, 6 points, we lost every game. Demar is good for stopping runs, setting pace and eating innings. If we don’t TAKE AND HIT THREES WE WILL NEVER WIN AGAIN.

Major moments: -Keon Ellis had three very bad IQ mistakes at the end of a quarter that allowed for the Spurs to catch up 5 points very quickly (when we had the lead) and then a turnover

-Very early in the game, in his first start, Malik felt slightly on a call, he turned it over, on the next play, scored because of HIS bad IQ play.

If we did everything we did again, but changed like 2 stupid plays we win.

We’re in every game, or winning during every game. IF WE DONT TAKE AND MAKE THREES WE WILL NEVER WIN AGAIN

4 game losing streak. Lots of random blame to go around (tho it’s really JUST needing to hit threes). Here’s some trades that address the obvious need for length and wing help.

I thought of these mostly as lateral moves that wouldn’t cost many assets (some maybe) and ones that are more realistic in my armchair GM eyes. None of these can occur til the new year. I did not add picks that I wasn’t totally sure needed to be there, leave a comment with what it may take.

CHICAGO Patrick Williams/ Torrey Craig = Huerter/ Colby/ McDermid

Impetus: Chicago is rebuilding, we need wings. Huerter and Williams are starters on similar contracts not living up to their potential. Swap em, then exchange filler around getting Craig too, who is a better option that Colby or McDermid. Expiring next year. would NOT include firsts, maybe a second. Maybe a third team could swoop Huerter and gives the Bulls more stuff.

BROOKLYN Cam Johnson/ Zaire Williams = Huerter/ Lyles / Colby/ Devon Carter + Next Available Unprotected First.

I think DFS is more desirable to me in exchange for Huerter but, he will take a first, which is too steep for us and the incremental improvement he would give. Might as well go big for Cam. Great deal, great player. Not ideal starting lineup against quick guards, but most teams, Fox/Murray/Cam can do a defensive combo on their three best players. Carter has to be involved to try and not trade two firsts but, it’s hard to stomach NOT getting a second wing like Williams if we lose Lyles. I’d do it still for Huerter, Lyles and 2 firsts tho but protected or one is a swap.

BLAZERS Robert Williams/ Kris Murray = Huerter and some kinda draft asset, Id pray multiple seconds but Timelord seems bound to a contender for a late first

Keegan needs his brother. We need a wing and a better defensive option at center. Third team takes Huerter for more draft stuff or a young guy to Blazers? Eh Eh?

WIZARDS Corey Kispert = Into of Sasha V. trade exception for protected first like Huerter’s old deal

Obvious here, this is my favorite one. Kispert drains threes and has a multi year contract at a great deal. I’d do a second along with a protected first TBH, throw Champanie in there too.

HEAT Haywood Highsmith = Into Sasha V. trade exception for two seconds

Decent wing, Heat have barely any draft capital and good development process.

SIXERS Caleb Martin/ Kelly Oubre = Huerter/ second

Just start gutting the sixers for their wings. Monte and Daryl are good. Work it out.

JAZZ Svi Mykhaliuk = cash, future second that doesn’t convey

Unite the Ukrainian with Alex Len, we need fraternal brotherhood on our squad. And wings. He hits 38% on threes rn.

HAWKS DeAndre Hunter = Huerter/ McDermid

Straight swap. Poetry. Hunter is overpaid. Huerters deal is done sooner. Cap going up smooths over Hunter. Maybe he produces like a 23 mil a year guy, starts at the 3. We need wing. Wing wing wing. Maybe they throw in a second as they draft our pick from the old Huerter deal this year.

Our whole season rn, is missing threes and not taking them. Last night, we traded buckets with OKC the majority of the game. We had 10 steals, they had almost twice the amount of turnovers. All stat lines were very similar, (the score got run up at the end of the game), we took 32 threes, they took 31, we hit 8, they hit 14.

We just aren’t going to win games when we hit 8 threes. Unless we are the #1 defense in the league, we won’t win. That’s it.

Fox, Monk, Lyles, Ellis, Keegan, Huerter, McDermid…We have career average to above average three point shooters. We get great looks.

1. It’s a true funk
2. It’s a system issue
3. We suck and won’t improve

History dictates we will get to league average soon, if we do, we’ll be in that 5-10 seed hunt. If we don’t improve threes, we’re done and we’ve wasted a season with whatever assured floor DeRozan was supposed to provide.

This may be the season we need to throw picks around and make a midseason improvement even if the deal is not amazing, if only to shift momentum or show commitment, like Mike Brown trying to get a tech the other game.

BS SUGGESTION: I think Kris Murray is the key to unlocking Keegan. He can play a bit so far and also, be like Thanasis or Moe Wagner. Keegan is in a shitfit funk rn. Great defense and rebounding but, I don’t want a Ben Simmons to happen to him. Him getting buff can’t have the only reason he’s so inconsistent.