Watching Julius last shot live and all the replays that thing was right on line. Its a shame it didn't fall because he had a great game and in the post game Randle was clawing at the chance to shoot it again because he said he thought it was in. I like this from Dirk too:
But poster inMyPants2111 says that Randle can't do anything aside from rebounding. The big German doofus doesn't know anything. Who he thinks he is.
I've heard a lot of negative comments about Julius here and in game day and I have to say I don't get it. He's had his struggles, but I've got faith in his talents. I think he's a keeper.
He is. I love him at this point but I love his potential more. But his game has kinks that needs to be fixed.
I don't know. Too much success too soon, and he might get beyond confident, y'know, get cocky, and quit working hard. Probably best he remain frustrated with little success the rest of the year. Don't need him to end up soft
i think real noted it above, but I'm seeing tiny upticks in some of the problem areas. he's still not setting good screens, but he appears slightly more interested in doing so. he's taking jumpers when appropriate and without putting the ball on the floor first, and he's showing more interest in challenging shots in the paint. he still has a long way to go on all of those (and even longer to go on that right hand), but some progress is better than the first 30+ games of none.
Yep. He's also at least ATTEMPTED more right handed shots lately. The last one he took resulted in an easy put-back dunk for Roy Hibbert. Some of the problems will be fixed with actual coaching too. For instance, screening. If we had a coach who emphasized screens with a purpose, I think he'd be more inclined to set stronger screens. I'm with @lakerjones there is suddenly a rush to get rid of this kid for Cousins. Why? A few months ago the majority of people on this site said no to that trade. Now we see Cousins put up some numbers and they're ready to jump back on that bandwagon? I'm not excited about moving Randle. I see something special in this kid. Admittedly it's been frustrating watching his limited development, but at least part of that is on Byron's shoulders. If you want to say it's likely we trade Randle for an established star this summer I don't necessarily disagree, but I also think it's too early to just toss him aside. He's providing an elite NBA talent at only 20 years old. Give him some time.
I am one of the people that was not for it, but now would consider it, but only AFTER the season. I think the main reason I am thinking along those lines is it now looks like we have a chance of keeping that pick AND Russell looks like he has all-star potential. In the beginning of the season neither was the case (we hadn't seen Russell play yet) so I wanted to hold on to everyone with the idea that one of them has to pan out. Add to that we may end up with, let's say, Ingram and we have two young studs in Russell and Ingram and then you add Cousins to attract free agents. I don't think Randle is a bum or is going to be a bum in the least bit. But because we could potentially still have two young guys, and Cousins, it makes it more appealing to prospective free agents. If you do a pitch to DeRozen AND Durant as a package deal when you have Randle, Clarkson, and Russell as your core, it probably goes nowhere. But pitch to them the best center in the game, a legit pg in Russell and a silky shooter like Ingram, you get their attention. I admit it's a gamble and I could be completely wrong, but that is my line of thinking as to why I would now trade Randle (and Clarkson) for Cousins.
You're in one thread saying no to Whiteside, but you want Cousins. I don't follow. Cousins is a headcase, has been a headcase, and will always be a headcase. He's foul prone, brash, and loses focus all the time. He's supposedly the best Center in the game that makes the most impact, but the Kings aren't winning any more games than the Heat. Option A: Get a knucklehead with available cash with a shot at Durant while keeping assets. Option B: Give up assets for a knucklehead taking on cash with a shot at Durant. Gimme Option A.
I'm with you all the way realdeal. Give me a complementary player to go along with our already solid core. I don't think Cousins gets Durant here any more than Russell, Clarkson, and Randle do. Add Durant to our young core, sign a defensive and pick and roll ready Big and we are good to go. Durant would be a perfect fit at SF to go with that squad: Clarkson, Russell, Randle and someone like Whiteside or of course even better, Horford. I love Cousins' talent and of course I think he's a much, much better player than a guy like Whiteside, but number one: Sacto isn't trading him here to their So Cal rival. Number two: I highly doubt KD is going to leave a Top 3 NBA team right now to come here, even if they don't make the Finals again. Number three, we just have so much more balance if we get a couple FA's right now to grow and develop with our young core than throwing the baby out with the bathwater for one knucklehead, albeit talented center in a league that is much more geared towards uptempo, wing-heavy play than it is half court post up.
Definitely. At this point, I'd rather slow burn and develop our roster up like Golden State or Oklahoma City did. Obviously if we can convince Durant to sign here, do it, but the real key is to have a group of young guys that could sustain themselves over time. Golden State and Oklahoma didn't sign any big free agents, they grew through the draft. A few years ago I didn't want to do it because of THIS. The last few seasons are the exact reason why I wanted to shoot for the moon. Well, now it's too late for that. If we keep the pick, we get Simmons or Ingram and then we try to add a couple of young-ish guys that can grow and develop with this team. I'm not the hugest Whiteside fan, but I think he provides something for us that we haven't had in a long time and that's elite level rim protection. Not to mention he'd make a great pick-and-roll partner with D'Angelo. Is he brilliant? Maybe not, but unless we can get Horford or something then screw it just give me the talent. I'm not worried about him working hard, but I'd be a little worried about distractions.
^^ My thoughts exactly realdeal. We're on the very same page. I feel like the FO, or Jimmy specifically struck out. We'll have to see but I don't see us getting Durant realistically. If we don't, then get some young guys and go for the long picture of a true rebuild. I don't have much faith in the whole - "we're going to be back in contention in a couple years." It just seems like it ain't happening. So, like you said, let's build our own young OKC/GSW. We're already in a good position to do so with our core of Clarkson, Randle and Russell. Hopefully we can keep our pick, draft a Simmons or Ingram, and get a solid Big and a wing in FA. That's the most realistic scenario I can foresee and it's a pretty solid one actually that I wouldn't mind one bit.
Yeah I mean even without a huge addition this summer, we should see our team improve just with a new coach and a little more time to develop. Give us a new coach and one solid FA, maybe the draft pick and we should improve dramatically. I can think of probably 5 games this season already that we should have won if we'd had a reasonable coach, I'm sure there's more. If we somehow nab Ingram or Simmons in the draft AND get a guy like Whiteside, we could be looking at a great great team in a few years.
I think the fear with Whiteside is this. Cousins is a knucklehead putting up elite #'s while getting paid big bucks. Whiteside is a knucklehead cut from several summer teams, who now has proven his talents, but has yet to get paid. I think there's a legit shot this dude completely implodes and crashes and burns with his first big payday. I don't think it's extremely likely, but it very well could happen. It's a gamble for sure.
There's no doubt that Cousins is world's better than Whiteside who has "contract year" basically tattooed on his arm right now. And I agree with your concerns over what happens when Whiteside gets that big pay day. The thing is Cousins isn't coming here via trade. That isn't happening, and he's not a FA so I don't know why we're talking about it anyway. In terms of FA's, I'd much rather go after Horford first for the exact reasons you mention Punk 101. However, I'd be good with Whiteside as a consolation for sure. We desperately need a big that fits his description playing wise: rim protector, willing and able pick and roll partner for Russell. I'd be willing to take a risk on the character issues to upgrade at the position. Hibbert just isn't going to do. Granted there are a few other names out there at center that will be available.
Million % agreed! I was just commenting on real's question to savory, why Cousins and not Whiteside when both are knuckleheads? Russell/Beno Clarkson/Lou Durant/Ingram Randle/Nance Horford or Whiteside/Black Coached by Luke That's a 3-4 seed, IMO.
Got it, Punk 101. Yeah, that lineup right there sure would be nice!! Count me in on the Luke Walton for HC train as well. He's young, but he really does have a good basketball mind, and he's second gen with some insane pedigree in that department coming from papa Bill. I think Luke would be a great fit for a solid young team here going forward.
