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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 13:51:48 GMT -6
Welcome to the 4 th edition of the Sacramento Kings' Annual Media Release! There's plenty to talk about regarding the current state of my team and I promise to be as direct and thorough with my responses, but first I want to review a few quick details concerning notable events that happen since the playoffs. Our playoffs run quickly ended in the first round to eventual Western Champions, our divisional rivals the Los Angeles Lakers. The lost series stung for me more because I had a healthy team going into the playoffs after a few rough patches to end the regular season and was full strength. It was not enough to prevent a home loss in Game 2 and we could not steal one in Los Angeles back. The team fought tooth and nail and the games were always close but nevertheless we dropped a game we needed to win early and couldn't make up for it when it was our opportunity to steal one back. We really thought the Lakers would go on to win it all when we lost and our prediction was very close, and coach Balls represented the West well. Secondly, going into the offseason the main objective was to resign Karl Malone back to the squad, which we did. The price to secure his talents was a supermax for one of the more dominant player in the league and new very well the risk we were taking. Which also brings me to my next point.... Age played a role in Karl Malone's bad training camp. The results overall with the team was not great except for a few players with improvements like Randy Brown, and the other starters stayed the same and did not improve. The story here obviously revolves around Malone, though. While the bad training camp didn't make us feel good going into the season we are certain that Malone is indeed not officially "DED" yet. Our scouts and reliable sources still believe Malone is a 25-8-3 PF with good defense and will still be an All Star player in a relatively weak position in the league. It is true we've shopped his name around since the results of training camp and are now heading into the preseason with Malone still on the roster (although he's on IR for safety purposes). Our team has always had an open-ear policy when it comes to discussions on moving our players or picks and have been contacted by several East teams and one West team with offers on the table. However, our front office has made it clear we are not looking to shed Karl Malone in the first year of his contract already just because of one bad training camp result. We are not going to build a future based off a knee-jerk reaction and look at our trade discussions as such. We are prepared to go forward with the team currently constructed and will keep in contact with teams interested, but our team has proven tough in fighting resistance and hope our experience these past four seasons makes up for the combating actions of Father Time. Thank you for reading and look forward to any questions or thoughts about my team. |
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J2
Junior Member
Washington Wizards
Posts: 955 
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Post by J2 on May 13, 2014 13:57:49 GMT -6
With Malone's slight decline comes a need for other players to step up...but most suffered from lackluster training camps as well. With that having occurred, who are you looking for to step up and provide the extra spark that was lacking last season?
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Post by JNR on May 13, 2014 14:00:15 GMT -6
In years past, GMs have reacted rashly to bad training camps by trading their players. Are you committed to standing pat? Are you looking to improve your team through any other trades?
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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 14:06:58 GMT -6
With Malone's slight decline comes a need for other players to step up...but most suffered from lackluster training camps as well. With that having occurred, who are you looking for to step up and provide the extra spark that was lacking last season? It wouldn't be a good presser if J2 wasn't our first guest! We agree wholeheartedly about needing another offensive option next to Malone after the rough camp. My biggest hope is that our PG Pooh Richardson can step up and be a consistent Key Player. We haven't had a need to rely on him as much as now so his impact in the game will be huge for our team if he can step up. He's had the tools to do it, but Karl Malone's insane Usage Rate kept the ball out of the hands of others to feed him. This tactic will not be as useful for the long haul of the regular season so we've been planning on tinkering with our offensive game plan as well. While we're know for being a slow pace/high motion team, we experimented last season with other styles of play. This is where I see Pooh fitting more into Key Player than our scorer Sarunas. |
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Post by IamQuailman on May 13, 2014 14:07:36 GMT -6
You have mentioned that Malone's training camp was not as good as hoped; however I still see your squad as a Top 5 team in the Pacific. How big do you feel is your window for winning a championship with Kerl?
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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 14:10:52 GMT -6
In years past, GMs have reacted rashly to bad training camps by trading their players. Are you committed to standing pat? Are you looking to improve your team through any other trades? I'm 50/50 on my direction. I've already received and have reached out to others for Karl Malone, Pooh Richardson, Sarunas, and Will Perdue and have buyers for some and "just interested but can't do much now" for others. I know I'm one of the more stubborn GMs in the league but I am willing to stand pat with my current team and look for trades elsewhere to improve now or later if no offer has pushed me to post a trade. |
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Post by thesyndicate on May 13, 2014 14:12:25 GMT -6
And more importantly, did Karl ever you bring any of that bear meat back? Was it delicious?
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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 14:12:46 GMT -6
You have mentioned that Malone's training camp was not as good as hoped; however I still see your squad as a Top 5 team in the Pacific. How big do you feel is your window for winning a championship with Kerl? HAY GURL Good question and I'll answer honestly. If the window is still open I'll take it, no matter how close to shut it is. I'm not as optimistic as Top 5 but I don't see why my team can't make the 7th or 8th seed and give someone a serious first round fight. But if there is an opening this season then it's gone by next with the team I have currently. |
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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 14:13:18 GMT -6
And more importantly, did Karl ever you bring any of that bear meat back? Was it delicious? I did things to it that would offend Australians. |
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Post by WigNosy on May 13, 2014 14:20:51 GMT -6
It's clear that Sacramento, "the Alabama of California," has been a natural match for Karl Malone. Do you feel like Sacramento's vibe has deterred other free agents from signing with you this off-season?
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Post by IamQuailman on May 13, 2014 14:22:56 GMT -6
You have mentioned that Malone's training camp was not as good as hoped; however I still see your squad as a Top 5 team in the Pacific. How big do you feel is your window for winning a championship with Kerl? HAY GURL Good question and I'll answer honestly. If the window is still open I'll take it, no matter how close to shut it is. I'm not as optimistic as Top 5 but I don't see why my team can't make the 7th or 8th seed and give someone a serious first round fight. But if there is an opening this season then it's gone by next with the team I have currently. By the way, I meant Top 5 Western Conf, not Pacific. Sorry for the mix up. |
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Post by TrayWithAnA on May 13, 2014 14:23:33 GMT -6
Does that Karl Malone contract scare you now or are you confident you can stop the bleeding in future camps?
Is a Malone at 75% still better than the league at PF?
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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 14:24:37 GMT -6
It's clear that Sacramento, "the Alabama of California," has been a natural match for Karl Malone. Do you feel like Sacramento's vibe has deterred other free agents from signing with you this off-season? I had built the team through trades over the last couple of seasons and with Malone hitting the open market I was really limited to what I could offer to FAs with my cap. Obviously if we knew the demand Terry Porter had received we would have thrown a Min offer as well  But most of my Day 1 and 2 targets got picked off for high dollar deals from teams with $10mil in cash to be thrown around. |
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Post by bowtothebill23 on May 13, 2014 14:26:53 GMT -6
It's clear that Sacramento, "the Alabama of California," has been a natural match for Karl Malone. Do you feel like Sacramento's vibe has deterred other free agents from signing with you this off-season? Cheap shot not appreciated  |
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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 14:29:58 GMT -6
Does that Karl Malone contract scare you now or are you confident you can stop the bleeding in future camps? Is a Malone at 75% still better than the league at PF? The money down the line looks scary no doubt, but others have received equal or even more money this offseason and took a training camp hit due to age so it's not uncommon. I also don't think he got hit as hard as (75% of his former self) but the PF position is one of the weakest positions in the league with most of the better players at that position being older. There are players like Kemp, Gugs, Webber who are getting better (Webber might have hit his ceiling though based off TC potential drop), but players like LJ and Laettner who were suppose to be up-and-coming are ded or dieing. I'm also thinking the last draft didn't produce one notable PF so Malone better than the average PF? Yes. |
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Post by WigNosy on May 13, 2014 14:34:03 GMT -6
It's clear that Sacramento, "the Alabama of California," has been a natural match for Karl Malone. Do you feel like Sacramento's vibe has deterred other free agents from signing with you this off-season? Cheap shot not appreciated Why, are you from Alabama? *ba-dump-crash* |
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Post by TrayWithAnA on May 13, 2014 14:37:03 GMT -6
Does that Karl Malone contract scare you now or are you confident you can stop the bleeding in future camps? Is a Malone at 75% still better than the league at PF? The money down the line looks scary no doubt, but others have received equal or even more money this offseason and took a training camp hit due to age so it's not uncommon. I also don't think he got hit as hard as (75% of his former self) but the PF position is one of the weakest positions in the league with most of the better players at that position being older. There are players like Kemp, Gugs, Webber who are getting better (Webber might have hit his ceiling though based off TC potential drop), but players like LJ and Laettner who were suppose to be up-and-coming are ded or dieing. I'm also thinking the last draft didn't produce one notable PF so Malone better than the average PF? Yes. Correction: LJ's camp was neutral and the PF appears to be leveling out. Watch your mouse right meow. |
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Post by bowtothebill23 on May 13, 2014 14:38:21 GMT -6
Cheap shot not appreciated Why, are you from Alabama? *ba-dump-crash* Not quite. But will be for next 5 years. |
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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 14:40:53 GMT -6
The money down the line looks scary no doubt, but others have received equal or even more money this offseason and took a training camp hit due to age so it's not uncommon. I also don't think he got hit as hard as (75% of his former self) but the PF position is one of the weakest positions in the league with most of the better players at that position being older. There are players like Kemp, Gugs, Webber who are getting better (Webber might have hit his ceiling though based off TC potential drop), but players like LJ and Laettner who were suppose to be up-and-coming are ded or dieing. I'm also thinking the last draft didn't produce one notable PF so Malone better than the average PF? Yes. Correction: LJ's camp was neutral and the PF appears to be leveling out. Watch your mouse right meow. LJ is a shell and no new PFs are coming up. Not worried yet. |
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Post by Nick Malone 77 on May 13, 2014 14:46:30 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: While everyone has their attention to Karl Malone, my question is to another piece of your team and yes, there is more to the Kings than Karl. Anyways, how optimistic are you that your backcourt of Pooh and Sarunas can continue to contribute at a high level? Thoughts of any alternatives that may come to mind if they can't?
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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 14:51:09 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: While everyone has their attention to Karl Malone, my question is to another piece of your team and yes, there is more to the Kings than Karl. Anyways, how optimistic are you that your backcourt of Pooh and Sarunas can continue to contribute at a high level? Thoughts of any alternatives that may come to mind if they can't? Sarunas quietly had a career high in points per game at close to 18 and shot 47.5%, which next to Karl is really good in my opinion. Pooh I need to step up and become more efficient instead of more effective. Keep the TOs low, assists high and take more inside shots. He is at his best as a game manager with others scoring around him and I think Malone and Sarunas can help him with a new offense. |
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Post by Conroy on May 13, 2014 17:56:55 GMT -6
Sports Guy Bill Simmons here I know there were rumors of S&Ting Malone were there any that stick out now that you are looking back on. And how much impact on production do you truly expect TC to have in Malone?
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Post by NOLa. on May 13, 2014 18:08:42 GMT -6
Sports Guy Bill Simmons here I know there were rumors of S&Ting Malone were there any that stick out now that you are looking back on. And how much impact on production do you truly expect TC to have in Malone? There were two offers on the table that looked great and I considered strongly but passed on because I wasn't sure how it would work out in the end. Of course hind-sight is 20/20 and didn't predict the TC result at all. But before TC there wasn't any doubt in my mind which direction I wanted to go. As for production, I'm thinking he'll still be a great rebounder and defender for my team. He's still going to be an elite scorer but might lose his reign of the only scoring champ of the league. I'm thinking 28-9 isn't a bad estimate but I may be giving him the benefit of the doubt. He still has a lot left in the tank. |
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Post by bowtothebill23 on May 13, 2014 22:59:32 GMT -6
Jack Markson from Golden Take. If Malone remains a King, do you believe you will defend your Pacific title?
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Post by IamQuailman on May 14, 2014 12:26:51 GMT -6
AWARD 5 POINTS (TOWARDS MEDIA DAY POINTS)! THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!
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credit loco for photoshop