Geoff Petrie Archive

5 players I’ve got my eye on in the NBA draft

By
Zuri
Published: June 18, 2009Tags: , ,

When your team wins 17 games, the NBA draft becomes that much more important. The Kings have three picks in the top 31 – 4th overall, 23rd, 31st. That means three players who haven’t proved anything will be counted on to turn this team around. Probably not right away though. I trust in GM Geoff Petrie. He’ll hit on at least two of these and the Kings will be back in the postseason hunt by the 2010-11 season. Guaranteed. I’m confident Petrie reads this blog and trusts in my basketball IQ, so let me offer up these five suggestions:

1. Ricky Rubio (PG, Spain) – He is absolutely at the top of my list … since Blake Griffin will be gone (never thought I would hate ping pong balls this much). Rubio’s a flashy point guard that reminds me of Steve Nash, which is exactly what the Kings need the most. Sacramento’s point guard play was some of the worst in the league, and Rubio will be the best chance to turn this team around quickly.

2. Stephen Curry (PG/SG, Davidson) – He played point guard this season, but leading the NCAA in scoring isn’t typical point guard play. I’m not convinced he can run a team and look to pass before he looks to score, but I’m willing to take my chances on a guy who scored 28.6 points per game. Two years ago, I fell in love with this guy’s ability to score from anywhere as Davidson made a run to the elite eight in the NCAA tournament. Even if he can’t be a true point guard, it’s up to the coaching staff to make him fit.

3. Brandon Jennings (PG, International) – I wasn’t really aware of this guy until he got cocky and said Rubio was all hype. We’ll find out, but either way I love his confidence. A great player must have that. At No. 4, you’re looking for a great player. He’s young, but has professional experience overseas, which is something most American players don’t have. Should Rubio get taken right after Griffin, and should the Kings want more of a true PG, Jennings is next on my list.

4. Ty Lawson (PG, North Carolina) – There’s a hidden theme among my first four picks. Lawson’s “upside” may not be as high as the others, but he’s proven he can play with the best and lead a top team. North Carolina struggled without him this season. There’s a rumor that he could go as high as No. 10 to Miluakee, but most other mock drafts have him going in the late first round, making him perfect for the Kings second pick, especially if they didn’t get a PG with the first.

5. Tyler Hansbrough (PF, North Carolina) – Ah, the goofy white guy who gets by because he tries so hard. Every team could use one. Did the Lakers win three championships because of Shaq and Kobe, or was it Mark Madsen? There’s no way of knowing. In all seriousness, while Hansbrough won’t ever be a star, I love what he brings to a team. The hustle of a guy who tries harder than everybody else is contagious, and fan friendly. Good pickup with Sacramento’s second or third pick.

Others on the radar: Hasheem Thabeet (C, UConn) – 7′3″ and not clumsy. Kings don’t need a center, but that may not matter. Twin towers part II. Jonny Flynn (PG, Syracuse), Jeff Teague (PG, Wake Forest), Darren Collison (PG, UCLA) – And all the rest of the point guards around the world. Omri Casspi (SF, Israel) – And all the other foreign players. Kings seem to have good luck with that.

Somebody wants Kenny Thomas

By
Zuri
Published: January 27, 2009Tags: , , ,

I never thought I’d see the day, but somebody might be willing to trade for Kenny Thomas, the Kings forward who warms the bench for $9 million a year. The newest rumor is that if the Heat can’t trade Shawn Marion for Jermaine O’Neal, they’d trade him to Sac for Thomas and Brad Miller. Suckers! Am I crazy, or are both of those trades awful for Miami?

The Kings have been trying to get rid of Miller and Thomas for over a year, but nobody has been stupid enough up to this point. Marion carries a heavy price tag of $17 million, but his contract expires at the end of the year. Either Sacramento gets a great young player for a better price, or it’s money off the books. Win, win. I’m glad these discussions are being held over the phone, so GM Geoff Petrie can cover the phone when he lets out each giggle.

“You have to be open to just about anything at this point,” Petrie said. “What form that might take, I don’t know yet, but certainly I think you have to have a very, very open mind about what type of things you might consider and what immediate impact it might have – at least in some facet of what you’re trying to do.”

More pimping of Jason Thompson

By
Zuri
Published: November 5, 2008Tags: , ,

Like I’ve said before, Kings GM Geoff Petrie knows what he’s doing in the first round of the draft. He was criticized for taking Jason Thompson in ‘08, but this kid’s going to be real good. He opened the season with an 18 point, 10 rebound night, and has been a steady contributor to an awful team.

Thompson is starting to get recognition, including being named the 5th best rookie through the first week of the season by ESPN’s David Thorpe, who writes:

“He might have been No. 1 in these rankings if the Kings weren’t so awful. That’s how good he’s been. I’ve always stressed to college coaches and pro scouts that toughness is a talent. Well, this young man from Rider University is the best kind of tough. He does everything with strength and lacks any kind of negative baggage often associated with the toughest guys. He reminds me a lot of Al Horford, and that’s a very good thing.”

Thompson’s stats through his first four NBA games: 14.3 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 3/4 of a block and over 60 percent shooting per game, in just 23.8 minutes. At least that’s something to be excited about if you’re a Kings fan.

Thompson shines in debut

By
Zuri
Published: October 29, 2008Tags: , , ,

Leading the NBA Rookie of the Year competition: Jason Thompson! Since the Sacramento Kings can’t beat anybody, I have to get excited about scouting the young talent on the team, and so far so good. Thompson, the 12th overall pick in the 2008 draft, finished second on the team with 18 points in the season opener loss to Minnesota. He added 10 rebounds and a block.

Another Geoff Petrie first round pick looks like it will pay off. Last year’s first round pick, Spencer Hawes, played a nice game as well with 12 points, 14 rebounds and a ridiculous 6 blocks. After a strong finish to the preseason and a start like this, Brad Miller shouldn’t be in the starting lineup again.

Unfortunately, these two are the only Kings that had good games. John Salmons got hot late in the game and finished with 24 points, but the Kings lost a very winnable game. Still, the youngsters have me pumped up about 2010, or 11, and Thompson is at the top of that list.