Looking at the Future
April 16, 2009 by Kayte Christensen
The end of the Kings 2008-09 season closes out a year that featured two head coaches, 22 players and 17 wins. So after such a season, what can die hard Kings fans look forward to next year?
Let’s see…
There are several issues that need to be addressed. First and foremost, in my opinion, before we even start talking about players, free agency and the NBA Draft, I have to ask, who is going to hold the head coaching reigns?
There is no point in talking about personnel if you don’t have a coach and system in place. Once the system is set, then start plugging in players that fit the system.
Speaking of personnel, there are plenty of people who think there shouldn’t be a single player safe on a 17-win team when it comes to moves and trades. In reality, however, I believe there are several players currently on the team’s roster who aren’t going anywhere.
Let’s start with Kevin Martin. He obviously has a firm footing here moving forward after signing a multi-year extension two summers ago.
Then there are young big men Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson. After the February trades were made, they saw the amount of court time young players dream of. They made good use of those minutes, too. Spencer ended the season averaging 11.4 points and 7.1 rebounds in 29.3 minutes per game. Jason averaged 11.1 points and 7.4 rebounds in 28.1 minutes per game and was the only Kings player to see time in all 82 games. If you pay attention around the League, you hear murmurs of Jason and Spencer’s names on the lips of coaches and commentators, which is further example of what Kings fans can look forward to next year. They are two young big men who have tremendous work ethic and should make huge strides in the off-season.
Who’s left?
Francisco Garcia, in my mind, will be a Kings player for quite awhile, too. Like Martin, he recently signed a multi-year extension. Surprisingly, a lot of people in the seats at ARCO Arena and around the League felt Francisco had a poor year in terms of performance. When I hear this, I can only assume these people are only looking at the stat sheets and averages, which I feel only tells a small part of the story. Stat sheets only state the obvious. They can’t put a numerical value on things like heart, leadership and passion. Francisco is the ultimate team player and most coaches’ dream. He is a versatile player who can play positions 1-4 if needed, and he can handle those duties on both ends of the court. He proved it countless times this year. One thing that makes him unique, despite his true talent of being a spot-up shooter and flat-out scorer, when he is asked to play out of position, he plays that position, which accounts for his drop in numbers this season. If he played point, he distributed the ball and got people involved in the offense, knowing his job wasn’t to look for his shot. If he was playing the four, he defended and rebounded. Francisco’s intangibles make him an asset for the future of the team.
When Beno Udrih signed a multi-year extension with the team last summer, he quite literally became the point guard of the future. After a strong showing last season, Beno’s 2008-09 campaign can be summed up as inconsistent. Multiple things factored into his drop in performance. Most notably, the change in system along with injuries that affected his conditioning, limited his production. Last season and early this season, the team featured a high pick and roll offense. When Natt took over, the team went back to the Princeton offense, which doesn’t suit Beno’s playing style. With the system for next year still to be determined and his new deal in place, he’s likely to be in Sacramento for the foreseeable future.
As easy as it is to love Bobby Jackson, especially in Sacramento where he was part of championship-contending teams, Bobby’s future with the team hangs in the balance. He has stated that he wants to play two more years and then transition into coaching, which often signifies a player’s desire to join a championship-contending team. It’s still unknown whether Sacramento will be in that class within two years. However, I think he could remain with the Kings, if the team is willing to offer him a two-year deal.
Jason and Spencer aren’t the only young players who come to mind when I think of the future of this team — Donté Greene has to be discussed. Donté, at best, has shown he can and wants to shoot the basketball. But he’s also shown he is either hot or cold. This off-season should be especially utilized by Donté, if he wants to prove he is serious about getting better and improving his shooting consistency and ball handling. Part of what he’s had to overcome is playing the four in college and now being asked to be a three in the NBA. When he saw time at the four he increased his production because, instead of just hanging out waiting for a chance to shoot the three, he hit the boards and utilized different elements of his game. Despite the room to grow, he is a great teammate and has a likeable and entertaining personality. But, basketball is a business and he needs to make significant strides this off-season.
Lastly, this brings me to the only player who was brought to the team during the trades I believe is a shoo-in to remain on the roster next season. Andres Nocioni brings toughness to both ends of the court, which has been somewhat lacking. Given the opportunity to go through training camp and unpack his bags, we might very well see his tenacity become more contagious as he gets comfortable with a future in Sacramento.
Andres isn’t the only player who joined the team late to make an impact, however. The last week of the season featured a very unexpected but welcome surge of scoring and rebounding from Ike Diogu. Jason’s foul trouble and the unfortunate left knee strain to Spencer allowed Diogu to showcase himself. Even though it was just two or three games, there’s no better time to do it than the very end of the season, which leaves management and coaches scratching their heads and wanting more. If not on the Kings roster, he ensured himself a spot in the League somewhere next season.
So with Kevin, Spencer, Jason, Francisco, Beno, Donté, Andres, Kenny Thomas and two first-round Draft picks, it leaves only five available roster spots to fill. So the question is, how much change will the 2009-10 season bring?
I believe there is a ton of potential for a much-improved Kings team that will become a winning team in the future. First, there needs to be a head coach in place who brings both an offensive and defensive system on the same page as management and ownership before players are plugged in the vacant roster spots. The Draft and free-agent market offer a glimmer of hope. For now, all we can do is speculate and see how the next few months play out. There is one thing you can be assured of though, management and ownership’s dedication to this team and this city is as steadfast as ever, and that is always a good thing!
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