Could the Sacramento Kings Make Another Season with DeMar DeRozan Work? | Locked On Kings

Could the Sacramento Kings Make Another Season with DeMar DeRozan Work? | Locked On Kings

i’ve been telling you pretty much since the day the Kings off season began that I expect Demar D Rozan to be gone I still expect that But what if the Kings don’t move on from D Rozan could it work how do they make it work frankie Cardelli from Sacktown Sports 1140 joins me to discuss that plus how interested the Kings should be in moving into the first round Maybe trading for a late first round draft pick in the draft that’s already next week We’ll discuss it all right here on Locked on Kings You are Locked on Kings your daily Sacramento Kings podcast part of the Locked on Podcast Network your team every day And now ladies and gentlemen it is that time Time for another episode of Locked on Kings Hello and welcome into Locked on Kings your podcast hub for Sacramento Kings coverage all off season long Today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel Right now new customers can get $200 in bonus bets when your first $5 bet wins My name is Matt George I have the privilege of being your host here I’m a Sacramento sports anchor and reporter for ABC10 News Frankie Cardelli been a friend of mine here in the Kings media landscape for a long time We used to work together back at Sacktown Sports 1140 He’s been a featured frequent guest here on the Locked on Kings podcast for years upon years upon years I always look forward to talking to uh to Frankie and together we’re going to explore the the possibility of Demar Rosen remaining a Sacramento king I I’ll share with you like the only real scenario where I can see that happening like what it would take for the Kings to not trade Demar and keep him here And Frankie and I will explore that Plus Frankie shares his thoughts on whether or not the Sacramento Kings should like go star hunting and look for a big move versus more of the boring moves that we talked about on yesterday’s Locked on Kings podcast I say boring as in just not as exciting as going out and getting a star like a Marcus Smart trade for example Uh we’ll discuss that and uh we’ll we’ll talk a little bit about the possibility of the Kings trading into the uh the first round of the draft I’m actually going to have a Raphael Barlo who’s one of the best NBA draft analysts out there He’s going to be joining me on tomorrow’s episode of Locked on Kings We’re going to dive deep into the idea of moving into the uh later first round and what names that who are projected to be available at that spot in the draft uh that that the Kings should be keeping tabs on or that would make sense for the Kings to go out and get So I’m looking forward to that conversation with Raphael But for right now please enjoy my uh my chat with the one and only Frankie Cardelli I don’t want to speak for you Mr Frankie Cardelli but I have been operating not just with the expectation but with the certainty this off season that the Sacramento Kings and Demar De Rozan are parting ways But of course nothing is certain We know Demar D Rozan is a very very good basketball player In fact you look at his numbers last season you compare it to his entire career and he was last year for the Sacramento Kings what he has been his entire career So out of all the things that were crazy and uncertain last year for the Kings Demar was arguably the most consistent part Again I’m operating under the belief that Demar De Rozan is gone But we’re going to explore a little bit of what potentially it could look like if Demar is still here and if the Kings and D Rozan try and make it work even if it’s just until the trade deadline What do you how have you been operating with the belief of whether or not Demar De Rozan will be in a Sacramento Kings uniform when we’re at training camp uh here in October matt good to talk to you again man And it’s fun to kind of dive into these topics And it does seem like Demard Rosen’s kind of at the front of every Kings fan’s mind right now And it’s hard not to feel that way because I mean from a quote unquote trade chip standpoint I think Demard Rosen’s probably one of the King’s shiniest you know assets they can part with And I I feel it the same as you It’s been hard to kind of not feel that kind of hunch that this is probably the end of the line for them I think it makes too much sense for the Kings to go in another direction and kind of reshape their offense especially their poster and Fox offense who you know ideally they brought D Rozan in to kind of be a complimentary piece and it turns out that those two didn’t really mesh as well as we thought So um I’m I am operating with that mindset that he’s the player the Kings are looking to move in all these rumored deals or rumored trades that uh you know that there are reports coming out that the Kings are are kicking the tires and all these guards and other players around the league Um you know I haven’t really opened my mind up that much to the idea that they might be able to go forward together until even like today I saw that uh Mason Jones posted a story that D Rozan himself and Zack Lavine are working out at USC with Eric Muscleman I mean obviously we know that Demar D Rozan and Zack Lavine they go back to Chicago and it sounded like when the deer and Fox went down one of the main reasons why D Rozan didn’t also kind of push to be um rerouted as well is because of the fact that it was Zach Leavine coming back and they did have a good relationship So I feel like the Lavine part of this kind of is one that I’ve thought about more today because maybe that could be what keeps those two intact and keeps the the Bulls West narrative going Um but to me if if Scott Perry BJ Armstrong Doug Christie the the the new front office that new staff are trying to kind of um build for the future it does seem like an age 36 you know scoring forward is one that would probably be with a tradeable contract is one that would be on the go this summer My I mean my feel is the only way that Demar is continues to be a Sacramento king is if the Kings just feel like the only trades out there for him are essentially giving him away He’s just even at this age and even if the fit isn’t great He’s too good of a basketball player to just give away especially when the Kings are not committed to any sort of of rebuild right like I think we both know it’s pretty clear the Kings are not interested in like a a blow it up type rebuild at this time And even if they were it’s hard to even execute that because of the contracts of Lavine and Sabonis and how difficult those contracts are going to be to move So I just don’t see a scenario where the Kings just get rid of D Rozan for the sake of getting rid of him But at the same time looking around the league knowing that there’s the Miami Heat out there and and other teams that could be interested or should be interested in a piece like D Rozan I think the Kings can get something of relative value They won’t get as good or a better player but you can turn Demar Rozan into a piece or two to add at the very least depth which I think would be a good start for Scott Perry in his new era here in Sacramento Yeah And like you put it they don’t have to move him And I think when you look at especially the fact that the Kings don’t really have a you have Malik Monk who has proven he can be a scorer a little a little ineffective and a little inconsistent at times but if you trade Demar D Rozan for hypothetically let’s say they get Marcus Smart in a three-team deal you kind of swap you know D Rozan for Smart maybe get a second round pick as well whatever what have you Who’s going to take on the scoring load for the Kings because now you’re in a position where you have to go find someone who can be that primary scorer And Keon Ellis is someone who’s been a great three-point shooter not someone who really creates his own offense Keegan Murray someone who I think this year is going to be a huge year for him especially if the extension isn’t worked out this summer going into what would be the fourth year of his deal I he needs to have a big year He needs to prove he can be consistent scoring the basketball Is that something the Kings do to try to kind of free him up um to me that’s a move you make if you’re rebuilding though You don’t put the offense in the hands of Keegan Murray who’s unproven in that in that point So if you trade Demar Roen for a Marcus Smart that’s great You find a a point guard who can kind of plug that hole Not a high-scoring option Someone who played I think 53 games over the past two years But now you need to find someone who’s going to carry on the scoring load because like you said Demard Rosen was Demar De Rozan last year 20 points per game The three-point shooting inconsistent but the mid-range was you know his patented mid-range and he had stretches where he was playing really great basketball Um and of course there’s downsides too which I’m sure we’ll talk about as far as the the ball stopping and and you know getting late in the shot clock and the Kings not having really great possessions and um you know forcing shots a lot down the stretches of games happen as well as him coming through clutch So that’s kind of what you get with him But yeah there there is a situation where if it’s a okay salary dump or give him away you know scenario for Scott Perry the Kings might try to say “Okay maybe we make this work.” And he’ be on a somewhat expiring deal He’s partially guaranteed for um 26 27 So the Kings could also look to trade him during the season next year if nothing really presents itself this summer But I do feel like there’ll be some deals out there in teams like you mentioned the Clippers other teams in contention that could use the Heat if they miss out on Kevin Durant that could use a scoring wing Um I think the Celtics were a team too that maybe could could be interested if nothing else were to you know by the way the Kane just acquired a first round pick by the way Just want to throw that out there Yeah just a little quick little quick nugget according to Shams Uh so now the Kings have a first round pick to play with too Okay Um they have first round pick The uh Pacers are trading the 23rd pick Um no hold on hold on hold on hold on hold on I read that wrong I read I read that wrong I read that wrong Matt The players No this is this to the New Orleans Pelicans I read that wrong The player’s name is King The rights to Mojave King 23rd pick Oh sorry Big tease everyone I’m sorry Big tease Well this is this is pre-recorded uh podcast but my hopes just skyrocketed then plummeted Sorry I read that I read that on the corner of my eye on my iPad and was like “Oh there’s first round pick.” No Well but what’s funny is and we’ll get to this later on the podcast too cuz we were going to discuss cuz there have been rumors out there that the Sacramento Kings are trying to move into the first round and may use Demar Roen to to do it But all right pump fake We We bid on the pump fake It’s okay Sorry buddy I’m I’m quick on right now I was about to text Brendan We have we have uh like pre-written breaking news articles and graphics I was about to put things in motion but I’m a little too excited everybody But yeah just kind of back to that no first round pick Uh the Pacers though kind of crazy in the finals right now but they’re still slinging deals You got to got to be ready man Draft’s next week But um just pretty much kind of my closing thoughts on that part of it all uh is that you don’t have to make a move to make a move with the Rozan and the Kings really are in a situation where you know the Kings have talent on their roster Is it the right collection of talent hard to say I think D Rozo is is kind of the head of the snake there as far as if you move him it creates questions for the rest of the roster as far as who’s going to be scoring the basketball Who’s going to be kind of their their 1A option because as crazy as it sounds right now you have Zack Lavine and Demar Rozan Lavine’s probably the quoteunquote 1A but he had a lot of offball moments last year D Rozan was the one who was running the offense bringing the ball down initiating everything uh taking the final shot in games I think Zack Lavine is someone who uh a lot of a time was having big games against teams that were under 500 So D Rozan was your kind of crazy to say staple after the Fox trade That was your your proven guy So um I don’t think the Kings should move him unless they have a clear plan of bringing in someone who can can carry that load Like I said at the top of the show today’s episode of Locked on Kings is brought to you by FanDuel The NFL playoffs are in full swing We could only have one more NBA Finals game hopefully two if it goes to game seven But every night delivers highlight worthy performances major momentum shifts and can’t miss moments Whether it’s a game-winning shot or a breakout player there’s never been a better time to get in on the action And FanDuel makes it easy to get into the game before tip off 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Don’t send him to No they already have they already have Chris Middleton who kind of fits well not not the same mold as D Rozan D Rozan I think has more of a tank than Middleton but I was looking today how it’s kind of like the land of misfit toys in in Washington And I think D Rozan has a lot to offer still for a certain team I just don’t know if his fit on this offense really is the most ideal And that’s you know I agree though That’s kind of cruel Washington Yeah Maybe the only situation in the NBA that’s worse in Sacramento Maybe they do have at least some young players But yeah I think I’ I’ I’d still pick the Kings situation over the Wizard situation I think Kings fans though we also need to be a little bit self-reflective And this is myself included like Demar was who he’s always been The fit wasn’t good I think we can all acknowledge the fit but I think the frustrations with Demar De Rozan come from our own expectations not from who Dear is because again like and and and self-reflective here because there are many podcasts that I did Frankie over the course of last season where I was frustrated with Demar Pass the ball like like get move the ball around Stop holding the ball for 14 15 seconds That can be true But also again this is who Demar’s been his entire career When you’re acquiring a a 35 36 year old who has already had a Hall of Fame career you are adding him to what you do not changing him to to fit what you do right so there would absolutely still be fit concerns with Demard Rosen if the Kings were to proceed with him going forward But could it work right and like could the Kings and by work we have to have like a realistic understanding and of what work means it doesn’t mean the Kings are hovering around 50 wins like we were hoping last season We’re talking about a team that maybe can avoid the play in and be a top six seed I I I just I wonder like if we’re being too dismissive of D Rozan as a talent the familiarity with D Rozan and uh Zack Lavine even though we know it doesn’t work or we have a pretty good understanding based off Chicago that it doesn’t really work Like now that they’ve had a full year together could D Rozan and Sabonis finally actually play in a twoman game that for some reason they never did last season i I I don’t think it’s out of the realm of possibility that the Kings could find a way to make another season of Demar in Sacramento work and be ultimately at least offensively positive I just don’t think Scott Perry is trying to talk himself into that route And I just thinking about rolling out next year to go next year again And I think the jokes are written themselves as far as the Kings should trade for Lonzo Ball And you know I kind of like that though The Lonzo Ball Yeah Not Not because of the Chicago Bulls thing but I think Lonzo Ball would be a lowrisk fun I I like the I like the move but not to make the Chicago Bulls joke Then let me ask this question because you had Darren Fox who really was a I could I think we say Darren Fox is a playmaker I mean I I categorize playmaker as someone who can create their own offense create offense for others do it in in a variety of ways as far as Dear Fox not a great consistent three-point shooter but he can get hot from three We saw him countless times have good games from three forest a little bit Sure But my question then is if they were to bring back D Rozan and they were going to bring back Zack Lavine what is the what is the ideal type of point guard that works because they did have Lonzo Ball in Chicago Granted he was hurt a lot He had problems and we never got to really see we never did not really got to see we never got to see Lavine and D Rozan play with someone like Fox So I mean Kobe White is someone in Chicago who was a high-scoring guard and maybe that’s kind of you know like a a cheaper version of a Fox But what what is the type of guard that works is it someone who just really a Marcus Smart like we said Marcus Smart but again we’re talking about the options that were the Kings have been rumored to be linked to Trey Young which seems unrealistic Darius Garland who I’m not sure if Cleveland would move him but he’s gonna be injured for the start of the year We’ll see though I mean a defensive guard like Smart who isn’t ball dominant I mean is that the best kind of player to slot into a a lineup that features two guys like Lavine and Drosen who who need the ball in their hands to be most effective what about Chris Paul why would he come to Sacramento though because he’s Well okay Don’t know I I feel like San Antonio’s probably not in Paul’s future again Probably when you have Fox and you have Castle We’ll see what else they do this summer They are rumored to be on KD but probably not going to be a finalist for him Um but they’re trying they’re trying to build around WBY as they should Bringing in Chris Paul sure that would be interesting You have a a starting spot open I wonder if Chris Paul is going to ring chase in his last couple years or if that’s beneath him I don’t know I do feel like that’s something that would interest him Um hello Lakers maybe on a minimum deal Uh I can already see that happening Block it finally Silver is going to carry on man Block that Block it League minimum deal No chance Uh I could talk myself into it Sure But is that like kind of falls in the Lonzo category a pass first guard A pass first guard probably is what they need if they’re going to roll out this D Rozan Lavine Keegan Savonus lineup that doesn’t really address any of the defensive concerns or bring the length they need but you can bring someone who can distribute the basketball more maybe kind of find a way to you know Chris Paul is an architect of of offenses He just kind of finds the right guy at the right time or directs traffic The Kings don’t really have anyone like that I can’t remember the last time the Kings really had a player that even mirrors that skill set like Andre Miller for a minute who played bench minutes Gravis Vasquez who was traded you know after 10 minutes here which crazy he led the league in assists when he did and the Kings got him and we were all kind of like wow Kings got the assist champion Um but I don’t know like if you bring back D Rozan and and and Lavine I just wonder what the ideal point guard scenario is because I don’t think Trey Young’s happening Uh Darius Garland would be great if they could trade for him but then again you’re probably moving to Rose in a deal like that Yeah it’s not happening So that leaves Marcus Smart uh Malcolm Brogden D’Angelo Russell’s a free agent Yikes I I just I don’t really know what the ideal fit is So um that’s my concern is that you know you can go ahead and bring up the beating a dead horse phrase of you know insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting the same a different result but I don’t know how you can roll out four of the same players being in the starting five or run someone like inexperienced like Devin or Keon at at point guard to start the year which probably will not happen either If you were to bring in Chris Ball too by the way I say that not because I want that the average age of that starting lineup would be like 62 and I’m I’m not looking forward to that It would be Keegan Murray and a bunch of old people and he’s just looking around like what the hell Um I I’m I’m not for that I just wonder if that is a potential route that the Kings again might talk themselves into or or or feel that is an option out there because they still feel that to some extent they have to or can somewhat compete in the West By the way I would not be excited at all going into the season if that that were the case Again we’re operating we’re having this conversation both with the belief to straight up certainty that Demard Rosen is uh is gone Let’s go back to what we the pump fake we just bid on I saw I see the word king in a trade Come on man I if if there’s King or Sacramento in anything that Shams puts out I like am all over it So I don’t I don’t blame you whatsoever My eye immediately and Brandice sees it Yeah First that but moving into the first round is a very understandable strategy for Scott Perry Not just because of like well the Kings don’t have a first round pick and and and moving into the late first round a lot easier to move into the lottery but it would make a lot of sense for a new general manager in their first year to want to go out and draft a young talent that they feel that they can have in their new system and they can kind of mold and build In a lot of ways the draft is like the first move of a general manager where they can start to put their own first stamp on the organization We’ve heard rumors and rumblings of the Kings trying to move into the first round I I think we’re getting close to it being a likelihood that they they do that on draft night to some extent No idea who they would target In fact I’m going to be talking to some draft analysts here in the near future about good names in the late first round that the Kings could and should be keeping their eye on But Frankie does does that sound appealing to you the Kings moving into the first round and going and finding not just a young talent that Scott Perry can kind of mold into his and Doug Christiey’s new system but also getting a rookie that financially you have at a set low price under contractual control over the next four seasons at least to add to your very pricey roster that you have right now I mean that sounds like an ideal scenario if you’re rebuilding or if you’re kind of focusing on the future and if you’re going to kind of maintain like that core of Keon Keegan Devin and that first round pick and kind of sell off other pieces that makes sense to me But for a team that all indications are and we’ve all been hearing it since day one of the offseason they have no intention of of rebuilding I wonder more if it’s just trying to gather more first round picks in order to make some other move And um you know maybe the Kings don’t make a big swing for the fence type move Maybe they don’t But I just find it hard to believe that drafting a 23rd 25th you know that range pick is going to directly benefit next year’s team And sure there have been rookies before drafted late in the draft or in second rounds that have made immediate impact And it the draft’s a crapshoot no matter how you slice it anyway You don’t really know if a top five pick is going to pan out Kings fans know I’m all about that Uh so I per that’s personally I just I wonder if that is in order to kind of stockpile assets and make some kind of you know to facilitate another move like maybe there’s something else in waiting that would take another first round pick Um that’s just hypotheticals in my opinion but to to be honest the other side of it would be let’s say the Kings do Kings things and they do try to roll forward with this core They do um they they don’t tear it down They go full speed ahead They try to build around this group and re retool and they fall flat and they finish 10th or 11th next year or 12th or worse It’d be nice to have a player that that’s young and has some some prospects to them because right now you do only have a couple young players on the team What keon and and Devin has named him I mean Keegan is I think 25 almost 26 now and he’s prime now Year four Like Keegan’s got to go for sure Like not go like be trade He’s got to go He’s got to show us what he’s got Uh the other two Keon and and Devin little time I mean Keon’s pretty much proven in my opinion already I think that he has a lot He probably has someone who has high value around the league right now as far as what he can bring Three and D players in the NBA I mean we’ve seen them They’re they’re integral parts of championship teams Dortis contract’s so tiny though you can’t really get anything of value for a player making two plus two and a half million dollars That’s the problem with trading Keon Sure but maybe they try to work something out this summer as well I mean it it seems like that’s going to be beneficial for both sides The long-term security the Kings obviously they’d have to decline his option for this year and and then restructure with him as a restricted free agent and assume no one’s going to outbid them But um I think having a young player on the team to kind of you know if you’re going to stockpile assets that way sure But it’s just kind of differing You’re not picking a clear path I think in my and you’re you’re choosing to not rebuild but you’re moving into the first round and you’re having a young player that you want to develop and maybe that’s hedging your bet a little bit Sure But I just feel like that’s something that I don’t know if it’s going to benefit them It’s not going to make them better next year and you’re not going to maximize the potential of this core if you are maintaining this core of Malik Keegan Dom Lavine etc Um so to me just that’s just kind of what I think it’s just kind of not picking a clear path And um if they were to say tomorrow hey we’re changing course We feel like we’re going to you know tear down this core We’re going to rebuild use our first round picks not going to move them get another first round pick this year play Keegan heavy minutes have Keon start all year Devin’s going to be the point guard on day one Sure like get the 25th pick and and let’s see what what can happen But um if this team’s expecting to be in the playoffs next year I feel like you might need to kind of part with some first round picks especially if you’re getting more If you’re adding more the week of the draft in a in a year that’s going to probably see a lot of movement around the NBA we’ve already seen some movement than the Desmond Bane deal and how many first round picks Don’t even get me started on the Kings could have gotten more on a on a certain deal in February Um Desmond Bane’s a good player I I I would I would think that Fox is a little bit better but apparently not Four storm picks and a pick swap say different So my my comment section’s going to yell at you Be careful They already yelled at me But why is that wrong to to say that the Kings probably should got more desmond Bane Move on Frankie Move on Desmond Bane just got four first round picks man It’s He’s gone Frankie Move on Even though we’re watching Tyrese Hallebertton in the NBA finals and and Luca Donish we talk about every damn day But move on Frankie They can yell I can’t hear them anyway It’s fine Hey they’re going to yell at me for the for the pump fake anyway So that’s true Jake Loravia you want to see Jake Laavia back yeah I think he fits the mold right i mean he fits I mean seems like Doug Christie and him had a really great relationship It seems like the Kings if you’re going to have young players to build like we’re talking about if you’re if you’re going to build for the future Jake Larabia is kind of a guy who showcas some potential had some injury problems in his career some inconsistencies I think that’s why Memphis didn’t pick up his his fourth year of his rookie year contract because of his inconsistent play But he can defend multiple positions The Kings were throwing him on James Harden in in Los Angeles I mean he’s he’s athletic He can shoot He shot 40% I think during his time with the Kings or 44% something really really strong Um but it’s all about the contract I think they’re limited to what 5.3 they can offer him for the first year of that new deal And someone could just come in and offer him a two-year $14 million deal and that’s probably curtains on it So okay go ahead Like go ahead If you want to make him a $7 million per year player go ahead Which I don’t think he is yet And that might benefit the Kings because especially with Keon like I feel like teams are going to be more kind of um prioritizing other moves and maybe spending more money elsewhere than just kind of around the edge fringe guys And that’s no disrespect to Keon or or Larabia but right now those are kind of guys who are are depth pieces Like I don’t know if those guys will be playing big rotation minutes on you know Indiana OKC for sure but you know other teams that are in the conference finals or so on that are in contention every year Keon more so than than Jake for sure Um but I feel like that kind of makes it more likely that the Kings could re reunite with him But it seems like you love playing for Doug I know that those quotes will go around all over the place How much you like playing for Doug and Doug is a defensive guy and I think that he wants more hard-nosed players like that And I don’t want to keep bringing up Marcus Smart but I keep believing more and more that might be the guy that they look at more because defensive player of the year someone who is gritty not afraid to get in someone’s face And the Kings they’ve kind of lacked some grit over the years And and I feel like that’s something that the Kings need more of And Jake has that as well We’ll wrap up with this Frankie because you and I are very similar in a lot of ways We both have the privilege of of doing this for a living professionally and we come from backgrounds of being fans of this team and and and growing up in this area One of the things I’ve said a lot this off season is I need the Kings to like make me excited again I’ve actually told Kings executives this to their face like give me something to be excited about Give Sacramento something to be hopeful about again And I know a lot of Kings fans feel the same way We’ve had these conversations about these big names like Trey Young John Morant LaMelo Ball And not that we all expected the Kings to be in or execute any of those trades but where do you stand on give me another star to replace De’arren Fox to be excited about versus hey I can be patient for a year This is Scott Perry’s first year make the Marcus Smart move Make a kind of minor Demar D Rozan move that nobody’s going to talk about on ESPN right these moves that at least start to set the foundation for Scott Perry and Doug Christiey’s new team identity They might not be very good next year They’re probably going to be a playin team that gets bounced again but there’s building blocks towards the future Where do you fall on the like I I I would love another star to cover and to get me excited versus as impatient as I am as a Kings fan this is Scott Perry’s first year I’m going to give him the time that he deserves as a GM I mean it kind of to go back to what I said a minute ago it’s kind of like picking Elaine and and running with it And I feel like if we’re hearing the team is has no inclination of of selling then you probably need to go star hunting and you probably need to go and and get the best player available that you can because if you’re going to not move Dom if and that’s that’s your player right now who’s kind of like the the anchor of this group right now making 40 plus million for the next I think three seasons You probably need to make a move right now that’s going to maximize you know I keep using the word maximize because you need to you need to maximize the potential of this group and Zack Lavine is is he a player the Kings could maybe flip using those first round picks as a sweetener and bring back someone that’s on a larger scale contract That’s like probably the biggest I mean arguably I don’t know if you agree that’s that’s probably the only way they could pull off one of these moves that we’re talking about They’d have to move one of the one of Sabonis or Lavine for the Trey Youngs for the Garland for you know I’m not going to name Giannis but sure for hypothetical purposes a Giannis like any of those players that are making a max contract you have to one of your own and probably part with first round picks because Domas and and Lavine are not coveted players right now Domos probably a little more than Lavine Uh I’m sure there’s a there’s a market where someone would trade for a center like that But again you’re not you’re not going to get a hall of picks in return for these guys So that’s why I can look at it as as lateral moves and you need to make make a move to bring in a guard that’s going to make that exciting kind of that exciting difference And I think personally Matt I would as as impatient as as I would hate it for the fan base and I’d hate it for us having to cover it and be there more for the fan base Obviously tearing it down and rebuilding would suck We’ve covered this team before We’ve been fans of this team when they’ve been horrible It is it sucks the life out of you when you pour your time into this team and they don’t really reciprocate or give you any love back It’s it’s horrible We saw it for almost two decades Going that route and saying to the fan base “Okay we’re gonna tear it down would not be received well.” So I understand why they’re doing it but I do wonder if they’d be better for it if they just went and ripped the band-aid off And if they did trade Domas and see what they could get back if they did move Malik Monk and and free up guard minutes for Devin Carter if that’s one who they truly believe in that wasn’t that wasn’t a Scott Perry guy Now I keep I keep having to remind myself that Devin Carter was not a Scott Perry guy maybe he’s someone that might make a move as well but I just feel like if you are going to you know back it up and say we’re not rebuilding you kind of have to make a big move And you can’t just go and and bring in a Marcus Smart or bring in a D’Angelo Russell and plug them in a point guard and say “Okay we’re going to hold on to D Rozan because him and Lavine are tight We’re going to see if Keegan Murray can make another you know make another leap this year Dom Malik back in a six month six man of the year role.” I mean I I just don’t think that makes you that much of a better team at all Arguably you’re worse So um to me it makes more sense to tear it down but at the same time if they were to make a trade right now and bring in an all-star point guard or or make a surprise move bring in you know a high-scoring wing I’d say sure I’m intrigued because this team as currently built they’re not horrible They’re not they’re not going to be the 15th seed if they if you know they they keep everything as is and everyone stays healthy They’ll be a team that’s in the mix for that eight n 10 maybe even seven um seed in the west But it’s just hard for me to say they’re going to get back to where they were before which is that kind of top five top six team in the west they were two three years ago without making a move that’s going to surprise a lot of people And it seems like Scott’s thinking big It seems like that he he’s trying to make it the Kings kind of at the front of people’s minds again but at the same time they don’t really have much to work with as far as attractable assets to move So can they do that with the Rozan we’ll see Or are they going to try to kind of bring in a guard and hope that you know they hit on someone that’s going to be less expensive they might But if it comes down to this current core and and banking on them being better than last year while keeping things mostly intact I just I just might a little low Expectations are a little low there The problem is being mid and the vast majority of the playoff drought the Kings were mid Only one of those years were they the worst team in the league Now to be fair they should have gotten the number one pick Should have gotten Blake Griffin Blake Griffin But instead they got number four which was Tyreek Hey you won rookie of the year that fun season Hey 25 and five Hooray Reek Roy Reek Roy Yeah Um but I think the the the frustrating part is I think we look at this roster and think you’re on a one-way path to just being mid again And it’s it’s like the Hawks and was it the Hawks and the Heat they battle out in the 910 game every year The Kings are going to be that team that’s in the nine It’s two years in a row already And if they make it one more time they’re going to be that team that say Kings are 910 game again It’s it’s their their inaugural or their their yearly game It’s just going to become the Sacramento Kings game Great Great All right Well now that we’ve depressed everybody and bid on a pump fake from Shams let’s wrap this I saw the word king and I got excited assuming I got excited too And hey I’m just saying keep an eye out for Sham’s tweets because I don’t think it might happen on draft night but I don’t think the Kings acquiring a first round pick is is far-fetched at all uh in this draft here which we’ll uh we’ll see next week which is crazy It’s that soon Frankie thank you so much for taking the time my man We’ll uh we’ll chat very very soon and we’ll see what Perry and the Kings decide to do It’s fun to talk about all these hypothetical scenarios because we have no clue what the direction of this organization is So we’ll uh we’ll find out together Huh No pump fakes next time Thank you Matt Sorry everybody But uh we’ll see you next week The draft huh let’s see what happens

Matt George is joined by SacTown Sports 1140’s Frankie Cartoscelli to discuss another potential season of DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento and how the Kings could make that work.

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Could the Sacramento Kings Make Another Season with DeMar DeRozan Work?
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