Jerry Reynolds: Which Sacramento Kings players are worth keeping around long-term?

Jerry Reynolds: Which Sacramento Kings players are worth keeping around long-term?

or listen on the Set Town Sports app. Oh yeah, we’ve been having a lot of fun today on this Friday. Thanks for being with us. Rod Brooks was at his very best today. We always appreciate his time. But now the weekend really starts, Jay, because it’s time for alltime Kings icon. Yes, sir. Nobody like him. Never has been, never will be. The one and only Jerry Reynolds. How are you today, coach? You know, I I I’m pretty good. I’m a little hurt, though. I I heard Jay taking some shots at my Chiefs, you know, and I I I do kind of want to warn you. There’s clearly Jay has a chance to go to the dark side and uh and so you want to be be wary. There’s of all his good qualities. There’s clearly there’s clearly a few flaws there. Yeah, it was kind of wild, wasn’t it? Just kind of out of nowhere and he just started taking those shots at you and your team. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, no question it was personal. I mean, I’m hurt. I’m hurt. Yeah. And uh so but you know we we’ll we’ll trudge on. We’ll trudge on. I’m hurt, Legend. I’m hurt, man. You you guys put a dent into my uh my psyche over the last few years, man. Taking those Super Bowls. Yeah. I’m in your head. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Uh I wanted to ask you about the Kings and I’m going to try to start with something uh on the positive side. uh coach, which you know is not necessarily the easiest thing to do right now, but what do you think of the way Maxim Reno is coming along? I really like him. You know, obviously uh great to see him get more minutes. I really think Doug’s done a nice job there and and uh you know, he’s highly you know, he’s got skill, you know, which which I guess shouldn’t surprise me. He he he he he’s from Europe, you know, I mean, where they train guys and then of course in college, but uh you know has a sevenfooter that’s got a left hand and and can play off the dribble a little bit and his shooting range, you know, you think you’ll see that become proficient and yeah, there’s I mean, he just needs to get stronger. That’s it. And and that’s the way it works. you know, young guys, whoever comes to the league just about takes a little while, but uh yeah, I I think there’s a a real player there. Would you have a nickname for him if you were uh doing the games French Connection? I don’t know. Would you Well, yeah, that’s too easy, isn’t it? Yeah, that’s just it was off the top of my head. I hadn’t really thought. Yeah, I was going to say I I’d have to think on that. I You know, you got to you got to do better by the guy than that. I think you’re lazy, Whitey. That was lazy. Yeah, that was that was beneath Whitey, wasn’t it? You know, we’re just disappointing you. Beneath to be beneath Whitey, but that could be, man. Everybody’s taking shots. I know, man. Legend, we’re uh 23 games in if I’m not mistaken. You’re 57. Yeah, we’re 23 games in as someone that’s been around the game. I love asking you hypotheticals at this moment when you’re five and 17. and your experiences. Unfortunately, you’ve been around that as far as record at 20 23 to 25 games in. What are you beginning to do uh as far as in the front office? Well, I think they have to be looking at trying to uh move player players obviously look at your roster and and who do you feel like uh you could go forward with in the future and that means you know probably guys under 30 you know. Yeah. Uh, and then I think for anybody and then and then you add to that guys you just don’t feel would fit regardless. But uh, but I think it clearly when you’re an older team and we’ve talked about this before, when you’re an older team, you must win. You know, there’s I mean, if you can’t, then there’s no no reason to be old to to have older guys. Yeah. And uh I mean that that’s kind of why you want older guys is to have the veterans, you know, the older teams generally speaking. Those are teams that are competitors for the championships. Not always, of course, but uh but anyway, yeah, that it’s it’s a case where if you’re in the front office now, I’m sure they’re doing it. I mean, they’re certainly uh looking at the opportunities of trades. uh anything they can do to to change the roster because uh as as I’ve noticed and I think a couple other fans have that it really doesn’t seem to be working well. Not that well. No. Um Jerry, I wanted to ask you another Maxim Renault question as you call him the the the French connection with the the way he makes the threes. Um we don’t know what’s going to happen with Domas. Maybe Domas is going to be here a while, maybe not. But if he is, theoretically, could Maxim Reno, who did show some range in college, could he be one of those bigs that could play with Domas, do you think? Absolutely. I think you could put the French connection right in there with Dom. And uh really I I think that would be his his position, you know. I think eventually he should be a stretch four. Ah, you know, a little bit, you know, like the Sante El Dama type guy or Jiren Jackson. I mean, I think he is he could be belong in there somewhere. Uh cuz he uh he he really is comfortable facing a basket and and he and Domas I think would be a great fit. In fact is I I kind of hope that Coach Christie would just go ahead and you know while Dom is out to put him in a starting lineup. I mean, Drew Eubanks is, you know, he he he’s he’s an NBA player, but he’s a backup, so why not, you know, let him stay in, you know, in the role he really fits, right? Right. Joined by the legendary Jerry Reynolds. Icon, when it comes to, you know, we all talk about minutes, it’s just under the microscope so much, especially around a losing team. But I I I want to get your perception on Devin Carter like it. Have you been through an experience where one year removed and a per a guy not even really playing that much is not getting any opportunity? You know, I I I really I thought about that. It’s a good question. And I I I really can’t recall a situation where basically a lottery pick, you know, in his second full year, you know, or really just a second year and didn’t play much last year. Uh has just not gotten an opportunity to play. Yeah. And uh yeah, I hope they, you know, I hope he gets his chance. I mean, I I just I just think uh boy, you got to have patience with especially, you know, young young player guards in particular. Uh, you know, we saw what happened with DaVon and they gave up on him too soon. Yeah. And, uh, I’ve always said that that’s, you know, that patience is a virtue, but that’s why Bobby Jackson was available when he was because teams, you know, there were teams that gave up on him too quick. Mhm. And uh, and I I think there’s a player there. I, you know, I don’t think he’s a point guard, but I think he’s a player. Mhm. Uh uh cuz I think he can really defend. How about Yeah. Go ahead. I’m sorry, Jar. Yeah. I just think his his what little I’ve seen. I mean, I think his defense and and rebounding for a guarder have a chance to be really good. Mhm. And and so last time I checked, this team doesn’t rebound much and doesn’t defend much. Not much. Not much. Yeah. It’s curious and curious. Precious Achiwa. Do you think he’s a player or does he, and I’m not trying to be snidey, does he just kind of look like one on this roster? I I think he’s got a chance to be one. Uhhuh. He certainly looks like one on this roster. Yeah. Uh and that’s al really part of it. You know, there’s just such a need for anybody that’s over 65. and uh and he but but he’s a guy, you know, he he’s played meaningful games, you know, with with playoff caliber teams in New York and and Miami. Now, they chose not to keep him, but I think partly they’ve got, you know, they’ve got better players would be ahead of him, but I I do think certainly looks like to me he’s a keeper. Mhm. I think it’s a good pickup. You know, it to me it’s a kind of a different version of Laravia last year, which was a terrific pickup. just couldn’t keep him or didn’t keep him. I wouldn’t say couldn’t, but didn’t. Man, that’s interesting. I had even thought about that. That’s why you’re the legend right there. Kind of a bird’s eyee view uh legend. And I I’m sorry for springing this on you if you don’t have the uh the best answer, but I know you’re the legend, so I know you’re going to be able to knock it down as I I lob it up to you. One takeaway so far for this Sacramento Kings team. Is it just do you have just one thing that you have consistently gone back to and that great mind of yours and said this is this right here is the issue or this is what I like this is what I don’t like. Is there been one major takeaway so far for you? Well, the the one thing I I I just consistently haven’t liked is the defense. uh you know basically half court, full court, however, you know, they just simply haven’t been able to make it tough consistently. Now, we’ve seen stretches, you know, uh a quarter here, a quarter there, a half here, but overall it just hasn’t been good enough. And and I think it’s uh you know and I think uh quite honestly I’m not surprised because and certainly I don’t blame the coach because uh you’ve got guys older guys who have never been good defenders. Uh right? You know I I mean I I’ve learned over the years that boy when guys get in their 30s they they don’t all sudden change. Yeah. They kind of they’ve chose their lane. and they are who they are and they’ve had success being who they how they are and uh so so that that’s that’s the issue not you know it’s it’s defensively they just can’t really compete consistently you know as opposed to you know like Houston the other night yeah you know they can really guard you they they were sloppy with the ball couldn’t make shots uh but at some point you know they they can guard you well enough to stay in the game and eventually maybe make some shots and quit being sloppy with the ball, but uh the Kings don’t have that luxury. You know, they they have to score 130 to win. And boy, that’s tough. It is. It is. And I hate to do this. Uh but coach, I’m going to bring you back down to earth a little bit cuz Jay, and we love Jay, but Jay always calls you legend. Just so you know, when you’re not here, that’s what he calls me. So, and I’m not The point is I think he calls anybody that. Well, you know, but that I’ll be honest with you that that’s the highest thing he could say to me as calling you legend and me legend. And I uh now uh now if he calls Kyle legend and that’s you know I’m lying. I have to re-evaluate things significantly. Hey, what about uh our buddy Keegan Murray? I the last two games, you know, he hasn’t gotten many shots up and it looked like when he came back, oh, okay, he’s more a focal point of the offense, which I think is a really good thing. Last couple games, I’ve been a little uh a little bothered, a little concerned by that, Jerry. Well, I thought the last game, you know, I was was on talk to somebody else and and and we’re talking about that and I said to me it looked like just simply put he was guarded. Houston could guard him. Uh-huh. You know, they have guys like him long several in fact and and cuz he was trying to be aggressive and uh I thought really maybe force some issues a little bit. So, uh I so I wouldn’t make too much of it. I think overall he’s, you know, when you look at his rebounding and and steals and blocks and things, uh in addition to his overall scoring considering coming off injury, I think I think he’s really on the right track. you know, I just uh would love to see him, you know, really I I’ I’d love to see a a Chua and himself and and Reno kind of out there together a little bit just to see some some size and athleticism, you know, uh might be might be a fun watch. Yeah. And we Jay and I were saying yesterday in that game in addition to beingounded when he had the ball, Keegan was guarding he was guarding Jabari Smith and he was guarding Shenun and he was guarding Elijah and he was guarding Elvin Hayes and he was guarding Samson. He was guarding all of them. Yeah. I mean, no, that’s uh and the guy I mean he’s he’s just a remarkable defender. I I really think he can he makes it tough on just about everybody. And of course that leads to foul trouble a little bit in and in in addition. But yeah, I think you know I I guess I’d sum it up Keegan’s the least of the King’s problems. Yeah. No, I think you’re 100% icon. I’ll call you icon. There we go. No, no, no. Yeah. How about just old fart? That’ll work. legend. When it when you look at Keegan’s I guess uh you know his progress so far in the league, I truly believe he has all the attributes to be an allstar. Superstar maybe not, but an all-star at this point of his career. I think we still see that there may be a little more progression. At what point in time does a person like yourself who’s been a general manager and coach and you know been in the front office all kind of different angles say well that’s just who that person is. Yeah probably at after 5 years I don’t think you really see too many surprises you know I mean even some kind of late developers into into stardom you know the Nashes or the Curries. I mean that third or fourth year you kind of knew knew how that was going to you know you knew you didn’t know still that at to to what level maybe but I think with Keegan to me he and Jabari Smith are are there’s a lot of similarities not just in where they were drafted but uh they’re still finding their way a little bit and and Jabari uh has been held back a little bit more in some ways because he’s playing with more talent and and I think with Keegan, he’s been held back because they haven’t been able to figure out how to use this talent. So, but I I think they’re both allstar level talents that you know, in other words, if if they both are working hard, and I think they are, and especially Keegan, good attitude and stays with his aggressive mentality that yeah, he he’s an all-star level player and and I think by the end of this year, you know, what you should be able to look at and say, look, statistically, he is a better player basically across the board than he was last year. And that’s and that’s, you know, that’s what you have to see. And and I think you will. That said, Jerry, how long did it take before you knew Presley probably wasn’t all that? Couple practices maybe, you know, I think summer league we were able to able to decipher. He I’m kidding. He’s the best. I love Harold. I’m just kidding. No, no, Harold’s the best. And you know, it was one of those things to where, you know, Harold was a good player. He wasn’t as good as you wanted him to be and he wasn’t as good as he wanted to be. But uh you know he was smart enough to figure out how to have a career. Let’s put it that way. Absolutely. Absolutely. Not not everybody can do that. Yeah. And as nice a guy as you’ll meet. I wanted to ask you not a question as you the basketball coach, but as someone who knows Kings fans as well as anybody. It looks like maybe now the Kings are going into this full-on multi-year rebuild. Sure looks like it’s headed that way. your best guess. Do you think Kings fans would be able eventually to get on board with that 100%. That’s a great question. I’m not sure. You know, I’ve heard it both ways. I know just some friends that are seasoned ticket holders are certainly considering not re-uping, you know, uh and then and then others, you know, you know, are want to be optimistic and if they can see young guys and a different team and and and you know, all that that they love the game enough and the league enough that wouldn’t make too much difference. So, yeah, it it I I don’t think there’s any doubt it will affect uh affect fandom to some degree. And and I I I mean, there’s no doubt, too. I mean, I think most of us that have eyes and ears know that it’s a it’s a pretty negative situation right now. And uh but but I think the key is what can be done. you know, that gives Kings fans hope that it won’t be too long a process and and that’s that’s my concern just as a fan. It’s like uh you know it everybody would want to believe Yeah, you can turn this thing in a two or three years. Well, you know, I mean Washington’s still trying to turn in years now. Charlotte. Yeah. Yeah. And uh I mean and Utah’s in their fourth year uh you know and still not you know there Portland’s in about five year five. Even San Antonio this is about the sixth year for them to and they haven’t played the playoff game yet. I certainly looks like they’re there when healthy but still until they do they haven’t. Yeah definitely agree. Jared, what’s your thoughts on uh Chris Paul’s situation with with the Clippers? You know, I I don’t I mean, it’s it’s one of those things to where they were going so bad and they’re so and they’re older than the Kings and and so and knowing a little bit with Chris and and he tends to be a a coach on the floor and a coach off the floor and a coach on the bus and and probably at this stage of his career, they they really didn’t feel they needed all that extra coaching. Uhhuh. Yeah. Yeah. And I mean when I mean it’s a there was a time when Chris not only could do that extra coaching but he could back every bit of it uph. Yeah. And uh you know it’s the old thing you know the old so yeah I think uh I I think you know he he’s he’s not he’s an acquired taste. There’s no doubt about that. Yeah. But he’s one of the all-time greats and at his best he made teams better. And at this stage of his career he really doesn’t. Well, I know that um that Jay’s going to ask you, you know, as a turn back the clock question, but before he does, you I believe said on this show, I know you said it on the Kings Herald, you made a prediction that weeks, months ago, that the Spurs would end up trading someone, maybe De’aran for for Giannis. You think that I mean that’s looming now? That looks like a a distinct possibility, right? Right there. I think it is. I mean I and and people would say well they you know they wouldn’t trade Fox to trade Castle or or Harper and I no I don’t think they would do that. I mean and number one is Milwaukee. Uh they it’d have to be a cap figure that works. Yeah. Yeah. And to me, Fox, to me, trading Fox and say Jeremy So, uh, would be the logical trade there would kind of match up, I think, financially. And, uh, and if you’re Milwaukee, you know, maybe picks involved, too. But if you’re Milwaukee, you’re getting a young star and Fox, a reasonably young star, proven star type. Yeah. And then another young uhh player wing, big wing. And so it it would, you know, give you your jump start and then maybe extra picks. And then if you’re San Antonio, well, you don’t need Soion because you got death Koopo and and Wimi. And then you got these young guards, Castles, Harper, and Vel, man. I mean, I I I think you go down the road with that team. I think that’s a playoff team, John. Yeah. Yeah. I think they win a playoff game or two. I know this, if I’m Denver and Oklahoma City, I would be uh praying that that move is not made, that New York Knicks or somebody would uh would buckle up and figure out a way to get him. But I don’t, like I say, it just seems to me like there’s some real logic to that, which is always why it probably won’t happen. Right. Right. Too easy. It’s very logical. Yeah. Too easy. That anything that makes sense in the NBA never goes through. Right. Almost never, Jay. That that that that’s uh that’s why I’m an icon. That makes sense. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. My uh my question, I had an opportunity to um work with my guy Robert Allen aka Bob McAdoo. uh when he was over with the Miami Heat for a little bit of time, he was one of our guests weekly on a national network. And uh I was know how this came about, but last week I think when I was off, I was sitting here looking and just going down the rabbit hole. had no clue that my boy Bob went to a junior college in Venez. Am I saying that correct? No, you’re not. Vincens Vinc University Junior College, Indiana. Okay. So, he goes there and then he goes to North Carolina, which is where he’s from. Born born in North Carolina. Yep. Greensboro. Idea of Bob Mcadoo. But how in the heck did he go from Carolina to Indiana? Do you have an answer for me? Well, I can tell you this much. I spent I don’t know how many weeks down there in Greensboro and hanging around his house. And uh uh I had a I’m trying to remember this guy’s name was a state senator in North Carolina, but there was rumors at that time that Mack was going to go to uh Gardener Web. Okay. uh had just become a four-year school and they you know they’re going to do a little under the thing and and and his and the senator and his and his mother was a teacher and dad is a carpenter. They’re they’re quite M would tell you he came in the ghetto but he never really saw one really uh you know had a wonderful home and and family and everything anyway. And so, uh, at any rate, uh, uh, we found out that Wake Forest was really interesting and they got the senator involved and they got me involved. A guy by the name of Billy Packer was assistant coach at Wake Forest. And so I got, you know, so Billy was going to help me get him uh to to Vincent and then, of course, get him back later. At that time the ACC had more strict uh academic requirements and so during those years a lot of the great players were in junior college. I mean artist Gilmore and uh uh Nate Archald, Spencer Haywood. Wow. Uh Freddy Brown. I mean you know it was it was big time. Mhm. you know, there were the NBA players about all the top junior colleges at that time and we had, of course, we had several uh Foots Walker and was uh was with us at that time, but uh anyway, so yeah, I I you know, just spent a lot of time down there and uh uh and really I think it made sense uh for Mac. I we’ll got to tell you one story and he might tell you this but on his recruiting trip uh the governor of Indiana was in Vinc on an educational thing and uh so so I found out about that and I asked him if he’d you know had a few minutes we had a wonderful prospect we was trying to recruit out of North Carolina whatever and could he spend some time with him you know and oh he was happy too and everything And and so well he did and M really impressed because Mac told me he said wow I said you know I’ve never even met the governor of North Carolina and here the governor of Indiana came down to see me I didn’t tell him that part that uh he was already there he’s already there but uh you know I mean it didn’t so so anyway that was so yeah the so so back. Yeah, he was uh I love that story. Yes, dude. How that that that is crazy. I I’m literally for whatever reason I’m literally looking at Bob’s, you know, and I’m like, wait a seen that name before that junior college. I’m like, why do I know that? Well, I see Jerry. I’m like, my goodness, come on, man. Well, I mean, they’ve did pretty well since I left, too, but not as good. But they uh you know I mean Shawn Marion played there. Uh Ricky Green was an allstar. Carl Landry. Dang. Love Carl. Uh you know I mean I know we had at my last year there I know we had eight guys that eventually were drafted now. Not that many made it you know that team. They all went different you know Western Kentucky, Louisville wherever uh type thing. But uh and and and I I took a couple of them with me to West Georgia when I went down there college division and you know Footsie Walker was the the best and he played 10 12 years in the league. Mhm. And uh but anyway, so yeah, there’s a lot of a lot of incident stories I could tell you, but uh but Mack was Yeah, he was, you know, people always say it’s kind of like with with Bird, did you know he’s going to be that good? No. No, I didn’t. I I knew he’s awfully darn good. Mhm. And uh and and he had, you know, and he had that special thing. I would say the great ones have total confidence. Mhm. You know, I mean, Mack, I always remember early in his career, I got on to my he was like two for 11 or 12 in the first half and he said, “Well, uh you know, I’ll probably make the next 11, you know, give me just give me the ball.” And uh I I I always remember one story with Foots when he was playing the point guard as he came over once. He said, “Coach,” he said, “Every time we come down the floor, Mack is begging for the ball.” I and I said, “Foots, you’re the point guard, aren’t you?” He said, “Yeah, well, tell him to go go to hell.” Now, I said, “Foots, if it gets close, get him the ball.” And and Foots, I remember what Foot said. Oh, I think I got it now. I said, “Yeah, yeah, you you make sure all those other guys are happy till it’s really important to make sure.” When the game’s on the line, get it on the line. Make sure you know where Mac is. Yeah. Oh, thank you, coach. We appreciate it so much. I hope you have a great weekend and we’ll talk again soon. Well, it’s always my weekend will be better just talking to you two guys and getting to know that I’m me and you are both icons or legends or whatever. Thank you, Jerry. See you guys. All right. Uh, when we come back, could the King’s next opponent be in position to land Giannis? And we’ll, uh, yeah, we’ll review our conversation with Mr. Reynolds next on Sacktown Sports. Download the Sack Town Sports app. Sacramento sports in your pocket.

On today’s edition of The Drive Guys, Sacramento Kings legend Jerry Reynolds joins the show to discuss which players are worth keeping around long-term, assuming they embrace a retooling of sorts.

Plus, did Sacramento ruin their chances at a viable Giannis Antetokounmpo trade package when they sent De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs?

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