[ti]west[/ti]State of the Midwest - 3041
Dec 2, 2016 16:16:24 GMT -6
Trofie, 20s Navidad, and 1 more like this
Post by Lazy Pete on Dec 2, 2016 16:16:24 GMT -6
Oklahoma City ThunderLast year's record: 53-29, conference semi-finals
Key Additions: Thor Likens
Key Losses: None
Major Offseason moves: resigned Luther Wright
Current Outlook: Dame Dollar and a bunch of Bucks
Last season, the Thunder put together their best record since the halcyon days of Aaron Harrison and Shareef Abdur-Rahim, notching 53 wins and the #5 seed in the west behind the superb play of superstar PG Damian Lillard. This was the first time the Thunder topped 50 wins since 3023. They also defeated the Lakers in the first round for their first playoff series victory in the post-dynasty era. The Thunder will look to build on that momentum this season after an offseason that saw very little change in the makeup of the team.
Of course, it all starts with the PG, who continues to get better each season and really broke through last year, earning his first all-star game nod and 2nd team all-league honors. Lillard is a transcendant scorer who will likely be a perennial MVP candidate. He also has displayed a knack for getting steals and has a great AST/TO ratio given his average-looking handles. As long as Lillard remains in OKC, the Thunder will be a dangerous team. Behind him at PG, there is a slew of young promising but unproven prospects. Jason Williams was a surprising pick last year given that Lillard should have that spot in the lineup locked up for the forseeable future, but if he had selected Lue instead then I'd be praising him for taking best player available regardless of need, so I can't fault that decision. Williams had a strong training camp and looks the part, but if his preseason is any indication then he still needs some development to become a useful rotation player or valuable trade asset. I'd like to see Lyle get some minutes as well, as he flashed some potential his rookie season but failed to see the court last year.
On the wings, the team will continue to rely heavily on some aging former Bucks with Calbert Cheaney and Borat Sagdiyev likely to see big minutes. Borat is a young 35 given that he came into the league at an advanced age, but he is definitely on a downward trajectory and this may be the last season he can be counted on for big minutes. It appears that he will begin the season as the sixth man backing up both wing positions. Cheaney has been much maligned during his career as an empty calories stat-stuffer, but showed last season that he hadn't lost his ability to provide efficient scoring. Antawn Jamison didn't get any love from the rookie ladder but he put together a strong rookie season and appears to be a Corliss Williamson type of player. If he can find a way to ratchet up the FTAs and maintain his efficiency, he could even start scratching the surface of sim great Larry Kenon, but that's a big if. Joey Graham is intriguing but needs to find some minutes this season before GBG can decide whether he fits into the long term plan.
The front court is pretty young, with a notable exception in veteran Luther Wright, another former Buck. Wright saw his minutes cut dramatically last season as the Thunder opted to go with the baby Bulls combo of Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler. Hard to believe those two players are still only 25, but both came into the league with a lot of potential and have settled into good roles with the Thunder. Chandler doesn't block as many shots as you'd like from a defense and rebounding specialist, but his steals help make up for it. Curry was salvaged off the scrap heap on an MLE a couple years ago and turned in a monster season averaging almost 19 per game on .469 shooting and blocking almost 2.5 shots per contest. His follow up campaign last season more closely resembled his Nuggets years, so it'll be interesting to see if that was a one year fluke or if he can return to a solid offensive big. Channing Frye will likely be the primary back-up again, and appears to have the makings of a good two-way player but won't make a leap unless he starts converting FGs at a better rate and/or starts shooting the 3 ball a lot more. The rookie Thor Likens shot well in preseason but I'll need to see him do it for a longer stretch before I believe.
Future Outlook: Out with the Old, In with the Who?
The Thunder are an interesting mix of young talent and aging vets. Calbert, Borat and Luther are all in decline and for the most part the Thunder appear ready to transition them into more of a back-up role to let some of their young players show what they've got. Unfortunately, these older players carry with them some hefty salaries, which may limit flexibility should the Thunder want to go find another wing or improve one of their bigs. However, it's only a problem for the next season, as both Borat and Calbert become expiring next year and should be easier to move if needed.
This offseason is going to be the key for the direction of the franchise. If Lillard resigns, they can proceed with adding depth and developing players to try and build their championship contender. If he opts to take his talents elsewhere, the Thunder are left yet again with a roster that falls somewhere between the back half of the lotto and the 8 seed. One interesting sub-plot: Heebs has claimed he wants to clear up cap space to chase Jimmy Jackson next offseason, but I would bet that he's doing it more to have a shot at stealing Lillard. His hometown team is also the Nets, and he's got 0 loyalty and 9 greed. If the Nets free up the space and Damian tests FA, they would be a team to watch.
The good news is the Thunder still have all their picks after this year, so they can choose to either make some moves to bolster their lineup with proven vets, or hang onto them in case Lillard skips town. There are some other players here who look like they could be good/great, but until one or more take a leap forward, the Thunder are likely at their ceiling for regular season and post-season success with this current roster, but I'd expect Geebs to be aggressive in pursuing deals to package some of these rookie contract players and picks for a stud wing. The division is attainable but they need to decide if they're comfortable taking a chance before Lillard inks a new deal. If they wait, they may find the market a lot less friendly with teams like the 76ers ready to re-enter the fray with a boatload of assets.
Projection: Damian Lillard turns in a strong season and earns MVP honors. The Thunder finish as the #4 seed and resign Lillard in the offseason, then swing a big deal for an older wing player.
Denver NuggetsLast year's record: 29-53, missed playoffs
Key Additions: Connie Hawkins, GM Dirt
Key Losses: Detlef Schrempf, Jimmy Butler, Scott Howard
Major Offseason moves: Won lotto, lost Detlef to the Jazz
Current Outlook: Finding Keepers, Losing Sleepers
GM Dirt steps in to take over the reins of the Nuggets after a couple seasons lacking guidance. The Nuggets have a very interesting mix of holdovers from the Bankz administration who are starved for development and Connie Hawkins, who hopefully will be their franchise cornerstone moving forward. The Nuggets have several high lotto picks accumulated during Bankz's final run that are now locked into higher dollar contracts, but now that Bucky has been killed their cap situation is no longer a nightmare. Butler and his $25 mil salary are off the books, and none of the contracts signed during Bankz's absence have increases, so they're somewhat moderate compared to what a regular GM might have signed.
At the lead guard spot, the duo of Kyle Austin and Phil Ford continue to battle for minutes. As a card carrying member of the #FreePhilFord crew, it was tough to watch last season as he finally got minutes and proved to be a pedestrian player. Part of the reason for his struggles may be because he saw most of his minutes at SG following Butler's injury, but either way he didn't score at the level many expected. Austin, on the other hand, put up some decent numbers and is a couple years younger. He may be the better of the two, but given the length and size of Ford's contract, I would let him get a chance at playing PG before settling on Austin as the PG for the future.
On the wings, the team is headlined by the #1 overall pick Connie Hawkins. The Nuggets had a very fortunate leap in the lotto to get in position for him, but he did not have a good offseason and his preseason performance is extremely troubling. Hopefully it's just a statistical oddity, and Hawkins shows the kind of promise that made so many GMs high on him at draft time. The other notable Wings are Purvis Short and Mike Mitchell, both drafted together and both presumably hitting the primes of their careers. Purvis put up some points last season, but unless he can fix his turnovers then his ceiling is Jabari Parker. Mike Mitchell has some similarly nice grades but hasn't really done much to show that he can live up to them. Unfortunately, I think it may be too little too late for both of these wings, who really could've used an active GM developing their skills to maximize their talent. As it stands, they are 26 and 27 respectively and it's hard to imagine either player improving dramatically.
The front court is the biggest weakness, as the only rotation players I see are Wayne Cooper and Keon Clark, and both are replacement level right now.
Future Outlook: Flippin' through the Auto Trader
Dirt has a reputation as one of the most trade-happy GMs in the league, and for good reason. It may be wise for him to sit out a season or two to get his bearings on the league again before making wholesale changes, but I am confident that if Dirt is sticking around again, the Nuggets will be active on the trade market.
One major positive is that, despite winning the lotto last season and having a contract with a lot of mid-tier vets in their prime, the Nuggets still appear to be in prime tanking position. If Dirt sits back for a season or two, he could be looking at a nice core with some proven depth.
The downside to the Nuggets current roster is, outside of Connie and maybe Keon Clark, there aren't any young players to groom. They sat idle for too long and wasted what might have been good careers, and despite loading up on prospects before he left, Bankz didn't stumble upon any all-star level player. Losing Detlef in free agency may be the biggest blow. He's still not quite where you'd want him to be for efficiency but looks like he's got the brightest future from that era of Nuggets rookies.
If Dirt can sit back and collect top 4 odds with the team he's got now, things may remain quiet. But if the Nuggets start winning and look to be headed to the back half of the lotto, I expect that he'll get aggressive in selling off some talent.
Projection: Nuggets finish with 6th lotto odds but still jump into the top 3. Dirt trades at least one of Ford/Purvis in the following offseason and then buys enough vets to start competing by year 2 or 3.
Houston Rockets
Last year's record: 54-28, 1st round playoff exit
Key Additions: Jim Palmer, Tristan Thompson, Bobby Hurley
Key Losses: Patrick Ewing
Major Offseason moves: Lost Patrick Ewing in FA to the Indiana Pacers
Current Outlook: Ewing Theory Test Case
This was a very difficult offseason for the Rockets and GM Ward2Dunn. After joining the league and stripping out most of the former core, the Rockets quickly ascended back to the top ranks of the Western Conference thanks to landing a franchise centerpiece in Patrick Ewing. Some cap management issues appeared to put that relationship in jeopardy but some midseason salary dumps freed up the money to secure one of the best 2-way bigs this league has ever seen. Unfortunately, fate intervened and Ewing, perhaps still shellshocked from visions of Reggie Miller haunting his dreams in a past life, took less money and chose to join the Indiana Pacers. Now the Rockets are faced with an aging roster and no real bridge to the next generation in sight.
That's not to say that things are doom and gloom in Houston, though. There are several star players still around and this remains a team capable of making noise in the division race and playoffs. At point guard, Dennis Schröder has proven to be a great pick-up and his hot start indicate that maybe Trofie will finally be vindicated in paying 5 firsts to trade for him way back when. He's usually a league-leading assister and has flashed a scoring ability this season that shows he is ready to step up as a primary option. Behind him, veterans Bobby Hurley and Maxwell Horry are both excellent options should Schröder miss any time.
On the wings, there are some familiar names but also some intriguing options for the future. The aptly named Allan Houston has shown to be a great return from a trade with Oklahoma City, and as the clear-cut #1 option this season has really ramped his game to the next level. However, his defense has always been a little suspect, and without a defensive anchor behind him Houston may be exposed a little more this season. Former 2nd round pick Evan Fornier is now the full time starter at SF, and while he shows some potential as a defender, he doesn't appear to be a great rebounder, which is a big limitation to his potential moving forward. That coupled with his lack of scoring volume suggests he may be better suited as a back-up. Bucky Bockhorn played lazarus last season, getting a rare amnesty from the atrocious deal he signed with Denver and ending up on Houston via waivers. While he is certainly not worth the 7 year max he was signed to, he's a very competent 6th man for this Rockets team and can carry the scoring load for 2nd unit at times. Terrence Ross was a good pick-up last year for very cheap, and someone the Houston management should give some minutes to this season to see if he's a long-term building block.
In the front court, the Rockets have chosen to try to replace Ewing's production with a committee approach. Joel Embiid is still one of the best centers in the league and is having a great season on the offensive end. The other minutes have been passed around among 5 other players, with Jim Palmer emerging as the leader thusfar. He's a good defender and doesn't shoot much, and provides a nice bonus by converting whatever FTs he gets at a good clip. Tristan Thompson is another familiar face who continues to provide quality depth and abysmal FT shooting. Ruben Boumtjie-Boumtjie, Elmore Spencer and Harrison Conradt are on the outside looking in right now, but Ruben appears to be the most likely to see action if needed.
Future Outlook: Searching for the Next Face
The Rockets future is murky without a clear cornerstone player and a group of mostly aging stars. Embiid and Houston are both firmly in the danger area where a sharp decline in play could come any season. Both are also locked in for next season at cap figures that are among the highest in the league, limiting the Rockets' ability to take some shots in free agency this season.
Schröder is on a steal of a contract and remains in his prime years, but unless the Rockets are able to swing a trade for a younger star or two, he's a good candidate to be moved next off-season or the following year. The only other player locked in beyond this season is Evan Fournier, who has some skills but probably shouldn't be a part of the long-term strategy for this team. As I mentioned above, I think Terrence Ross was a great pick-up, especially since he only cost dump bucks, but the Rockets are going to be faced with a decision this offseason on what he's worth as a free agent. His first couple seasons in Charlotte showed promise before he wound up buried behind other talented wings, and his development seems to have stagnated.
The hits don't end there, as the Rockets are one of a handful of teams who don't own their pick for the next four seasons, all but closing the door on the opportunity to tank after Embiid and Houston's contracts run out. However, before teams start dancing on the Rockets grave, remember that Ward2Dunn is very active on the trade market and is one a few GMs I think is capable of turning around a bad situation in a hurry through one or two smart moves. There appears to be trouble ahead, but there's a trusted hand on the wheel.
Projection: The Rockets win the division and validate the Ewing Theory, but regress the following season after being unable to remake their roster. In year 3, armed with a ton of cap space and a few more picks, they restock the cupboard and get some pieces in place for the future.
Minnesota TimberwolvesLast year's record: 10-72, missed playoffs
Key Additions: Walt Bellamy, Al Butler
Key Losses: Jason Maxiell, Alexis Geiger, Ray McCallum
Major Offseason moves: none
Current Outlook: Putting the Tank in T-Wolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are set up for another long year of tanking as they make their way through the world after parting ways with long-time franchise point guard Joe Silvestri a few seasons ago. This roster is all about one name this season, the previously-underrated-but-now-properly-acclaimed John Long. He is setting the sim league on fire this year with an unbelievably hot start, and is a surefire all-league caliber player. His combination of scoring volume and efficiency have never been close to the level they're at right now, so I would expect him to fall back to earth a little as the season progresses.
Beyond Long, there are a few other potential keepers on the wings. Khris Middleton has had an up and down career thusfar and enters his contract year with a lot to prove. He's an above average defender and okay rebounder, and should he get his scoring efficiency in line he could be a plus in that cdategory too. But on a team without many other scoring options, I would expect a bit more production out of the 2nd best player. Ryan Gomes is someone who is probably deserving of a more extended look. He's played sparingly throughout his first three seasons but projects to be a solid player, although with only 275 minutes played it's hard to say if that's the truth or just a mirage.
Running the show this season is Roberto Mottola, who might have the worst handles we've seen for a point guard since the Argonians infiltrated the league. Al Butler is a 2nd round pick who has gotten some mention as a solid rookie, but I don't see anything to get excited about quite yet.
The bigs are similarly devoid of talent, although they got a big boost from the addition of 4th overall pick Walt Bellamy. Bellamy isn't great at any one skill yet, but appears to have the baseline to become a very good 2-way big with some investment into his development. His shot blocking is at a good level for a rookie, he rebounds well, and he's not a trainwreck on offense like most bigs in this league. Coaches should continue to develop his scoring skills on the inside and rim protection to see if he can anchor the middle moving forward.
Future Outlook: Long John's Silver Years
John Long is a stud and a championship caliber #1 option. However, he came into the league as a 22 year old so he's already entered his prime, and is surrounded by a supporting cast that needs a lot of help in the next few years if the Timberwolves want to capitalize on their star player. As teams like the 76ers prepare to buy talent this offseason, I'd expect that the Timberwolves will get a few inquiries on Long to see if they'd be willing to part ways.
In addition to that decision, the Wolves also have to decide what to do with Khris Middleton. He is a good player and will be hard to bring back on a bargain deal if he tests free agency, but he also has to show a lot more to be considered worthy of a long-term investment.
A lot will depend on where the Timberwolves land in this year's lottery. If they luck out and nab a top prospect like LeBron, Wade, Bosh or Anthony, their motivation to hang onto Long increases dramatically, while Middleton may become expendable. Without one of those expected stars, it may make more sense to move Long while the return is strongest and try to land a star that fits better with their timeline.
Projection: The T-Wolves tank away for the next few years but cobble together a decent core by the tail end of Long's prime years and make it back to the playoffs.
San Antonio SpursLast year's record: 58-24, Finals loss
Key Additions: Donnie Butcher
Key Losses: Mike Farmer, Derrick Rose
Major Offseason moves: Resigned Nerlens Noel
Current Outlook: Spreadsheet Darlings
This is not your dad's San Antonio Spurs squad. The run to last year's finals was no fluke, as this Spurs team is both deep and well-balanced. The soul of the team is point guard extraordinaire Reggie Theus, whose tremendous size and stat-stuffing skill set make him one of the biggest triple double threats this side of Magic Johnson. He combines every skill you hope to see in a point guard, scoring with volume and efficiency, creating turnovers while limiting his own, as well as rebounding and blocking shots like few are capable of at that position. He's an MVP level player and this may be his year.
With Theus's brilliance, Willie Lewis has been shifted to SG, where despite his lack of size he's continued to show the scoring talent that earned him Finals MVP for the Bucks. They've also invested a few recent draft picks in point guards with last year's first rounder Derek Vinyard and this year's 2nd rounder Donnie Butcher. Vinyard's skills don't jump out at you when you first see him, but he performed very well as a back-up last season and has earned the trust of his coach to be among the most heavily played substitutes in the league. Butcher was a bit of a flyer but appears to be very skilled and may eat into Vinyard's minutes as the season progresses.
Elsewhere on the perimeter, Jason Richardson has shed the label of draft bust and appears to have come into his own as a player. He's been forced to play out of position at SF due to the glut of point guards on the team, but had a good offensive season last year while providing stellar defense. One of the major concerns with Richardson is his lack of rebounding, which is surprising given the leaping ability he possesses. He's proven to be worth his sizeable mid-level deal so far.
As far as bigs, this is a strong 3 player rotation. Elton Brand is a great rebounder and former all-defensive honoree, but what is really impressive is the rate at which he draws and converts free throws. He's getting up there in age but is one of a handful of truly dangerous 2-way bigs in the league. Beside him on a freshly inked 5 year deal is Nerlens Noel, a great defensive talent who bounced around a few different teams before finding his home in San Antonio. His rim protection, while sometimes inconsistent, has a huge impact on the game, and so far this season he's doing a great job of forcing turnovers as well. Caleb McIlvaine continues to play the same role he's been in for 7 seasons as the first big off the bench. For the most part he knows his limitations on the offensive end and provides good minutes by defending and rebounding. He does have an odd fixation with shooting threes. The biggest threat to the Spurs this season is an injury to one of those three, as Jerome James and Damon Young are not ready to be counted on for big minutes.
Future Outlook: Brunstank Imminent?
Recent statements by former longtime Bulls GM Bruns indicate that the Spurs have reached out about possibly ceding all or part of the day to day operations to him, on the condition that he's allowed to sell off the current core. Obviously, this is a team with some great pieces, and the eventual Reggie Theus trade would likely be one of the biggest hauls in recent memory. Should Victor decide to keep the team together, they are set up to continue competing for championships for the next 3 seasons.
As already mentioned, Theus is an MVP level player and is signed for 4 more seasons after this one. Willie Lewis will be a free agent after this season, and while he shouldn't command a salary as high as the nearly $22 million dollars he's making this season, the Spurs would be well served to try and lock him up to a shorter term deal, perhaps one that is a little more moveable via trade.
I am not a fan of the Nerlens Noel contract, particularly given his age. While a good defender who doesn't shoot much is key, he shoots a little more than most and will be making a lot more than the market will usually pay for such a player. If the Spurs begin a tear down, that deal and the Jason Richardson deal will be the most difficult to move.
As far as player development, it's hard to envision most of these players improving beyond their current level of play. The aforementioned Donnie Butcher could be the exception, but the Spurs will be without bird rights when his contract expires so he may not be worth developing.
Projection: The Spurs make some noise this playoffs despite being on auto-pilot. Bruns takes over in the offseason and Reggie Theus moves east.
Utah JazzLast year's record: 35-47, missed playoffs
Key Additions: Detlef Schrempf, Gheorghe Muresan, Tom Meschery
Key Losses: Loren Woods, Stephan Brandon
Major Offseason moves: Signed Detlef Schrempf from Denver to a max contract
Current Outlook: It's all about the notes they're not playing
The Utah Jazz appeared ready to break out this season. They have a good collection of budding young talent and made a major splash in free agency to bring in another perimeter player. Instead they appear headed for the same place they've been pretty much every season since tearing down their last contender: just out of the playoffs and in the back half of the lottery.
One of the best finds for Utah has been point guard Gerald Henderson. After a pretty pedestrian rookie season, he's blossomed into a big time scorer, topping 30 points per game last season and well on his way to doing the same again. He's battled some turnover problems in his career and his efficiency can be hit or miss, but there's no doubt that the 27 year old is capable of running the show on a good team. Backing him up is Monta Ellis, the 10th overall pick a few seasons ago who appears to have all the talent in the world to go along with some turnover problems of his own. Coaches are still very high on his development potential and he may be a better fit long term as a SG given that he's got decent size and there is another talented PG blocking his minutes.
One of the bigger signings this free agency brought Detlef Schrempf into the fold from Denver. Many, myself included, feel that Detlef was miscast at the 4 in Denver and now that he's playing his more natural position of SF, he seems to be a lot more comfortable carrying the scoring load. He is a great rebounder for the position and looks to have a chance to get even better as a scorer if coaches develop his game properly. His partner on the wing Bonzi Wells is a little younger but appears to have a similarly gifted knack for scoring. He's only in his second year in the league but he's a very strong rebounder and looks like he is another keeper. With the acquisition of Schrempf, Joe Dumars has been pushed into a back up role and is playing for his next contract. He's been solid for his young career but really needs to show some progress this season if he aspires to be more than a career backup. Tom Meschery is this year's lotto pick and had an okay summer league performance, except for some serious turnover problems. Then again, everyone seemed to be turning it over this year, and his preseason numbers looked more promising.
The weakness of this team is in the front court, which is in need of some additional rim protection. Gheorghe Muresan was brought in to take over for the departed Loren Woods, but he's been a significant downgrade at the position and lacks Loren's ability to alter shots and knock down free throws. I think the Jazz would be better served to play Steven Hunter, currently the primary back-up, who shoots a little more than Muresan but offers a much better defensive presence. Diop has been okay as the other starter but doesn't appear to be a strong rebounder, which hurts. Doleac and Mahinmi haven't gotten much play but neither appear poised to provide much relief should they be called upon to help. This is a team that has the talent for a playoff push but so far hasn't been able to play to that level.
Future Outlook: Bear Down or Tear Down
Despite some good players in place and a strong foundation for the future, Jazz management does not appear to be happy with the direction of the team. They have made it known to the league that players are available, but I believe most think they would be better served by giving this roster some more time to gel. This is a young team, with only two players over 26 years old. They also have most of their rotation under contract for at least the next two seasons, meaning they shouldn't be faced with many difficult decisions for another offseason. The core players for this team moving forward are Gerald Henderson and Detlef Schrempf, both of whom are just entering their primes, and Bonzi Wells, who is only in his second season.
Between Monta and Meschery, as well as a full complement of Jazz 1st rounders and the next two Clippers firsts, Utah has the ammunition to go after quality veterans to build around this core. Whether or not they believe they are ready to compete this year, Utah should be seeking out trades now that will set them up for success for the next few. There are several quality players available and Utah has the assets should they wish to make a play for one. If GM SPL does indeed decide to blow it up, there are plenty of players here that should draw interest.
Projection: Jazz keep the band together for another year and get rewarded with a surge up the standings and back into contention for their division.
Kansas City KingsLast year's record: 33-49, missed playoffs
Key Additions: Terry Dischenger, Bernard James, Chase Blazejowski
Key Losses: Brandon Knight, Alvaro Teheran, Billy Hoyle, Mike Gminski, Brendan Haywood
Major Offseason moves: bought out Billy Hoyle
Current Outlook: A Clean Slate
The last vestiges of the previous regime are finally off the books, as Kings management and fans say goodbye to surefire hall of famer Brandon Knight and the always underrated Alvaro Teheran. Also gone are less successful acquisitions Mike Gminski and Billy Hoyle, brought on to help extend the title window for the aging core. Now that the roster is completely turned over, the new Kings management will seek to find the next generation of stars and get this franchise back to its winning ways.
The Kings have done such a good job of clearing their roster that there's only a few players worth mentioning. JaMychal Green is now in his fourth season and made 2nd team all-defense last season, although he was certainly helped by being one of the few starting power forwards to actually be eligible for awards at that postion. He's putting up career highs across the board this season, and while a lot of that is due to the lack of talent surrounding him, he still looks like he could be a very good rotational player as long as he continues to develop. His free throw percentage is off the charts for a big man.
Carey Scurry was a 2nd round gem unearthed shortly after 2poor took over the Kings, and like JaMychal he has seen a big uptick in most of his statistical categories. His field goal percentage is well above where he's been in the past, so he may be a regression candidate for the rest of the season, but if he continues to resign at the cheap deal he received this season, he will continue to have value in the rotation.
Terry Dischenger was a top 10 pick this year, albeit in a shallow draft. He's got the makings of a good scorer and appears to be a plus rebounder, but it may take another season or two before he starts to look the part. This year, he's not shooting as much as you might expect with so little talent around him, and he's turning it over a lot for a player that isn't running the offense.
Future Outlook: *shakes Magic 8 ball* Ask Again Later
Because the Kings don't really appear to have any foundational players, they are hard to project a future for. That changes following this season's draft lottery, where the Kings appear poised to have top 5 lotto odds in a draft with several potential franchise altering players. Even if they should land one of the big 4 prospects, they should be in position to tank for the next few seasons.
If the Kings are able to unearth some keepers this year and next, they will be armed with the cap space to build a roster around them and have their full arsenal of picks to use for trades. If they miss on the next draft or two, this will be a lather-rinse-repeat scenario where they try again next season. The risk, as always, is an extended tank of 4 or more seasons, an eternity in sim years.
Projection: The Kings land one cornerstone player in the next two years and are beginning to plan their exit from the tank in year 3.
