CD: Kings – Worse Before Better
Jan 18, 2018, 12:00 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2019, 11:23 am
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Donovan Mitchell came into G1C tonight with his Jazz team and stamped the Kings right on the ol’ forehead. Significantly, Mitchell was picked 13th, while the Kings traded their 10 pick for what turned out to be Justin Jackson and Harry Giles. JJ is young and Giles hasn’t played yet, but Yikes So Far.
Coach Dave Joerger said earlier this week he will begin rotating out two veterans per game, thus giving the young kids more playing time. This will please the “play the damn kids” crowd to no end, but most likely any odds of winning night in and night out are gone.
This will result in a likely top 5 pick in a big-heavy draft. Adding that pick in with Harry Giles (who almost certainly will not play until next season) gives the Kings 4 rookies this year, and a minimum of two more next year. That’s a youth movement. Without a 2019 first round pick as of right now, that makes it even more important to secure a high pick this season.
I can’t attest to the Kings’ scouting or player development. I can’t. But when it comes to their overall long term strategy and the handling of Harry Giles, they’re doing the exact right thing.
Fans may not want to hear this, but we’ve been saying it since August: This is a 20-25 win team. The refrain may be getting old, but these guys are all about the future.
