Making Sense of Sacramento Kings Free Agency Rumors, Reports & Lots of Smoke | Locked On Kings

Making Sense of Sacramento Kings Free Agency Rumors, Reports & Lots of Smoke | Locked On Kings

somehow this has simultaneously been one of the most boring starts to NBA free agency but also one of the most chaotic for me here in Sacramento i’m trying to make sense of the rumors that I’m hearing the reports that are out there dennis Shruder connected to the Kings we’ve known that for a while now russell Westbrook making his way into the mix a potential sign and trade i’ll share with you what I can and try and make sense of 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 offseason long today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel right now new customers can get $150 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 ABC 10 News and I’m sure you guys at some point or another have seen that that gift or that meme online i think it’s a scene from the show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and it’s the guy that has like that wall of of papers and he’s got strings of yarn connecting different things together like he’s he’s going crazy with conspiracy theories and trying to put all these pieces together to a point where he looks insane that’s kind of where I’m at right now i don’t have a wall of papers behind me necessarily but I’ve been working the phones all day long i’ve heard rumors going back to this morning that I think have a lot of validity to them and look I’m going to do my best to articulate what I think is going on what I think Scott Perry and the Sacramento Kings are doing or what their plan or goal is right now based off of what I am able to share with you some stuff I can’t share because it comes from sources whether it’s uh different people conflicting reports whatever the case may be that are sharing it with me to work with me to try and make sense of of what is going on so I will share with you as much as I possibly can as we try and figure out together and I help talk through what I think is happening and let me preface this by saying it makes my job harder but the fact that we don’t know what Scott Perry is doing that we can’t pinpoint what Scott’s plan is or or or like what he wants to do what his number one priority is it’s a good thing understand from an organizational standpoint from a Sacramento Kings fan standpoint it is good that we don’t know what our GM is doing that our GM is not predictable i will tell you what I have learned about Perry through this process to this point and I am just starting to get to know the man is that he is not afraid to be aggressive and be creative and explore options now he’s ultimately going to be judged on what he is able to get done same way Monty McNair was judged on for the most part what he was not able to get done because we’ve heard over the past couple years how many trade deadlines were like Monty’s working on this he had a possibility with that but ultimately nothing got across the finish line same rules apply for Scott but I promise you I’m telling you and trust me on this Scott is looking at options and opportunities that you and I didn’t even think of and wouldn’t even fathom until now they’re starting to come out and we’re starting to realize some things and he still might pull a fast one on everybody and make a move that none of us saw coming also on today’s podcast the next segment talk about the Jake Laravia thing too jake Laravia going to the Los Angeles Lakers i can tell you with full confidence this was a surprise to everybody in Sacramento including the organization they did not expect to move to lose Jake Larabia i’ll talk about that again later on in the show but I want to talk about this Dennis Shruder stuff russell Westbrook’s name being involved how the Kings could potentially get both of them and are looking to potentially get both of them now this was reported a day or so ago that the Kings might feel like they could get both of them or could also target another veteran guard in addition to Dennis Rutder the Dennis Rutder stuff has been talked about here on this Locked on Kings podcast has been public information for the better part of a week i would be floored stunned whatever word you want to use if Dennis Shruder is not a Sacramento kick which is why the report and by the way I still have Twitter open in front of me because free agency is still going on at any point something could break something could change and if it does we’ll react to it together here on the Lockdown Kings podcast at least when I’m recording this podcast but Fred Katz from the Athletic who is a very very wellestablished uh NBA reporter right like this is not some random this is not like if I were to put something out there to somebody else in a different market right fred Katz extremely wellconed in the NBA he put out there that Dennis Schroeder will agree to sign with the Sacramento Kings i believe that 100% that report I think is true but the fact that it has not been confirmed by anybody locally here in Sacramento and believe me we’ve been trying and that we haven’t seen anything from Shamps or Chris Haynes or anybody else to finalize what does the dollar figure look like it means there’s more to it i got wind this morning that a potential sign and trade was on the table again what I can share what I believe is happening right now is that a Dennis Shruder agreement is in place the holdup I believe is that there are still conversations happening between the Sacramento Kings and I believe the Detroit Pistons who were the former team of Dennis Shruder there are conversations happening where the Kings could send a piece and that piece is rumored to be Malik Monk send a piece to Detroit in s in the sign and trade so that the Pistons don’t just lose Shruder for nothing the Kings would then open up a little bit of cap space in in the case of if it is Malik Monk and Shruder is expected to sign for like the rough dollar figure anywhere between 10 to 14 million we’re talking about five six something million difference between the two contracts assuming Detroit can take that money on that then opens up the money for the Kings then to add in the second part of these rumors which is go out and target Russell Westbrook now we can debate and we can talk about and feel free to let it fly in the comment section below or send me an email or or reach me on Twitter and talk to me about Matt why the heck would the Sacramento Kings want both Russell Westbrook and Dennis Shruder i think it’s a fair question i think there’s fair criticisms to it what I put out on social media and I firmly believe is that we need to stop looking at what Scott Perry is doing right now through the lens of the Sacramento Kings trying to win basketball games next season and primarily focus on building a culture here in Sacramento why would the Sacramento Kings want Russell Westbrook because Russ probably fits the culture that Doug Christie and Scott Perry are trying to establish right that physical tough-nosed aggressive hardworking athletic i know Russ is a little less athletic now than he was back in his heyday when he was a a young in Oklahoma City but you get my point the fire that Russell Westbrook plays with sure he’s a vet towards the end of his career maybe he’s only here for a season or two but you can use that season or two of Russell Westbrook being here to help establish that culture apply the same thing to Dennis Shruder i’ve shared with you I think Dennis Shruder makes a lot of sense for the Kings as kind of a stop gap point guard to buy Scott Perry some time before he can really make some moves like trading Zack Lavine’s contract in a year if he’s able to do so or getting one year closer to the end of Deont Sabonis’ master deal uh major deal if he wants to move on from that right this is all hypothetical but this is what makes sense to me i believe that Scott Perry is prioritizing finding guys to establish a culture here in Sacramento which makes sense as to why he would lean so veteranheavy because he wants guys who have been there who have done that who are who they are nobody can question who Russell Westbrook is or who Demar D Rozan is you know who those guys are so they can establish that culture help some of the younger guys whether it’s Keegan who’s kind of transitioning out of the younger guys phase or the new rookies that the Kings are bringing in Devin Carter if he’s still here help those guys get that culture established build a foundation so that whatever moves Scott makes in the future whatever draft picks he has in the future they are coming into a environment where the expectations are already established it’s like heat culture everybody who comes and plays for the Miami Heat knows and learns what heat culture is and if you don’t fit you’re out the Kings are trying to build their Kings culture here in Sacramento and I think Scott Perry feels that some of these veterans can help accomplish that even if it doesn’t make them the most appealing product on the basketball court for next season again I’m I’m not saying it’s a foolproof plan or that’s the right thing to do but I think I I believe that’s what Scott Perry’s plan is so again I have no idea no idea for for certain if a sign and trade is going to happen but this is what I believe the holdup is i think Perry instead of just signing Dennis Shruder outright which I think is plan B if if I think no matter what Dennis Rutder is going to be signed in Sacramento he’s going to be a king i believe that wholeheartedly instead of just doing that on day one right away and then saying that this is pretty much it for our free agency period he’s trying to be creative he obviously feels time is on his side enough to explore this and he’s seeing what’s potentially out there and I’ll say this too I’ve hinted at this a lot if the Kings aren’t able to move Malik Monk or or Devin Carter or maybe even Yonas Valenunis and any of these potential deals it means their market is not very good and if Scott Perry is struggling to move any of these guys that means we’re looking at the Kings essentially running it back with the addition of a couple new rookies new two-way guys and Dennis Shruder i don’t think anybody wants that here in Sacramento again I don’t know i truly do not know if this is going to happen but it makes perfect sense to me as to why if if again I’ve heard I got wind of this this morning i heard about this the potential of this happening this morning well before free agency began and while I haven’t gotten anything definitive to say it is happening when you apply that potential to the cat’s report but no confirmation on the king’s end no confirmation from any other major reporter it makes sense that maybe there’s a little more to it doesn’t mean that anything is going to happen but I think the Kings are trying and all we can do is sit back try to relax and see if a deal gets done if Scott Perry can get it across the finish line and who knows maybe that’s tonight maybe that’s tomorrow whenever it happens we’ll pop right back on Locked on Kings and we’ll talk about it like I said at the top of the show today’s episode of Locked on Kings is brought to you by FanDuel summer sports are in full swing and whether you’re all about baseball under the lights golf on the green or high 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lose open the FanDuel app today get that money get those bonus bets and visit fanuel.com to get started so just before free agency began I put out Oh update from Shams let’s see nope nothing of specifics nothing Nothing of the King so we can move on right before free agency began I put out the following where is it there it is all signs point to the Sacramento Kings really liking Jake Laravia they do not intend on losing him well about an hour let’s say into free agency Shams put out there that free agent for Jake Laravia has agreed to a two-year $12 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers and I believe the deal is fully guaranteed now after Chris Haynes pumpfanked us and and put out that the he was returning to Sacramento only to fix the tweet and put that he was going to Los Angeles I’ve gotten some feedback and gotten some people on Twitter go “Oh Matt Matt was wrong leave it to Leave it to the big reporters kid i feel it but let me understand this or let me let me make this clear i’m not wrong i have it from someone that I trust very very specifically the Kings did not see this coming the Kings did not want to lose Jake Lorravia and this is important to talk about because some people either don’t understand this or have forgotten this the Sacramento Kings were hamstrung limited on how much money they could give Jake Laravia not because of cap space or lack thereof but because of the decision that the Memphis Grizzlies made before the Kings even traded for Jake Larabia the Memphis Grizzlies did not exercise the final option the team option on Jake Laavia’s rookie scale deal therefore when the Kings traded for Jake Loravia they acquired the contract that the Grizzlies decided on so the Kings therefore could only offer Jake Loravia I believe 5.2 2 million next year with a slight raise the following year we’re talking $10.5 million over a two-year deal that was what the Kings could offer Jake the Lakers gave him two years 12 million the Lakers gave him a million and a half more roughly than what the Sacramento Kings could over a two-year deal plus we know Jake Loravia has a very good friend in Austin Reeves in Los Angeles and he gets to play with LeBron James the Kings did not do anything wrong jake Loravia did not do anything wrong the Kings did not lose Lorravia because they didn’t want him or they didn’t try to keep him jake Loravia took the money that he could not get elsewhere and the Lakers after losing Dorian Finny Smith to the Rockets I believe the Lakers made Lorravia a top priority and made sure they put money on the table that was more than the Kings could offer so Jake was forced to choose money and friendship and playing with LeBron or staying in Sacramento where he really enjoyed he loved how the fans embraced him and he had a great relationship with Doug Christie the Lakers did what any team could have done if they wanted Jake they outbid Sacramento every team in the league knew how much Sacramento could offer it sucks it’s a bummer but the Kings knew that risk when they traded for him again that was not Scott Perry that traded for him that was Monty McNair in the old regime and also if you’re worried about oh man the Kings traded for Jake Laravia had him for a third of the season and he left you just wasted assets the Kings traded essentially a 2028 second round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies it was part of a three-team deal too that sent Alex Len and Kobby Jones to the Washington Wizards the Kings didn’t trade really anything of significance for Jake Loravia so losing him is not like oh god that stings it’s a bummer for sure but if we’re being honest it’s not much more than a bummer i like Jake Laoravia a lot i know the Kings like Jake Laavia a lot again they were surprised this was a curveball they thought that Jake Laavia was going to be a Sacramento was was going to remain in Sacramento they thought they were going to be able to work it out the Lakers swooped in and offered money that the Kings legally could not offer the Kings never intended to lose Jake Lorravia like my report said never intended to but they did because another team took advantage of a decision that the Kings didn’t make that the Memphis Grizzlies made and through the rules of the CBA the Kings had to acquire or traded to acquire that decision from Memphis and who knows maybe that made Jake Laravia’s price a little bit less because the Kings knew about that contract maybe it didn’t i have no idea again the regime that made that deal is gone now it’s a bummer but it’s not the end of the world it’s really not i wish Jarabia was still a king what this means for like the forward position in Sacramento I mean we’ve always had questions about the forward position in Sacramento this just adds a little more to it we’ll see but Jake Larabia going to the Los Angeles Lakers it’s a bummer hopefully the Kings can find some sort of replacement because I know he was a fan favorite he played with he the hustle that he played with was awesome and I wish him the best because in the very limited time that I got to know him fantastic fantastic guy i hate that he’s a Laker but I wish him the best of luck so still nothing has happened don’t know if my if the the sign and trade thing is going to go down or if I don’t know or if the Kings are just going to sign Dennis Shruder outright it might have to wait till tomorrow who knows but at least what I’ve a what I’m able to share with you I have put out there at least you have an idea we’ll see if it plays out we’ll see if Detroit is game or not or if the Kings still want to even pursue this option or just get Laravia handled or if Russell Westbrook decides f it i’m going to play somewhere else we’ll see we’ll see how it all plays out we’ll enjoy it together of course I’ll cover whatever ever happens excuse me here on Locked on Kings also I had an interview earlier today with the head coach of the Stamford Cardinal and of course the former head coach of Maxim Reo who’s one of the Kings rookies he was the second round pick the 42nd overall pick so I will have that for you coming up on a Locked Kings podcast later on this week we’ll get to learn a little bit more about Maxim Renault we’re actually gonna get to meet Maxine Reo a little bit later this week as on Thursday the Kings will hold their press conference to introduce the two rookies of course Nate Clifford will be there and we will be able to talk to both Scott Perry and head coach Doug Christie so we’re very much looking forward to that so I’ll have that for you here on Locked on Kings again whatever happens I got it covered for you here on Locked on Kings all off season long i appreciate you riding this wave with me uh anything you want to weigh in you want to share your thoughts on the potential of Russell Westbrook and uh Dennis Shruder here if you don’t like it at all you want to vent about that if you’re upset about the Kings losing Jake Laravia hey let’s talk about it it’s all fair game reach out to me hit me up on Twitter email me [email protected] leave your thoughts in the YouTube comment section down below maybe there will be fireworks maybe it’ll just be boring but I promise you I’m not making stuff up and I’m hoping that no matter what happens the Kings and Scott Perry get it right even if short term it’s not the most exciting and doesn’t make the most sense appreciate your support as always can’t wait to have you join me on the next episode of Locked On Kings until then my name is Matt George you’ve been listening to the Lockdown Kings podcast part of the Lockdown Podcast Network

Matt George talks through what he believes the Sacramento Kings are attempting to pull off in free agency involving Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and a potential sign-and-trade.

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Making Sense of Sacramento Kings Free Agency Rumors, Reports & Lots of Smoke
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