Nik Stauskas on the trading block?
There a is story on ESPN that Kings want to "dump" Nik. Kings is not the best situation for him (he is averaging less than 4 points a game) as he is not used to coming off the bench, and his minutes have remained low. I hope he lands at a place where he can start and gain his mojo back.
Link$$
January 16th, 2015 at 12:07 AM ^
Agree to disagree I guess. Free Throws are absolutely not the majority of the action in the NBA, but dialing foul calls way back would take us back to the late 90s early 00s style of ball that WAS actually tough to watch (and this is coming from a Pistons fan that benefited from that style).
On bigs that shoot a lot of free throws, they may not be putting defenders on their heels, but they are using their size, speed, strength, footwork, post-moves, etc. to force defenders into foulling. Same difference.
January 16th, 2015 at 12:24 AM ^
But the bigs are being fouled strategically because they cant shoot free throws well. Personally, nothing excites me like thinking of a big, fast, strong, technically sound big man being fouled and forced to shoot free throws...
As far as more physical basketball being hard to watch, I guess each person has their own preference. I really cant debate you on that. Id rather not watch a parade to the free throw line. A little physical contact never hurt anyone (well, perhaps it has...maybe thats a bad time to use that one...haha).
Im more of a football guy anyway, so I guess you probably know whats better for the game than I do. The league should work to keep its loyal fans (you) instead of pleasing casual fans (me), so im going to concede this one.
Good conversation though.
January 16th, 2015 at 1:55 AM ^
Vector, there is no tin foil hat. Sorry.
Like I said, I'd LOVE to watch the NBA, but it's just brutal with all the fouls and superstar treatment. It doesn't just come down to freethrows either. All it takes is watching 5 mins of a game to see what players will get certain calls and what players won't. You will literally see a bench player do the same thing that an all-star caliber player does, the exact same thing, but the lesser player will get whistled. I love college basketball.. I'd watch the NBA (like I used to in the 90's, and during the pistons run from 02-09).. but it's just bad officiating. it's very widely known... so you can keep your tin foil hat. I have no need for one, I wish I could watch it and it were legit.
January 16th, 2015 at 9:30 AM ^
Definitely agree with this. There has been special treatment for stars forever. The NBA is just boring, and college basketball has proven to be just as boring now. I played in college and love the sport, but I have a very hard time making it through a game, whether college or pro. I know its silly to think, but I really wish there was a rule that stated you have to wait 3 years before entering the draft. I think both games have suffered greatly because of all these guys that leave early.
January 16th, 2015 at 8:28 AM ^
I just think it sucks because there really isn't another sport where certain players are 100%, not even up for debate, given special treatment by the refs.
There is some of this in every sport.
In baseball, the strike zone gets mysteriously larger for certain pitchers (and mysteriously smaller for certain hitters).
In football, pass interference calls often seem to depend on whom the WR and DB are. Some guys easily draw flags and others can't buy a whistle.
In hockey, certain guys just can't be checked/boarded. There was no hitting Gretzky.
In soccer, Ronaldo is a bit more likely to draw a penalty when he falls down than, say Chris Wondolowski.
January 16th, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
I am aware that it happens in most sports. I even mentioned that in a section of my post (not included in your quote......). My point was nothing is as blatent, and just accepted, as the officiating in the NBA. It's just right out there for everybody to see, every single night. Star players get away with things that some guy off the bench would get fouled for in an instant. There are different rules in place for superstar players and it really isn't debatable. I think it's generally accepted as pretty well known to everybody.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:30 PM ^
Im not even saying the NBA was ever "better" than it is today and Im not much of an NBA historian, but any league that has a 7-31 team, a 6-31 team and a 5-36 team that is on a 16 game losing steak and allows more than half the league to get into the playoffs, has 3 teams who would currently get into the playoffs who are under .500 and on a combined 14 game losing streak...yeah, that league sucks.
Not to mention Utah, LAL, and Boston, who also suck (but hey, at least they look like they are trying.) I mean, Boston is two games out of the playoffs at 13-24, 11 games under .500...
January 15th, 2015 at 11:40 PM ^
All of what you said is cherry picking the bad to make a case that the entire league sucks. You're right that you aren't an NBA historian, there have always been shitty teams, mediocre teams, and good teams - that's kinda how it works. Why do a few bad franchises make the league terrible?
Do you think the NFL sucks? A losing team made the playoffs, there were two 2-14 teams, a 3-13 team, and two 4-12 teams.
What about baseball? a few 100 game losers or a sub .500 wildcard team taint the whole leauge?
January 15th, 2015 at 11:59 PM ^
I actually think the NFL sucks too. A ton of crappy teams being rewarded to tank. Sub .500 teams getting into the post-season. Its a mess. Now they are planning on expanding playoffs to 7 teams. Sounds like a great plan.
The MLB could use some help too because teams are rewarded for sucking, but at least there are enough games that there isnt a constant battle between rooting for your team to win and rooting for better draft position (the NFL). If your team sucks, they will have a bad record. You can feel free to root for wins without subconsciously wondering if that win will bite your team in the ass come draft day. The MLB draft doesnt even produce instant contributors, or individuals who can single handedly change a team. So teams still need to draft more and develop talent in their organization in the minor leagues. The NBA takes kids who clearly arent ready to play at the NBA level and puts them into the spotlight in their arenas. Teams are forced to develop their talent at the NBA level (which is wildly ineffective). It leads to crappy games full of players who lack fundamental basketball skills. Look at Josh Smith. Dude is a 10 year veteran and he still doesnt know how to play the game.
The MLB expanded their playoffs, but at least they did it in a way that punishes the bad teams and rewards the good teams.
January 16th, 2015 at 9:38 AM ^
Exactly Hancock. The NBA and college are both very boring to watch. It's sad to see being such a basketball fan, but I haven't watched a whole game in years. I watch maybe the last 5 minutes of a game, and even that is dull. As I have gotten older, and priorities change, my time is very valuable, and unless your product is thoroughly entertaining I just don't care. The NFL doesn't really enthrall me, and I am a Colts fan. I just find myself hoping they win this weekend but a loss will not be very devestating as say a regular Michigan football loss on any given Saturday. The sport I have fallen in love with is soccer. I can watch multiple games on weekend mornings, and I find myself much more engaged in the games than I have been with the NBA for 20 years.
January 16th, 2015 at 10:43 AM ^
Well, I think its awesome you have found enjoyment in soccer. Personally, when it comes to net sports I like hockey the most. Pretty similar concept to soccer. Get the ball into a net that is being guarded by a goalie. The biggest difference is that it is on ice and you use sticks to move the ball/puck instead of your feet....oh, and you are allowed to knock the crap out of people who get in your way hahaha
(im sure you know what hockey is, i just wanted to use that last line)
January 16th, 2015 at 9:53 AM ^
I can't claim to have done any serious historical study but I did watch a lot of NBA games back before there was even a shot clock for college ball. That was really a "dead ball" era for the college game and games where one team would possess the ball for 60 seconds before deciding they had finally gotten a good look was not uncommon. Look up some games of the "four corner" offense with Phil Ford for Dean Smith's UNC when they would ice a lead in the final 5 minutes, only fans of keep away dribbling will be entertained.
It was also an era of amazing NBA ball and players:
NY Knicks of Frazier, Reed, Dick Barnett, Debusshere, Bradley
Celtics of Havlicheck, Don Nelson (back when he was a player), Dave Cowens, JoJo White, Don Chaney
Pistons with Bob Lanier, Dave Bing, Howard Porter, Curtis Rowe, Chris Ford, John Mengelt
Chicago Bulls with Jerry Sloan, Norm Van Lier, Chet Walker, Bob Weiss, Clifford Ray, Bob Love
LA Lakers with Elgin Baylor, Wilt Chamberlain, Pat Riley, Jerry West, Jim McMillan.
The all around skills were higher in the past and it can be argued that the NBA game peaked during that period from the Detroit - Isaish Thomas, Joe Dumars, Bill Laimbeer /LA-Lakers with Magic Johnson-Jabbar-Worthy/Celtics with Larry Bird-McHale-Parrish-Ainge-Dennis Johnson/Philadelphia with Dr. J-Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney-Moses Malone and a young Charles Barkley/Chicago with pre-baseball Michael Jordan.
I wish Nik well - he should really work hard if he is called up for the Canadian national squad - a good showing there might get some other teams interested and the coaching staff there might be able to help him with his defense - next to Steve Nash, he is arguably the best Canadian basketball player right now.
Maybe some of the players who are thinking of leaving early might take this as one of the few good reasons to stick around another year.
January 16th, 2015 at 7:53 AM ^
I know the solution. Contract the league. Too many teams have diluted the talent pool.
January 16th, 2015 at 9:53 AM ^
posts because I find them so galling. But--just to pause maybe one thoughtful person before they fire off one of these in future, consider: you sit here on a message board and throw out about three variables for a guy like GR3. Does in not occur to you--somewhere in the dim recesses--that he was probably juggling a much more refined set of them? And doing it with the help and variant pressures, etc. of dozens of people, many of them rather well-versed in the game? It takes just one comment from a smart person below to knock your whole tired apple cart into the water, namely that had the draft fallen out in a tiny bit different way Glenn would have been sitting VERY, very pretty. As it is he is devoting almost every waking moment to the game he loves, and playing against much better competition than he was at UM.
And as with all of the players who we sit on our duffs writing off as lazy, stupid, etc. on a daily basis, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT HE MAY YET ACHIEVE. And if most of us get anywhere near as close to the pinnacle of our professions as he has at age 19 we will consider our lives to have been well-spent.
January 16th, 2015 at 10:24 AM ^
Trey wasn't going to get taller or quicker had he stayed. GR3's progression had stalled, same with Hardaway. McGary probably would have been wise to leave after freshman year, but would have benefited from a year of healthy play if he had the opportunity to stay. I don't think Nik was going to get a second leap in the college game, to improve he had to compete every day against better players.
Unless there's a correctable flaw that can be improved by sticking around (Darius Morris' shooting, for example) or there's a legitimate chance of the player blowing up into a star (Trey after freshman year), a player should go Pro when he reaches his approximate peak of nba draft value. Our recent departures have mostly done that with the exception of Morris and McGary who erred by staying an extra year.
January 16th, 2015 at 10:47 AM ^
Why do people think kids would benefit from staying. Getting to practice an unlimited amount versus having practice limits and school isn't going to hurt. Going up against the best players in the world as opposed to freshman or scrubs in practice isn't going to hurt (and even though you think the NBA sucks, the worst NBA team would easily be the best college basketball team and every singly D-league team would be in the top 25). Getting coaching all the time with no restrictions from the best coaches isn't going to hurt and they are getting paid. Any player who lands on an NBA roster made the right move both financially and in terms of development.
January 16th, 2015 at 3:12 PM ^
They all got drafted, they're all in the league, they're all getting paid, they all made the right decision. The only reason to ever NOT go pro is if you won't be drafted or if you'll be drafted significantly higher the next year. This wasn't the case for any of them unless you expected GR3 to suddenly flip a switch he hadn't in two years.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:39 PM ^
send him to the pistons, raptors, or hawks. he would be loved by pistons fans. i assume he would be loved by raptors fans, and the hawks run a great system and he would be able to replace kyle korver eventually. (i am a hawks fan and would love to see him in atlanta for my own reasons haha)
January 15th, 2015 at 10:40 PM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 10:40 PM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 10:45 PM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 11:01 PM ^
January 16th, 2015 at 3:28 AM ^
A medical prediction based on no evidence? That's basically insane. Don't do that.
January 16th, 2015 at 7:22 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 10:41 PM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 10:42 PM ^
If he's lucky, the Spurs take him. Perfect fit for his skills. High probability of success. Basically the Beilein offense in the pros.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:45 PM ^
or go to Atlanta! Its the next best situation!!! Spurs-East!!!!
January 15th, 2015 at 11:03 PM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 11:00 PM ^
The NBA is a mess because most of the players that are coming out are athletic freaks with little to no talent unlike it was 20 to 30 years ago when more players still for 3 to 4 years in college to refine their skills. I think if the NBA but I three year rule like the NFL, more players like Stephen Curry would be coming out of college instead of guys like Nernals Noel!
January 15th, 2015 at 11:22 PM ^
That makes no sense. Nerlens Noel is Nerlens Noel whether he's 19 or 22.
Steph Curry is a goddamn anomaly. We'll probably never see another player like him. No use comparing him to others. Just enjoy him while he's playing.
January 16th, 2015 at 5:57 AM ^
January 16th, 2015 at 10:25 AM ^
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January 15th, 2015 at 11:06 PM ^
According to David Thorpe:
there are arguments that he is the single-worst rotation player in the NBA, based on complete ineffectiveness on offense while being a real problem on defense
The Kings are a pretty good offensive team and Cousins and Gay draw a ton of defensive attention. All Nik has to do is hit 3s and he's failed to do that. He's barely getting time despite backing up Ben McLemore, so it's not like he's fighting to get through Ray Allen (a guy he was ludicrously compared to a few months ago.)
The reality is that college is a different game than the NBA. Unexceptional college players can develop into players with long NBA careers and college stars flame out all the time.
Nik's just a rookie, so there is tons of time for him to develop, but he has to at least start hitting his shots. With his defensive issue it's going to be hard for him to find an NBA role unless he is a REALLY GOOD scorer.
January 16th, 2015 at 12:31 AM ^
I am not going to defend Nik's time with the Kings--much of it is on him--but (while you might think so) he is not getting the open looks you allude to because Gay and Cousins are getting extra attention. Neither ever kicks it out. And Collison seems to dislike (or distrust) Nik. Ball movement isn't a priority for the Kings. Nik's shots per minute played are actually low.
January 16th, 2015 at 1:08 AM ^
but ...Regardless of how much THEY pass, they draw a lot of defensive attention. Getting good looks isn't the problem. McLemore, a similar player - not as good off the dribble, is shooting 37% from 3. Nick is hitting 27%. Maybe the distrust has been earned?
January 15th, 2015 at 11:06 PM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 11:15 PM ^
I would clarify that a bit - most of the good teams have offensive systems OR they have a top 10 offensive player (not by PPG but by pure ability to create offense) that the system feeds off of.
Bad teams or mediocre teams with only one superstar or bad coaching end up in iso situations all the time - Knicks anyone?
January 15th, 2015 at 11:18 PM ^
bc he literally cant play def
being stuck in the south bay, sac games are out of the mkt so i only see games when im at a sports bar. nik odes have of the the worst box +/- of any two guard (-3.9). and when he does get run, hes too shook to shoot.
poor guy needs to get out, stat.
thanks a lot, vivek.
crowdsourcing...all while wanting to run the nba2.0
brilliant
January 16th, 2015 at 3:14 AM ^
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January 16th, 2015 at 5:54 AM ^
January 16th, 2015 at 7:05 AM ^
January 16th, 2015 at 8:22 AM ^
January 16th, 2015 at 8:36 AM ^
Vivek Ranadivé is the Kings' owner, known for the "California welcome" he gave Nik at 7:30 in this clip.
January 16th, 2015 at 12:00 AM ^
I think he would've done well in SVG's offense. But we need a small forward (Singler blows) and I don't think he can make that adjustment. As much as people bag on KCP, his defense is good and Nik sounds like he's still a liability on that end.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:13 PM ^
For those who don't have an Insider account, CBS is covering this as well - LINK
Determined to find an upgrade to complement inside force DeMarcus Cousins, the Sacramento Kings are seeking frontcourt help in a trade and are willing to discuss first-round pick Nik Stauskas in the deal, league sources told CBSSports.com.
They mention that - at least until now - the Kings haven't entertained calls about Stauskas, but that Sacramento is now willing to entertain a trade involving Stauskas now that McLemore's play is improving.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:13 PM ^
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January 16th, 2015 at 11:24 AM ^
January 15th, 2015 at 11:21 PM ^
The Kings had written off McLemore last year as well. He's improved in his second year. Writing off a rookie is completely stupid. Nik has an elite NBA skill, he can shoot. He's smart enough to eventually become a passable team defender. There's no reason he can't stick on as a rotation player eventually.
That front office fired a guy who was actually doing fairly well coaching the team and hired one of the worst five NBA coaches of the last decade as his replacement. Nik hasn't been good. Yet. But jesus he's halfway through his rookie season. Give the guy a break.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:28 PM ^
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January 15th, 2015 at 11:47 PM ^