The Kings dropped their second straight preseason game to Golden State on Friday, but they came away encouraged by their performance, particularly the play of the starting five, according to Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Point guard De’Aaron Fox is pleased by how seamlessly DeMar DeRozan has fit in.
“It definitely feels natural right now,” Fox said of playing with DeRozan. “Obviously, we have someone else who can really post up and create their own shot, but he’s also still creating for others and making our jobs easier, so I feel like there are no hiccups. Right now we’re not running much. We’re just running our flow offense and I think it’s looked good.”
DeRozan, who was acquired from Chicago over the summer in a three-team sign-and-trade, concurred with Fox’s assessment.
“It’s comfortable,” DeRozan said. “Now, it’s just about getting that consistent rhythm, and the more we play, the more opportunities we get, the easier it becomes.”
Here’s more from the Pacific:
- In other Kings news, a league source tells Anderson that Malik Monk will be active on Sunday vs. Portland after missing Friday’s contest due to personal reasons (Twitter link). Monk re-signed with Sacramento on a four-year, $78MM contract as a free agent.
- Warriors star Stephen Curry sustained a jammed right index finger in the second quarter of Friday’s victory and was held out for the remainder of the game, but he was able to go throughout his typical post-game workout, as Anthony Slater of The Athletic relays (Twitter links). Curry underwent an X-ray, which came back negative, and he’s considered day-to-day.
- Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins was sidelined by an illness during training camp and will miss his fourth straight preseason game on Sunday vs. Detroit. However, the former No. 1 overall pick has recovered from the unspecified illness and is expected to suit up for Tuesday’s contest vs. the Lakers, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters, including Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link).
- Kerr continues to experiment with the Warriors‘ starting lineup in preseason, Slater notes (Twitter video link). On Friday, Kerr went with a small-ball approach, with Curry, Gary Payton II, Moses Moody, Kyle Anderson and Draymond Green as the starting five. While they’re taking a “game-by-game” approach right now, in part due to Wiggins’ absence, Kerr downplayed the possibility of that continuing into the regular season. “We want a starting lineup to form, and to establish some continuity, for sure,” he said.
- Frank Kaminsky is on a non-guaranteed training camp deal with the Suns and is vying for the 15th spot on their standard roster. Even if he’s waived before the season begins, the veteran big man is thankful to have another NBA opportunity after dealing with a knee injury and playing in Serbia last season. “I’m just going with it,” Kaminsky told Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “Whatever happens, happens. I’m in the position I wanted to be after getting healthy and playing overseas last year. Just grateful for this opportunity. Whatever happens, happens.”
I know its preseason, but after that game, Moody is definitely the second best pure scorer on this team and Podz has no place here anymore and should be packaged with Wiggins for a star.
Davey, Moses Moody is a pending free agent next summer. Do you sign him now before October 21st deadline or do you let him become a restricted free agent next summer?
If you do sign him, how much are you giving him?
Yes agreed he played well offensively the last preseason game. I think it was nice that he went to the line eight times, that’s pretty huge.
Gary, I would extend Moody now and Kuminga later. Logic there is Moody is about to improve his game a lot more than Kuminga will (because Kuminga’s game already is mostly complete) so GSW will be able to lock in a lower value deal for Moody now, but not later. Kuminga is likely going to get a big deal no matter what he does.
Also Gary, you were actually close when you said Moody was “slow” – he is not slow, he is calm, its a calmness he has as he just keeps putting points on the board by any means necessary in a way no one on this team other than Curry can. You were comparing Moody with Podz and yes, Podz plays with zero calmness, but you need calmness in this league. Steph has that calmness, Klay did too…
Okay makes sense. What dollar amount per year are you suggesting they sign him for?
Davey , assuming both players do well, the difference in $ between paying Kuminga now and later is greater. And that difference may, literally, break the bank.
For example, if you pay Kuminga now, it’s, say, $32M. But a good season could push the market to $47M.
In Moody’s case, as a rotation, non-starting, player, it’s the difference between $7M and $12M.
Gary , the comps suggest Moody gets 3 years at 6M-$7M per year.
Let’s start with Aaron Nesmith & Saddiq Bey, both with better records than Moody.
Aaron Nesmith, Indiana, 14th pick, 1st round, 2020
– 2022-23 : games/started: 73/60, mpg: 25 , 3p% 37, ppg: 10.1
– extension: 3 yrs , $11M/yr
Sadiiq Bey, Atlanta, 19th pick, 1st round 2020
– 2022-23: games/started: 77/37, mpg: 28 , 3p% 36, ppg: 14.9
– extension: 3 yrs , $6.4M/yr
Moses Moody, GSW, 14th pick, 1st round, 2021
-2023-24: games/started: 66/99, mpg: 17 , 3p% 36, ppg: 8.1
– extension ??
Note that both Nesmith and Bey, unlike Moody, were full-time starters in their third season, and projected to start the next season. Moody has not been a starter, nor is projected to start this season.
Sam Hauser provides an interesting datapoint as a recently signed rotation (not starting), shooting guard. After shooting 43%, 42%, and 43% in his first 3 seasons, Hauser was just given a 4 year deal contract starting at $10M/yr.
A good preseason has raised Moody’s stock a bit, so $7M/yr feels warranted.
Ari, 2 good posts here regarding the extensions of JK and Moody. I think you spelled it out perfectly.
Moody isn’t going to DM you to say thanks, no matter how much you try.
He’s one of my fave young players who got a bum deal last year when Kerr unilaterally decided Podz was the best player he’s ever seen and his immediate, lifetime, vaunted “connector guy”. Podz got a lot of mins last year that Moody deserved then and still deserves now. People on here act like that isnt true and Moody didnt get any playing time because he’s a bad player, when everyone with eyes can see he’s better than Podz.
Davey , Moody has gotten a bum deal not just last year, but the year before. Kerr’s failing, IMO, Has been to give too much PT to aging vets and G-Leqguers rather than to invest in Kuminga and Moody.
But you can’t compare Moody too Podz, and Podz success doesn’t come at Moody’s expense. They play different positions. And, without critizing Moody, Podz was much more ready for the NBA than Moody upon arrival. Podz was NbA 1st team all-rookie.
Second best is a stretch but Moody has been deserving of minutes for a very long time now
Let’s wait and see if Moody can back it up with another good game. Podz needs a rebound game after a 6 TO game. Kings defense is not good so let’s see if warriors can score on Pistons like the kings.
A guy with a game like DeMar DeRozan will fit in practically anywhere. He doesn’t take bad shots and he’s not a selfish player by any means. He’s great for the offense because you’re always working for a nice layup or mid-range shot. That’s DeMar DeRozan.
He won’t hurt you by forcing bad threes and he’s good enough on defense that you can play him huge minutes and not worry about him on that end of the floor.
Unless you shoot 54% or higher from midrange then any midrange shot is bad one, analytically speaking. Demar shot 49% from midrange last season. Equivalent to 33% from three.
Facts, Derozan lack of 3s has been a story that haunted all of his teams when they were actually trying to win. His defense is also pretty bad, definitely a big downgrade compared to Harisson Barnes.
Maybe Barnes a couple years ago, but he was noticeably a step slower last year.
Valid takes. I did notice that he and Lowry won nothing for 10 years in Toronto and they finally broke them up.
But he’s a 20 spot every night and that can’t be all bad. But I do understand the point you both make. And they’re good ones.
Gary, you say “DeRozan will fit in practically anywhere” do you mean “any non-contender”? Because that’s all he’s ever done so far.
DeRozan isnt a winner, never has been, never will be. Kings won’t finish ahead of GSW this year either in reg season or playoffs, we are too strong for them!
I think the problem is Derozan is a midrange player that has only ever been on teams full of other midrange players, from the entire Spurs roster to Lavine and Ball.
He’s a solid player but he needs to be on a team that can score without clogging up midrange (ie good perimeter shooters). The Kings are that team.
Buckman , that 54% number is interesting. I’ve always thought there would be such a number, just as there is that 46% targer for the ideal number of possessions that should end in a 3 point attempt.
I’m curious, did you see that 54% used elsewhere or did you do the math yourself? It sounds right.
Reflect , good analysis. The jury is still out on Derozan in Sac., IMO.
Much like with Klai in Dallas, Derozan makes a good offensive team better and a bad defensive team worse.