Nah even before Fox left, after seeing Sabonis in the playoffs I thought he's not a player to be trusted. Between the bad defense and he showed he can be mentally taken out of games. I would've sold then while his value was high as hell.
I think his mentality is what failed him. If he had a Russ type energy and mentality he could still be dangerous as hell by forcing defenses to bend to him to open things up for others. Seems like he thinks there is no middle ground between driving and recklessly trying to dunk on people and being overly passive and controlled. He could start by working on his middle game with more floaters or short jumpers so defenses know they can't just meet him at the rim.
You haven't seen the Nets play then
They screwed up by never adding any actual legit wing players after that playoff season.
Just a miserably constructed team. Who thought rebuilding the 2021 Bulls was a good idea?They screwed up by never adding any actual legit wing players after that playoff season.
Keegan Murray has been the only actual wing they've had. He shouldn't be the starting PF.
They've also screwed up his development by constantly bringing in guards that need the ball. He's become a really good defender. Him and Keon Ellis are the only legit defenders they have.
They finally had a decent center in Val and they trade him for cap space to give Dennis Schroder a 3 year deal. Never should have gotten rid of Davion Mitchell either.
Went from having Hali, Fox, and Davion at the same time to having Dennis Schroder and year 18 Westbrook, who has arguably been their best player this season.
I can go on and on but what's the point?
They won 68 last year and Chet missed multiple months. Crazy how deep and talented that team is. Presti did an incredible job - again!
Not necessarily the answer, but there has to be realistic expectations sometimes. When a team has been as bad as the Kings had been for so long, sometimes making the playoffs is enough for a few years.
