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The Kings Called the Bulls About a Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso Deal | Locked On Kings



The Kings Called the Bulls About a Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso Deal | Locked On Kings

if you are a Sacramento Kings fan who wants the team to make a big swing move this off season then this is the podcast for you the Kings reportedly have had conversations with the Chicago Bulls involving Zack LaVine and Alex kuso I’ll tell you why I’m very very intrigued plus dearen Fox held a basketball camp here in Sacramento we got the opportunity to speak with him and he speaks on Mike Brown Malik Monk and so much more it’s all right here for you 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 lockon Kings your podcast hub for Sacramento Kings coverage all off seon long today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel make every moment more right now new customers get $200 in bonus Bets with any winning $5 bet that’s $200 in bonus Bets with any winning $5 bet visit fel.com locked on to get started 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 now I’ve been talking a lot this off seon about is now the time for the Kings to strike right the Kings have said their own general manager has said that the winning now the the window to win is right now right this Kings team is in win now mode just because they missed the playoffs doesn’t change anything about that the western conference is what it is it’s probably not getting worse it might even get a little bit better and the Sacramento Kings have to be prepared to compete with that and we’re not just talking about competing by getting back into the playoffs we’re talking about trying to legitimately compete to one day be able to finally bring a championship ring and a championship Banner here to Sacramento obviously this roster as it stands right now is a long way away from that but just because you want to make a move doesn’t mean you’re able to make a move you can only do what’s available to you and later on in this podcast I’m going to have a little bit of a discussion about being more open-minded if you’re the Sacramento Kings and Kings fans to the moves that are available instead of trying to wait and find that perfect trade that probably maybe even definitely does not exist but all we can do is talk about the rumors the speculation things that make sense moves that the Sacramento Kings could potentially make that are available to them this Summer we talked about a potential Brandon Ingram move we’ve talked about a potential Kyle kozma move well now there have been reports that the Sacramento Kings have been in conversations with the Chicago Bulls involving both Zack LaVine and Alex Caruso now let me provide some important context of everything kind of going on in Chicago and the the financial situation of everything because that plays a massive massive part in these rumors and in these conversations Zack LaVine has three years remaining on his contract those three years are $43 million next season 45 basically $446 million The Following season and then finally his last season he has a 48.9 million player option that he is 100% going to exercise there’s no way Zack LaVine is going to walk away from $4 48.9 million if he did he would never make close to that again that’s just the reality of where he’s at in his career plus the injury issues which we’ll get into the Chicago Bulls want to get off of lavine’s salary they’re paying him a lot of money and they’re not really going anywhere it’s not all lavine’s fault certainly he’s the highest play paid player on that team they made a big push a couple of seasons ago it has not worked now they’re looking to move in a different direction and trying to free up the cap space and get a little more flexibility the best way to do that of course is getting rid of the guy that you’re playing paying over $40 million a year for the next three years but the contract has such a Negative value it doesn’t matter how good Zack LaVine is can still be and was the contract has such a Negative value that it’s been widely reported that the Bulls essentially have to add an asset to it in order to get a team to be willing to take that contract and absorb that contract into their cap space and have that contract be their problem for the next three seasons Zack LaVine straight up if money wasn’t involved Zack LaVine is still a very very talented especially offensive player that can help any team win I believe that wholeheartedly but you attach the money that he’s making to the type of player that he is and unfortunately the financial aspect out Shadows or or um overshadows who he is as a player and who he still can be as a player as for Alex Caruso he’s on the final year of his deal that uh next season worth $9.8 million after that he is an unrestricted free agent so let’s talk about why the Kings would want to do this deal first and foremost I don’t think the Kings do this deal I don’t think the Kings even consider doing this deal if it’s just Zack LaVine why on the world why in the world would you willingly take Zack LaVine and all that money into your cap for nothing other than him as a player and we’ll talk about how good he is I think as a player how how how much of a benefit he could be for the Sacramento Kings as a player we’ll get into that because we can’t ignore that but again the money outweighs the player and Sacramento already is financially in in a situation where they can only pay Malik monk so much money they’re staring an eventual luxury tax bill in the face this team is going to have to go into the luxury tax to truly legitimately compete in the Western Conference even with the uh the the incoming TV deal and the raised cap I just don’t see a way where the Kings can’t if they truly want to be competitive can’t uh stay under that luxury tax threshold at least for more than a season or two pure speculation on my part but just where the money is going the fact that fox has a Payday coming up Keegan Murray has a Payday coming up they’re paying $40 million a year now for Damon sabonis right they’re going to have to be willing to go into that luxury tax to be able to put together a team that truly cannot just compete in the west but hopefully win a championship in the Western Conference one day lavine’s contract is obviously a concern Caruso is exactly exactly what the Kings need we’re talking about a picture perfect addition and the kings are not the only team that feels this way right it’s been reported the Bulls have turned down draft picks maybe even multiple picks for Alex Caruso in the past we know Chicago loves Caruso he’s affordable he’s a great player to have a great leader a workaholic on the defensive end if there is a Mike Brown guy Alex Caruso seems like he fits that mold perfectly if you could tell if you told me this offseason that the Sacramento Kings added Alex Caruso and didn’t give me any other circumstances my initial reaction would probably be wow what a great off season the circumstances in this case though might be if you want to get Alex Caruso you have to be willing to take on all of Zack lavine’s money on the flip side though the Kings might look at the and go if you want to get off of Zack lavine’s money you have to give us Alex Caruso because Sacramento is not in a position to be interested in taking Zack LaVine in multiple first round picks and just eating his money uh and taking that into their cap space and hamstringing themselves for the next three seasons financially Just for future draft picks when again they are trying to win right now I just don’t think it makes a whole lot of sense for Sacramento to do that if the Kings can get both Zack LaVine and Alex Caruso in a potential deal even with the financial ramifications they have to be interested they have to at least have that conversation and discuss one what will it cost the Kings what does that trade look like and two is this the best swing available to Sacramento if they truly feel like they have to make a move this summer which many of you and and and many around the league feel that they do lavine’s contract is way worse than LaVine is as a player when LaVine is healthy he would give the Sacramento Kings what they’ve been needing we’re talking about another goto scoring option Kings have needed that they leaned heavily on Malik monk for a lot of that they’re still hoping that Keegan Murray can turn into that you add Zack LaVine to this roster he does not have to be the alpha he does not have to be the number one you can slot him right into your D Aron Fox and damont sabonis ran offense and he can help you get Buckets that’s the kind of guy he is defensively question marks concerns for sure and that’s where I wonder about lavine’s fit in Mike Brown’s system going forward is LaVine willing and maybe more importantly physically healthwise able to play the physical brand of defense that the Sacramento Kings want to play but if taking gets you Caruso who does fit that mold again maybe it’s worth it of course if he stays healthy is a really really big if he only played 25 games last season mainly because of a foot injur uh issue that required surgery he’s only had four seasons out of the 10 he’s been in the league he’s only had four seasons where he’s played 66 or more games why do I use that 66 number 66 games is 80% of the Season only four seasons in 10 that he’s played 80% of the Season or more again only 25 games last season however the two seasons before that he played 67 games and 77 games and in those two seasons he averaged 24 points per game shooting 48% from the field 38% from three-point range 85% from the free throw line four rebounds and four assists now he was pretty much the main guy in Chicago but those numbers are fantastic if he comes to Sacramento I think he’s probably the number two scoring option behind dearon Fox he’s definitely not number one I say probably because maybe Keegan hopefully develops into someone who’s capable of being more of a go-to scorer than Zack LaVine is but more than likely right right away if this trade were to happen this summer starting next season Zack LaVine is the second go-to scoring option for the Kings assuming of course that he is healthy also he fits pretty much the Age timeline on the Kings he will turn 30 this upcoming season in March he turns 30 so he’s not old by any means again the injuries are a big if but the injuries are less of a risk than the financial part of it you combine the two together there’s a lot of risk there but again I ask you does the risk outweigh the reward of adding another go-to score and being able to get Alex Caruso here’s the money situation with a quick breakdown right let’s say they bring LaVine in starting next season between dearon Fox damont sabonis and Zack LaVine the kings are paying the three of those players $18.3 million The Following Season 2025 2026 which is dearen fox’s last season of his current deal that he is on the Kings will pay $ 126.5 million to just those three players again that does not include an Alex Caruso extension that does not include a eventual dearen Fox extension or new deal and that does not include the second contract for Keegan Murray that he will receive so the Kings essentially if they do this they are going all in with this core financially they’re locking it in they are in cap hell but this is the group this is the swing you make this move there’s no other big move around the around the corner unless you’re trying to break something up right this is the core you’re locked into financially this is what you’re invested in and if it does not work you’re stuck with LaVine for probably three seasons I I can’t imagine the Kings would be able to trade Levine’s contract away in the future they’re stuck with LaVine for three seasons and at that point point they probably have to break it up by looking at trading fox or trading sabonis or trading Keegan Murray I don’t even want to speak that into existence but that’s the worst case scenario we’re talking about here but on the flip side this could work out especially if Malik monk leaves this is probably not a trade that I make on draft night this is not a trade that I make with the 13th pick because I don’t make this deal even with Caruso coming here I don’t make this deal if Malik monk comes back I don’t I would choose Malik monk over Zack LaVine pretty much without hesitation now Zack LaVine is a better overall offensive player than than Malik is he’s a better scorer has been his entire career but Malik monk overall stays healthier I know what happened at the end of last season but overall he’s he’s does not nearly have the injury history that Zack LaVine does and Malik monk is a far better I think facilitator distributor playmaker than Zack LaVine is and on top of all that we know Malik fits and we know financially what the Kings will pay him 17 million compared to 40 million for someone who might not fit but if Malik leaves which is very possible some would say even probable at this point if Malik leaves finding a replacement for Malik monk is going to be near impossible for Sacramento without taking a risk to the the level of Zack LaVine and if LaVine stays healthy with the Kings offensive system that they’re capable of running you add in Alex cruo to shore up the defensive end we’re talking about a starting lineup of king or of fox of LaVine of Keegan Murray the four is in question because reportedly the Kings would try and trade both Kevin herder and Harrison Barnes in this deal so whoever the four is maybe it’s Trey LS who knows and damont sabonis four I mean four your five starters are Fox LaVine Murray and sabonis with Alex Caruso and Keon Ellis and and and other players uh Trey lyes potentially coming off your bench we’re that’s a good squad is it a championship caliber Squad as of right now I would probably say no because they have to prove that they can be they haven’t earned that yet but they’re better in my opinion if that if you again if you want the swing that’s maybe the biggest swing that the Sacramento Kings can make in the next segment we’re going to talk about what the package would likely look like if the kings were to make this deal what package I’m comfortable with where I draw the line if I’m Sacramento and then I want to have a discussion about you can’t have both you can’t have the big SW you can’t have the kings make a move this off season or or demand the Kings be making a move but b or shut down everything available to Sacramento because of the risk involved I’ll get into more details about that plus audio from dear and fox coming still on the podcast today’s episode of lockon Kings is brought to you by eBay Motors passion drive and patience the formula for winning championships is also what keeps your ride or die alive eBay Motors has everything that you need 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criticized for for it there are going to be some people no matter who trades for Zack LaVine if anybody people are going to criticize that team because of the contract that they’re they’re bringing in and I understand again is the risk worth it the risk was worth worth it for the Sacramento Kings to trade Tyrese Halbert in away to bring in damont sabonis and it’s worked out for Sacramento in so many ways right if you’re the Kings you’re not concerned about public opinion in making this deal you are concerned about all the elements we discussed in the last segment about the risk factors with LaVine financially and with his health and you’re also concerned about are we giving up too much to take that risk mainly to bring in Alex kuso who we really really want and would really really like so the package is important and some of you I’ve already interacted with and seen on social media saying like even with the risks to Zack LaVine I’m not making a decision until I know what’s on the table what does this trade look like so I laid out the trade that I would want to make and I would want the Bulls to accept I have a trade that I would try to make if the first one did not work I have a trade that I would consider and then I have a trade that I would decline and anything beyond that I would just outright decline here’s the want trade I would want Sacramento a deal for Zack LaVine to look like this Harrison Barnes Kevin herder Chris DTE and one first round pick for LaVine and Caruso I have no idea if the Bulls have any interest in Duarte Duarte doesn’t even have to be involved in the deal technically financially it works if the Kings just did Barnes herder and one first but the Kings would be taking on like $18 million worth of salary into their cap by doing that so if they could get one more player like an expiring deal like Duarte into that and lessen that cap hit a little bit to give him a little more breathing room and wiggle room this offseason that’s what I would be trying to do there I would consider excuse me I would try to if the if the Bulls didn’t accept that I would try and finagle in instead of Chris Duarte in that package Davon Mitchell so you have Barnes herder Mitchell and one first for LaVine and Caruso Mitchell also an expiring deal but a rookie scale contract right good young player good young Defender somebody the Bulls might be a lot more interested in than Chris Duarte I think a better more valuable player I think overall than Chris Duarte if they say no to that I would consider if the if the Bulls counter and say give us Barnes and herder and dwarte and two first rounders for LaVine and Caruso I would consider now they’re asking for even more draft compensation two first round picks plus that package now maybe they even take Duarte off the table Barnes herder two first round picks for Al for Caruso and LaVine I think the Kings have to strongly consider that they don’t accept right away and say deal right away but I think they strongly consider it and if Malik monk walks they really strongly consider it where I stop though where the line is drawn for me is if they try and go for Barnes herder Mitchell and two first rounders at that point you’re not getting a upside young player on a rookie scale scale deal and Mitchell and two first rounders from me and where I just completely hang up the phone as if this deal is even mentioned three first rounders hell no hell no and I don’t think it would ever ever even get that far right hell no are you getting three first round picks in this deal at all if you’re the Chicago Bulls because now we’re talking about the Kings not only taking the risk with the financial and being capped out and the the risk of Zack LaVine now you’re talking about mortgaging your future in order to take this swing part of the appeal of this trade is you can potentially make this move and make this swing and essentially go all in with this group without mortgaging your future to the extent that you can’t really get out of it and it has ramifications on this organization for years to come if it were to fail two first round picks you can live with probably stings a little bit if it fails but you can live with three now we’re talking about the organization being a really tough spot and we’ve seen teams trade three four first rounders on these big moves and more often than not the team who made the big move and sent all their picks away they end up pretty hamstrung and end up regretting the move I know it’s working out kind of right now for the Minnesota Timberwolves with the amount of picks that they sent to the Utah Jazz in the Rudy gobear deal but I would not be comfortable at all at all with the Kings going with more than two first rounders and again I’m only doing two first rounders if it’s Barnes and herder and nobody else of real value on this roster right now that’s just where I’m at personally no Trey no Mitchell no Keon Ellis hell no even Colby Jones n I’m not I’m not doing that in addition to two first rounders but if they like I’m telling you if we found out if Malik monk said let’s go say he goes to Orlando or San Antonio I’m not trying to speak it into existence again I want Malik to stay I would gladly choose Malik staying in Sacramento over the Kings getting LaVine and Caruso but if Malik decided to leave and it was in front of me on the table Barnes herder Duarte and two firsts to get LaVine and get get Caruso I’m strongly considering it and as I sit here right now talking to you on this podcast I’m leaning more towards yes because I think the Kings have to do something now the Kings might not feel that way and I’ve talked about this before that the Kings might not feel that right now is the time to go all in they might feel like they can get away with pushing it a little bit further that doesn’t mean they’re not going to try and win this year but they might feel like they don’t have to make that big of a swing at this point in time compared to to the Phoenix’s and the LA Clippers and the LA Lakers and teams that are at the end of their window or they have like they literally have to win a championship now or it’s it’s kaput it’s done right the Kings aren’t in that position so maybe they decide to go on a different route which is like a kzar out or something like that great the one thing I know that they can do and I will not be happy with is if they decide to just run it back especially if they run everything back with minor improvements after losing Malik Monk then we’re talking about the Kings struggling probably in the west to get back to the playin let alone the playoffs in my opinion but here’s the thing I know that social media King’s Twitter does not represent all of the fan base so those of you who are not active on social media who are listening to this podcast are probably rolling your eyes because I’m not trying to say that these people and and the conversations happening on King’s Twitter are representations of your beliefs and your feelings on these conversations but every single time one of these potential deals becomes available Brandon Ingram no don’t like it for this reason Kyle kma doesn’t take the game seriously Zack LaVine injured all the time and worth so much money you’re right in all these concerns that you have with these deals but let me make it perfectly clear to you there is not a deal that the Sacramento Kings can make that does not involve an element of risk there is no trade out there the only safe thing for the Kings to do is to essentially stay put and I think the entire fan base knows that cannot happen again you can’t have it both ways there is no big trade that makes a significant impact on the kings in a very competitive Western Conference that does not involve a gamble that does not involve a risk and probably does not involve V getting into his pocketbooks and being willing to pay a luxury tax bill and putting the king in a financial tough spot Monty McNair is all about financial flexibility and I understand why he wants to put the kings in a position to where if they are ready to make a big move they can make it well here it is are you ready to make it because you can is now the time or is it not that’s the question the Kings have to answer and that’s the question that you as a fan have to mole about and think about in your own head are you ready for the Kings to go for it and take a potentially significant risk in trying for it or are you content with the Kings trying to play it safe and battle for a top six seed we’re talking about four five6 range and that potentially likely at least for next year being their ceiling think about it mle it over before you hear from aaren Fox here to wrap up this podcast like I said at the top of the show today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel summertime means baseball basketball’s over bye-bye NBA Finals I know hockey is still going on the NHL Stanley Cup Final still battling the Edmonton Oilers trying to stay alive against the Florida Panthers and have forced a game six but baseball is King right now and right now new customers get $200 in bonus bets on FanDuel with any $5 bet that’s $200 that you can use to bet on everything from who you think will uh win the NBA championship next year uh who will be the MVP next year in the NBA who you think will win the Super Bowl who you think will be the World Series champion or if you want to simplify it who will hit the first home run in any given game you can do that all on FanDuel visit fanduel.com logdon and add a big win to that summer bucket list FanDuel is America’s number one sports book so I spent the morning and early afternoon in Rockland at Hardwood Palace which funny enough is a gig gigantic basketball facility where I played as a kid I got the opportunity to to not necessarily attend major Kings basketball camps there when I was I was a kid but played there uh and and and so it’s cool to kind of come back there and be able to cover an event like dearon Fox’s basketball camp and while we were there uh we got to watch Fox do a private like workout he did a I shouldn’t really call it a private workout he he did a workout run by King’s assistant coach Luke LS who’s been working with with dearon over the past couple of years since Mike Brown came here to Sacramento he’s the guy that’s largely responsible for the growth of dear’s jump shot um got to watch that and it was really cool dearen also flew out and invited three uh of the top High School women’s basketball players in the country all Texas based dear’s from Houston uh so all Texas based they he flew them down to to be a part of the camp uh and or I should say to help with the camp not necessarily be a kid in the camp but to help with the camp and then they got to participate in dear’s work out with Coach LS which was really really cool and then of course we got to speak with dearon at the camp got like 15 20 minutes with the guy uh he was in a great mood he had baby rain on his lap um and he answered a lot of questions and talked a lot about a lot lot of different topics and I wanted to uh share some of those with you the first one uh is dearin talking about Malik Monk’s free agency status and the conversations that he has had or hasn’t had with Malik this summer I’ve never hit free agency before uh this is technically I guess a second time kind of hitting free agency but um seeing the player that he was whenever we signed him to the player that he I mean I wouldn’t even say that he’s become much of a different player he was able to show showcase more of what he could do um but just being able him being able to be in this situation and obviously having multiple teams that are trying to come after him um I’m definitely happy for him and obviously we want him to stay but at the end of the day he has to do what’s best for him no I don’t know I mean I don’t really ask him funny enough I we saw him uh Monday Sunday Monday we saw we saw him leag Monday um I’m not sure I don’t we’re we’re we’re we’re friends first and then you know that side is that side but I don’t really ask him about it I ask him where he’s been on vacation and where is fresh uh how’s your mom doing how’s your brother how’s your um how’s your nephew like I’m not really asking him anything else about anything about free agency regardless of what happens you got two seasons to play together at the NBA level did you quickly fall back into the dorm room times definitely man Malik’s Malik uh the same way kind of C was with him that’s the way that Mike was with him giving him the freedom obviously uh Malik has a big personality uh but they Mike and and C’s approach to coaching Malik was very very similar so and I think that’s that’s a big reason why he was successful I feel like as well can you that a little bit because Malik kind of said the same thing he feels like Mike and the Kings have enabled him to play the way he’s always meant to be played and never got the opportunity to seeing that from your perspective him becoming himself on the court what was your perspective on yeah I mean at the end of the day like the NBA obviously a lot of guys are talented a lot of guys can play but at the end of the day it’s about roles what’s your role Can You Feel the role that the team needs um and obviously people always talk about you know guys not being in the NBA maybe because they probably couldn’t fit a role like there’s only a certain amount of spots there are probably guys that are in Europe or wherever they’re playing right now they are better some guys better than some guys in the NBA but they couldn’t fill out the role that the team needed them to fill and I think us giving Malik that bigger role just got allowed him to Showcase more that he more than he could when he was in previous situations so um a lot of people watching Malik in college knew that he could put the ball in the basket but didn’t know that he could playmake and then he got into the league he developed that and then he here he was able to showc that so his role got bigger and I think he was just able to show showcase more than he was able to in the previous years it’s funny I released that clip on social media and so many people immediately responding oh he’s gone Malik Monk’s gone this is dearen Fox essentially letting us know that Malik Monk’s gone I think it’s a bit maybe too pessimistic of a way to look at it you could be right I mean essentially that’s dear and just saying my we want him back we would love for him to stay a king but he’s going to do what’s best for him dearon recognizes even though dearon said he’s never been in that free agency position before he recognizes monks journey and the opportunity made available to Malik and dearin is making $30 million plus a year right so I think he understands if Malik decides to do what best for Malik and Chase the bag that has kind of been alluding him his entire career because of the struggles that he’s faced so I don’t think that that quote at all and that bite at all suggest that dear’s read between the lines is saying Malik Monk’s gone um but hey draw the conclusions that you want to draw we also asked dearon Fox about his thoughts on Mike Brown getting the contract extension and I really like that that dearn took some time to talk about the stability that it brings the organization I mean I talked to him uh obviously I’ve been with with Luke Lo a lot and uh kind of talked about the situation a little bit um kind of right before and then right after uh but I mean we always talk about you know having that type of stability um obviously it’s not saying that you’re you know you want to become stagnant or anything like that but just knowing that you’re going to have kind of a core and then a coach for I mean in obviously in this league it you know Monty Williams just got I guess fired or dismissed today so it could always change in the blink of an eye you never know but just to kind of feel like you have that stability going forward is definitely great and you you look to build off of that if you count Alvin I think this is my fourth Co so this is my fourth coach and um I mean I kind of came into a situation that was anything but stable uh but for us I mean I feel like we got better and then obviously kind of took a step back um I would won two less games but you Dro six spots uh especially with the way that the West is going but like I said just having that stability helps in the long run I feel like FOX also talked about how much reflecting he’s been doing this offseason about last season he he isn’t really thinking too much about or worried too much about next season yet that doesn’t mean he’s not putting in the work for next season already but he’s still more thinking about what went wrong last season than what next season is going to look like but he is and was very transparent about one of the things that needs to change is the Sacramento Kings poor free throw shooting I mean I haven’t thought about next season too much obviously for me it was kind of still reflecting on what was done this season um and knowing obviously we know that we have to get better I there’s there’s no question to it obviously I mean 4 6 wins not you’re not a bad team by any means getting 46 wins but at the end of the day we didn’t make the playoffs and um that’s no one’s goal so uh we know that we have to continue to get better whatever that means I don’t know if it’s pieces if it’s the guys that we have right now that have to just get better um then that is what it is but some point some some way somehow we have to be able to get better I mean I think at the Top If we make free throws we probably w win 50 52 53 games so um do we need to make a big swing I don’t know uh um is there small minor tweaks here and there maybe uh I don’t have those answers but I do know if we weren’t the last team in free throw percentage then we’re looking at this season like it’s comp it’s a entirely different season so no not at all uh I mean we could have been even just a little bit below average and we have 50 wins and we’re not even in the playin so um like I said I think I’ve spent more time reflecting on this season than I’ve thought about uh going to the next season finally I asked dearn Fox about how the Kings played defensively to end last season the final third uh of the season the Kings defensively look like a completely different team they were playing more of a physical brand defense and it got me thinking hey is this for real is this what this Kings team is going to be and can be defensively over the course of an 82 Game season so dearon asks that or answers that rather and also discuss what changed to allow the Kings to play a more physical style of Defense I think a lot of had to do with officiating um but I mean if it’s officiated that way from beginning to end then there’s no you don’t really need a a period to adjust cuz I think after Allstar break it took teams like two or three weeks to kind of get adjusted to what the physicality was like and how it was being afficiated um but if it’s if it’s played like that through the entire season I you rather be consistent all the way through rather than you know make a dramatic change uh as much as they want to say it wasn’t a change like it was a pretty drastic change and everybody noticed it but if it’s like that for the entire season like you’re perfectly fine with and then maybe we can put together an entire season of of good to great defense was more after the change I did cuz I mean I still played well after allar breaks so I’m not I mean people talk about ethical Hoops uh man my goal is to put the ball in the basket if I’m at the free throw line three-point line layups floaters mid-range whatever it is I’m trying to put the ball in the basket so I’m uh trying not to worry about what the foul calls are like but I think I played better after Allstar break than I did before Allstar break so uh people can take that as they may if you want to catch the full interview that we did with dearon Fox it’s available now on abc10.com would love to hear your comments on the things that fox said would love to hear your thoughts on this Alex Caruso Zack LaVine potential Blockbuster do you do it is it worth the risk or do you stay far away and look for another deal let me know let’s discuss it Matt George sack on Twitter or X you can email me Matt jports gmail.com if you’d like or feel free if you’re watching on YouTube to get the conversation going in the comment section down below appreciate your support as always can’t wait to have you join me on the next episode of lockon Kings until then my name is Matt George you’ve been listening to the lockon Kings podcast part of the lockon podcast Network [Music]

Matt George discusses the latest rumors and reports of the Sacramento Kings contacting the Chicago Bulls about a potential Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso trade. Plus, hear from De’Aaron Fox from his basketball camp, discussing Malik Monk, Mike Brown’s contract extension, and more.

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The Kings Called the Bulls About a Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso Deal
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCer6XxOVaMbmW2HBLpuLkzQ

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17 Comments

  1. We’d have to add in a couple first which I would do. Imagine Lavine going back to a 22/4/4 guy here along with Caruso that’s huge. Closing defensive lineup of Fox, Ellis, Caruso, and Keegan

  2. Lavine contract is horrible and he is injury prone plus they probably ask for multiple firsts and Keon Ellis. This could end horribly and set the franchise back. I would rather draft a player that could turn out to be good

  3. I do NOT like LaVine's contract and the number of games he's recently played, only 4 out 10 seasons he's played 80% of games. However, if the Kings can get Caruso in the deal, then that would be better, but still, the Bulls are more desperate than the Kings in this circumstance and I would NOT offer too much, and if anything I would expect the Bulls to give me a pick for LaVine's horrible contract. I just don't trust LaVine tbh and I think the Kings should look at other alternatives.

  4. not sure about the Levine deal don't see him being avb enough to be an impact. We need to do a sign and trade with indy and bring back Jalen Smith on a sign and trade.

  5. Matt said Lavine doesn't fit into Mike Browns physical defense…this team DOES NOT play any physical defense at all…Keon and at times Davion is probably the only two players who come close…they honestly need to address that issue over getting another defensive blackhole in Lavine.

  6. If Monk leaves, this trade has to be done. LaVine is both "discounted" and should be motivated to prove that he's still a difference maker on a good team. Caruso has that dog in him – hopefully it's contagious.

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