wouldnt mind it being JP Tokoto

I would have thought they need two?
A PF and SF

Would you play Kickert exclusively at PF, or use him to backup Bogut?
Remains to be seen how many minutes Bogut will play, could be he's capable of dominating for longer in the NBL. But Kickert is ancient, so they definitely need another quality Big.
In other threads some have suggested a Jameel McKay type. Is Kickert's D really that bad?
But yes, whether you emphasize D (McKay) or Offense, need somebody who can run the floor.

And still think they need an import SF. With Lisch at the 2, Newley may be their best local option for the 3, but he's now a long way behind the likes of Ennis/Craig/Prather/Conger.

Let's just say, AD, that Kickert's D is better on twitter than on the court... so yes, the Kings def need a quality big...

You'd think that to lock him up now, he'd have to be pretty decent if Gaze at least is forgoing his Summer League trip?

At least in that latest article, they're saying the right things re: needing a backup SF of a decent level to back up Newls and not work him too hard...

Thing is, do you go with three imports and of a certain quality that if one of the key existing signings DOES go down, they're already in place to step up or a cheaper option and risk having to get another import in to fill the gap with all those pitfalls...

Liam Santamaria's post on the twittergram suggested that the second import could be a top ten FA pick up... Would you go budget there and try to chase a Carrick Felix to start and Newls off the bench? Wonder how much they're actually willing to pay for a championship?

A lot depends on Deng:
How good is he?
Can he really play above his size?
How much are they paying him?
Will Sydney comply with the 5-man cap?

I'd imagine the 5 would be Adnam, Wilson, Pineau, Deng, and Import SF.
Does that leave them with $200k or $100k? Or don't they care?

Their Star lineup is both impressive and old. The chances of all 5 being fully fit for a GF are slim.
Surely they're better off signing quality imports early and managing the time of the oldies, so that firstly they get less knackered during the season, and secondly can easily cover injuries during the season.

But them that presupposes Gaze having a clue...

I think it a PF/C?

Oi!

Similar guy, but a little better leaper

AD, is it you that continually brings up this whole "Will the Kings comply with the 5-man cap" rubbish in nearly every single post? They HAVE to comply, JvG has said that they will and the players that you've listed yourself will easily be under the 40(?)%/$480K limit...

As for Deng, what do you mean about playing above his size? He's apparently a 3/4, it's not like they'll be playing him as Bogues' back up (but agree with you that depends on Gaze having a clue, so fair worry really)

Sorry, I'm actually not meaning to attack the Kings in regards to any question over the 5-man cap.
It just hasn't been clear to me over the past couple of years whether teams (including the Wildcats) actually had complied.
So ok, lets agree that everyone does.
They'll have Adnam, Wilson, Pineau, and Deng. Leaving a place for another local, or a cheap(er) import. I would imagine somebody like a SF, and budget would depend on how much Deng is getting.

And yes, Deng is 3/4, but supposedly quick and athletic, so just wondering if you would slot him in as backing up the PF, SF, or both?
As I asked in a previous post, do you keep Kickert purely as your starting PF, or could he backup Bogut? If the former, then you need a 4/5 (perhaps a McKay type as some have suggested).

The word is that the Kings have signed a 4/5 import, so I think we can tick that box, but it all depends on the quality and I would assume the opposing team as whether the import or Kicks plays the 5 to backup Bogues... Either way, you'd imagine that someone would have to fill in for 10-15mpg? Maybe more early on until whoever gives in first, him or the refs...

Good point about Deng, from what I saw of his highlight clips, he seems more of a straight 4 to me, but I've been wrong plenty and again, it would depend on the team and the matchups... If that's the case, where does Pineau fit in? The kid came along really well last season and while I wouldn't want to sacrifice a win for it, I'd hate to see his development suffer this coming season...

So looking at the below lineup...

Randle* | Adnam
Lisch | Wilson
Newls | ???
Kickert | Deng | Pineau
Bogut | Import*


That's a lot of cash spent and still a missing SF spot, but they're not in a huge rush it seems... The fact that they've signed most of the team already is a nice change (although it makes be curious about the 2nd import as are they not good enough for the SL, or they wanted to lock them up BEFORE SL like they did with Ellis?) I just hope they're not the last team to start pre-season training like usual...

Are they done spending cash? Can they tempt someone like a McCarron to give up on his OS dream and come back long term? Start him and Newls off the bench for his ideal 25mpg and have Randle, Lisch, McCarron and Newls rotating through those first three spots? Can rest Lisch and Newls more with McCarron playing a role and shores up the D and builds to the future?

or just splash some more cash on Felix and split the SF minutes with Newls? Similar results perhaps, maybe even stronger team, but less long term...

Either way, that's a LOT of $$$

@WookieE Deng will definitely play a lot at SF and there will be times where Newley slots into the SG role too.

good points WookieE

I think they need to spend the extra cash.
Remains to be seen how Bogut goes, he may absolutely smash it all season long.
But the rest of the guys are definitely slowing down with age.

They could go cheap and wait to see what happens, but better to be proactive.
If they bring in quality, they can manage the minutes of their older guys, and won't be struck down when injury hits.

As an opposition fan, not saying I love the idea of Sydney batting so deep, but I think its what they need to do.
No point buying a Ferrari and fitting 2nd-hand tyres

Hopefully Pineau will keep developing, and building his offense, he still has time on his side. Should get ok minutes backing up Grandpa Kickert, especially if Deng slide between 3 & 4.

Any news on who the new signing is?
If they're pulling the trigger early, could mean he's a more mature type who's given up dreaming of being plucked from obscurity at SL.

No point buying a Ferrari and fitting 2nd-hand tyres

Hmmm sounds like it may be David Wear after all. Whoever it is & whoever they'll sign for that last spot, Sydney will be a super team.

I think they'll start Wear alongside Bogut with Kickert coming off the bench. Bogut & Kicks will probably aim for 20-25mins unless its a close must-win. Those three will take up most of the minutes at the 4 & 5, meaning Pineau probably won't see more than 10 a game unless foul troubles, injury or blowout.

Based on above, Deng will play mostly 3 & depending on how good he is, will decide who gets signed for the last spot. If he is as good or better than Majok Deng, last spot will only be signed as insurance or maybe a defensive specialist to try shut down a particular opposing player.

It will be a very deep team & super by Jeff's own definition, despite what some people may say.

If they still haven't announced it, would it be a decent assumption that this player is still playing somewhere and can't officially sign the new deal with the Kings until that's done?

Otherwise, no idea why they even mentioned it and not the name...

I thought about that, but Naar is already over having pre-draft workouts and he mentioned in the post-workout interview that he'd already signed with a pro team and even got a plug in for them...

You're probably very close to the truth. Japan B league season concludes this weekend, likely waiting on release papers.

I imagine a few Euro leagues are wrapping up also.

The Vegas Summer League is the first two weeks in July.

Some of the younger guys will be involved in Summer League, Hoping for some NBA attention.

More mature guys will probably be open to signing before then.

If they don't make the top 4, Gaze should be sacked and made to walk back to Melbourne carrying Copeland.
Considering that top 4 only needs beating Brisbane, Cairns old cats, Hawks, and the new no-frills Breakers.

Actually they came back with Travis Leslie who was doing SL with Indiana and Gaze saw him up close as a member of the Pacers coaching staff.

Amare Stoudemire. He and Bogut are besties.

Kendle