Capítulo 77: Error 77
There are many ways to build a team in the NBA but four things to consider depending on the team: Draft, free agency, trade, and patience. Then there is the actual mesh in the field and how different positions and skill sets combine to formulate the optimal product in the field.
The optimal product on the field is a championship-grade team. Star players win championships in the optimal product. If there is no championship, it is because something is missing.
They're saying that stars anchor these races; there are ways to win without having a collection of star power like the 2004 Pistons. In addition, a group of excellent roles players, cohesion, and identity makes it possible to compensate for the absence of a star. But saying it only has the stars and supporting actors would be an exaggeration.
It would be ridiculous to think the Kings can build a team during the free agency. Other California teams can, but the Kings cannot. But according to Ewing, he has the basics to do it. You have to fill the house.
In any "winning now" team, there must be proven NBA players, talents who have proven that they can stay and perform every night. Players who are veterans bring some intangibles to the table, mainly high-level experience. For the Kings, that player is Harrison Barnes.
Then the young talents. These are the young talents who have the potential to be veterans. The star of the team is often in this category when building a team. If it's not the star, there's his successor. An impactful actor in a recruit-wide deal allows the front office to focus on getting help around the pillars. According to Ewing, Hector is above Fox, but putting Hector behind Fox is not incomprehensible.
The Kings have talent but need a better team. There need to be more buttons to press because players are not versatile enough, so they cannot constantly adapt to opponents. There is not enough talent. That's what unbalances the team.
Fortunately, the Kings do not lack spatial impact. The offense is spacing, and spacing is the offense. Simply basketball is a game designed to score more points than the opponent. But we cannot afford to live on this. We must also limit the adversary's operations in space.
Ewing knows that he does not have the means for this, and he must maximize the ability to create or use the space of his players. He's a coach with a defensive mentality but for at least two seasons. He will rely on the talent present. He aims to train Hector within two years to anchor an elite defense.
For Ewing, the Kings' lack of success stemmed from a lack of success from Wharton and Gentry over the previous two seasons. He and Monte McNair must solve this mess.
Hector received the message from his coach. He did not play games below six assists in the six games between Fox's injury and return. He even had two triple-doubles. Despite the Kings' negative record during this period, Hector is suited to the role of go-to-guy and defensive leader at the same time.
Few of the NBA players are the leaders on both sides of the court. Among the All-Star, only Embiid and Giannis, to a lesser extent, with Brook Lopez, a defensive monster on his side, have this role. These players are the elite and the only ones with Anthony Davis, who can be MVP and DPOY in the same season.
Giannis has been and is the kind of player Hector needs to become. For his future and that of the Kings. They are lucky to have two potential franchised players, valid for most winning teams. Even if it requires several drafts, a team must find this second star to complete the first.
Fox is just below Hector, and there's a reason for that. The expression that the defense wins championships have merits. Teams that rely solely on offense don't win, and Fox is a good example.
Would you rather be the eighth seed for five years or be the worst team that will then win a championship? For Ewing, the choice is obvious. The reconstruction speed around Hector will be longer, but it's worth it.
Finding a dominant ball-handler is more accessible than finding dominant big men, which is why big men are usually more valuable. The law of supply and demand is respected in this case. Building your team around a competent guard is easier, but no one will take the guard if a generational big men is available.
Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Anderson are well-known for scouting reports and are in the same situation. Wembanyama is considered a "bigger" and "more qualified" Hector. They have the same potential ceiling since Hector's explosion this season. Both are eligible for the 2023 draft class, are already playing with the professionals, and are considered superior to the others.
They will probably be the first two selected.
Hector's value is among the most valuable in the league for a trade. He is the most valuable youngster in the league behind Zion Williamson, Luka Doncic, and Ja Morant. It will be necessary to sacrifice an All-Star and several draft rounds. Obviously, the Kings are not sellers, but it is a good indication of Hector's value in the eyes of the league and among NBA GMs.
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