No mo Z-Bo (with poll)

What do you want Z-Bo's role to be?


  • Total voters
    55

VF21

Super Moderator Emeritus
SME
#1
First, let me preface my comments by saying I respect Zach Randolph's game and what he's done over his career. I'm not going to address his personal life choices, or at least some of them, because I think they reflect some very poor decision-making.

Now, having said that, I do NOT want to see Z-Bo get more than relief minutes (if that's the right term) for the rest of the season. I do not want him to start, unless he merely keeps the spot warm until Skal comes in. He is NOT our future. I think the kids have gotten enough experience on the court to sink or swim together for the most part. He is a basketball vortex and I pretty much cringe every time he gets the ball.

I don't care if Dave Joerger thinks he's all that and a really big bag of chips. We're not playing Memphis again and I'm pretty sure no other team is going to go out of their way to honor Randolph, so let's just let him spend most of his time on the bench.

LET THE KIDS PLAY!
 
#6
First, let me preface my comments by saying I respect Zach Randolph's game and what he's done over his career. I'm not going to address his personal life choices, or at least some of them, because I think they reflect some very poor decision-making.

Now, having said that, I do NOT want to see Z-Bo get more than relief minutes (if that's the right term) for the rest of the season. I do not want him to start, unless he merely keeps the spot warm until Skal comes in. He is NOT our future. I think the kids have gotten enough experience on the court to sink or swim together for the most part. He is a basketball vortex and I pretty much cringe every time he gets the ball.

I don't care if Dave Joerger thinks he's all that and a really big bag of chips. We're not playing Memphis again and I'm pretty sure no other team is going to go out of their way to honor Randolph, so let's just let him spend most of his time on the bench.

LET THE KIDS PLAY!
I thought ZBo got traded there for a minute. :eek:

Although I agree with the premise of this thread, we should still get ZBo some PT until the trade deadline, to keep his trade value intact, on games he is playing.

Maybe we can trade him for a small forward like Stanley Johnson at the deadline.

But, Yes, I think the team would be best served with ZBo coming off the bench as a scorer.
 
#7
As good as he’s been, the style we play with him in the starting line up is just going to delay the rebuild because these kids need to be playing in a system that best suits them, not a system that has been proven to hold back some of our best players back. I know people have been saying Fox hasn’t had that one big “wow” game yet but I do wonder if starting the game at a faster pace without Z-Bo in the line up would produce an even more impressive Fox.
 
#12
Unfortunately I see no end in sight. I dont see a playoff team trading for him at his salary and as long as Joerger is the coach he is gonna stick with his guy. I would settle for a small bench role, he should not be starting anymore, that is clearly obvious. Start Willie and Skal rest of year along with Fox/Bogi. See what happens in the draft(Ayton?). If not Willie, Skal, Giles should be getting the majority of frontcourt minutes next season.

What frustrates me is that the roadmap is starting to form. Bogi/Fox as main ball handlers, up tempo style with our gazelle bigs/ quick PG, pick and roll with Willie and Skal, but here we are still running sets designed for guys like Boogie, Gasol, Zbo. Bogi has proven he is fantastic at running the pick and roll and Fox needs the reps.
 
#21
I have a certain amount of faith in what Joerger is doing, but I do think the time has come to reward the young guys a bit with some extra time and also to conserve Z-Bo for the play... oh wait, uhhh.

If we wind up in position to pick Ayton it would be nice to know who to move in the offseason to secure a more rounded starting SF.
 

Tetsujin

The Game Thread Dude
#22
We enjoy watching him play at our house, reminds us of old school basketball and I really like post play. But there's just no long term benefit any more for him to be on the court. He helped the young guys put up some of the initial building blocks for what Joerger wanted to do, now he can collect a fat check and relax if you ask me.
Let him save himself for the 2019 playoffs.
 
#23
Surprisingly, I have enjoyed Z-Bo’s “old man” game quite a bit this year. I also think it served a legitimate purpose in helping to bring the younger players along, giving them a go to guy that they know can score the ball.

However, I think it is time for him to take a back seat with reduced minutes and a well-deserved rest.

Whether that means coming off the bench or starting to provide some stability but only playing limited minutes is to be determined. His minutes have already been declining, and I also think his “old man” legs are starting to tire reducing his offensive effectiveness.

But, he should not be kicked to the curb, he is a well thought of veteran, who has performed as he was asked and appears to have embraced the role of mentor. I could see his minutes still being in the 15 - 20 minute range, with Skal's tendency for fouls, at times even more.

The Kings need to treat their FA signings with respect and Z-Bo has earned that. Part of the “culture change” is supposed to include making Sacramento more FA friendly so that quality FA will want to sign here. Treating the current signees poorly will not help the perception that Sacramento is not a good place for FA.

Z-Bo could be given the role off the bench as that guy you bring in when you are going through a scoring drought and the team just needs to see a few baskets go in to boost their confidence. This could be an important role for the Kings (or even a playoff contender if they were so inclined to trade for Z-Bo).
 
#24
Surprisingly, I have enjoyed Z-Bo’s “old man” game quite a bit this year. I also think it served a legitimate purpose in helping to bring the younger players along, giving them a go to guy that they know can score the ball.

However, I think it is time for him to take a back seat with reduced minutes and a well-deserved rest.

Whether that means coming off the bench or starting to provide some stability but only playing limited minutes is to be determined. His minutes have already been declining, and I also think his “old man” legs are starting to tire reducing his offensive effectiveness.

But, he should not be kicked to the curb, he is a well thought of veteran, who has performed as he was asked and appears to have embraced the role of mentor. I could see his minutes still being in the 15 - 20 minute range, with Skal's tendency for fouls, at times even more.

The Kings need to treat their FA signings with respect and Z-Bo has earned that. Part of the “culture change” is supposed to include making Sacramento more FA friendly so that quality FA will want to sign here. Treating the current signees poorly will not help the perception that Sacramento is not a good place for FA.

Z-Bo could be given the role off the bench as that guy you bring in when you are going through a scoring drought and the team just needs to see a few baskets go in to boost their confidence. This could be an important role for the Kings (or even a playoff contender if they were so inclined to trade for Z-Bo).
Good post.
 
#26
Surprisingly, I have enjoyed Z-Bo’s “old man” game quite a bit this year. I also think it served a legitimate purpose in helping to bring the younger players along, giving them a go to guy that they know can score the ball.

However, I think it is time for him to take a back seat with reduced minutes and a well-deserved rest.

Whether that means coming off the bench or starting to provide some stability but only playing limited minutes is to be determined. His minutes have already been declining, and I also think his “old man” legs are starting to tire reducing his offensive effectiveness.

But, he should not be kicked to the curb, he is a well thought of veteran, who has performed as he was asked and appears to have embraced the role of mentor. I could see his minutes still being in the 15 - 20 minute range, with Skal's tendency for fouls, at times even more.

The Kings need to treat their FA signings with respect and Z-Bo has earned that. Part of the “culture change” is supposed to include making Sacramento more FA friendly so that quality FA will want to sign here. Treating the current signees poorly will not help the perception that Sacramento is not a good place for FA.

Z-Bo could be given the role off the bench as that guy you bring in when you are going through a scoring drought and the team just needs to see a few baskets go in to boost their confidence. This could be an important role for the Kings (or even a playoff contender if they were so inclined to trade for Z-Bo).
I agree that the Kings should "do right" by their recent veteran free agent signees if they are to have any hope of signing meaningful free agents in the future. But if Fox is starting (as he should), I'd rather see the "thin towers" start and run alongside him, so his speed does not go to waste. I do think the Kings should look to trade one of their veteran bigs at least, but I'd guess given his contract, Koufos would fetch a better return than Z-Bo.

A number of slower bigs have found new life over the past few years by transitioning to post-scorers off the bench. Monroe and Jefferson come to mind, but there were others I believe. Z-Bo would seem to do well in the same role here, and perhaps as a showcase for the same role on a contender in the next year or so.
 
#27
I need an option D. Play Zbo 40 mpg. Trade some of the young guys for Marc Gasol. Re-sign Matt Barnes. Trade a 2nd rounder and bring in Tony Allen. Bump Kosta up in the rotation and make a run!
 
#29
Joerger still wants to win some games and he's probably afraid that if he pulls or limits Z-Bo, the team would play so poorly that it can become embarrassing. The development of the young core has been slow so he feels he has no choice to at least keep some consistency in there so the situation is like a chicken or the egg first.