Jason Jones reports that the Sacramento Kings will recall Tyler Honeycutt from the Reno Bighorns of the NBA D-League early this week. Honeycutt was sent down at the beginning of the month. With Reno, Honeycutt has played 10 games with one start, averaging just 12.7 minutes per game for Paul Mokeski. He has shot just 17-39 (43.5 percent) on two-pointers but a solid 6-16 (37.5 percent) on threes. The Kings desperately need shooting help -- Honeycutt shot 36.2 percent on three-pointers at UCLA last season.
The timing is a bit odd as Chuck Hayes is expected back this week and John Salmons' absence from Saturday's game in Memphis was due to a stomach virus, not an injury that would linger. Marcus Thornton, who left Saturday's game after reaggravated his contused quad on Friday, could be out a bit, which could force Keith Smart to play his top two small forwards -- Salmons and Francisco Garcia -- at the two to keep Jimmer Fredette in a reserve role.
Hassan Whiteside remains with Reno. He's averaging 3.4 blocks and almost seven rebounds per game in 20 minutes, but is an abysmal 12-33 from the line and doesn't score much (7.3 per game).
Thanks to HeuristicLineup for the FanShot.
0 recs | 34 comments
Hope Honeycutt pans out
I really like his potential, and the way he could fit on this team.
Chent - January 22, 2012 via mobile
Could this be
a pre-trade move?
9K1NGS6 - January 22, 2012
I was thinking the same exact thing.
Hopefully it means that Salmons is in his way out, but i HIGHLY doubt that. Our lives as Kings fans isn’t that simple as we all know.
KingsFromNY - January 22, 2012
We can hope it means Salmons it out....
If he keeps up this mess of crap he seems to be putting together on a nightly basis, his TRADE VALUE will keep nose diving. GP could be putting something together before this happens? But maybe not, because I think that would make too much sense.
ThankgodwehaveWhiteside! - January 22, 2012
I'm guessing Salmons will stay.
It would look too much like the FO made a mistake if they trade him now. I could be wrong. I would think Petrie might be in CYA mentality after the flak he and Westphal received over the trades. The timing to bring back Honeycutt does seem strange. My first thought was this could be a pre-trade move.
Slam_Dunk - January 22, 2012
If I were the front office I'd rather dump him and admit the mistake
instead of remind everybody of the mistake everytime he plays for the next 3-4 years
prowseinthehouse - January 22, 2012
They could. Just move him asap and hope everyone "forgets."
Slam_Dunk - January 22, 2012
Hmm...
I can see that what you are saying could make a lot of sense. So this would mean Smart might go…
PG – Evans
SG- Salmons
SF – Garcia
This does not seem like a fast 3 in the back court. Maybe these 3 are the closet, besides Thompson, to being in the physical shape needed to get there though.
And then bring in:
PG – IT2
SG – Jimmer
SF – Honeycutt
I wonder how the compressed season will affect the rookies. Will it make it easier on the rooks or harder? Seems like the young legs could do better initially, but that at some point they could hit a brutal rookie wall this year. Given the compressed season it seems like some of the older players will feel it as well.
CowbellKings - January 22, 2012
Where is Marcus Thornton in this?
Slam_Dunk - January 22, 2012
Traded for Aaron Brooks
prowseinthehouse - January 22, 2012
I think the assumption is that MT is out for a few weeks.
polotown - January 22, 2012
Yes, due to this leg
CowbellKings - January 23, 2012
You are making the assumption he is going to miss a couple of weeks because a stiff thigh muscle.
Slam_Dunk - January 23, 2012
More likely:
Evans
Salmons
Greene
then:
IT2
Garcia
Outlaw
then:
Jimmer and Honeycutt
polotown - January 22, 2012
Hope they play him
Throw him in the starting lineup. With Evans and Salmons at 1 and 2, we need speed, defense, rebounding and someone to knock down open shots at the 3. If he’s not ready (probably not) you at least get a glimpse of him and see what he needs to work on.
Chent - January 22, 2012 via mobile
Starter after 12 minutes a game of D-League action?
Crocoduck - January 22, 2012
Odd timing
But we have nothing going for us at the SF position, so why not let him get some minutes here and there?
HeuristicLineup - January 22, 2012
Anyone else find it odd
that they’re recalling Honeycutt rather than whoever starts in front of him?
If there were plans to bring him up, I’m not sure why he didn’t play more – 12 minutes of experience per game is not exactly comforting as to his readiness to move to the big time.
thelettere - January 22, 2012
Well, considering that he is the only one that is currently under contract
and being paid by the Kings, it makes sense. What would surprise me would be if the Kings paid out even more money for another middling wing.
Unless Honeycutt put on 15-20 pounds of muscle in the past couple of weeks, I’d be surprised if he is ready to log any consistent or considerable minutes. But if he’s sticking the 3, he might be able to carve out spot minutes for himself when the opposing stud 3 is not on the floor. The last time I saw him, he did not appear nearly physically ready to go up against most of the league’s starting small forwards.
section214 - January 22, 2012
Basically he's young and has potential
The guys who get minutes ahead of him are most likely Bobby Simmons and Andre Emmett. Both much older players who have played in the NBA in the past and have reached their ceilings.
Crocoduck - January 22, 2012
I don't know why the D-league signs those guys
What a waste.
lietothegirls - January 23, 2012
Fire Mokeski!
I dunno, I thought that’s how we roll here.
betweentheeyes - January 22, 2012
I don't know anything about him
but I find it troubling that he only played Honeycutt 12.7 minutes a game in 10 games. Dude needs to get some minutes!!
Kyle_B - January 22, 2012
Yes and
Go BigHorns! (more PC than “Me so Big Horn-y”)
betweentheeyes - January 22, 2012
Curious why that's troubling to you
My understanding (could be the problem right here) is that the Bighorns have no obligation to play the Kings players, and if the vet guys are contributing more why give Honeycutt burn?
lead_pipe - January 22, 2012
Your correct, unlike some D-league teams the Bighorns are not owned by one NBA franchise
the Bighorns are affiliated with the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, and Memphis Grizzlies. The Bighorns are locally-owned by Bighorns Basketball, LLC. They make their money just like the Kings do, by winning games and drawing fans to the game. They are going to play the players who win games and bring in the fans.
If Whiteside or Honeycutt can’t contribute, their minutes will be limited or none existent. If they were NBA ready they would be starting and getting huge minutes which they are not.
HighTops - January 22, 2012
And this is why I question the value of the D league
Unless the rest of their time is spent is spent on things like fundamentals, strength training and conditioning, how helpful developmentally is 10 minutes a game against marginal NBA level competition?
outrider - January 23, 2012
Which is why teams that own or have a hybrid relationship with their D-League affiliate ...
… get more out of it.
We’d need owners with money to get that arrangement.
Tom Ziller - January 23, 2012
The statement below seems to be a root cause of many of our problems...
outrider - January 23, 2012
Now that the Kings are out of the tough road part of the schedule, I question why
they only have one set of back to backs in the next 3 weeks, so it’s will be interesting to see how long he stays.
It could be that they are concerned about how long Thornton will be out and whether or not Salmons illness will drag on. I believe he was check out at a hospital in Memphis and didn’t fly out with the team.
I think we have enough guards and wings already, and I don’t see him getting minutes over Jimmer, so maybe he’s just coming back to be an extra body on the practice squad. There are going to be more practice days coming up between now and the road trip before the All-Star break.
HighTops - January 22, 2012
Yea, I feel it's completely a practice thing.
Now that we’ll have time to practice, makes sense to bring back Honeycutt.
Shizzo - January 22, 2012
Also, I think we have been essentially suiting up 11 guys...
Cuz, JJ, JT, Cisco, Salmons, Outlaw, Reke, Thornton, IT, Jimmer, and Donte. Unless I am missing someone.
Rules say that this season, teams can dress 13 to play. I noticed some days Hayes has dressed in warm-ups even though there was no chance he was going to play.
Wonderchild - January 23, 2012
Given the nature of the Kings being prone to 30-point blow out losses...
This makes perfect sense.
When down big, and the game is pretty much out of reach, we should be trying to tap into the full potential of our rookies – as Honeycutt is most likely further from his fullest potential then other Kings at the end of the bench like Outlaw. Next time we get doubled up in the third quarter, or whenever its “garbage time”, at least we can look at his progress on the NBA hardwood.
Plus he would be a good addition to the Goon Squad. Who can be down when they got Honeycutt Cherios?
convoy - January 23, 2012
Are the kings showcasing Cisco?
This might sound odd, but makes more sense than Salmons. Salmons has a tough contract to move, Cisco is a little less. Perhaps they are showcasing cisco, with the hopes of trading him, and have brought up Honeycutt for practice, so if cisco does go, honeycutt will be familiar with the playcalling to come in as a reserve. Is there anyone else wondering why Donte is not getting noticed enough for his solid play? If anyone should be starting in Salmons spot, it should be Donte IMO, better defender, playing solid, and better rebounder. tyreke, salmons, donte, JT and DMC is a solid 5 with MT23 injured.
lilrecruit21 - January 23, 2012
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