Kings Owner Proposes Idea of Playing 4-on-5 Defense to Allow for a Cherry-Picker

NBA coaches typically look for a player who will play two-way basketball, but Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive is apparently willing to overlook defense if it means his team puts more points on the board.

For a team that is looking for any way to get better on the court, thinking outside of the box may be necessary. That's why Ranadive has reportedly come up with an idea that would drastically change the way his team plays.

Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote about Ranadive's idea in his 2014-15 NBA season preview:

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Owner Vivek Ranadive has pitched the idea to the team’s brain trust of playing 4-on-5 defense and leaving one player to cherry-pick, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The Kings aren’t actually going to do that, but their D-League might, and it shows Ranadive is committed to pushing boundaries in his search for an offbeat brand of "position-less" ball.

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With that philosophy, Ranadive may attract some free agents to Sacramento.

The Kings have not made the postseason since 2006, a playoff drought that is topped by only the Minnesota Timberwolves. Consistently losing makes a team explore all of its options, but willingly sacrificing defense doesn't seem like the way to turn things around.

It would be tough to believe that any team would ever consider playing down a man on defense just so one player can cherry-pick by the other basket. It may occasionally lead to points, but the strategy would also lead to the opposition scoring more points.

Being in the room when Ranadive pitched the idea would have been great. Who knows what was going through everyone's mind when the owner revealed his radical idea.