NBA Draft 2011 Grades: Why Sacramento Kings Are Worst Team for Jimmer Fredette
Jimmer Fredette is the talk of Sacramento today, and that is only part of the reason that his tenure with the Kings will be an awful one.
The 2011 NBA draft has come and gone. For lovers of yawn-inducing events, that comes as some sad news. Thursday's draft did little to excite the masses, but there were a few moments worth noting.
Jan Vesely greeted his very lovely girlfriend with a kiss when he was selected by Washington. Spike Lee was visibly shaken when his Knicks made a horrible pick, again.
And I had a delicious sandwich. Yes, that was all you need to know on a night of ho-hums and sighs. There was one moment that made my blood pressure rise, not much, but enough.
The Sacramento Kings went out of their way to draft Jimmer Fredette as they had been rumored to do for a couple days now. Essentially, the Maloofs are shoving a round peg into a board without a hole, all to sell tickets and create buzz.
Despite my nitpicking, I was rather hopeful for Jimmer Fredette's NBA career. I still don't think he is a star player. He is destined to be a solid role player that can't trump his inability to guard even Eddy Curry.
That being said, there is a place for him at the table. With his sharp-shooting guile and workhorse mentality, Jimmer would have put some fidelity into Jimmermania.
Instead, he is going to the Kings. This is a team that I am starting to believe is actually allergic to defense. Fredette can't hide his biggest flaw behind a staff of defensive gurus. The roster of matadors will only exemplify the deficiency.
You then have the issue of chemistry staring at us in the face. If you thought DeMarcus Cousins was a loafer and malcontent before, watch him react to "Kid Shoots A Lot" throw up 25 shots a night.
While we used to argue that the Heat couldn't share one basketball, the same should be said about the Kings, who will resemble petulant kids that want love from their mommy.
My best hope was that Jimmer would find a team that would bring him along slowly. He could work his way into a system and learn to shore up his blemishes.
Instead, he will be thrown into the fire by the Maloofs, in what is one of the more transparent cash grabs in draft history. The tickets sales are up in Sacramento, which makes them happy.
Soon, the Jimmer will be run out like a sideshow to chuck up long-distance threes. He will make some of those, and miss some as well. What remains is a team that didn't do anything to answer their biggest soft spot.
In the end, Jimmer Fredette will wish he had gone to another team.
For more 2011 NBA draft coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for NBA draft results and NBA draft grades.
