Yeah, made real strides the last third of the season.

Will be interesting to see which party wanted only one season. I'd be wrapping him up on a longer term deal than that if it was amicable.

Well deserved indeed... he made the most of his limited minutes and came on great at the tail end...

Smith, Pineau signed a 2 year deal with the Kings, the second year was a team option which the Kings have now picked up.

I heard somewhere (maybe on the Ruckus podcast...?) the Kings organisation were only offering one year deals to players out of contract.

I have seen no evidence of this but thought it was interesting if proven to be true. Anyone heard something similar/contrary to this?

Thanks Zodiac. Hopefully they play him more next season.

If there is indeed a new team coming in soon and not at the expense of Illawarra, you would want to be locking up players before it becomes (increasingly) a player's market.

This smacks of lack of foresight and it wouldn't be surprising, but Pineau DID have an option year, and not sure when it would have expired (same time as Randle?) so not sure if it was taken up or they waited and negotiated a single season as nothing has been announced as yet...

Cadee gone.

Cadee walking wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but we'd need to get someone like Nick Kay to man one of the front court positions and recruit a combo guard 6th man like a Ramone Moore (or Moore-lite).

Yeah I agree it wouldn't be the end of the world, but I think would be more a reflection on the management as well, because JvG mentioned already that they're in negotiations with him and letting another Sydney boy go, especially one that is capable of exciting the crowd and being really recognisable in the community, would be a red flag for me...

Retaining him would also actually add some actual depth to the Kings bench and back court, which would be a really nice change for them... I wouldn't be surprised if they did let him go that they'd expect Tom Wilson or someone to step up into his role and then go bargain for that fourth guard spot, expecting also to have Newls fill in at guard and play him with Blanch as well... Isn't a terrible idea, but I don't like going light on in the backcourt again...

I agree wholeheartedly about chasing Kick Kay and HARD... He's for mine more key than anyone else going around on the free agency market for the Kings at least, other than maybe Tai Wesley, who would probably have a larger price tag?

Randle* | Wilson
Lisch | Cadee/Hooley?
Newls | Blanchfield
Wesley | Jois | Pineau
Kay | Import 5?*

Fills a lot of gaps from last season on effort and skillsets and leaves an import slot up their sleeves as well...

Wouldn't mind also if Dennis gets the Cairns job and Blanchfield would prefer to get a release to go back up north and play for him to let him go, either...

Can't disagree with any points in the last couple of posts in any way, I just think that he has a bit more added value to the team... Wouldn't blame him if he wanted a proper starting gig, and if he's willing to trade team success for slightly more money and the title of a starter, than he's not the player the Kings need tbh...

For the Kings to get back on track, they need depth and quality, not just in skills, but in character that puts the team first... Putting the team first and getting wins reflects on all contributors and if someone would prefer to be called a starter on a more average team than a solid contributor on a winning, playoff-bound, potentially Grand Final playing team, then good luck to them...

As someone who has had Lisch crash into him at a fairly decent speed as he was chasing down a ball going out of bounds, I can vouch for him being plenty big enough... I agree having at least one of the backup guards being a quality lock down defender would be awesome as the Kings still just can't have Kevin out there being the only decent backcourt defender...

Cadee did improve defensively towards the end but nowhere near the level that would've made him irreplaceable on that end. Sure he is nice to retain for reasons such as chemistry & familiarity but sadly he is a luxury to retain as main backup guard if he's asking for too much.

They could always look for an affordable import replacement at his position if need be. Plenty of those compared to affordable stud bigs.

Kings far more in dire need of a pair of experienced starting bigs. Last season's decision to pass on Truck certainly should be reviewed. Gambled on Humphries & where are you now?

Pineau vs Moller is decision is about as good as keeping Gaze vs Vickerman. Pineau = soft fouls, no outside range, and poor basketball IQ. No doubt a "good guy" like gaze, but is this the right decision?

Pineau is a great test for how much people pay attention I reckon. A really important player for this team who defends well, rebounds, understands the game and perhaps most importantly doesn't need the ball.

"defends well" hahaha. Slow, soft fouls and no match for any of the aussie bigs.