(Editor's note - From the FanPosts, a little Euro knowledge.)

I wanted to share with you all I know about the European players that will be in this year draft weeks ago, but the work I'm doing on my thesis is draining every little second of my free time, so I'm going to write this thing now that I can.

Before I begin, I apologize for every error you may find in my writing. English is not my natural language, so, consider you warned.

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(From the FanPosts. A good breakdown by Panzerfaust. -- TZ)

Given the relative lack of Kings' basketball-related news, I'd like to take a moment to discuss about the new rule endorsed by the NBA on technical fouls.

I know that a similar discussion took place on StR when the rule was announced, but, after two weeks of preseason play, I think we all could better judge its application now.

For the few that may have missed the announcement of the new rule, it basically says, "Demonstrative and continuous displays of emotion will not be tolerated under the new rules. Players will be allowed to display emotion in the heat of the moment, as long as it isn’t over the top – and as long as they get under control and walk away."

Sure, if you read it, it doesn't sounds bad; many of us were tired of seeing Kobe Bryant complain with the ref after every shot he missed or ball he turned over just to get a friendly whistle. But after watching some applications of this rule, I came to a sad, sad conclusion:

This new rule sucks.

More after the jump.

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I know this has already been discussed (several times, if I recall correctly), and I don't piss anyone off with yet another discussion on how Beasley could be good and stuff, since I still am strongly against him, but, as the title of the post suggests, the summer is long, the asinine trade thread is still far away to come and I had some considerations I wished to share with the Kingdom in here.

So pardon me for the futility of the matter and, as always, for the grammar.

The premise of this post is: we all know that Beasley is showing as a complete bust in the league, especially given the high expectations, the pick where he was taken in a very strong draft that produced studs such as Brook Lopez after him. But how much a risk can we consider him if he could have be had for almost nothing?

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Ok, it's time for Fortress Europe to join the draft discussions. I don't think there are many surprises on my draft board, just a few here and there.

Actually, I was (and I am) quite disappointed when the Kings landed the 5th pick, not because I thought this was a 4 player draft and there won't be any good player available at number 5, but because picking 5th narrows our choices.

So let's go and write this board:

1. John Wall

He still has a lot of work to put on in terms of improving his raw skills; indeed, I think he comes in the league more raw than his principal comparison, Derrick Rose. But he has talent, and with his physical gifts, the sky is the limit. He'll be 100% a Wizard from this season, and sincerely, with the years they had, from Pollin's dead to "finger guns", I think they needed him more than anyone.

2. DeMarcus Cousins

Well, his bust potential is great, greater than any scouts would like to see when he uses a lottery pick, especially a top 5. But seriously, this guy is huge, has a developed post game, much better than JT, 4 years older with 2 years of experience in the league and, if it's true that he could turn into a bust (or, being more accurate, a guy that will never reach his full potential because of himself), it's also true that he could turn into a dominant center, one in the mold of Dwight Howard or Shaq before him.

3. Derrick Favors

The largest part of StR had this guy going before Cousins, and I can definitively see their motivations. The thing I don't get is why no one ever talks that even Favors could turn into a bust: the league is full of guys with jaw-dropping athleticism but little else (Hakim Warrick, Amir Johnson and so on). I don't think Favors is the case, but this guy has still a long way to go, in terms of offensive skills (he hasn't developed a post game on which you can rely consistently), defensive skills (he fouled a lot in college) and physical development (I think he'll need to add some muscles to defend efficiently the power forwards around the league),

4. Evan Turner

Ok, I know this guy should have gone much higher, and I really like him as a player, but I don't think he could fit in any way with the Kings. He brings to the table a lot of things that Tyreke does: he can go to the rim at will, he can bring the ball and be sort of a point guard, he's very poised and he can't shoot. If it's true that all these things worked out with Reke, I think it's also true that if you fill your backcourt with two guys with almost the same game, you won't be able to adapt to a game where you need something else.

5. Hassan Whiteside

Ok, this may surprise a lot of you, but sincerely, I've been liking this guy for months, and I'm not backing down now. I don't see any Thabust comparison sincerely, except the huge size and the fact that both are excellent shotblockers. Whiteside has already developed a much better offensive game than Thabeet (Whiteside is also 2 years younger and has 1 year less of NBA experience, 2 year less of college experience and also a couple year less of High School experience). Seriously, if you think how little this guy has played organized basketball in his life, and still how much he can improve, you may understand my point.

6. Wesley Johnson

I like this guy a lot, he seems ready to be a very good player and a starter right now, but I took him at number 6 because picking him would mean starting a bloody competition for the small forward spot. I know competition is good and everything, but you play just 48 minutes per game, and someone's minutes would take a clear cut. Reke plays a lot better when he's near to a guard that can handle the ball and shoots well, and, while Johnson surely shoots great, he won't be  good sharing the backcourt with Evans, so I think he'll be "confined" in the 3 spot.

7. Ekpe Udoh

Good defender and, it seems to me, a very good guy with the will to improve and to sacrifice himself for the team. The knock is that I don't see him being a starter in the NBA any time, and you may be looking for something better than a sixth man with a top 5 pick.

8. Cole Aldrich

We need bigs, and Aldrich sure is one. I would have taken him at 7, before Udoh, but then I saw how bad his shot looks, and, while professional training can change anything, I think it will take a lot before we'll see him shooting without being stopped from behind by almost anyone. He brings toughness and good defense, and those things are greatly welcomed.

9. Greg Monroe

Not what we need at all, but still a good player in the making. He reminds me a little bit of CWebb and, though he'll never reach that level, he'll be good for years. His passing skills and offensive game are very good, but we already have a similar player in Spence, who is also more developed, so I'm quite against picking Monroe.

10. Paul George

He presents the same problem of the 3 spot logjam that Johnson has, but he has the skills to become a great player, if he's willing to put in a lot of work. He can shoot and he's very athletic and long, but he hasn't shown the will to defense anyone on the college level, and it's better if he starts doing it.

11. Xavier Henry

I don't see a special player here, I just see a solid player with great shooting (but he'll have to work a lot on being more consistent), a well developed body and a good character. He would work well paired with Reke, for he plays a lot off the ball and can punish the defense when it collapses on Reke's drives to the hoop.

12. Avery Bradley

Another good fit in our backcourt, since he plays a lot off the ball and he's a defender with rare skills for this level. He may guard all the guys that trouble Reke more, leaving our ROY fresh for the offensive game. He needs to improve his shooting, but I'm sure he'll be a good player.

13. Patrick Patterson

Oh wait, another undersized power forward. Don't we already have two?                                                                                 Seriously, this guy will be fine everywhere he'll go, but I don't want the Kings to use a lottery pick on him. I see him being very similar to Landry a few years from now, and maybe able to compete for a Sixht Man of the Year award somewhere in his career.

14. Al-Farouq Aminu

I don't want him. He's here just because of the Josh Smith's comparisons, and surely it would be great if he could reach that potential. But he is nowhere near of reaching it at the moment, and I don't like him at all.

Finis est.

Before leaving you, I apologize for every possible error I may have made, but, as Pookey said somewhere in the past year, I surely speak English better than you speak Italian.

Let me know what you think about this board, and, as always, GO KINGS!

Ok...I don't think I say nothing new by saying that, after the pg position, we also need a sf to "complete" the starting lineup of our time.
Let's assume, for a moment, that we are able to fill the pg position with a good pick in the draft (hopefully a skinny white spaniard from Badalona...), and that Petrie decides to take a look on the free agent's market for the sf position. Let's see what the market offers:

Ben Gordon (Unrestricted Free Agent), Chicago Bulls:
Gordon is more a sg than a sf, true, but he could be a good fill even in the forward position. He's a superb shooter and a stone cold scorer, but he will be surely asking for a very high salary, and it doesn't seem he's looking to fly away from the Bulls. I don't think it would fit very well in the Kings' system, given the fact we already have a similar player in K$.

Linas Kleiza (Restricted Free Agent), Denver Nuggets:
I don't see Kleiza being able to start for any of the NBA teams. Period. Good shooter, good energy and skills from the bench, but nothing more. We already have Cisco and Noc for that.

Ron Artest (Unrestricted Free Agent), Houston Rockets:
This name is in the list just for fun. No way he's going to return playing in the Kings, I think he will remain in Houston trying to be a contender next year.

Stephen Graham (Unrestricted Free Agent), Indiana Pacers:
Simply nothing better than what we just have, I don't see how taking him could make our team better.

Steve Novak (Restricted Free Agent), Los Angeles Clippers:
Good shooter, but he's been Dunleavy'ed, so he's screwed forever.No.

Trevor Ariza (Unrestricted Free Agent), [Redacted]:
Ok, he has been playing next to a rapist. But he's super athletic, and he's shooting skills have been getting better along the year. I don't see the [Redacted] not resigning him, but, if not, he would be a great fit.

Lamar Odom (Unrestricted Free Agent), [Redacted]
You can copy and paste the first sentence written for Ariza. It's not impossible that the [Redacted] won't be resigning both Odom and Ariza, and the no.7 would also be a good pick if we were able to sign him. Great defender (when he wants), good shooter, great energy and rebounding.

Jamario Moon (Restricted Free Agent), Miami Heat:
I don't know if the Heat will be willing of resigning him. He has great athleticism and good scoring quality, but I don't know if he would be really an upgrade in spite of Noc.

Rodney Carney (Unrestricted Free Agent), Minnesota Timberwolves:
No, thanks.

Hedo Turkoglu (Unrestricted Free Agent), Orlando Magic:
Ok, many of you think that his career is slowly slipping through his end but, sincerely, watching him playing against LeBron, I only see a great player. Elite passing ability, Ultra-Elite basketball IQ, good shooter, maybe the best fourth-quarter man of the entire league. If he'd return in Sacramento, it would be a great, great thing.

Grant Hill (Unrestricted Free Agent), Phoenix Suns:
Young fella from Duke, never had issues with injuries. Oh, wait, I was watching the 1887's Grant Hill's scouting reports. Oh, wait. This is the same guy.
He's old, and he's got more iron in his knees than blood in his veins. He had a good season this year, but I'd sincerely pass on him.

Matt Barnes (Unrestricted Free Agent), Phoenix Suns:
Not a bad player, but I simply prefer Noc and Cisco.

Michael Finley (Unrestricted Free Agent), San Antonio Spurs:
Good 26th second shooter, old as Natt.

Ime Udoka (Unrestricted Free Agent), San Antonio Spurs:
Oh, my God, no!

Shawn Marion (Unrestricted Free Agent), Toronto Raptors:
If "The Matrix" would be able to play like 3-4 years ago, it would be a good fit for the Kings. Good athleticism, good energy, good defense and speed. But his last years have been quite disappointing, so it would be a great risk betting on him.

Kyle Korver (Unrestricted Free Agent), Utah Jazz:
He's only a great shooter, and in the last year he has also lost good part of his good shooting skills. I'm not very much on him, no.

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via www.euroleague.net

First fanpost from me, so I hope I'm doing right!

Ok, I'll use this space to give updates and news on Jenning's games here in Italy. I'd like to have the possibility to see also the Spanish league, but, unfortunately I can't, so no Rubio here ^^

Ok, I'll start from Sunday's game (May, 10th), which was last regular season's game here in Italy, and Jenning's team (Virtus Lottomatica Roma, which ended at the 2nd seed in the league) was against NGC Cantù (10th classified tied with 8th and 9th, but eliminated from the playoffs beacuse of the losing during the regular season against the 8th and 9th team).

The match was quite horrible, without many efforts by the player's on the floor, except two of the Virtus' guys:

Luigi Datome (very young italian player, quite good, with possibility to entry in 2010's draft - he was even on some 2009's mocks of NBAdraft.net at the beginning of the season) and Brandon Jennings, who wanted to earn some visibility and gain minutes in Roma's rotations.

Jennings played 26 mins, scoring 8 points (1/4 2pts, 1/2 3 pts, 3/4  fts), taking 3 rebounds (1 off, 2 def), giving 7 assists, 3 tos and 2 steals.

He played quite well (considering the fact that 7 assists are a great statistic here...the league's leader in the assists category, Terrel McIntyre averages 5.25 assists per game), showing energy and will to show that he can play his minutes even in the playoffs, and Roma won the game 77-64.

I'll be obviously giving news on his games in the playoffs, which are starting in a couple of days!

P.S: I'm very very sorry for the awful english you have to read in this post..I hope to improve it soon!