After a trade, there is the challenge of getting a player past the impact of a deal in order to unlock the best version of them. The Kings, ensconced in rebuild mode, will make sure to give De’Andre Hunter every chance to resurrect his career.
“It’s difficult,” Kings coach Doug Christie said Sunday. “But, I texted my (assistant) coaches, make sure that we have proper video for DeAndre, as far as offensive and defensive sets. But then also, (I asked to) get me (more) video (of him). I know his game, but I want to look at what type of things we can do to help him along that process. How can we put him in situations to best identify the things that he does well? Obviously, the effort, energy and defense, that’s a whole different thing. How often did he stick the number one guy on the opposition? How is he on rotations, and all that stuff. When you play against him, it’s one thing. But when they’re a part of your fold, you want to know exactly what it is.”
“We will go down and scratch everything, and check every box to make sure he’s up to speed with everything he needs, but it can be tough sometimes,” Christie added. “As somebody who’s done this, there’s families, there’s moving. Your brain is everywhere. That’s why creating a safe space, to be honest with you, for a couple of hours daily, is really important for them to come in and know that, ‘Okay, for these two or three hours, I can do this, and all that’ll still be on the other side when we leave.'”