Tag: Lauri Markkanen

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Raiders make revolving door at head coach firing Carroll; How 49ers will fare against Eagles Sunday; plus more news

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That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury, the Las Vegas Raiders fired their head coach Pete Carroll just after one season the Raiders finished the 2025-26 season at 3-14 and just ended a ten game losing streak after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 14-12 on Sunday. Carroll is the sixth head coach to be fired by the Raiders in as many years.

#2 The San Francisco 49ers loss last Saturday was surprising in that their offense just simply fell flat. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy who threw for five touchdown the weekend before against the Chicago Bears. Purdy didn’t throw one touchdown and struggled to get any offense off the ground in a critical game against the Seattle Seahawks.

#3 The 49ers now have a tougher task as they prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the first round of the NFC Playoffs next Sunday. The Eagles like the 49ers lost their last regular game to the Washington Commanders. Do you see the 49ers regrouping and making this game a lot closer on both sides of the ball Sunday?

#4 The Golden State Warriors Draymond Green who you just wrote about recently in one of your editorials was once again ejected last Saturday in his game against the Utah Jazz in a win 123 -114. Green picked up two technical fouls at 2:30 remaining in the second quarter Green argued with officials that the Jazz Kyle Filipowski should have been called for a three second violation while continuing to argue the Jazz Lauri Markkanen hit a short basket was given a technical foul and then a second technical and was ejected. Is Green so important to the team that it’s worth the sacrifice of his ejections that they’ve kept him around all this time?

#5 Turning to baseball and the Sacramento A’s. The A’s will be playing in Las Vegas for one week in June a regular season series against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds at their triple A affiliates’ minor league park. Will the week in Vegas give the A’s an idea who will be interested in the team in the Vegas market?

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

Sac Kings Podcast: Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star talks lottery pick Lauri Markkanen

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Pascoe

Bruce Pascoe is a Senior Sports Reporter for the Arizona Daily Star/Tucson.com. In that capacity, he had the opportunity to get up close and personal with Arizona Wildcat Lauri Markkanen who is projected to be a top 10 NBA Lottery pick.

Markkanen card

Many of the Mock Drafts have the big Finnish power forward going the Sacramento Kings with their number 10 pick in the draft. Since the big seven-footer from Finland could be one of the next members of the rebuilding Kings, we thought you would like to know more about him.

Bruce and I talk about:

  • His character
  • How Markkanen has adjusted to life in the USA
  • How involved his family is in his career
  • His strengths and weaknesses on offense
  • Markkanen’s defense
  • His ability to handle adversity
  • and more

Bruce has covered the Arizona program for years and has a real some insights that I am sure you will enjoy. It will be 15 minutes well spent.

I also got Bruce to comment on the rumors that Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller might be interested in the vacant head coaching job at Ohio State where he was once an assistant coach.

Hope you enjoy the show.

 

Rumor: Kings have a Fox crush; willing to trade two #1 picks to move up in draft

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

by Charlie O. Mallonee

fox

According to a report from Chad Ford of ESPN, the Sacramento Kings really see De’Aaron Fox of Kentucky as their point guard of the future. The Kings have been looking for a point guard they can build around since trading away Isaiah Thomas in 2014 (the Thomas trade was made by the previous basketball operations management).

Fox – a “one and done” star point guard – was a standout at Kentucky for John Calapari averaging 16.7 points per game and 4.6 assists per game. He is a 52-percent shooter from 2-point range but just a 25-percent shooter form 3-point land. To his credit, Fox’s 3-point shooting did improve considerably late in the season and during the NCAA Tournament.

Because of his talent and speed, Fox is most often compared to Kentucky basketball great John Wall now of the Washington Wizards. Who wouldn’t want the next John Wall on your team? However, how many championships has John Wall won? That would be none. He has helped lead his team into the playoffs but the goal is also a ring and a banner.

What is Fox worth?

fox detail

The real question is – how much is too much to give up for a player like Fox? Two number one draft picks is too much for a team like the Kings. They have so many needs and having two lottery picks in the most talented draft in decade is not a situation to be squandered. Sacramento needs depth and they have the chance to add young talent that they can have under team control for years to come.

There are two top rated point guards that will be available when the Kings select at number five if Fox is gone. Dennis Smith out of North Carolina State who averaged 18.1 ppg and 6.2 apg will almost certainly be there, and maybe the most intriguing player in the draft will also be there as well.

18-year old point guard Frank Ntilikina who plays in France and who is the “darling of Europe” will be available. Ntilikina is 6-foot-5 “pass first” point guard. He was the European junior player of the year. At just 18, Ntilikina is not considered NBA ready and he is seen as a high risk/high reward selection, but who doesn’t want a 6-foot-5 point guard?

In order to take one of these two point guards, the Kings might need to select them a little higher than they are currently ranked. There is no problem with that. Sometimes, you have to draft for need instead of just drafting the next best player available. That type of creative thinking would allow the Kings to keep both of their lottery picks.

Why are the Kings so concerned?

fox cal

The Kings are getting nervous because the Lakers are making noise about not taking Ball (would you want to deal with his father?), Philly really needs to think backcourt players, Phoenix has interest in Fox (why they would draft another guard would a mystery but they are the Suns).

The danger for the Kings is they are about to become the Chicago Bears of the NBA Draft. Every team would like to have two lottery picks and might be willing to entertain a deal. Sports professionals everywhere are laughing at the Bears because the 49ers snookered them out of an extra draft pick for nothing. The Kings need to be very careful not to make the very same mistake.

Who can the Kings get with the number 10 pick?

markkanen

The Kings are projected to have some very interesting possible selections at the number 10 spot. Arizona power forward Lauri Markkanen has been projected to be there. He has been labeled as a Ryan Anderson type player. Center/power forward Zach Collins from Gonzaga is seen as a 10 pick. The very talented small forward Justin Jackson from North Carolina could be there at number 10. If Rudy Gay opts out, the Kings will need someone at the three spot. Jonathan Issac out of Florida State is also a possibility.

On June 22, the Sacramento Kings have the opportunity to change the fortunes of the franchise for the next decade. The brain trust in the basketball operations department led by Vlade Divac cannot afford to take a swing and miss. They must hit a home run with both of their lottery draft selections on that franchise changing night.