One of many surest issues in main skilled sports activities was a dropping season for the Kings.
After making the playoffs eight consecutive seasons through the late Nineties and early 2000s, the Kings have been annual guests to the lottery. They missed the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons, lastly ending that drought through the 2022/23 marketing campaign.
Sacramento was eradicated within the opening spherical by the Warriors however did not construct off that breakthrough season. The Kings have been relegated to the play-in match final season, knocking out the Warriors earlier than getting bounced by the Pelicans.
Expectations of a significant roster shakeup this offseason have been shortly squashed. As an alternative, the Kings primarily settled for the established order, save for one huge addition. They acquired DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade and dealt away Harrison Barnes within the course of.
DeRozan slots in to the small ahead spot and, no less than from an offensive standpoint, the Kings ought to pack loads of punch. DeRozan, maybe the league’s most famous midrange scorer, averaged 24 factors and 5.3 assists for the Bulls final season. He turned 35 this month however he stays an offensive pressure.
He joins a lineup that options De’Aaron Fox (26.6 factors, 5.6 assists) and Domantas Sabonis (19.4 factors, 8.2 assists). Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter spherical out that unit and Sacramento additionally shelled out huge bucks (4 years, $78MM) to retain sixth man Malik Monk.
Sacramento made comparatively minor additions to its bench, selecting up Jordan McLaughlin, Jalen McDaniels and Orlando Robinson by way of free company or commerce. The Kings suffered a troublesome blow when first-round choose Devin Carter suffered a extreme shoulder harm that might maintain him out for all the season.
The Kings have been among the many prime 10 in scoring and subject aim share final season, although oddly on the backside in free throw share. What held them again was a protection that ranked twenty first in subject aim share and second-to-last in 3-point share.
That brings as much as right now’s matter: The place do you suppose the Kings rank within the Western Convention pecking order? Did the acquisition of DeMar DeRozan transfer them into the highest six within the convention? What else do they should do to develop into critical contenders?
Please take to the feedback part to weigh on this matter. We look ahead to your enter.
