Here is all you need to know about last season’s Sacramento Kings – their streak of not making the playoffs has now increased to 16 years. From parting ways with coach Luke Walton to trading Marvin Bagley III to letting go of fan-favorite Tyrese Haliburton, the Kings gave their fans no shortage of reasons to watch something else. The process of winning back the fans starts now.
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Offseason Recap
The head coaching job will definitely be an upgrade compared to last year. New coach Mike Brown, a former assistant of the Golden State Warriors, will be making the short trip from San Francisco to Sacramento as he starts his new coaching gig. Brown will be bringing with him another former employee of the Warriors, Leandro Barbosa. Brown and Barbosa should be enough to change the leadership culture in the locker room.
In the 2022 NBA Draft a few months ago, the Kings took Keegan Murray, who has some upside based on his Summer League outings. Other newcomers include Malik Monk, Matthew Dellavedova, and Kevin Huerter. All of these new acquisitions should be solid and consistent contributors right away. Monk and Huerter are above-average shooters, while Dellavedova can provide hustle plays on both ends of the court.
The Starting Five
PG – De’Aaron Fox
SG – Kevin Huerter
SF – Harrison Barnes
PF – Keegan Murray
C – Domantas Sabonis
Monk used to be a teammate of Fox during their college days playing for the Kentucky Wildcats. That was not so long ago. Familiarity with one another could be a real strength here, and their confidence as a duo should take this team to the next level. Coach Brown should see to it that these two have increased playing time together.
They probably do not have the best frontcourt right now, but Sabonis should have no problem providing the inside points and rebounds for the team. He is usually automatic when it comes to getting a double-double and adding around five assists per game. Barnes, another frontcourt player, is still here to provide around 16 points per game and some valuable veteran leadership.
One Potential Move to Make
If they had to make one move, the team executives could bring in one more frontcourt player. Someone who can make an impact near the basket would be a welcome addition. We are talking about a center or power forward who can alter shots on defense and set hard screens on offense. They have enough help in the backcourt, so adding some interior toughness should be the next best move.
Season Outlook
Ending that long postseason drought has to be the team’s main objective for the upcoming season. When you’ve been down for so long, the only way left to go is up. If fans believe that, then exciting times should be coming soon for the Kings and their supporters, especially if they are hovering around that tenth spot in the Western Conference. Based on what we have seen in the past few years, anything can happen in the Play-in Tournament.
Season Prediction: 35-47, might make the Play-In Tournament
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