The Kings have started the 2019/20 season with a 1-5 record, making them one of the most underwhelming teams in the campaign’s first two weeks.
Sacramento opened the year losing by 29 in Phoenix, going home two days later to lose to Portland 122-112. The team then fell by a 113-81 margin to Utah the following day, lost 101-94 to Denver two days later, and lost 118-111 to Charlotte this past Wednesday.
“We know we signed up to be on this journey and grow this team and get this team back into the playoffs and all of that, and that’s what we’re going to do,” coach Luke Walton said, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. “It’s not the start we wanted, but the work that’s being done, I think, is the foundation for what’s going to get us there when we’re ready. And maybe…”
The Kings certainly have time to figure this out and correct their poor start, though they’ll have to do so without star forward Marvin Bagley III. Bagley is expected to miss at least three-to-five more weeks with a fractured right thumb.
“We’ll find out when we’re ready,” Walton admitted. “You know, there’s no way to know. But we’re going to keep pushing these guys, and growing these guys, making sure that we’re playing and continuing to understand what it takes to win at a consistent level in this league. It’s gonna happen.”
Sacramento could start the process by defeating the Knicks on Sunday, one of three other teams that own a 1-5 record on the season (Golden State, New Orleans).
Here are some other notes from the Pacific Division tonight:
- Warriors rookie Eric Paschall is beginning to look like a second-round steal, Anthony Slater writes for The Athletic. Paschall, who was drafted by Golden State with the No. 41 overall pick in June, has received more playing time in the wake of several injuries to key players. Paschall has made the most of his opportunity, scoring 13.8 points per game on 61% shooting in six contests.
- The Lakers are considering a sixth-man role for Kyle Kuzma, who remains on a minutes restriction as he returns from injury, Kyle Goon of the Orange County Register writes. However, head coach Frank Vogel refused to commit to anything just yet. “Sometimes it makes sense to have a guy coming off the bench filling that role, and sometimes it doesn’t,” Vogel said. “Sometimes it makes more sense to put him in the starting lineup. I don’t know the answer to that. It depends on each group. I have to see everybody play with each other, but there’s definitely value to that.”
- The Federal Aviation Adminstration has approved the Clippers’ plans for a new billion-dollar arena in Inglewood, Nathan Fenno of the Los Angeles Times writes. In their approval, it was confirmed that the 37 applications covering the majority of the proposed idea pose no hazards to aviation, Fenno notes. The Clippers are hoping to move into their new arena in 2024, the same year their lease at Staples Center expires.
Walton is a bad coach, just look at steve kerr without the starpower. Mark jackson should still have a job somewhere.
LOL – first you say Walton can’t coach and you’re only rationale for this absurd comment it is all because someone for whom he was an assistant (someone who has won multiple championships) is having difficulty coaching some 5 games into this season mostly due to his entire starting 5 from last year is gone,
The your solution is to claim that an individual who was fired from his last coaching gig because he wasn’t successful should still be coaching,
Don’t know what you’ve smoking, but Walton will be fine in Sacramento and Steve Kerr will be in the Hall of Fame before you win a championship coaching your son’s NJB team.
Nonsense. What do you expect Kerr to do with a roster full of low-end rookies and scrubs? Make the playoffs?
Guess Phil is also a bad coach since he had Kobe and Shaq.
Lakers should swap KCP and a second rounder for Trevor Ariza. Salaries don’t quite match but they can use Cousins exception of about 2 mil which might make it work. Ariza would be a fire 3 and D wing which would be a great fit.
Lakers could have a playoff 4th quarter line up of
LBJ, Green, Ariza, Kuzma and AD
Or the can get iggy for nothing.
Orr Iggy doesn’t get bought out and gets traded elsewhere.
No one’s going to trade for Iggy, that ain’t happening.
Iggy hasn’t been brought out yet and if he does who knows where he goes, I heard he was keen as on joining the rockets and he would fit well there. Ariza in a trade is a no risk move
Iggy would be smart to join the Rockets, no one in their right mind is going to join the Lakers. LA started 17-10 last season and went 20-35 the rest of the way, this year will be pretty much the same even though they should make the playoffs for the first time in forever.
My guess is that Pelinka stands with the current roster by or before trade deadline.
DMC is too much to lose ; even if it’s only restricted minutes in the past season.
I believe KCP head a no trade clause.
However I think just having this group together is beneficial to all in this current roster.
Lakers want Boogie back next year so he is unlikely to be traded
Why would anyone trade for an injured player like Boogie?
He will be a free agent next summer and get a minimum deal.