In anticipation of the Kings returning to NBA action against the Spurs on July 31, James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area analyzes the team’s full 17-man roster. The team will begin practicing in tandem after the squad arrives at the Orlando Disney World campus next week.
Sacramento big man Marvin Bagley III, injured for most of the season, and newly inked guard Corey Brewer are considered intriguing “wild card” pieces to the Kings puzzle. With a 28-36 record, the Kings are currently on the outside of the playoff hunt looking in.
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- Suns All-Star Devin Booker deserves to shoulder little blame should Phoenix miss the playoffs in the NBA’s season restart, according to Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. Rankin posits that, with Booker having elevated his play this season, the front office deserves much of the blame for his surrounding teammates. Center Deandre Ayton, drafted ahead of All-Stars Luka Doncic and Trae Young in 2018, has been putting up solid counting statistics this season, but has yet to live up to his billing as a No. 1 pick.
- Lakers All-Star big man Anthony Davis considers the long league layoff to be beneficial to his club’s title hopes, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “I think our chances are higher just because we’re all rested and we’re all ready to go,” Davis said while addressing reporters during a video conference yesterday. Davis and fellow All-Star starter LeBron James have been instrumental in leading the 49-14 Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference. The team boasts top-five ratings in offense and defense this season.
- Kings bench swingman Kent Bazemore, currently playing out the final season of a four-year, $70MM contract, has indicated that he would like to re-sign in Sacramento for next season and beyond, according to James Ham of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link). Bazemore was traded to Sacramento from Portland in January. In 21 games with his new team, he has averaged 10.3 PPG, while shooting 42.6% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range, plus 5.0 RPG, 1.1 APG and 1.2 SPG.
How likely do you think Suns will trade Booker to Wolves？
James Johnson and 3 picks this year and anyone role players Suns like
I think they will trade booker around 2022 if he was really unhappy. This isn’t that great if a draft, they don’t really have any young prospects for him to poison the well with, if they don’t have him they don’t have a reason to draw any crowd, and he just recently signed a 5 year extension.
Instead of Johnson I would think any Booker to the Wolves trade would include a sign and trade with Beasley. Wolves would also have to include Okgie, Culver with those picks
I would probably put the percentage of that actually happening somewhere between 1% and -1%.
Bazegod really that dude don’t sleeeep
Bazemore looked so good two years ago with Atlanta when he shot 39% from three-point range. He was awful in Portland, but since he got traded to Sacramento his shooting has gotten a lot better. Maybe the Kings can figure things out next season and try to compete for a playoff spot in the highly competitive Western conference.
He probably got discouraged by feeling un-preferred in Atlanta, being considered replaceable, by a new ownership looking to run the GSW formula and drafting Huerter.
In Sacto he is on the way up with opportunity… the new Shumpert (finally).
Bazemore is replaceable. He is definitely not a star. Ownership has nothing to do with it.
People fit into different situations differently. Their quality values will change.
Look at Bazemore career stats. I can’t see how he got 70 mill. He did have a nice run. But he is not worth that money. Another example of players playing for a contract. All NBA teams have to cautious. Who they give money to. It can tie you up for yrs.
Kings being healthy means a lot. With all these players testing positive. Teams that are healthy and strong. Will go along way. Like Denver is not getting out of this. They could lose 1st rd. Lakers without Howard will hurt. Teams who have all their players and healthy. Follow protocol everyone. Will have best chance in these playoffs.