One of the surest things in major professional sports was a losing season for the Kings.
After making the playoffs eight consecutive seasons during the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Kings were annual visitors to the lottery. They missed the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons, finally ending that drought during the 2022/23 campaign.
Sacramento was eliminated in the opening round by the Warriors but failed to build off that breakthrough season. The Kings were relegated to the play-in tournament last season, knocking out the Warriors before getting bounced by the Pelicans.
Expectations of a major roster shakeup this offseason were quickly squashed. Instead, the Kings essentially settled for the status quo, save for one big addition. They acquired DeMar DeRozan in a sign-and-trade and dealt away Harrison Barnes in the process.
DeRozan slots in to the small forward spot and, at least from an offensive standpoint, the Kings should pack plenty of punch. DeRozan, perhaps the league’s most noted mid-range scorer, averaged 24.0 points and 5.3 assists per game for the Bulls last season. He turned 35 this month but he remains an offensive force.
He joins a lineup that features De’Aaron Fox (26.6 PPG, 5.6 APG) and Domantas Sabonis (19.4 PPG, 8.2 APG). Keegan Murray and Kevin Huerter round out that unit and Sacramento also shelled out big bucks (four years, $78MM) to retain sixth man Malik Monk.
Sacramento made relatively minor additions to its bench, picking up Jordan McLaughlin, Jalen McDaniels and Orlando Robinson via free agency or trade. The Kings suffered a tough blow when first-round pick Devin Carter suffered a severe shoulder injury that could keep him out for most or all of his rookie season.
The Kings were among the top 10 in scoring and field goal percentage last season, though oddly at the bottom in free throw percentage. What held them back was a defense that ranked 21st in field goal percentage and second-to-last in 3-point percentage.
That brings up to today’s topic: Where do you think the Kings rank in the Western Conference pecking order? Did the acquisition of DeRozan move them into the top six in the conference? What else do they need to do to become serious contenders?
Please take to the comments section to weigh on this topic. We look forward to your input.
They aren’t starting huerter over Ellis.
DeRozan is a great player but Barnes is a better fit. With Sabonis’ elbow and post passing and Fox’s drives they need multiple guys that are willing to take and knock down shots. DeRozan also isn’t going to help on defense and while Barnes struggled somewhat on that end last season he’s still better than DeRozan. If Morant’s back to full strength then they are in the range of 9-10 seed.
Harrison Barnes is and always has been a limited player. He’s just a guy out there who won’t hurt you but gets the job done in a mediocre way. He’ll hit the shot Etc, play decent defense and grab some boards, and he’s consistent.
But DeRozan can win a ball game for you. The kings are much improved just on that transaction alone.
But I don’t know why they didn’t try to improve elsewhere. Is DeRozan enough?
Everyone in the west has improved. Going to be a dog fight. As nrg82 says below, Kings could finish anywhere from 4th to I think perhaps out of the playoffs. That’s how stacked the West is.
Barnes sucked and would disappear from entire games. No impact on offense or defense. They know Derozan can get a bucket and rarely is MIA multiple games in a row.
DeRozan is just doubling down on what they already had. They have that guy can get you buckets. De’Aaron Fox is one of the best clutch guys in the game and Monk is no slouch either. They struggled on defense and DeRozan doesn’t help there, they also struggled from deep and DeRozan doesn’t like taking threes. I’m not saying Barnes is the better player as he’s not but he takes and makes threes and matches up better on defense against a wider range of players than DeRozan does. $25 million per is lot for a guy that doesn’t make your team better. They could’ve tried to outbid Philly for KCP as he’s only making $22 or made a play for Brett Brown.
Kings struggled last season to have consistent offense. They often had several minute lulls where nobody got a bucket. Barnes didn’t create offense, he just waited for someone to get him the ball when he was at the 3pt line. He also didn’t take shots when a defender was within 3-5 feet. It bogged things down.
DeRozan will remedy that by getting a good shot when he wants. He also takes pressure off Fox to be the primary scorer and relied upon to be the main the scorer at the end of the game.
DeRozan is a much better player than Barnes.
KCP went to Orlando…
You mean Bruce Brown? Brett Brown was a coach…
They were paying Barnes basically the same and he can’t create offense, they lost Monk to injury and their offense was bad. Huerter was out too but if that happens now they have Demar who they can trust. Huerter is inconsistent for them and they won’t close the games out with him. .
Still the same as last year w/ DeRo, Carter & their young guys getting better?!
Anywhere from 4th via winning the Pacific or play in going off last season.
They need a great start or the media will start a trade Fox campaign.
Clippers take step back.
LAL older not better
GSW needs those younger guys to step up, but not seeing them better.
Suns are small so Sabonis can get 20-20 games, Nurk isn’t good enough to play big minutes.
Keegan has to make leap on defense and rebounding. He is the 4th option but can be a 3rd on some nights.
Trade Huerter and Lyles for a veteran PF next to Sabonis who can start, play defense, shoot 3s and block shots.
Murray’s turn to be sixth man of the year. Shooting 3’s at a high rate coming off the bench. Murray would start next year. Mini and Murray coming into the game with others.
This team would be perfect.
Monk*
Mini Monk, the 6-3 shooting guard.
Would like John Collins if he played D better, he checks a lot of those boxes, but has attitude concerns also
I wanted a older veteran but I do like this idea
15. Blazers
14. Jazz
13. Clippers (Kwahi to IR, harden+tucker to Miami for Herro)
12. Grizzlies
11. Rockets
10. Kings
9. Pels
8. Suns
7. Whoriors
6. Lakers
5. Twolves
4. Mavs
3. Nuggers
2. Spurs
1. OKC
OKC-Mavs
Whoriors – Lakers
OKC – Lakers
OKC
15. Peestons
14. Nyets
13. Weezards
12. Bulls***
11. Raptors
10. Hawk Tuas
9. Hornies
8. Heat
7. Fever
6. Cabs
5. Magic
4. 7Embiichers
3. Buck Rivers
2. Knickers
1. Cuntics
Heat-76ers
Knicks-Bucks
Knicks – Heat
Knicks
OKC
GS & LA 6th and 7th but Kings and Memphis at 10th, 12th…No WAY
The Kings need a Wing that can Rebound and Block Shots and a #5 that does the same thing. if they could pry away Miles Turner or Clint Capella, then they could move Sabonis to PF and Murray to SF. DeRozen would be better at SG. Use Huerter as Trade Bait attached to a 1st rnd Pick. My Opinion, they rely too much on the Three instead of pushing it into the paint and collecting fowls.
Possible New Starting Line Up :
—————————————
PF 6-11 Sabonis
SF 6-8 Murray
C Turner / Capella
SG 6-6 DeRozen
PG 6-3 Fox
—————————————
2nd Unit :
————
PF 6-9 Lyles
SF 6-9 McDaniels
C 7-0 Len
SG 6-5 Monk
PG 6-3 Carter (IL) / 6-1 McGlaughlin
—————————————
Sabonis and Turner was not an effective duo when in Indiana.
And Indiana just traded for Pascal Siakam, who looked like a perfect fit next to Turner, and the pair got them to the ECF. The Pacers would be looking to add to their core, not trade pieces off.
Different Team, Different System, Different Team Mates, Different Coach, etc. Not the same as there.
Need an athletic PF like Josh Smith next to Domas, that can block shots & play D. Guys like that are hard to find though.
I am no Nostradamus but I am predicting a season with bad spacing and bad defense, doesnt seem like a recipe for success in the 2020s (maybe in the 2000s they would have won the ring!)
Kings have Keon, Keegan & Fox who are really good defenders, then throw Carter into the mix. Len & McLaughlin are two of the highest ratest guys in the L…and Lyles isn’t too shabby defensively either. They will be fine on D. Only below average defenders really are Huerter, Domas, Monk & Deebo.