For the Sacramento Kings, it’s time to hit the panic button… but which one?
Dec 1, 2021, 11:31 AM | Updated: 11:33 am
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
“We have a lot of talent, but we don’t have that consistency night in and night out from our best players.”
That was former King and current analyst Matt Barnes after the Kings suffered an inexcusable–-albeit predictable–blowout loss to the Lebron-less Lakers by a final of 117-92 in front of a crowd at Golden 1 Center that was full of obnoxious Lakers fans and apathetic Kings fans.
Barnes isn’t lying when he says the roster is talented. De’Aaron Fox is in the first year of a max deal and was (is?) expected to compete for a spot in this year’s all-star game. Buddy Hield is the second-best three-point shooter in the game next to a guy named Steph in San Francisco. Harrison Barnes is a solid, playoff-tested veteran that would start on most teams in the NBA. Richaun Holmes is considered one of the best values in the league.
Now look at the box score from last night: Fox shot the ball only 9 (NINE!?) times, elite three-point shooter Buddy Hield was 1/6 from beyond the arc, Harrison Barnes was hurt, and Richaun Holmes had 27 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks while shooting 92% from the field.
This box score mirrors so many others: when one or two core guys play well, the other two or three stink.
INCONSISTENT.
So how do you solve that problem? You make some big changes to the core of the roster. Problem solved right? Well, not exactly. There are two realistic paths moving forward: continue to push for the playoffs or blowup and start over, again.
Let’s examine the latter first, since from a basketball standpoint it makes the most sense.
Many onlookers–including myself–thought it was best that the Kings cash out their veteran assets last trade deadline in exchange for younger assets and/or draft picks.
You’ve probably been told this once or a million times, but this is how small market teams that can’t attract free agents rebuild. It’s a cliché at this point, but one that is also correct.
The Kings have failed to do this over the last 15 years, but that can’t be held against current General Manager Monte McNair. He should have been allowed to rebuild the roster from the bottom up with the coach of his choice. Instead, ancillary moves were made at the deadline to push for the “play-in tournament” (like getting into that four-team field would have been some sort of accomplishment).
Furthermore, instead of starting fresh this season with a new coach and making wholesale changes in the offseason, more moves were made on the periphery and Luke Walton was said to be the coach that will get this team back in the playoffs. Well, we all know how that has turned out so far.
Ownership needs to give McNair a mulligan and allow him to start from scratch, as much as they and the fanbase don’t want to sit through another rebuild.
But given the well-documented history of this ownership group’s impatience, coupled with a fan base that is preparing for year 16 with no playoffs and seemingly checking out on the team until they show a pulse, I get the feeling that blowing it up is not a realistic option at this point.
So where does that leave us? Option two: make a huge trade for a piece that will seemingly push you into the playoffs. But at what cost?
The Kings have intriguing pieces that can contribute to really good teams. All four “core” players mentioned above, along with second-year guard Tyrese Haliburton and rookie Davion Mitchell will garner interest, but how much? On top of that, in order to trade for a “star,” which is exactly what the Kings will be attempting to do, said star has to be available.
Fans on social media lose their minds that the Kings haven’t pulled off a trade yet, but rooting for such a failed franchise for so long blinds you to some common-sense truths. The biggest one? The majority of NBA teams haven’t finished evaluating their roster and are still figuring out the roster’s trajectory 22 games into the season, a practice very foreign to fans in Sacramento.
A star may not be available at the deadline.
But let’s say one does become available. What does that trade package look like for the Kings?
Purely as a thought exercise, let’s say the Blazers realize they have to move on from Dame Lillard and he’s put on the trade market. Rest assured the Kings will want to be involved. Does De’Aaron Fox, Marvin Bagley’s expiring, and four first-round picks (or a combo of picks and swaps) get the deal done?
Maybe.
But let’s pretend–again–as a thought exercise, that it does. Lillard has two years left on his deal after this season, and would certainly have the Kings in playoff contention. He’ll be the leader this team needs, no doubt. But is he really trying to stick around Sacramento for the rest of his career?
My guess is no, which would leave the Kings without draft assets to properly rebuild upon his departure. However, that’s a problem it seems like ownership and the front office are willing to gamble on at this point.
Right now, in my opinion, the focus with the Sacramento Kings is the immediate future, and finding a way to make this team relevant again. Not just in the NBA, but in their own city.
Strap in Kings fans, this ride promises to be bumpy and full of surprises.
