After ending their horrible playoff drought within the 2022-23 season, the Kings of Sacramento received two fewer video games and missed the playoffs the next yr. Now, greater than 5 months after their heartbreaking loss within the Play-In event, how do the Kings look?
With coaching camp underway, we lastly get a great take a look at this revamped Sacramento lineup. The low season acquisition of six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan can’t be understated, whereas retaining his core of gamers together with re-signing star sixth man Monk Malik.
ESPN Kevin Pelton predicts the Kings will enhance their document this season, with a median projection of 49.4 wins, fourth highest within the Western Convention.
Pelton’s high six projections for the Western Convention:
1. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (53.7)
2. Memphis Grizzlies (51.1)
3. Dallas Mavericks (49.7)
4. Sacramento Kings (49.4)
5. Denver Nuggets (47.4)
6. Phoenix Suns (45.4)
Whereas his projections present the Kings profitable almost 50 video games, which might be their most in twenty years, Pelton remains to be not all-in on Sacramento.
“The query is whether or not these gamers will slot in as nicely on the sector on condition that DeRozan, like De’Aaron Fox and sixth man Malik Monk, is finest with the ball in his palms,” Pelton writes. “I stay skeptical that the Kings can end this excessive within the West.”
In two seasons in Sacramento, head coach Mike Brown received 48 and 46 video games, respectively. With arguably essentially the most gifted crew he is had throughout his tenure, what’s stopping Brown and the Kings from reaching 50?
Many skeptics level to Sacramento’s lack of protection, because the addition of DeRozan is extra of an offensive transfer. The emergence of Keon Ellis, who deserved his place in beginning lineup to begin the yr, and the defensive enhancements of Keegan Murray, De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis must be sufficient to bolster at the very least a top-15 NBA protection.
The Western Convention is so aggressive that no playoff berth is assured, however the Kings have put themselves in a major place to succeed among the many league’s finest.
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