2016-17 NBA Season Preview: Sacramento Kings
Welcome to theScore's 2016-17 NBA preview, where you'll find comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams and storylines to watch this season.
Sacramento Kings
2015-16
| Record | Pacific | West | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33-49 | 3rd | 10th | N/A |
Offseason roundup
| Additions | Departures |
|---|---|
| Ty Lawson (vet minimum) | Quincy Acy (DAL) |
| Matt Barnes (2/$12M) | Seth Curry (DAL) |
| Garrett Temple (3/$24M) | Phil Pressey (waived) |
| Anthony Tolliver (2/$16M) | Rajon Rondo (CHI) |
| Arron Afflalo (2$25M) | |
| Skal Labissiere (draft) | |
| Isaiah Cousins (draft) | |
| Malachi Richardson (draft) |
Projected starting five
- PG Darren Collison
- SG Arron Afflalo
- SF Rudy Gay
- PF Willie Cauley-Stein
- C DeMarcus Cousins
Related: Kings remain mediocre heading into last dance with Boogie
Player to watch: DeMarcus Cousins
DeMarcus Cousins is pretty much the only reason to watch the Kings, but he alone is worth the price of admission.
In an age where point guards reign supreme, Cousins is a relic of an era gone by. He's the last dominant low-post center, and when he's locked in, motivated, and surrounded by shooters, there isn't a player in the league who can stop him.
Cousins had a stretch last season when he scored a combined 104 points in back-to-back games. He can score at will.
But the effort isn't always there, because the Kings have consistently surrounded him with subpar talent. And when things don't go his way, Cousins is prone to temperamental outbursts. He has lashed out at officials, reporters, opposing players, coaches, the front office - he's not afraid of anyone.
Boogie calls it like it is and won't suffer any fools. He's the show, and there's never a dull moment.
Season expectations
The Kings have relentlessly built toward contending for a low playoff seed, and, if everything works out, that will be their ceiling.
But in order for them to reach their potential, a few things need to go their way.
First and foremost, head coach Dave Joerger needs to win Cousins' trust. He's a clever tactician who accomplished great things with the Memphis Grizzlies, but all the tactics won't matter without the star player on board. The fact that Joerger isn't George Karl, who openly alienated his players, is a good start.
Second, Sacramento needs to find a capable point guard. They don't need a brilliant playmaker, because Cousins can handle that. All they need is someone who can defend their position, feed Cousins in the paint, and hit open shots.
However, there's no obvious candidate to fill that role. Darren Collison may be facing suspension after pleading guilty to domestic violence, Ty Lawson is coming off the worst season of his career, and everyone else after that is either unproven (Isaiah Cousins, Garrett Temple) or proven to be mediocre (Jordan Farmar).
If the Kings can accomplish these two things, they can count on a playoff appearance. But the past decade has proven that counting on this team for anything would be a foolhardy endeavor.