 Sacramento Kings 2009/2010 |
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Tyreke Evans brings some hope to Sac-Town, but the Kings are still a long ways away.
Offseason Moves
Money, money, money. The Kings don't have any, and don't appear to have much coming down the pipeline until the arena issue gets settled with either a new building or a relocation. As a result, they were reluctant to spend much this offseason, and we could easily see more salary dumping if things turn out as badly as they did a year ago.
Sacramento made some interesting moves in the draft, but their lone free-agent signing was a minimum-salaried player. At least they didn't take on any more bad contracts to mess up their future. As things stand now, Sacramento will be well under the salary cap a year from now, so if they get a stomach for spending again next summer, they can take a run at importing some high-price talent.
Drafted Tyreke Evans, Omri Casspi and Jon Brockman.
The Kings drafted Evans as a point guard, hoping he'd replace the ineffective Udrih, but on paper he looks a lot more like a shooting guard. He's a slasher who had low assist rates in college and stands 6-5; historically players of that ilk migrate to shooting guard within two years of entering the league. At any position, however, his quickness with the ball makes him a threat to become a big-time scorer, and as such he was one of the top prospects in the draft.
Casspi is an Israeli import who posted decent translated stats from Europe the past two seasons. He'll play right away as a combo forward off the bench. Along with tough, undersized second-round battler Brockman and renowned wildman Nocioni, it's hoped Casspi will improve Sacramento's toughness. The Kings were among the league's most lily-livered squads a year ago, a big reason they were so vulnerable in the paint.
Traded for Sergio Rodriguez.
Sacramento moved down eight spots in the draft to acquire Rodriguez from Portland, a deft move that gives the Kings a backup plan should Evans be found wanting at the point. Rodriguez struggled in Portland, but on an up-tempo team like Sacramento could bloom. He's had some of the highest assist ratios in basketball the past two years, but shooting, defense and turnovers have held him back.
Signed Sean May for the minimum.
Sacramento signed one free agent and it was to a minimum contact, but at least it was a fairly good gamble. May has been productive when he's played, but fell badly out of shape after undergoing knee surgery and has never been able to stay healthy for a full season. The Kings will give him a test drive and see if his knees can cope with the rigors of an NBA schedule; if not, they haven't lost much, but if he can knock down 18-footers and rebound the way he did in leading North Carolina to a national title, he'll provide a huge return on a minimal investment.
Signed Desmond Mason for the minimum.
Mason's deal isn't guaranteed and the Kings have 14 players under contract, meaning that Sacramento can wash their hands at any point before Jan. 15. It's highly likely they'll do so -- Mason is 32, performed horribly last year and hasn't played well since 2004-05, and it's not clear how he fits in on a rebuilding team.
Hired Paul Westphal.
Westphal isn't chock full of admirers around the league, but this was absolutely the right decision. Through his career, he's done one thing really well: develop young talent. Under his watch, Cedric Ceballos, Wesley Person, Richard Dumas, Elliot Perry, Michael Finley, Rashard Lewis, Ruben Patterson, and Shammond Williams all became full-time regulars, even though he was coaching veteran teams at the time.
Coaching a young team in the Kings, his ability to develop the kids should really shine. He's one of the few coaches willing to let young players play through their mistakes, which should prove especially beneficial for high-mistake pups like Rodriguez, Evans and Casspi.
Biggest strength: Wing scoring
The Kings have a lot of shortcomings, but one thing they don't lack for are skilled wing players at the offensive end. The best of the bunch is Martin, obviously, one of the most highly efficient scorers in league annals. Last year was his fourth consecutive campaign with a TS percent above 60, and he did it on a bad wheel while pumping in nearly 25 points a game. Now that he's back at full strength, he could be capable of even more this season. As awful as the Kings were last season, they were even worse (5-26) in the 31 games he missed.
Surrounding him are a few others capable of filling up the bucket. Evans has tremendous potential as a slashing scorer and could make immediate contributions, whether at the point or at shooting guard. Nocioni averaged a point every two minutes two years ago for the Bulls, and could put up similar numbers if placed in the same bench scoring role (he may start). Outside sniper Garcia is another Kings winger who makes shots and stretches defenses, while Casspi should also contribute based on his translated European numbers.
Additionally, the potential of a passing point guard to get these players the rock could add to the fun. Rodriguez floundered with a half-court team in Portland but could break out in a more up-tempo environment with the Kings, and if he does, the result will be more easy shots for their legions of wings.
All of this might not make the Kings a good team, or even a decent one. But watching their wing players fill it up may make the losing a little more palatable.
Biggest weakness: Defense
The Kings were the worst defensive team in the league last season and did virtually nothing to change that in the offseason. Look up and down the roster and you'll see virtually every player is a below-average defender. At the point, Udrih and Rodriguez struggle to contain dribble penetration. On the wings, nobody even remotely qualifies as a wing stopper who can play the Bryants and Wades of the league. The best offensive player, Martin, has been horrendous defensively, while of the others, only green rookie Evans has the physical skills that might eventually make him a decent stopper.
Up front it's a similar story. Thompson has trouble defending big 5s while Hawes and May are softer than a pod of lilies. That leaves the Kings doubling and scrambling against good post players, and since the perimeter players can barely guard their own man even without worrying about secondary help assignments, it blows open the whole defense.
The Kings at least tried to change the attitude on D by importing some skull-busters. Nocioni, Casspi and Brockman all are tough-as-nails, take-no-prisoner types who have never backed away from taking a hard foul. Unfortunately, none of them are equipped with the dexterity or leaping ability to contain quality scorers, and so they may do little to plug all the leaks in the Kings' defensive dyke.
Outlook
The Kings probably won't be quite as bad as they were a year ago. Up front, Thompson and Hawes should be a year bigger and stronger, plus we won't have any more foolishness with Thompson chasing small forwards through screens on the perimeter. Martin should be healthier than he was a year ago, and along with Evans gives the Kings a pair of go-to scorers -- two more than they had on many nights a year ago. Udrih and Garcia can produce satisfactory results in bench roles that are more in line with their skills, making the second unit stronger than it was a year ago.
Westphal should be worth a few wins as well, as he'll let the kids work through their mistakes and develop through game experience. Rodriguez and May are added wild cards who may give the Kings added production at two spots where they got little last season.
Nonetheless, it's a long way back from where the Kings are right now. It took several years of mismanagement to reach this lowly point, and they aren't gong to climb out overnight. As the season begins, they're the odds-on favorite to finish with the league's worst record.
Prediction: 22-60, 5th in Pacific Division, 15th in Western Conference.
40 Jon Brockman
18 Omri Casspi
33 Melvin Ely
13 Tyreke Evans
32 Francisco Garcia
20 Donte Greene
31 Spencer Hawes
23 Kevin Martin
24 Desmond Mason
42 Sean May
5 Andres Nocioni
10 Sergio Rodriguez
7 Lanny Smith
9 Kenny Thomas
34 Jason Thompson
19 Beno Udrih
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