(Amber Matsumoto/Yahoo Sports Illustration)
The 2024-25 NBA season begins. We break down the biggest questions, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy prospects for all 30 teams. enjoy!
sacramento kings
2023-24 season ends
off season moves
Added: DeMar DeRozan, Jalen McDaniels, Devin Carter, Jordan McLaughlin, Orlando Robinson
Subtraction: Harrison Barnes, Chris Duarte, Davion Mitchell, Sasha Vezenkov, Kessler Edwards
complete roster
The big question: Does DeMar bring enough talent to them?
When the Kings finally ended their 16-year postseason drought, they did it on the strength of an elite offense that ranks as one of the most efficient per-possession offenses of all time. But Sacramento’s rise comes amid a fluid conference landscape. Many star players, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Zion Williamson, have missed full-time playing time due to injury. . Some existing powerhouse teams have revised their rosters. Some startups had yet to rebuild.
All of that uncertainty left the door unlocked, and the likes of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and head coach Mike Brown kicked it down. But last season, 10 of the West’s other 14 teams increased their win totals as many of those stars returned and newcomers like Oklahoma City and Houston made strides. Seven of those games were better than Sacramento’s 48 wins in the 2022-23 season. Seven of those teams had higher offensive ratings than the Kings, whose selling point was lighting up the scoreboard (and beams).
There were other factors as well. The opponent was better prepared for an attack that relied heavily on dribbling and handoffs. Byrnes and Kevin Harter (rehabilitating surgically repaired labrum). Injury luck worsened. Decrease in free throw attempt rate and shots near the rim. But for the most part, Sabonis and Fox combined for about 5,600 minutes of All-Star/All-NBA level ball, and that’s pretty much how Brown moves from No. 3 to No. 9, even though he appeased the Kings’ first top spot. There was a rising tide of talent across the board, pushing the Kings out of the way.
Inquiries were reportedly made to the likes of Lauri Markkanen, Kyle Kuzma, and Brandon Ingram in search of more offensive power, and the team ended up averaging over 20 points per game for 11 consecutive seasons. He found DeRozan, a certified bucket getter. The 15-year veteran has given Brown the ability to be efficient, whether flying solo alone, paired with Sabonis or in two-man games with bench boss Malik Monk, who re-signed with the Foxes. Provides a new bridge to attacks.
Over the years, DeRozan has honed his game into a streamlined means of destruction. Since 2019, only 13 NBA players have averaged at least 20 points and five assists per game with a true shooting percentage (taking into account 2-point, 3-point and free throw accuracy) above .590. This list is essentially an entire NBA ballot. DeRozan is in it.
With his elite turnover rate and incredible durability (he missed just 50 games over the past nine years and led the league in minutes last season), and even at age 35, DeRozan has an incredible offensive Take into account being a player. His expertise in the dark art of pumping defenders into the air and coaxing contact should boost Sacramento’s free-throw attempt rate, which plummeted from fourth in 2022-23 to 25th last season. And his true performance in “clutch” situations where the score is within five points in the final five minutes should help an offense that has plummeted from first in crunch-time efficiency in 2022-23 to 18th last season. is.
Still, will that be enough to make up for the awkward fit of trading a low-usage, high-3-point shooting forward like Barnes for a high-use, non-shooting forward? It will be worth watching to see if Sabonis, who shot 36.4 percent from 3-point range as a King, starts to fly them at the high clip Brown hopes.
What about the likely defensive shortcomings of the Sabonis-DeRozan lineup? Much of the blame will go to the Foxes’ next potential starters, point-of-attack destroyer Keon Ellis, who was exposed midseason, and third-year forward Keegan Murray, who developed into a quality perimeter defender last season. It’s taking place. blank.
If Brown can strike the right balance, Sacramento’s fate will depend on whether Fox, Sabonis and DeRozan have enough firepower to survive on a field with so many hard hitters. The Kings need them to be great. In this Western world, “pretty good” is not enough.
best case scenario
Sabonis, DeRozan, Fox, and Monk share the scoring and playmaking responsibilities nicely. Murray and Huerter’s rebounding shooting seasons are the key to returning to top-five status offensively. Sacramento inherited a top-10 defense after the All-Star break, with Ellis and Murray establishing themselves as the West’s best perimeter stoppers. This combination is good enough for the franchise’s first 50-win season and first playoff series win since the Chris Webber trade.
If everything falls apart
The project of incorporating the more cautious DeRozan into Sacramento’s speed-up system proved difficult, leaving the Kings stuck between stations in search of an offensive identity. The defense has regressed to the bottom third of the league and has rested there for most of the past two decades. A slightly above average offense and a below average defense make for a very average team. It’s a team that can’t get out of the play-in mix, can’t get back to the postseason, and can’t give new belief to Beam enthusiasts in California’s capital. .
fantasy spin
The Kings have four players capable of ranking in the top 75 in fantasy. However, I think DeRozan’s addition will limit Murray’s rise and breakout potential. Murray is coming off a successful second-year campaign where he improved in nearly every category and saw his usage rate increase by 3% to 18%. Murray said his role is the same as last year, but going from being a third option to a fourth option will have to impact touches and chances.
Murray is still a 3-point specialist, but he can be more of an impact defensively. He is the best wing defender in Sacramento, so accumulating more stock could help counter any potential decline in offensive power. Murray’s 7th round ADP is solid, but even if he drops to 8th round, I’d be inclined to take action. — Dan Titus
2024-25 schedule
The Kings won 46 games despite barely hitting above .500 in clutch games, most of their key players are at or near their prime, and they just added an All-Star-caliber offensive weapon. Please stop it already. Lights up a furious beam.
