Will the Kings Have a Bottom-Three Record Next Season?
· Yahoo Sports
The Sacramento Kings could be in deep trouble next season, as they should worry about draft relegation with the new "3-2-1" lottery reform rules kicking in.
Teams that finish with a bottom-three record are punished with two lottery balls and a 5.4% chance to land the No. 1 pick. It's an anti-tanking system encouraging organizations out of the playoff race to compete and win games.
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Sacramento has not been in a position to upgrade its team, like the Brooklyn Nets have this offseason. The veteran's minimum is the only spending power general manager Scott Perry has to sign free agents.
It's even impacted their ability to retain players, like veteran guard Russell Westbrook. Perry isn't in a position to lose valuable players and have few options to replace them.
The Kings are essentially heading into next season with the same roster, only adding rookies. Last season, they finished with a 22-60 record, which was tied for fourth-worst with the Utah Jazz.
It's a possibility the team finishes with a similar record and lands in the "draft relegation zone."
Injuries played a significant role in a dismal record. Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis underwent season-ending surgeries, Keegan Murray dealt with lingering ankle issues, and an eye injury limited DeAndre Hunter to two games in a Kings uniform post-trade deadline.
Sacramento's roster is flawed, too, as most of the players are offensively oriented. LaVine is a prolific scorer, as he can shoot the ball (39% from three) and has the athleticism to blow by defenders. Sabonis is an offensive hub with his passing ability, creating separation through screens and finding open, cutting teammates.
There is little defense offered, which is a concern. The team allowed 121 points, fourth-worst in the league, and 0.5 points fewer than the Chicago Bulls.
Last season's record landed them the seventh overall pick, in which they selected Darius Acuff Jr. The franchise will prioritize his development, but it comes at the worst time.
In previous years, the Kings could focus on Acuff's growth while tanking for a top pick. Now, he's thrust into a situation where he has to contribute to help his team avoid the relegation zone.
The new lottery reform makes it tough for bad teams to improve. Sometimes, teams aren't purposefully tanking; injuries can derail a season, as it did for Sacramento.
While the organization was rewarded for it last season, next season won't be the same. Perry must kick it into overdrive to quickly rebuild his team.
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