Improving The Sacramento Kings Player And Team Efficiency

Jun 3, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive during a press conference at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

When Sacramento Kings general manager Pete D’Alessandro took over for Geoff Petrie, it was clear he wanted to change one thing about the Kings – their efficiency.

Complete with a collection of misshaped building blocks, the Kings were among league worst in total efficiency. Offensively, the Kings weren’t awful but even on their best day, they never ranked higher than league average in efficiency – often times ranking near the bottom.

Shocking as it might be to some, Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins is oddly efficient despite a woeful shooting percentage for a player with his size and ability. The former Kentucky Wildcat ranked 28th in the league overall in PER (Player Efficiency Rating) and 25th overall in VA (Value Added). Cousins’ rankings on NBA.com were nearly identical, ranking 25th in the league overall for efficiency and ninth overall in a per 48 setting. Tyreke Evans was the next closest King, ranking 75th according to NBA.com.

The addition of point guard Greivis Vasquez should improve the Kings’ efficiency in a handful of ways, not only because of Greivis’ own efficiency but his ability to get others more involved in the offense and to get them in position to succeed, something the Kings struggled to do with their previous point guard merry-go-round.

Vasquez himself was ranked as the 69th most valuable player in the league according to ESPN while NBA.com ranked the former Maryland guard as the 53rd most efficient player in the league last year. Of course, those stats are simply reflections of their own statistical ability, not their ability to help others which is what good point guards do. Vasquez will undoubtedly improve the game of Kings on the floor with him, at least on the offensive side.

In addition to Vasquez, the Kings also brought in Carl Landry, most likely to replace a soon to be traded member of the Jason Thompson, Chuck Hayes, Patrick Patterson trio. Landry, like Vasquez, is one of the more efficient players in the league, ranking just ahead of fellow Sacramento King Isaiah Thomas in PER. In a 48 minute scenario, Landry would have ranked second on the Kings last year in efficiency. Fourth would have been Vasquez with Tyreke Evans sandwiched in the third spot.

While the Kings are certain to make more moves in the coming weeks and months to improve their team, they might not be the kind that snag the headlines. Sure, if the opportunity presents itself (and it very well might), the Kings wouldn’t have any problem making a blockbuster deal, but right now they’re assembling the foundation with high quality players who play the game with ease and efficiency. The time will come for a big name acquisition, but right now D’Alessandro is making sure the building blocks are in place when that situation presents itself.

Patience, is the key.