Tom Haberstroh of ESPN says the Sacramento Kings could potentially be a super team. Yeah, it sounds ludicrous (not the rapper), but honestly, could it happen?
When I first read the article, I was not shocked at all that the Sacramento Kings were mentioned to become a super team. Instead, I felt delighted at the thought that the Kings, the same team that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2006, could become one of the best teams in the NBA! So readers, how in the world could this possibly happen? That’s a fantastic question! Check out this slideshow to find out!
Through Trades
You can’t talk about the Kings becoming a super team if you do not talk about the DMC trade. Face it, as good as DeMarcus Cousins is, there was no way the Kings could go anywhere with him as the face of their franchise. So how can you solve that problem? Well, one way is by trading him. As we all know, Cousins was the centerpiece in the blockbuster trade that saw him heading to the New Orleans Pelicans on All-Star weekend.
In return, the Kings received Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans (all around me are familiar faces), Langston Galloway and a 2017 first round and second round pick (via 76ers). The latter two players left in free agency but it’s not like they were part of the team’s long-term plans. The real assets the Kings needed from the trade were Buddy Hield and the first round pick which later turned into two first round picks.
This is where the reload (not rebuild) mode started to take place. Again, we know the Kings drafted De’Aaron Fox, Justin Jackson, Harry Giles and Frank Mason. Jackson and Giles came to Sacramento after the Kings traded the #10 overall pick to Portland for the #15 and #20 selections. Yet again, we see a trade involved that brings in two potential-filled prospects.
Now the Kings have their roster the way they wanted it to be. The only person I honestly wouldn’t mind being traded is Kosta Koufos but that’s a whole different topic.
Via trade, the Kings brought in valuable assets to commence a “potential” super team. It isn’t as big as the Boston Celtic trades (the 2008 champion team), but that’s two different comparisons. The Celtics traded to be immediate title contenders, but the Kings traded for the future.
Through the NBA Draft
This is a relatively easy question to answer. Yes. The Kings are surely building through the draft. After many failed prospects in Thomas Robinson, Jimmer Fredette, Nik Stauskas, Ben McLemore (although he definitely improved last season), and plenty more, the culture is changing in Sacramento.
Dating back to 2015, the Kings selected Willie Cauley-Stein with the #6 overall pick. Fast forward to today, he’s the longest tenured King on the roster. No doubt has Cauley-Stein improved after the Cousins trade, and this is a big year for him. He is the center for the future and one of many talents selected via the draft.
In 2016, we saw Georgios Papagiannis enter the mix controversially, but Papa G is a solid backup option, and if properly developed, he can become a great role player in the future (you need those if you want a super team).
Furthermore, we saw Malachi Richardson and Skal Labissiere also become Kings through the draft. If healthy, Richardson can become a dangerous shooter, and with his 6’6″ height, it makes him either a shooting guard or small forward. Skal definitely rose to the occasion after the Cousins trade, but even with a rough summer league, he can become the power forward the Kings are so desperately looking for.
In 2017, we saw a plethora of rookies join the Kings. De’Aaron Fox and Frank Mason are the point guards for the future while Justin Jackson could become the long-term small forward. If healthy, Giles can form a solid duo with Skal as the two power forwards.
Not to forget, Bogdan Bogdanovic finally came to the NBA and signed a big contract with the Kings, making him the most expensive rookie in NBA history. Now Kings fans are praying he turns out to be even better than his contract because he surely has the potential!
And who knows who the Kings select in future drafts, but man the last few drafts have been immense.
Building through the draft could be the most significant way the Kings can become a super team. And they wouldn’t be the first team to do it. The Warriors have done it with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green as their biggest stars and many forget the Oklahoma City Thunder built their roster through the draft too. Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Serge Ibaka and James Harden were all drafted by the Sonics/Thunder. We can only hope a breakup like OKC’s doesn’t happen to the Kings.
Through Free Agency
Every team needs their share of free agents. The Miami Heat instantly formed a super team when they added LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade. However, I don’t see the Kings doing it that way. With numerous youngsters on the roster, the Kings played free agency smart and brought in key veterans who could do more than just play. The Kings signed George Hill, Zach Randolph and Vince Carter this summer to also be mentors.
The Kings will have plenty of cap space to sign veterans of need and potentially some high-caliber players (2019, I’m looking at you). Free agency is the best and sometimes guaranteed way to address needs because you never know how rookies will turn out, and the Kings have done just that this past summer.
If they continue to pull the right cards, the Kings could start to attract high-profile free agents just like the Warriors with Kevin Durant. Most Warrior fans wouldn’t even know they were horrific, and wait for it, garbage, before the 2012-2013 season.
Cutting Deadwood
As someone who knows a lot about soccer, I cannot stress the importance of cutting deadwood enough. I’m not going to kick in my soccer acumen, but what good is keeping a player that doesn’t benefit you? This past offseason, the Kings surely chopped that deadwood. Anthony Tolliver? Released. Arron Afflalo? Also suffered the same fate (he’s still valuable, just not to us). The Kings made the right moves by not bringing back Ben McLemore, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, Darren Collison, Ty Lawson and Rudy Gay. Rudy Gay was a player that was supposed to help elevate the Kings to the next level, but no matter what, the Kings couldn’t win with him.
Cutting deadwood saves you money to go out and get guys that will actually benefit your team. The players that left were all talented, but the Kings don’t need them with who they have now.
The Wrap Up
Imagine if the majority of the youngsters pan out for the Kings. Imagine a depth chart that looks like this in the future:
PG- De’Aaron Fox, Frank Mason III
SG- Buddy Hield, Malachi Richardson
SF- Justin Jackson, Bogdan Bogdanovic?
PF- Skal Labissiere, Harry Giles Jr.
C- Willie Cauley-Stein, Georgios Papagiannis
I can’t predict who else will be there but just imagine once the youngsters have more experience under their belts. Is that a super team enough for you?
For those that stayed and read this all the way, I hope you enjoyed!