A Royal Pain
Fansided

Sacramento Kings: Reviewing The Team’s Offseason Actions

By Bobby Cummings

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 11: Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and Vice president Vlade Divac pose for a photo with Garrett Temple #17 of the Sacramento Kings after he is honored with the Annual Oscar Robertson Triple- Double Award prior to the game against the Houston Rockets on April 11, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 11: Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and Vice president Vlade Divac pose for a photo with Garrett Temple #17 of the Sacramento Kings after he is honored with the Annual Oscar Robertson Triple- Double Award prior to the game against the Houston Rockets on April 11, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – APRIL 28: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball against Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – APRIL 28: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball against Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics in Game Seven of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 28, 2018 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Kings-Bulls Dynamic

The Kings were in a perpetual dance this offseason with the Chicago Bulls. It all started with a coin flip to determine who would pick sixth and seventh in the NBA Draft. The Bulls won the coin flip and were slotted into the sixth spot based on the ping pong balls. Then the Kings got lucky and moved up to the second pick. After the draft, the two teams courted similar free agents.

First Vlade Divac and company decided it would be a good idea to offer restricted free agent Zach LaVine an offer sheet for four years and $78 million. Even though LaVine is coming off ACL surgery and poor play. According to ESPN real plus/minus statistic, he finished his 2017-18 season with a -3.3 real plus/minus. This was 471st out of 521 ranked NBA players. Thankfully the Bulls matched the Kings’ offer and Lavine will not be bringing his horrendous defense, way too high usage rate, and inefficient jump shooting to Sacramento.

Chicago was not done coming to the rescue. The Kings were seriously considering extending an offer to Jabari Parker. But again, the Bulls saved the day and offered Parker a two-year contract worth up to $40 million with a second-year option. Parker like LaVine is coming off ACL surgery. According to ESPN real plus/minus statistic, he finished his 2017-18 season with a -2.88 real plus/minus. This was 443rd out of 521 ranked NBA players. He just is not the type of player that invokes winning basketball. Parker when healthy is a good scorer, but defensively he is a major liability. Add in his injury history, the Kings’ logjam at Parker’s natural position (power forward), and the $20 million dollar price tag—the costs outweigh the benefits.

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