The Sacramento Kings are entering the 2018-2019 season with a hole at the small forward position. So what are their solutions to this problem?
The Sacramento Kings are gambling big time entering the 2018-2019 season as they do not have a legit small forward for their starting lineup. With today’s NBA putting so much emphasis on wing players, this could cause huge problems for Sacramento in the near future.
The purple and white had chances to solve this issue during the offseason but were unable to capitalize on the opportunities. In this year’s draft, the Kings could have selected Luka Doncic who is considered one of the top players in his rookie class. But instead, they opted to go with Marvin Bagley III who has massive potential.
The Kings also had the chance to sign Mario Hezonja when free agency started. Vlade Divac and company had interest, but Hezonja ended up taking his talents to the Big Apple as he signed a one-year contract with the New York Knicks.
Is There A Solution?
So now here we are. The NBA regular season is creeping up and the Kings still do not have a starting small forward. But with that said, I do think the Kings have some solid options who can play the role effectively.
Thanks to positionless basketball, players are more versatile than ever as they can help fulfill various needs for their squad. In my opinion, the Kings have a couple of guys that can do exactly that and could be the solution to the Kings’ small forward hole.
Enjoy this slideshow which will display three players on Sacramento’s roster who I think should start at the three when the season begins.
Justin Jackson (6’8″ / 200 pounds)
Justin Jackson did not have the best of rookie seasons, but there is definitely a chance he can bounce back in his sophomore year. Optimism towards Jackson started to rise during his summer league campaign this summer. In the seven games the former Tar Heel appeared in, he was the top scorer for his team as he averaged 18.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 45.5% from the court, 31.9% from beyond the arc, and 87% from the free-throw stripe.
For Jackson to be effective, he needs to be a 3-and-D type of player, meaning he must be consistent in making his perimeter shots and defending opponents well. Although it was only summer league, Jackson did show flashes of being that 3-and-D guy that the Kings desperately need.
If Justin is able to continue making gradual improvements, I bet Dave Joerger strongly considers inputting Jackson into his starting five. With Jackson being the only pure small forward on the roster, it would make sense to add him to the lineup by default. But he needs to earn the spot by showing his team he can be a reliable asset on the floor.
Hopefully, Jackson has been making progress this summer so he can be ready by training camp.
Nemanja Bjelica (6’10” / 234 pounds)
Many believe that Nemanja Bjelica is a stretch four. That may be the role that fits him best, but Bjelica also carries characteristics that make him a good option at small forward as well.
When analyzing Bjelica’s game, he can help Sacramento on the offensive end. Last season, he averaged 6.8 points a contest while shooting 46.1% from the floor, 41.5% from beyond the arc, and 80% from the free-throw line. Bjelica also averaged 4.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game too.
Due to Bjelica’s ability to create space on the floor and make the three-pointer consistently, he does make a solid option at the three if necessary. Not only does Nemanja’s skill set make him a choice at small forward, but the Serbian star has had NBA experience playing the position.
Last season when Bjelica was with the Minnesota Timberwolves, his team needed him to start at small forward for 17 games when Jimmy Butler went out with a knee injury. For the year, Bjelica started a total of 21 games for Minnesota, and as a result, he averaged 10.8 points and 6.8 rebounds a contest while shooting 44.3% from the floor, 41.6% from the perimeter, and 73.9% from the charity stripe.
So with Bjelica having the traits of a small forward as well as experience playing the position, Dave Joerger should strongly consider him as a potential starter when opening night comes along.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (6’6″ / 205 pounds)
Yes, another Serbian star should be considered for the starting small forward role. Last season, Bogdan Bogdanovic turned the heads of Kings fans as he proved he was an athletic, skilled, and instinctual player in just his rookie season. For his campaign, he averaged 11.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 44.6% from the floor, 39.2% from the perimeter, and 84% from the free-throw line.
To me, Bogdan may be the strongest candidate to start at the three. On offense, he has proven to be a smart guy as he constantly made the correct decisions when on the court. Bogdanovic also demonstrated last season to be a reliable shooter as he made almost 40% of his three-point shots.
Defensively, Bogdanovic may be a bit undersized for a wing player. But he is pretty athletic and has great length which will help him handle his own when going up against opposing wings.
For Bogdanovic, shooting guard is his pure position. But the Kings already have guys like De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield which I think will be the starting point and shooting guards for the Kings.
With that being said, I still would like to see Bogdan in the starting five because I think he is one of the better guys currently on the team. And if Sacramento is all about winning this season, they should send out their best guys when beginning games.
Kings fans. What are your thoughts about my options for who your team should start at small forward this season? To give us your opinions on the topic, feel free to comment on our website, Facebook page, or Twitter account.