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How Kawhi Leonard’s Decision Impacted The Sacramento Kings?

By Rafe Wong

SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 07: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 7, 2018 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - NOVEMBER 07: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the Toronto Raptors drives to the basket against Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on November 7, 2018 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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With Kawhi Leonard finally making his free agency decision, how does it impact the Sacramento Kings next season and beyond?

Well, NBA free agency has been fun. On the top of my head, I cannot remember a summer in the NBA where so many star players in the league decided to move on from their former teams to begin different chapters in their careers.

It seemed like all the free agency madness was done in the first 48 hours of the period, but last night proved that notion to be wrong. Late in the night, star forward Kawhi Leonard announced his decision to move on from the Toronto Raptors to begin his new journey with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Clippers not only were able to lock in Leonard last night. Just minutes after they announced his signing, they completed a trade which got them All-Star player Paul George from the Oklahoma City Thunder. Insanity.

How Does This Affect The Kings?

Even though yesterday’s Leonard news had nothing to do with the Sacramento Kings, it does carry significant impact towards the purple and white. Going into next season, the Kings have the goal of breaking their 13-year playoff drought. Anything short of that would make the campaign a bust.

Even though there is still a solid chance that the Kings become a playoff team next season, it just got a lot harder with Kawhi Leonard announcing he will play for the Clippers. Not only does this add another legit playoff team that the Kings have to compete against within their conference, but it also adds another contender in their division.

With the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Lakers, and Clippers all being in the Kings’ division, that is a total of 12 games that the Kings will have on their schedule against teams that are legit title contenders for next season. If the Kings do want their playoff hopes to become a reality, they must win a good portion of those 12 games.

Final Thoughts

For a team like the Kings who are on the up and coming, they have themselves quite the challenge going into the upcoming season. Not only did the Western Conference just get a lot harder, but specifically, their division is completely stacked.

light. Read. Free Agent Signings Show Kings' Confidence In Their Youth

Luckily, however, in order for the Kings to make the playoffs, they do not need to be a top team in their division but rather just make the top eight in their conference. If their youth continues to make strides like they did last year, then the purple and white have a strong chance of making the postseason despite how much stronger the West got after free agency.

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