A Royal Pain
Fansided

Vlade Divac and the Sacramento Kings have had an incredible offseason

By Jonathan Roberts

SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 15 : Vlade Divac introduces Luke Walton as the new Head Coach of the Sacramento Kings at a press conference on April 15, 2019 at the 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 15 : Vlade Divac introduces Luke Walton as the new Head Coach of the Sacramento Kings at a press conference on April 15, 2019 at the 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 License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

With ample cap space and several glaring needs, Vlade Divac led the Sacramento Kings through a masterful offseason, proving them for future success.

Heading into the 2019 offseason, the Sacramento Kings were in desperate need of an upgrade at center, a backup point guard and depth — and any player added had to fit the Kings’ style of play.

Nearly six weeks later, the Sacramento Kings have added Cory Joseph, Trevor Ariza, Richaun Homes and Dewayne Dedmon, capping off what’s seen by most Sacramento Kings fans and some national writers as a masterfully maneuvered offseason, and an abject disaster by others. For me, however, it’s hard to find fault with any of Divac’s moves.

The decision to add Joseph and Dedmon over more expensive options was nothing short of brilliant, and might be some of the best non-superstar deals made this summer.

More from A Royal Pain

Dedmon is the absolute best-case scenario signing for this team’s gaping hole at center, and it’s pretty clear to see why. And it’s not (just) because Dedmon signed for a modest three-year, $40 million.

He’s a fantastic rim-protector and can space the floor at a better-than-average level, and won’t necessitate 25-30 minutes a night or block Harry Giles’ development, and you can read more about the signing here and here. Speaking of Giles though…

The signing of Richaun Holmes is both puzzling and smart.

At first glance, it seems as though signing Holmes will only serve to block Giles, but think of it more as an insurance policy, and a damn good one at that. He was fantastic as a reserve big for the Phoenix Suns, and fills a major need in the rebounding department. He’s also a great backup plan in case Harry Giles stumbles this season or just falls flat entirely.

Someone who likely won’t be falling flat, however, is Cory Jospeh, who the Sacramento Kings signed for three years, $37 million. Brewer not only fills a huge hole behind superstar De’Aaron Fox (you read that right), but he’s a massive boost on the defensive end. He’s also a generally smart player, and is arguably Divac’s best signing this offseason. More on that here.

Lastly for free agents, Divac added Trevor Ariza. Ariza was solid in 2017-18, but was abysmal with an awful Washington Wizards team last season. Whether or not he returns to form in the 2019-20 season is irrelevant, he’s nothing more than an insurance policy and it’s a smart one at that. Here’s some more on that signing, here.

The final major move Divac made was re-upping Harrison Barnes for four years, $85 million. Some call that a horrible mistake, and if you still feel that way then there’s nothing I can write now to change your mind. It’s a great move, and I won’t hear anything to the contrary. If you’re still on the fence though, read this and you’ll see the light.

But this all boils down to one question I’m sure many Kings fans have been dying to hear: Are the Sacramento Kings under good management?

Next. Will Harry Giles be the next breakout star?. dark

Questions lingered during the season about this, especially after the Iman Shumpert trade, but I think this offseason proves one thing: Sacramento is not under bad management, but I won’t go as far as to definitively say they are. But what do you think? Are the Kings definitely under good management?

Home/Kings News