A Royal Pain
Fansided

5 Reasons the Kings will prove that last season was no fluke

By Elaine Blum

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 19: Sacramento Kings players Malik Monk #0, Kevin Huerter #9, De'Aaron Fox #5 and Domantas Sabonis #10 celebrate after a play in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Golden 1 Center on December 19, 2022 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, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 19: Sacramento Kings players Malik Monk #0, Kevin Huerter #9, De'Aaron Fox #5 and Domantas Sabonis #10 celebrate after a play in the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Golden 1 Center on December 19, 2022 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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De'Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes, Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

Reason #2: Continuity

Over the summer, the Kings re-signed Harrison Barnes (3 years, $54 million), Domantas Sabonis (5 years, $217 million), and Trey Lyles (2 years, $16 million). All three were major pieces in last season’s playoff run, and these new contracts allow the team to keep their main rotation intact.

The Kings are returning all nine players who averaged the most minutes during the regular season: De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray, Kevin Huerter, Malik Monk, Davion Mitchell, Trey Lyles, and Kessler Edwards. This group minus Edwards also formed the main playoff rotation. By bringing all these players back, the Kings are allowing the team to pick up right where it left off.

Last season, the Kings built the number-one offense in the league with little familiarity. Now, the main guys all know how to play with each other, and even Chris Duarte, one of the new offseason additions, already has a relationship with Sabonis from their days in Indiana.

For the most part, Coach Brown knows his personnel, which was not the case last season. Ideally, there will be less experimenting with lineups early in the season, and the Kings can start their playoff quest on the right note.

This is also the perfect opportunity to build the foundation for a future of long-term success. Thanks to the new contracts, the Sabonis, Fox, Barnes, Murray, and Huerter are all under contract through the 2025-26 season. If the Kings offer Monk another contract once he hits free agency next summer, they could have their top six players competing together for several seasons.

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