For about a year now, the Sacramento Kings have been on the rebuild path. The problem is that the people in charge of it are probably not the right people for the job. If the Kings want to be even remotely relevant in this league, this franchise needs full-scale, top-down changes that won't happen.
Since the end of Rick Adelman's tenure as head coach in 2006, the Kings have been one of the worst and most befuddling franchises in the NBA. Once, and only once, have they made the playoffs since parting ways with the legendary head coach. And that turned out to be a big nothing burger.
When Vivek Ranadive's group bought the Kings in 2013, there was hope that new ownership would lead to real change. Yeah, that didn't happen. They arguably got worse. Installing Doug Christie as head coach in early 2025 was another bad decision. His tenure has been a comedy of errors.
Scott Perry taking over as general manager was supposed to change things. While he has drafted really well, the Kings' developmental system continues to do nothing with those picks. Now, he's trading players like Nique Clifford away at a loss. It doesn't seem like he can fix things either.
Something major has to change in Sacramento
The Kings do not lack talent. For all their flaws, Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, Malik Monk, Precious Achiuwa, and De'Andre Hunter are all good players. Plus, this team has no shortage of young stars, including Dylan Cardwell, Maxime Raynaud, and Darius Acuff Jr.
What Sacramento lacks is ownership, a front office, and a coaching staff capable of utilizing any of this talent. The Kings could get the five greatest players in the game and still fumble them completely. The Kings can't trade or draft their way out of a situation that's ingrained in the franchise's core.
First, the Kings need new ownership. That owner then needs to revamp the front office. Then, the ownership and the front office can deal with the coaching staff. Only when all of that is done will a rebuild of the roster acutally amount to something. The problem is none of that is going to happen.
Well, not anytime soon. The most likely changes are Christie and/or Perry being replaced. One of them will go if this season continues to go this badly. Ranadive selling the franchise is a long shot, but it could happen. As long as he's in charge, improving the Kings is going to be an uphill battle.
Add us as a preferred source on Google