Sacramento Kings fans don't need to be told that their team isn't in great shape. However, when one takes a step back and contemplates the next few seasons for the Kings, things look even worse.
ESPN knows that and they considered the path ahead for Sacramento in their recent NBA Future Power Rankings. In their lengthy article, they summarized every team's chances for 2025-26, 2026-27, and beyond. Their conclusion about the Kings won't leave many loyal followers happy.
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Kings
ESPN used multiple factors when ranking each team, such as the talent of their players, money on hand, draft potential, and management. This year, they placed the Kings as No. 25 on the list, down from 18 just last year.
So, what caused such a drop? It may be because the Kings ranked dead last for management, behind literally every other team in the association.
Their summary of the situation told a damning tale.
"In two years, Sacramento went from having the Coach of the Year (Mike Brown) and Executive of the Year (Monte McNair), winning 48 games and earning the third seed in the playoffs, to losing in consecutive play-in tournaments. Brown and McNair are gone, All-Star De'Aaron Fox was traded to San Antonio and the Kings are no longer considered a playoff team. The regression in seven spots from last year's rankings is because of a bottom-10 roster and a management group that ranks last," the article reads.
Kings fans have been saying this for years, and they're glad the national media is taking note, although it probably won't result in immediate change. They are fed up with how the front office manages, or mismanages, the team's potential.
It's hard to believe that the Kings are only a couple of years removed from their heroic "Light the Beam" era. Sacramento's fall from grace is really astounding and troubling. While much blame can be placed at the feet of the players, the roster was cobbled together by a front office that seems to be confused and ill-advised.
While the lineup might be adjusted, the possibility of Sacramento's management changing any time soon seems unlikely, which is why so many people are pessimistic about the seasons ahead. If there is any silver lining here, it's that the Kings hold a few draft picks that could bolster their chances.
That's all well and good, but what happens until then? Are Kings fans supposed to just wait for a promising future? ESPN seems to think so, because they feel that no quick fix is coming to Sacramento.