After two preseason games, things are already looking pretty rough for the Kings. Zach LaVine and the rookies are playing well, but the rest of the starters are inconsistent. Combined with the lack of offseason moves, it's enough to make people wonder if the front office is playing for the lottery.
The only remotely big trade the Kings made after a dismal 2024-2025 season brought point guard Dennis Schroder to Sacramento. So far, that's working out about as well as expected given Schroder's past in the NBA. Historically, he plays a lot better in a FIBA-managed environment.
It was confusing to see the Kings make so few moves leading into the 2025-2026 season. Their roster was in desperate need of rebalancing and is in roughly the same place. That won't be fixed by running back essentially the same crew year after year after year.
What's interesting is that their most consistent players, outside of LaVine, have been their rookies. Draft picks Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud, alongside the undrafted Dylan Cardwell, have been making a lot of noise. Perhaps the front office is playing for a similar result in 2026.
Kings' front office is planning for the draft
When a team isn't doing well, it's not uncommon for the front office to target a better position in the draft lottery, often referred to as tanking. Getting a good spot means a better chance at getting a top-rated rookie. That's the kind of player a franchise can build a future around.
The 2025 NBA Draft worked out pretty well for the Kings. They picked up both Clifford and Raynaud, two players who are finding their rhythm quickly. Dylan Cardwell wasn't drafted, but was signed by the Kings, which was yet another great decision. They are proving to be a solid young core.
Not making any big trades in the offseason could be a sign that the front office is working towards stronger moves at the trade deadline. More than players, the Kings could be looking for draft picks to accentuate their existing lottery picks and keep building a young roster.
All of this could be part of a larger strategy that looks years down the road through the development cycle. This is a new front office from years past for the Kings, so there is a chance they could have a stronger sense of what it takes to plan for the future than previous iterations.