The hot topic of conversation when it comes to the Sacramento Kings is their confusing roster. It's focused on shoot-first players, primarily at the guard positions. The imbalance is hard to ignore.
It's not a new issue by any stretch of the imagination, either. This problem has been around for multiple seasons, though it has admittedly gotten worse in recent years.
On top of that, the issue wasn't caused by the Kings' recently fired head coach Mike Brown or their even more recently fired general manager Monte McNair. Current head coach Doug Christie needs to keep that in mind going into this season.
The Kings play the blame game
Mike Brown started off strong with the Kings, coaching them to their first playoff appearance in almost two decades and winning NBA Coach of the Year in 2023. A year and a half later, he was fired due to the team's slow start in 2024-2025.
The aftermath of his mid-season firing saw star point guard De'Arron Fox request a trade. Monte McNair reportedly opposed Brown's firing. He was released just a few months later when the Kings failed to clear the 2025 Play-In Tournament
All of this was scapegoating at its finest. The problems with the Kings' roster have existed for years, long before the arrival of Brown or McNair. To be fair to the Kings, McNair had been the general manager since 2020, so some of the blame likely does go to him.
Still, they were just the most recent people to take the blame, and it's not hard to predict who will be next.
Doug Christie's position is in danger
Since the departures of Brown and McNair, the Kings' roster woes have arguably gotten worse. As such, there isn't much hope for a good season in 2025-2026.
When blame is assigned, and it always is, the organization will look squarely at Doug Christie, the man who succeeded Mike Brown as head coach. This is an ongoing front office failure that doesn't belong to the head coaches but that's who has and will take the blame.
If the Kings have a bad season, something everyone is calling at this point, Doug Christie will be the next head coach gone. Unless he has a miracle hidden somewhere, of course.