Right now, Sacramento Kings fans are worried about the current state of their team and any chance they have of reaching the NBA playoffs. They are hoping the Kings aren't about to enter another dark era that keeps them far from postseason contention for years.
Things haven't been easy for the Kings this season, but fans expecting smooth sailing next year need to prepare themselves, because the road might only get rockier.
The 2025-26 season will be even more difficult for the Kings
As bad as things are now, they could be even tougher next season. Looking at the teams in their conference and knowing what the offseason can bring, a picture is coming into focus: the West is good now, but it's only getting better.
Let's start with the teams that are closest to the Kings in the standings: the San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Phoenix Suns, and Dallas Mavericks. These teams are stumbling right now but they could look remarkably different next year.
For example, the Spurs will have Victor Wembanyama back, and you don't have to be a basketball expert to know the impact he will have. Meanwhile, the Portland Trail Blazers seem to be figuring out who they are, and they have been impressive in the second half of this season.
Then there are the Suns, who could look different next year because they may be on the verge of making a massive trade. Speaking of that trade, the Dallas Mavericks may be a part of it. There are rumors that Kevin Durant could be sent to the Mavericks in the summer, which would obviously change that team's trajectory.
Durant is one to watch because his choice could determine how the Western Conference operates next year and, therefore, how challenged the Kings are.
Several of his potential new teams are in the West, such as the Mavericks and Houston Rockets. Moving to either of those teams will only make it harder for the Kings to succeed.
Even teams that are performing far worse than the Kings could develop over the summer. Take the New Orleans Pelicans, for example. This season has been plagued with one awful injury after another but that shouldn't be the case next year.
So, what will happen if the Pelicans retain their current roster and they're healthy? It doesn't seem like they'd remain the 14th seed.
Even the last-place Utah Jazz could grow in the months ahead. They have been sitting on a number of draft assets and trade capital for years, not willing to make a move. What if this is the summer they shake it up and recruit a few A-list players? That will make life hard for all Western Conference teams, including the Kings.
The NBA never stays the same from season to season and there are a lot of changes on the horizon, including a few we won't see coming.
The Kings have had it bad this year, and they are struggling to get by. But chances are their conference will be even more robust and intimidating next year, and the teams struggling now could be contenders next year.
Of course, the Kings might make their own adjustments, which could put them in a better position. But if they think the rest of their conference will stay the same, they have another thing coming.
Kings fans need to buckle up because next season might make this one look like a walk in the park.