The Sacramento Kings most glaring needs after first wave of NBA free agency
By Mat Issa
The Sacramento Kings have had a busy offseason. Between extending head coach Mike Brown, re-signing Malik Monk and Alex Len, drafting Devin Carter (and signing undrafted free agents Isaiah Crawford and Isaac Jones), executing a sign-and-trade for DeMar DeRozan, and adding Jordan McLaughlin, the Kings front office has been working overtime.
However, even with all these transactions, the Kings still have two glaring needs that they could use their remaining assets (Kevin Huerter, draft capital, a Bi-Annual Exception, a Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception, and veteran minimum contracts) to try and address.
Glaring Need #1: A Two-Way Power Forward
Heading into the offseason, I made a post that said that if the Kings wanted to be serious contenders, they needed to upgrade the power forward position by replacing Harrison Barnes with someone who could space the floor like him while also providing more defense and positional rim protection.
The Kings ended up replacing Barnes, but it wasn't with a power forward who fit that description. Instead, they juiced their offense by adding DeRozan. This acquisition made the team better, but it didn't address the team's need at the four spot.
Now, Keegan Murray will have to move up a position, which could work out brilliantly. But just in case it doesn't (or just in case they want more depth behind him), here is a list of forwards the Kings can still realistically go after.
(Sidebar: As I've said before, I really like what Isaiah Crawford brings to the table, but it is unrealistic to expect an undrafted rookie to be an integral part of a playoff team's rotation in Year One.)
Glaring Need #2: Another Backup Center
When a reliable Battle Ox like Domantas Sabonis occupies your starting center spot (he's missed three games in two years), you don't need to invest too many resources in the men behind him. But that doesn't mean you can ignore it altogether.
Like we said earlier, the Kings brought back Len on a veteran's minimum. But they would probably do well to bring in another center (also on a veteran's minimum) in case one of the bigs gets hurt, or the team needs some extra scheme versatility (this would also require that the theoretical third big man that they add brings something to the table that neither Sabonis nor Len does).