After a blockbuster three-team trade, Zach LaVine is now a member of the Chicago Bulls. Meanwhile, De'Aaron Fox and Kevin Huerter are playing for different teams.
How does this deal affect the team's starting lineup? What about their depth chart? What does that look like? In this article, we give the full breakdown.
Sacramento Kings Starting Lineup
Unless head coach Doug Christie really wants to try something different, the Kings starting lineup when everyone is available should relatively simple. After the deal, the Kings added one starting guard and lost one starting guard.
So, the Kings starting lineup will likely be LaVine, Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis. The one minor change that will take place is that Monk will slide over from the two spot to point guard in order to make room for LaVine. Although, Monk has been taking on more playmaking duties prior to this trade. So, he should be more than ready for the switch.
Sacramento Kings Depth Chart
Now that we have the starting five out of the way, here is the depth chart:
Point Guard: Malik Monk; Devin Carter
Shooting Guard: Zach LaVine; Keon Ellis
Small Forward: DeMar DeRozan; Doug McDermott; Jae Crowder
Power Forward: Keegan Murray; Trey Lyles; Isaac Jones
Center: Domantas Sabonis; Alex Len
There are some other players on two-way contracts (Colby Jones, Mason Jones, and Isaiah Crawford), but they haven't factored heavily into the rotation to really consider them as part of the depth chart.
Sacramento Kings Rotation
Regular Season Rotation (ten man): Monk, LaVine, DeRozan, Murray, Sabonis, Ellis, Lyles, Carter, Len, and Jones.
Regular Season Rotation (eight man): Monk, LaVine, DeRozan, Murray, Sabonis, Ellis, Lyles, and Carter.
For the regular season, teams usually go with a ten-man rotation. If the Kings did that, their ten man rotation would include the five starters, Ellis, Lyles, Carter, Len, and one of Jones or McDermott. Here, we will say Jones because he gives the Kings more size and defense (two things they are in desperate need of).
As we alluded to, the Kings don't use a ten-man rotation on most nights. Instead, they opt to give minutes to eight players on their team. So, in that instance, you can take Len and Jones/McDermott out of the rotation, leaving them with the starting five, Ellis, Lyles, and rookie Carter (with the unorthodox jumper).