Given how badly the season is going for the Sacramento Kings at this point in the season, nothing should be off the table. That includes putting Nique Clifford in at point guard. The rookie has improved dramatically in short order and needs to be evaluated as a larger part of the team.
Possibly the smartest move the Kings have made all season has been putting rookie Maxime Raynaud in as the starting center. He has been on an absolute tear, particularly through the month of December. He picked up six double-doubles and has improved drastically on defense.
A big part of that rapid growth was the injury to Domantas Sabonis. It created an opportunity for Raynaud to get on the court and prove himself. It's safe to say that he has risen to the challenge and may be the Kings' new permanent starting center, depending on the Sabonis situation.
Sacramento is actively looking to trade Sabonis, meaning they need to have someone ready to fill that role. They definitely have that in Maxime Raynaud, who is arguably a more complete starting center than Sabonis. Now, the Kings need to do something similar at point guard.
It's time to truly challenge Nique Clifford to grow
The point guard situation in Sacramento is a bit different. They have a great player in Russell Westbrook, but his time as a starter and in the league is limited. Retirement is coming soon. As such, he's not the guy to center the rebuild around. Clifford is another story.
Having Russ starting games is great, but it isn't leading to a lot of wins. This season is basically a wash, so it's the perfect opportunity to put Clifford in as a starter and help him develop into the role. Plus, they still have Westbrook to guide him as well as back him up as the starter.
If it works out, the Kings will have a homegrown rookie point guard to ride shotgun with Raynaud and plan the rebuild around. And if he doesn't pan out as a starter, then the Kings have a well-developed player on their secondary who can be a real threat off the bench.
The reality is that the Kings are currently sitting in the 14th spot in the Western Conference with a record of eight and 25. There's really nothing left to lose this season. It's time to take the opportunity to really push their young guns, particularly when the Kings plan on trading their veterans.