Going into their faceoff against the Detroit Pistons, fans of the Sacramento Kings knew victory was a long shot. That didn’t stop Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan from going to war to try and get the win. It was enough to make fans wonder why the Kings are so adamant about trading them.
The Pistons are having an incredible season, one they’ve been building to for a long time. They are currently sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference with a record of 24 wins and six losses. That record puts them in second place in the entire league, just behind the OKC Thunder.
On the other hand, the Kings are in a much different position. Like the Pistons, they are having a historic season, but in their case because of how bad it’s going. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong, and it’s not looking like it’s going to get better any time soon.
After last night’s loss to the Pistons, Sacramento now has a record of seven wins and 23 losses. They are dead last in the Western Conference and sit in the 28th spot throughout the entire league. Despite that, the players have not given up on trying to win, as evidenced by two league veterans.
DeRozan and Westbrook did the Kings proud
With DeMar DeRozan in his 17th season and Russell Westbrook in his 18th, there were questions about their ability and endurance this year. It’s safe to say that this duo is doing fine, given the performances they are turning in. The Kings have a pair of respected legends turning the clock back.
Westbrook was on fire against the Pistons. He finished the game with 27 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. If Russell was on fire, then DeRozan was a damn solar flare. He closed the game with 37 points, three rebounds, and eight assists. It was a good evening’s work.
Each of them actually outscored every individual member of the Pistons. That being said, Detroit’s team just played better overall. Watching DeRozan and Westbrook play, it can be hard to understand why the Kings are so dead set on trading them, particularly DeRozan.
Sacramento wants a youthful rebuild with defensive-minded players. That makes sense, but veterans who can score are also nice to have around. If the Kings’ rebuild strategy includes trading both DeRozan and Westbrook, they need to make sure that the return is worth it.