This season won’t be remembered for a single bad week or unfortunate injury. Sacramento has had bad teams before, but rarely one that so definitively stamped its name into the wrong side of the record books. And the uncomfortable truth is that this collapse may end up shaping the franchise’s direction more than any play-in chase ever could.
Record Breaking Season
Welp, the season from hell has officially set records, with this year’s team officially breaking not just the Sacramento-era but the franchise-era record for most losses in a row. This is the oldest team in the NBA that has had almost nothing but a lack of success over the last 50 years, and yet just now is seemingly hitting rock bottom. This has a chance to be the worst team in franchise history, but even the current worst team in franchise history (the 2008-09 squad that won just 17 games) didn’t manage to lose this many games in a row. The Kings are at 16 losses and counting, and to be honest, I’m not sure that ends any time soon. Tonight is probably one of the better chances against a Memphis squad missing half their roster, but if they don’t win tonight, I wouldn’t be surprised if this streak gets to 20+, especially now that the Kings have shut down Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and De’Andre Hunter for the season. That’s also not to mention the Kings are without Dylan Cardwell for at least four weeks due to an ankle sprain. My personal guess on when the streak ends is March 8th at home against the Chicago Bulls, which would put this losing streak at 21 games.
The Kings would need to win 5 of their next 24 games simply to just tie the worst record in franchise history. That’s actually a higher win rate than they’ve managed to do so far, so there’s a real possibility they don’t even get to 17 wins. How hilariously ironic that this team finally did a jersey homage to the Beam during the year when the Beam has barely been on. But in all honesty, this is probably the best possible result that could have happened this season. This franchise needed a wake up call, and finishing with the worst record in a loaded draft will give them a head start on getting things right for the future, which is much better than the outside shot at the playoffs that this team got the last couple of years. Of course, trusting this team to do the right thing even when it falls into their laps is probably a foolhardy venture, but such is the essence of being a Sacramento Kings fan.
Reclamation Projects Anonymous
We’re officially at the “kick the tires on washed up prospects” part of the season. Last year it was Markelle Fultz, and this year it looks like Killian Hayes and Patrick Baldwin. News came over the weekend that the Kings are giving Killian Hayes, the former #7 overall pick by the Pistons in the 2020 NBA Draft, a 10-day contract. Hayes played 4 years with the Pistons before being cut, and then spent a 10-day contract with the Nets at the end of last season. Hayes has NBA averages of 8.1 points. 5.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals, but also has only shot 38.3% from the field and 28.1% from three over those five years. Hayes has been doing well for the Cleveland Charge in the G-League this season, averaging 24.6 points, 7.7 assists and 1.7 steals while shooting 46.1%, and was recently named the G-League Player of the Week.
Baldwin Jr., the 28th pick in the 2022 draft, has bounced around in his short stint in the NBA and hasn’t done much himself. He’s a wing player that’s listed at 7’0 tall, and he’s also having a decent season in the G-League for the San Diego Clippers, averaging 21.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.4 steals, 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks while shooting 49.5% from the field and 32.6% from three.
Both Hayes and Baldwin are still young (24 and 23 respectively), and with the Kings have nothing to lose, I don’t mind seeing if there’s anything there. The odds of either one sticking around long term seem slim though. Teams bring up these type of players toward the end of seasons all the time, and the odds are stacked against them. We’ve seen it numerous times where even when a player does well during one of these short stints that they don’t stick around (see Terrence Williams back in the day). But the Kings are so bereft of youth that adding anyone under the age of 25 is worth trying at this point, so sure, why not.
Maxime is the Center of Attention
If there’s one upside to Domantas Sabonis being sidelined for the rest of the season and Dylan Cardwell missing most of the rest, it’s that we’ll get to see plenty more of Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud has been a gem of a find for this front office, and continues to impress with his development as the season has progressed. Raynaud is averaging 10.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 0.5 steals and 0.5 blocks in 23.9 minutes per game this season, while shooting 55% from the field. Despite being picked 42nd overall, Raynaud ranks 11th in points per game and 2nd in rebounds per game as a rookie, and those numbers will likely look even better as Raynaud gets more time down the stretch. Against the Pelicans a couple of weeks ago, he put together a 21 point, 19 rebound performance which despite the 26 point loss was still impressive. I had hoped to see Max operate a little bit more around the perimeter this season since he showcased a nice touch from three in college, but he’s sticking to basics so far and doing it well. He has a ways to go defensively (although he’s improving) and is still far from a finished product, but I think there’s a real shot that Raynaud could be the starting center for this team for years to come, even if he isn’t necessarily a star. I could also see him making the All-Rookie second team this year as well.
Rediscovering Keegan
In some good news for the Kings, Keegan Murray came back from a long absence after the All-Star break. Keegan has played just 21 games so far this season, but this final stretch of games is hopefully an opportunity for him to stretch his legs and get some opportunity as a primary scoring threat. To say it’s been a disappointing season for Keegan is downplaying it to say the least, but that doesn’t mean he can’t at least end the year on a good note. I want to see Keegan be aggressive offensively, and hopefully rediscover some of his outside shooting touch. So far, Keegan has regressed from three point range in each consecutive season, but his teams have also gotten worse with each consecutive season. I do think that Keegan is probably more of a force multiplier type of player than a guy who makes team good by himself, but he’s being paid like a player who can do a lot more than he has been doing and so now the Kings need to start seeing some of that investment pay off. Keegan’s under contract for five more years after this one, so his development is probably more important than just about anyone else’s on the team.
Beyond the Big Three
You’re probably already very familiar with the top prospects of this draft: AJ Dybantsa, Darren Peterson and Cameron Boozer, not to mention Caleb Wilson or Kingston Flemings. This draft doesn’t have a clear cut #1 but if the Kings have a top three pick and can get one of those top three guys, I will be absolutely thrilled. I do not think this is a Marvin Bagley situation where one guy has serious question marks. But it’s clear this draft has a ton of talent even beyond those picks, and I thought I’d highlight some names a bit lower on the list that I’ve started to pay attention to, especially as we head towards March Madness:
Darius Acuff Jr. – The 6’3 PG from Arkansas might just be the most explosive scorer in college right now. Last week, he scored 49 points in a double overtime game against Alabama. For the season he’s averaging 22.2 points, 6.2 assists and shooting 44.1% from three. Mostly offensive minded, and not as athletic as Flemings, which is why he hasn’t been considered in the same tier.
Keaton Wagler – 6’6 SG from Illinois averaging 18.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 0.9 steals while shooting 42% from three on 5.8 attempts a game. He’s got great size for a guard, has 3&D potential and has decent secondary playmaking chops too.
Braden Smith – 6’0 PG from Purdue, he’s a senior but perhaps the best playmaker in the country, averaging 14.9 points, 8.7 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.9 steals. I like him as a second round prospect if the Kings don’t grab a PG with their lottery pick.
Flory Bidunga – 6’9 F/C from Kansas, he’s a sophomore but also one of the best shotblockers in college. He’s averaging 14.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. Bidunga likely gets drafted in the late first, but there’s a chance he’s there in the early second, and having another young rim protector couldn’t hurt.
That’s far from a comprehensive list, but just guys I’ve personally taken a liking to so far aside from the bigger names. Anyone in particular that has excited you guys? Let us know in the comments.
***
Upcoming Schedule:
Monday, February 23rd at Memphis Grizzlies
Wednesday, February 25th at Houston Rockets
Thursday, February 26th at Dallas Mavericks
Sunday, March 1st at Los Angeles Lakers