The Kings open their 2025-26 NBA season Wednesday night with plenty of questions.

Sacramento will be without two starters when it takes on the Phoenix Suns at Mortgage Matchup Center. Keegan Murray will be sidelined for at least the first couple of weeks after having surgery to repair a UCL tear in his left thumb, and Domantas Sabonis is recovering from a Grade 1 hamstring strain.

But the show must go on.

How? That’s for Doug Christie, in his first full season as coach, to figure out.

But let’s walk through some of the questions and concerns some Kings fans had heading into the season opener in the desert in a new edition of “Ask Tristi.”

Wonder who can step up in Sabonis’ absence? Maybe Raynaud will get some time? (@MrJerome15 on X)

There is no replacing Sabonis and the production he provides.

For the past few seasons, Sacramento’s offense has run through the three-time NBA All-Star.

So, as Kings players even admitted after practice this week, it will require a collective team effort from several guys to fill Sabonis’ shoes while he’s out.

Seven-year pro Drew Eubanks likely will get the start at center for the Kings on Wednesday, but that’s subject to change. Eubanks spent last season with the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Clippers. His best season came when he joined the Portland Trail Blazers late in the 2021-22 season, averaging 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds in 30 minutes across 22 games (22 starts).

Other options are Isaac Jones, who was a standout at 2025 NBA Summer League, dropping 36 points in the semifinals matchup to help the Kings reach the championship game.

Rookie 7-footer Maxime Raynaud could see the floor, too, along with Dyland Cardwell, who turned heads during preseason and has become an early fan favorite in Sacramento.

What will be this year’s rotation? (@coach_nolimit on IG)

Ah, the million-dollar question.

Let’s put injuries aside, and assume everyone is healthy. The starting lineup will be Dennis Schröder, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Murray and Sabonis.

After the Kings acquired former league MVP Russell Westbrook, Christie made it clear that he wants Westbrook to lead the second unit.

Then the rotation gets blurry.

Malik Monk and Keon Ellis will both play heavy minutes on a nightly basis. When and how those minutes are distributed remains in question. Versatile rookie Nique Clifford, whom Sacramento traded up to select No. 24 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, figures to be a part of the rotation.

Eubanks and Jones will be Sabonis’ primary backups, with Raynaud and Cardwell likely having to earn their way to the floor.

It appears Devin Carter, the Kings’ No. 13 draft pick just one year ago, could fall out of the rotation altogether after injuries derailed him from fully living up to his expectations.

He, Doug McDermott and Dario Šarić feel like garbage time guys, but respective matchups and scenarios could change that, of course. McDermott averaged 8.1 minutes per game last season with Sacramento in 42 games. But as a career 41.1 3-point shooter, Christie could turn to him when the offense needs a jolt.

Is Scott Perry going to extend Keon Ellis? (@snowwballs on X)

From our understanding, both sides are committed to getting a deal done.

Ellis loves Sacramento, but maybe the biggest turning point for him has nothing to do with basketball, as he admitted in the past that he “hates moving.” So if the U-Hauls don’t have to be called and Scott Perry handles business, that is Ellis’ preference to remain in Sacramento.

The Kings took a chance on the 25-year-old, who went undrafted in 2022, and boy, has he proved them right.

Last season with Sacramento, Ellis averaged 8.3 points on 48.9-percent shooting from the field and 43.3 percent from distance, with 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals in 24.4 minutes through 80 games (28 starts). His defense got him on the floor and his offense has helped keep him there.

But he’s more than just a feel-good story, and a contract extension would prove just that.

What seed in the West will the Kings get? (@patrixx.0 on IG)

The question sports pundits around the world answer and rarely get correct.

Injuries, blockbuster trades and off-the-court drama could shake things up around the league over the course of the season.

The path is laid out for the Oklahoma City Thunder to run it back and defend their title, but teams such as the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets could get in their way.

The Western Conference is a juggernaut, and the Kings, as currently constructed, just don’t have enough to outlast the superstar duos and trios up and down the West.

We predict Sacramento finishing in a similar spot as last season, somewhere in that No. 9/No. 10 NBA Play-In range. The additions of Westbrook and Schroder give us confidence that if the Kings do make it to the postseason, whether it’s the play-in or playoffs, the two could help give Sacramento a better chance at advancing.

There are 23 years of playoff experience between the veteran point guards over the course of their respective careers.

Plus, Westbrook, DeRozan and other Kings are fueled by the outside doubt.

But ultimately, they’ll have to prove it on the hardwood. And that starts Wednesday night in Phoenix.

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