Sacramento Kings
Team Outlook-
The Sacramento Kings reshuffled the deck again this offseason with major changes to their arena, coaching staff, and team. The Kings will open their new arena, Golden 1 Center, this October where they hope to have better luck than they did at Sleep Train Arena. The Kings fired George Karl after a disappointing 2015-2016 season in which they went 33-49. They signed former Memphis Grizzlies coach, Dave Joerger, just 2 days after he was surprisingly released by Memphis. Joerger coached a slow defensive pace with the Grizzlies but don’t expect that to transition over to the Kings. Joerger inherited that style of play in Memphis and was forced by upper management to adjust his coaching style. DeMarcus Cousins is still the straw that stirs the drink for Sacramento. The Kings will go only as far as Cousins takes them. The Kings lost Rajon Rando but brought in a number of new (or should we say old) faces, including Arron Afflalo, Matt Barnes, Ty Lawson, Garrett Temple, and Anthony Tolliver. Perhaps the changes will mesh as the Kings currently have the second-longest playoff drought in the league at 10 seasons.
Projected Starting Lineup
Point Guard- Darren Collison-
Darren Collison will be suspended the first 8 games of the season due to pleading guilty on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. When Collison returns, look for him to fill in the vacated Point Guard spot left by Rajon Rondo. Expect Collison to bounce back strong after the suspension if given enough minutes. Collison has had fantasy success, when given the opportunity to start at Point Guard for the Kings, over the past two seasons.
Shooting Guard- Arron Afflalo-
Arron Afflalo agreed to a two-year, $25 million deal with the Kings this offseason. The 31-year old Afflalo is the most likely starter at Shooting Guard but the Kings have depth with Ben McLemore and Garrett Temple. Afflalo played last season in New York averaging 12.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 33.4 minutes/per game. Expect those minutes to decrease for the Kings with Afflalo having limited fantasy upside.
Small Forward- Rudy Gay-
Rudy Gay’s overall numbers were off in most categories last season. He did not have as many opportunities with Rajon Rondo running the offense. Gay has been consistently mentioned in trade rumors as he is in a contract year. Expect Gay to bounce back this season and provide solid fantasy value based on matchup.
Power Forward- Willie Cauley-Stein-
Willie Cauley-Stein appeared to be in George Karl’s doghouse throughout much of last season. Cauley-Stein is projected to start at Power Forward but that is not guaranteed. Cauley-Stein gained around 20 pounds during the offseason and struggled during NBA summer league. Avoid Cauley-Stein for fantasy as he continues to develop his game.
Center- DeMarcus Cousins-
DeMarcus Cousins took his game to the next level last season setting career-highs with 26.9 points/per game and 34.6 minutes/per game. Cousins is a double-double machine who goes through stretches where he is basically unstoppable. Last season, he scored 48 points vs. Indiana on 1/23/16 and broke that career-high 2-days later with 56 points vs. Charlotte on 1/25/16. Cousins is a fantasy beast who can take down a GPP on any given night.
Key Bench Players
Ben McLemore-SG- Ben McLemore averaged a career-low 21.2 minutes/per game last season under George Karl. Reports are that the new coaching staff is happy with McLemore’s offseason work but he is a consistently mentioned in trade rumors. McLemore has little to no fantasy value.
Kosta Koufos-C- Kosta Koufos projects to be the backup Center behind DeMarcus Cousins. Koufos has been mentioned in trade rumors because the Kings have frontcourt depth. If Cousins is out of the lineup, Koufos should be on your fantasy radar.
Omri Casspi-SF, PF- Omri Casspi set a career-high with 11.8 points/per game last season. Casspi is a solid all-around player who will have fantasy value if given enough minutes.
Key Offseason Acquisitions
Matt Barnes-SF, PF- Matt Barnes agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal with the Kings. The 36-year old Barnes comes over with head coach Dave Joerger from Memphis. Barnes is able to play Small Forward or Power Forward as he often rotated positions in Memphis last season due to injuries. Barnes is a tough all-around player who will be a fantasy matchup play if he gets an uptick in minutes due to injury.
Ty Lawson-PG- Ty Lawson agreed to a one-year deal with the Kings during the offseason. Over the past couple of years, Lawson has struggled both on the court and with numerous off-court incidents. He is hoping to turn his career around in Sacramento where he has been well received by the team. Darren Collison is suspended the first 8 games of the season. Expect Lawson to start at PG while Collison is out and have an opportunity for career redemption. Monitor his price and workload early in the season as there is a possibility that he can provide fantasy value.
Garrett Temple-SG, PG- Garrett Temple agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal with the Kings. The move was surprising as the 30-year old Temple projects to be behind Aaron Afflalo and Ben McLemore on the depth chart. Dave Joerger has stated that Temple will play some point guard this season, perhaps early on during Darren Collison’s 8-game suspension. Temple fantasy upside is limited as he is more of a defender.
Anthony Tolliver-PF- Anthony Tolliver agreed to a two-year, $16 million deal with the Kings. The 31-year old Tolliver is expected to play limited minutes as he is buried on the depth chart. It will take multiple injuries for Tolliver to make a fantasy impact.
Key Offseason Departures
Rajon Rondo-PG- Rajon Rondo bounced back last season averaging 35.2 minutes/per game with 11.9 points/per game and 11.7 assists/per game. He also was asked to play an entire 48-minute game twice and finished with an impressive 6 Triple-Doubles. Rondo took advantage of free agency signing a two-year $28 million contract with the Chicago Bulls.
Seth Curry-PG- Seth Curry took advantage of the Kings being out of the playoff race during the final 7 games of last season, when he averaged a career-high 32.5 minutes/per night with 16.4 points and 5.3 assists per game. Curry declined the Kings $1 million player option and entered into free agency signing a two-year, $6 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks.
Marco Belinelli-SG- The Kings traded Belinelli to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the number 22 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, which they used to select Syracuse Shooting Guard Malachi Richardson.
Quincy Acy-PF- Quincy Acy opted out of his contract and agreed to a two-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks.