Notable Moves:
Additions: Dewayne Dedmon, Cory Joseph, Kyle Guy, Trevor Ariza, Tyler Lydon, Richaun Holmes
Subtractions: Willie-Cauley Stein, Alec Burks, Kosta Koufos, Corey Brewer, Frank Mason
Projected Depth Chart:
PG: De’Aaron Fox / Cory Joseph / Yogi Ferrell
SG: Buddy Hield / Kyle Guy
SF: Bogdan Bogdanovic / Trevor Ariza / Caleb Swanigan
PF: Harrison Barnes / Nemanja Bjelica / Tyler Lydon / Richaun Holmes
C: Marvin Bagley III / Dewayne Dedmon / Harry Giles III
Last season was a very encouraging one for the Sacramento Kings. They drafted Marvin Bagley III with the #2 pick in the draft. De’Aaron Fox established himself as the clear-cut starting point guard for the future, Buddy Hield had his best season ever, and GM Vlade Divac traded for Harrison Barnes at the deadline for a late playoff push.
Unfortunately for them, the last month of the season saw them stumble and the LA Clippers were able to hold ’em off for the 8th seed.
This upcoming season, they’ll be better prepared for the push as reinforcements have arrived. Cory Joseph and serviceable big man Dewayne Dedmon will provide experienced depth to a very young squad. Along those lines, champion Trevor Ariza will bring a much needed veteran presence that was absent for most of last season, and could be the determining factor in securing a playoff spot.
NCAA Champ Kyle Guy, fellow rookie Tyler Lydon, and youngster Richaun Holmes will also add an energy boost to an already solid rotation.
The backcourt of Fox and Hield will have another year to grow together. As the former keeps improving towards elite point guard status, the latter should keep posting Splash Bros shooting-type numbers from downtown. On the opposite wing is Serbia’s leading scorer Bogdan Bogdanovic who shoots from everywhere, moves well without the ball, and makes the right basketball play.
Harrison Barnes aka The Black Falcon should play as a stretch-4 while Bagley slots in to the starting center spot full-time for the first time in his young career. Surrounded by shooters at every position, Bagley will have the opportunity to work down low or kick it out to the open man if a double team comes.
Additional bench options for new Head Coach Luke Walton are Nemanja Bjelica and promising prospect Harry Giles III.
Walton loves a team that can run and push the pace. LeBron James and Co. may have gotten in the way of his coaching last season with the Lakers, but there’s no scapegoat in Sacramento. He has the fastest point guard at his disposal, mobile three-point shooters at every position, and big bodies that can switch or press at every possession. 
This team almost made the Western Conference playoffs last year, and improved throughout the summer. A new coach and deeper roster that play up to each other’s strengths should bring them closer this year. The bad news is that most teams in the West took a step forward as well. It won’t be a surprise if we see them battling in the playoffs as a 7th or 8th seed, just like it won’t be a shocker if they miss it late just like they did last year.
On the long run though, there’s no reason this team can’t become a contender in the near future.
Before the 2019-2020 NBA season starts, NBA Porkchop will take an in-depth look at each basketball team separately. Team transactions, player additions/subtractions through free agency, depth charts, and season projections will be discussed.
NBA PORKCHOP 