April 5, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach George Karl (center) instructs in a huddle against the Utah Jazz during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Jazz defeated the Kings 101-95. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
26. Sacramento Kings
2014-2015 Efficiency Rating: 33.5
To say that the Sacramento Kings had a tumultuous offseason would be putting it mildly at best. The drama that has turned the Kings into a laughing-stock of the NBA is solely centered around the leaders of the team.
Owner Vivek Ranadive, General Manager Vlade Divac and Coach George Karl do not appear to be on the same page whatsoever.
Mar 27, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Sacramento Kings center
DeMarcus Cousins(15) against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The roster has talent for sure, especially with the arguably best center in basketball, DeMarcus Cousins. So what do you do to your best player? Well in Sacramento’s case, you ostracize him, give him mixed messages and let him know that the coach wants to trade him.
Putting aside the nightmare of a summer the Kings have had from a PR standpoint, they did bring in some decent talent.
Signing both Rajon Rondo (though past his prime), Marco Belinelli and Kosta Koufos were solid moves. Drafting Willie Cauley-Stein is a debatable move, but he does offer an unique defensive skill set that could prove useful in the future.
Their bench woes were fairly evident last season. They were the sixth worst scoring bench in the entire NBA and lacked any defensive efficiency.
Though, Cauley Stein helps that, the rest of their bench does not seem all that well-balanced. Darren Collison will take the reigns to back-up point guard, and with him he will have Bellinelli, Omri Casspi, Caron Butler and Cauley-Stein.
That is not a bench that will strike fear into the hearts of opponents. Is is it competent? Not quite; but that group will struggle to improve upon last year’s Kings bench’s shortcomings.
Who knows, maybe we were all wrong about the Kings? Maybe Divac and Ranadive know what they are doing. Maybe the cherry-picking defense becomes the next fad. Maybe the Kings make the playoffs. Maybe they are successful.
Chances are, all those maybes are just questions whose answers will be in the form of a resounding NO. Sorry Kings fans, be prepared for some rocky times – especially coming off that bench.
Next: Minnesota Timberwolves