Sacramento Kings: One really good summer away from NBA relevance
By Mason McFee
The O.G. Fox
Okay, the heading was poor, but is it really a Mason McFee article if there’s not one poor attempt at a clever heading? (Don’t answer that.)
In an ideal draft (to me), the Sacramento Kings draft speed demon De’Aaron Fox at No. 5, and draft O.G. Anunoby at No. 10. Why you ask? I’m glad you did.
Hield is a shooter that should be getting plenty of open looks with Fox’s penetrating ability. Cauley-Stein certainly has the hops to catch alley-oops off of pick-and-rolls with Fox, and depending on what Joerger draws up or runs next season, Labissiere should benefit playing with a speedy PG like Fox.
The only asterisk in the starting 5 is Anunoby, but Jonathan Tjarks from The Ringer is very high on Anunoby; which in turn made me a believer.
Now, another asterisk that I should touch on is Fox’s shooting woes. While he might never develop into a knockdown 3-point shooter, I raise you Elfrid Payton, John Wall, and Kawhi Leonard.
Elfrid Payton is still the Magic’s PG of the future despite holding a career 28.9% average from 3. John Wall shot 32.7% from deep this year, but is considered a top-5 PG. Kawhi Leonard averaged a 25.0% average from 3 during his two years at San Diego State, but during the 2015-16 season shot 44.3% from deep; and this year is a top-3 finalist for MVP. Stats from college aren’t always indicators of what’s to come.
Bet on the upside Sacramento, and you could have a dynasty in the works. Yeah, I said it.