NBA Power Rankings: Boston Celtics, LA Clippers are getting hot at the right time

24. Sacramento Kings

Over the past few weeks, the Sacramento Kings have effectively played their way out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference. The team has lost nine games in a row and has fallen to 12th place in the West and is 5.5 games out of the 10th spot in the standings.

That means that, essentially, their path to the playoff play-in tournament is pretty much over. That opens the opportunity for the Kings to enter the offseason with some room to navigate. Considering this team has not made the playoffs over the past few seasons, there are genuine moves that need to take place during the offseason.

Sacramento can’t continue to assume that simple progression is going to get them to that place. It hasn’t worked over the past few seasons. There has to be a shake-up that needs to take place for this franchise to take a legitimate step forward.