The Sacramento Kings are bad. Like really bad. Like blow the roster up immediately bad.
I’m a huge fan of DeMarcus Cousins and all he can do. I can even get on board with the potential of Isaiah Thomas and Thomas Robinson. As for everyone else, though? Well, it’s time to start working the phones to get this roster in sync by tearing it apart.
I understand that the Kings have won three in a row, and I also understand that the talent on their roster suggests they should be better. But they aren’t.
Currently, Sacramento sits at 7-12, the third-worst record in the Western Conference. It continues to misuse both Jimmer Fredette and Isaiah Thomas, its averaging the least amount of assists per game of any NBA team and there is no obvious leader.
Sure, Cousins has potential as a cornerstone, but the Kings need something more. And they need it now.
Which is why is should come as no surprise that Fox Sports Ohio’s Sam Amico reported Sacramento is a ready and willing trade partner, essentially implying that the team was willing to blow up the roster if the right deal came along.
Kings are very open to moving some of their nice young pieces. Willing trade partner with assets.
— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) December 7, 2012
The Kings have made plenty of questionable decisions over the last few years, and they continue to struggle to draw the correct conclusions now, but this willingness to decimate their roster via trade proves that they’re aware that things need to change.
It has become clear Tyreke Evans is no superstar, at least not in Sacramento. Contracts like Jason Thompson and John Salmons’ have no business being present on a rebuilding team. And a youngster like Fredette may even be better off elsewhere as well.
As terrible as the Kings are, though, this isn’t one of those “hopeless” narratives that concludes there is no chance of them turning things around. The fact is, Sacramento has plenty of talent on its roster. Plenty of young talent, actually.
Thomas, Cousins, Robinson and even Thornton form a formidable foundation with which the Kings can build upon; this is a core that should be able to win plenty of games down the road. Provided they are complemented by the right pieces, that is.
There is a case to be made that Sacramento should be better than its current record. That this team should be a fringe playoff team, and not a perennial bottom-feeder. But again, they are, so no one outside of a select few should be off limits.
Sacramento needs some savvy and capable veterans to balance out its roster. Players who can serve as mentor for the youth, as well as help the Kings contend for the playoffs in the near future.
By making guys like Evans, Fredette and even Aaron Brooks available, acquiring such athletes becomes feasible, which is huge.
Why?
Because at this point, what the Kings are currently doing isn’t working; their current recipe for success has proved to be a nightmare.
Rendering the need to shake things up, to carve up the roster and start anew not just an intriguing concept, but an actual necessity.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
