Should Kings’ Christie Break up Acuff-Lavine Backcourt?

Darius Acuff Jr. and Zach LaVine share 60% of the Sacramento Kings' minutes, and the backcourt pairing contributes to their 0-4 start this season.

Sacramento sports a -23.7 net rating, 106.9 offensive rating and 130.5 defensive rating when Acuff and LaVine are on the court, per Databallr. Put simply, the team is struggling to score and defend.

Acuff and LaVine are offensive talents who can score 30-plus points efficiently. Both have already reached that mark at least once this season: 33 for the rookie against the Portland Trail Blazers and 37 for the veteran against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Scoring should be the least of the team's worries with high-level shot creators. Sacramento has a backcourt duo they can rely on, in theory, in late-game offense to make clutch shots.

Turns out, that hasn't been the case. Nearly 50% of the Kings' made field goals are unassisted, reflecting an isolation-heavy offense or ball-dominant guard chucking shots.

While Acuff and LaVine can score in bunches, their defense is horrid.

Neither can defend the perimeter and match up against the other team's best scorer. The rookie is undersized at 6-foot-3, and the 12-year veteran doesn't have the lateral quickness to guard shiftier scorers.

Their weaknesses often forced De'Andre Hunter or Keegan Murray to pick up the slack. Hunter or Murray on the perimeter helps hide the backcourt duo on weak links, like a corner shooter.

When facing teams with multiple offensive threats, like Portland, one of them can't hide and is forced to guard. That takes away their legs early and impacts their late-game offense when the Kings need a bucket.

Breaking up the Acuff-LaVine backcourt sounds like a logical decision for coach Doug Christie, but it's complicated.

Christie isn't benching the 19-year-old. He's the franchise's prized possession; he's its seventh pick and potential cornerstone to lead the team out of a rebuild.

General manager Scott Perry wants to build around Acuff. He'll have the assets and financial flexibility to do so next offseason.

That leaves benching LaVine as the only choice. However, the 31-year-old makes $48.9 million this season in the last year of his deal.

Roster politics is common in the league. Teams rarely bench players making superstar money because they need their production.

LaVine has been efficient, averaging 27.3 points on 52.2/37.5/83.3 shooting splits. His shot creation makes him a coveted trade target for contenders who need one more piece to get them over the hump, and it could be the lifeline Sacramento needs.

Christie will have to stomach Acuff and LaVine's shortcomings until things turn around or the veteran is traded to another franchise.