Sacramento is playing for a high draft pick. Explaining these choices for remaining big contests that'll impact the Kings.
The phrase "every game is important" likely doesn't apply to the Sacramento Kings. After all, this season unraveled and the team is gunning for a high draft pick.
Wrong.
There are still important games left on the schedule. Even for the league's worst team.
Yes, it's not a playoff spot Sacramento is pursuing. But rather a chance to land the league's top pick -- regardless of if it's AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer or a new rising favorite in Kingston Flemings.
So what games are worth locking in on if you're a Kings fan?
Future contests against the Indiana Pacers and Brooklyn Nets are the ones ESPN's Anthony Slater is suggesting for fans.
"Flattened lottery odds have lessened the benefit of finishing with the NBA's worst record, but there's still incentive. The league's worst team gets a guaranteed top-five pick. The Kings currently have an NBA-low 14 wins, but the Nets and Pacers have 15 wins, presenting some important upcoming matchups in the tankathon," Slater wrote.
So when does Sacramento tangle with these two Eastern Conference teams? And will it be toward the end of the season?
No to both -- as Indiana and Brooklyn are on the horizon.
"The Kings face the Pacers in Sacramento on March 10 and still have both remaining matchups with the Nets -- March 22 in Sacramento and March 29 in Brooklyn," Slater wrote.
For Indiana, the season became lost with Tyrese Haliburton unavailable. "Hali" went from the toast of Pacers basketball to going down hard in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. He never got the chance to return this season -- which only buried the Pacers.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, pivoted to a youth movement despite trading for past NBA champ with the Denver Nuggets, Michael Porter Jr. Egor Demin has risen as the top rookie sharpshooter. Nolan Traore is the facilitator and shot creator of the rookies. Danny Wolf has stepped up as a strong inside option as of late -- especially when Nic Claxton isn't on the floor.
But like Sacramento, Brooklyn is vying for high draft pick even following a draft that saw five different picks land with the Nets. Fans of the franchise are manifesting names like Dybantsa, Peterson or even Boozer coming to the New York region.
Looks like Sacramento still has something to play for, even if it's not postseason-related.
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