The Sacramento Kings' quiet offseason has most projections placing the franchise towards the bottom of the Western Conference. But, the team should definitely see improvements with the addition of Darius Acuff Jr. and key players returning to health.
The Sacramento Kings' starting five will be almost entirely different from the majority of last year's games, with key players returning from injury and the addition of Darius Acuff Jr. through the draft.
On Thursday, Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley ranked all 30 NBA team's starting units, with Sacramento coming in at No. 29.
"While optimism should run in near limitless supply this time of the year, it'll be tough for Sacramento fans to summon," Buckley wrote.
The Kings' key veterans, Zach LaVine and Domantas Sabonis, both missed over half of the team's games due to injury last season, but now return with additional offensive firepower alongside them.
Both players were floated as potential trade targets this offseason, but teams have been hesitant to go after their lucrative contracts.
"LaVine and Sabonis would be gone already if they had a trade market," Buckley wrote. "The same almost certainly applies to [De'Andre] Hunter, and [Keegan] Murray keeps moving further away from the buzz that accompanied his arrival as the No. 4 pick of the 2022 draft."
Hunter was dealt to Sacramento in January of last year, but only appeared in two games before undergoing a season-ending surgery to repair his eye injury.
Still, he has averaged at least 13 points per game every season since his rookie year, while providing above-average perimeter defense.
For a Kings team seriously lacking on the defensive end of the floor, Hunter gives head coach Doug Christie his best defender in the projected starting five.
Murray, on the other hand, played in just 23 games for the Kings last season before being shut down with a left ankle injury.
Since shooting 41.8% from 3-point range as a rookie in 2022-2023, Murray's long distance efficiency has taken a large drop, shooting under 28% last season.
But, he still projects as one of the Kings' top 3-point shooters, who should benefit from the playmaking abilities of Acuff.
After reports began surfacing that Sacramento's front office had serious interest in taking Acuff seventh overall, the Kings made their likings a reality.
On Friday, Kings General Manager Scott Perry joined SacTown Sports' Radio to talk about the upcoming season and what he expects from his top pick.
Perry admitted that Acuff will have a lot on his shoulders as a rookie, but said that the franchise is willing to roll with the "bumps and bruises."
Acuff's on-court ability is impressive, but Perry said his most valuable attribute is how much he loves the game.
He will be tasked with a lot of scoring and ball-handling responsibilities early on, but the team's patient approach is definitely the right way to go.
