The Sacramento Kings already are guaranteed a losing season with 42 losses. But they're being encouraged to correct this big flaw.
The Sacramento Kings aren't short on talent -- not with perennial All-Stars DeMar DeRozan, Russell Westbrook, Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine remaining on this roster.
Yet the 2025-26 version of the club sits at a league-worst 13-42 and are riding a 12-game losing streak. Even with the talent disposal, one flaw has become increasingly noticeable.
NBA analyst for ClutchPoints Enzo Flojo ripped how disorganized head coach Doug Christie looks with what Flojo calls a "rotational logjam" within the roster.
"Perhaps the most damaging downstream effect of deadline inactivity is developmental stagnation. By retaining veterans on a noncompetitive roster, Sacramento has created a minutes bottleneck that limits evaluation of its younger talent," Flojo wrote.
He mentioned two names deservingly needing more minutes.
"Devin Carter needs extended run. Dylan Cardwell, recently signed to a four-year standard contract, requires developmental reps," Flojo said.
The analyst observed more and more how Christie in juggling everything in discombobulated fashion.
"Instead, Christie is forced to juggle rotations featuring former All-Stars on a last-place team," Flojo said.
Here's why Flojo believes this isn't the right frame of mind from the Kings legend turned head coach.
"These players have timelines that no longer align with the franchise’s reality," Flojo said. "This creates what executives often call a 'losing veterans environment.'"
Flojo added why this ecosystem isn't the proper one for a roster constructed like this.
"In this setup, development and competitiveness both suffer," he said.
And it's not just the veterans like DeRozan, Westbrook, Sabonis and LaVine impacted here.
"Young players don’t get runway. Veterans don’t get meaningful games. The franchise drifts," he said.
Now Flojo is looking at the "ripple effects" that look ready to occur moving forward.
"The ripple effects will extend beyond this season," Flojo said. "By failing to move veterans now, Sacramento risks declining trade value in the offseason, especially if injuries or performance regression strike."
It gets worsened when the salary cap gets brought up.
"They also delay cap flexibility," Flojo adds. "That could otherwise position them to absorb contracts for picks or participate in multi-team blockbuster frameworks. Most critically, they postpone identity formation."
Flojo left with asking one last question.
"Are they building around youth, or chasing one last veteran push?" he asked. "Right now, no one knows."
Sacramento now has an injury dilemma on its hands. Newly required De'Andre Hunter will already miss action due to an eye injury, as he'll sit for 10 days.
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