Sacramento Kings: Free Agency Moves Suggest Progress
With the Sacramento Kings entering the first full season under head coach George Karl and vice president for basketball and franchise operations Vlade Divac looming in the distance, things appear to be shifting in a curious direction.
With the astute additions of former Spur (and 2014 NBA champion) Marco Belinelli, Kentucky big man Willie Cauley-Stein, former Memphis Grizzly Kosta Koufos, and the retention of bargain small forward Omri Casspi, the Kings appear to have some well-primed pieces in their machine for the upcoming season.
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However, it wouldn’t be a Sacramento Certified Vehicle without some murk and doubt.
Despite the gains made in the opening of the free agency period, the entrance of one-time Dallas Mavericks Boston Celtics great Rajon Rondo and the continuing tenure of DeMarcus Cousins provide a potential prime time drama on both ends of the court. The two most high-profile Kings members are known as much for their sullen personalities as their pick-and-roll darting or rebounding prowess.
Add to that heavy, damp-seated see-saw a famously outspoken coach like Karl, and suddenly the internal combustibility of this machine makes it seem like something that may not make it out of the driveway.
The free agency dance that Divac has performed for both observers of league free agency and devoted Kings enthusiasts is one which drew as much backhanded praise as it did hot, oven-fresh takes.
The initial shotgun blast that opened the team’s maneuvers may have given the impression that Sacramento’s front office was lumbering toward a spate of moves that would negate any positivity from their oak-solid draft outing, but many subsequent moves proved rational, measured, and clear in their purpose.
Belinelli, as previously discussed, can likely be counted on to provide some more adept shooting than a developing Nik Stauskas would have at this point. Time will tell how the brief condiment nickname footnote will fare in the league, but Belinelli’s NBA schooling and playoff pedigree should reassure Kings fans who wish only for relevant perimeter scoring, with a European tinge.
His .392 career production from three-point range is a gleaming decoration on his warmup jacket. Take a look at this galantuomo in action last season.
Casspi was one of the sapphires in the rough during the Kings’ 2014-15 dirge, and his production under Karl seemed for foreshadow a blooming career for the Israeli-born forward. Injuries and Karl’s consequent lineup experimentation afforded Casspi the opportunity to step into the spotlight with 14 points or more in his last eight games of the season.
Apart from his 2013-14 season with the Houston Rockets, Casspi has never had a crack at contributing to a playoff team, so his contributions are likely driven by a sense of urgent need. At 27, he may be ready to finally take his place as a starter in Karl’s rotation.
If that’s how his cards read, he’ll have to continue polishing his game against top talent in the Western Conference to demonstrate his ability to make much impact.
Another new King whose time may have finally come is Koufos, former Marc Gasol understudy in Memphis. Koufos has experience playing under Karl from their shared time in Denver. Under Karl, Koufos was employed as a handy harbor piling for Denver’s low pick-and-rolls, and for defensive obstruction.
With his share of scoring coming from timely cuts to the basket and assists from spoon-feeding guards (like current King, one-time Karl Nugget Andre Miller), Koufos is also a clean-up man who could be relied upon to grab offensive rebounds, seal tip-ins and put-backs.
As the Kings are not yet laser beam brilliant, his reassuring bear-hug down low should be of great assistance to Cousins, who can dabble in power forward territory (along with Rudy Gay…?).
These three will have some expectations coming into the season, as this will be their personal and collective moment of truth. All are on the downhill of their twenties, and if a chip-on-the-shoulder sentiment of having been bench performers – the overshadowed workmen, the Western Conference’s swing shift – is what it takes to make their Sacramento outings a success, so be it.
In the end, free agency has been a mixed bag for the Kings.
Not everyone can enjoy the San Antonio experience of constant migration and devotion (well, certainly not Belinelli), but given Divac’s low bar, he’s succeeded in pulling of sneaky deals with transparent motivation, and at reasonable cost: Koufos for $33 million over four years; Belinelli for $19 over three years; and Casspi for $19.00 an hour.
Kidding. $6 million over two years.
Whether these three are facing an upswing in their individual value depends largely on how the rest of the machine functions around them. With Karl, Cousins, Rondo, and the tarnished fascia of the Kings organization, the machine may be due for a stop at the shop sooner than fans would hope. Perhaps not sooner than they’ve come to expect.
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