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5 Teams In Need Of Major Changes Before Deadline

By Jon Shames

Nov 7, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) goes for a shot against Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Monroe scored 20 points to help the Bucks beat the Nets 94-86. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Greg Monroe (15) goes for a shot against Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) in the third quarter at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Monroe scored 20 points to help the Bucks beat the Nets 94-86. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) talks with guard Rajon Rondo (9) on the court in the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 7, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) talks with guard Rajon Rondo (9) on the court in the first half against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

4.) Sacramento Kings

The Suns may be the this season’s biggest train wreck, but Sacramento Kings are… well, the ‘Kings’ of perennial dysfunction, as they’ve demonstrated over the past few seasons.

Somehow, despite constantly upgrading talent, the Kings can never seem to get better. DeMarcus Cousins is now 25 years old and in the midst of a stellar season, but the Kings — once again — are irrelevant in the West.

Sacramento is actually in a decent position as this year’s deadline approaches, because it has a handful of directions it could go in.

The team is good enough right now (17-23) that they could make the playoffs if the right piece is added (a perimeter stopper like Tony Allen or Avery Bradley would be a good addition). They also could shop guys like Rudy Gay and Rajon Rondo and attempt to exchange them for younger guys and/or draft picks. And of course, trading Cousins for both picks and young talent to restart the rebuild is always an option, though that seems unlikely at this point.

Unfortunately, Sacramento is a franchise that can’t seem to make up its mind. They have unsuccessfully attempted to build around Cousins for years, and the longer it takes them to find the recipe for success, the more disgruntled the hot-headed big man is going to become.

Building on that, the absolute worst thing Sacramento can do is stay dormant at the deadline. It’s obvious that the roster — as it stands now — is not playoff-caliber, and as the established-but-struggling Western Conference teams like Houston, Memphis, and Utah start to get healthy and find their footing, Sacramento is only going to fall deeper into the abyss.

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