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NBA: The Best 2016 Free Agent For Every Team

By Ryan Blackburn

May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; A general view of the Air Canada Centre prior to Indiana Pacers playing Toronto Raptors in game seven of the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) controls the ball against Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 123-108. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson (33) controls the ball against Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) during the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. The Pelicans defeated the Kings 123-108. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Sacramento Kings – Ryan Anderson

Unfortunately for the Sacramento Kings, the team was met with the same old turmoil this year. After predictions that the Kings would challenge for an eighth seed in the Western Conference, the clashes between DeMarcus Cousins and George Karl began, and the Kings barely reached the 30-win mark for the first time in Cousins’ career.

Should Cousins be held accountable for that lack of winning? Yes and no. He has been put through more difficulties than any other player of his talent level in the NBA, but he’s also caused many more difficulties with his petulance on and off the court. There have been rumblings of the Kings and Vlade Divac getting tired of Cousins’ antics, so he may be on the trade block this summer.

Regardless, Ryan Anderson is a great target for Kings this summer. As a power forward, he would complement both Cousins and Willie Cauley-Stein very well. Both centers are focused on playing in the painted area, while Anderson’s game is strongly perimeter based. His spacing would open up the lane for every Kings player.

A future frontcourt involving Anderson and Cousins would likely struggle defensively at times, but Anderson is the best possible pair offensively with Cousins, as it allows him to use his size to bully opponents in the paint.

This would be a power play by the Kings to get back to the postseason. Many fans expected Marco Belinelli and Kosta Koufos to lead the bench and helped Sacramento end its playoff drought, but neither of those players is as skilled as Anderson. Inserting him into the lineup would likely be an all-in move on the roster going forward.

If that fails though, expect the Kings to finally blow it up, starting with their All-Star center.

Next: San Antonio Spurs