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Sacramento Kings: 2016-17 Season Outlook

By Gerald Bourguet

Jan 23, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts next to center Willie Cauley-Stein (00) after making a shot while being fouled against the Indiana Pacers in the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts next to center Willie Cauley-Stein (00) after making a shot while being fouled against the Indiana Pacers in the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sacramento Kings
May 10, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger smiles during a press conference at the Sacramento Kings XC (Experience Center). Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Three Key Storylines: 3. Joerger Bomb

The best change the Kings made to their roster over the summer actually came with their coaching staff. By hiring former Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger, the Kings are putting the messy George Karl era behind them and — hopefully — making a commitment to the defensive end.

With the Grizz, Joerger was basically Deadpool with the way he constantly coaxed maximum effort out of a deformed body of players. With so many of them injured last season, the Grizzlies’ highly vaunted defense slipped to 19th in defensive rating, but in the two seasons before that, Memphis ranked in the top eight.

With Boogie showing more effort on that end and Cauley-Stein being a Defensive Player of the Year in the making, the Kings have the tools — in the frontcourt, at least — to be more respectable than the league’s 23rd ranked defense, which they were last season.

The question is whether Joerger can extract the same kind of defensive effort and know-how from a roster that no longer includes players with high basketball IQs like Mike Conley and Marc Gasol. Matt Barnes will bring the defensive energy, but other than that, Sacramento’s roster isn’t exactly tailor-made for defense.

There are also question marks on the offensive end. Going from Karl’s up-tempo offense to Joerger’s middle-tier offensive schemes means the Kings will once again be establishing a new identity, which could be problematic under an owner who wanted to put up points the way Karl did.

Joerger is an excellent coach, but he doesn’t have much to work with on this roster. The 2016-17 season will be a great test for him as he tries to extract a winning formula from an underwhelming bunch…and hopefully give DeMarcus Cousins more reason to stay loyal to Sacramento for the long-term.

Next: Best, Worst Case Scenarios

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