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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
Apr 1, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Darren Collison (7) and guard James Anderson (5) and guard Seth Curry (30) and guard Ben McLemore (23) reacts during the game against the Miami Heat in the fourth quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Miami won 112-106. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

Best-Case Scenario

Joerger proves himself as the right man for the job in Sacramento, winning over DeMarcus Cousins and recalibrating a bottom-feeder defense into a middle-of-the-pack unit. The offensive slippage is noticeable, but with everyone buying in on the defensive end, the Kings are a surprise team out West.

Guys like Lawson, Barnes and a disgruntled Rudy Gay don’t cause any problems on or off the court, buying into Joerger’s plan to bring this franchise back to relevance. Cousins turns in the best season of his career, while Cauley-Stein morphs into a Defensive Player of the Year candidate overnight.

Ben McLemore regains his confidence under a new head coach, while Afflalo rediscovers his three-point touch. Darren Collison proves to be an adequate replacement for Rajon Rondo and the Kings shock the world by winning 44 games and sneaking into the playoffs as an eighth seed.

Worst-Case Scenario

Pretty much everything we’re all expecting. Joerger tries and fails to win over the entire locker room starting with DeMarcus Cousins, who once again looks longingly to Michael Malone in Denver as the only head coach he’s ever connected with.

The Boogie trade whispers grow louder and an embattled Cousins does little to shoot them down. Collison’s off-court problems catch up with him, Barnes and Afflalo look completely washed up, McLemore continues to look like a draft bust and WCS makes zero progress on the offensive end.

Rudy Gay starts stirring the pot with more controversial comments, the guys in the locker room turn against each other and Joerger quickly realizes this dysfunctional franchise is a whole ‘nother kind of monster. The Sacramento Kings fail to reach the 30-win mark and miss the playoffs for the 11th year in a row.

Next: Predictions

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