Sacramento Kings: 5 goals for De’Aaron Fox’s rookie season

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings looks on during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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SACRAMENTO, CA – JUNE 24: The Sacramento Kings 2017 Draft Pick De’Aaron Fox speaks to the media on June 24, 2017 at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

2. Finish first-team All-Rookie

Lonzo Ball will be running the show in Los Angeles, with an up-tempo system and the green light to rack up points and assists. Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons will both be eligible for rookie awards on a Philadelphia team that may reach the playoffs in a weakened Eastern Conference. Dennis Smith Jr. is out for revenge and recognition after eight teams passed on him in the draft.

Add in the inevitable unexpected rookie standouts, and the competition for Rookie of the Year and other first-year awards will be fierce. Many of the other top candidates have a much easier path to playing time and touches than De’Aaron Fox, who will most likely start the year behind George Hill.

That doesn’t mean Fox can’t make waves, and making a defensive impact means more now than it did in years past. Last season’s Rookie of the Year winner, Malcolm Brogdon, beat out players such as Dario Saric with more counting stats because he made meaningful contributions on a playoff team.

While the Sacramento Kings almost certainly will fall short of the postseason, Fox can still make a multifaceted impact by scoring, passing, stealing and defending at strong levels. The shooting may not be there, nor the minutes, and having the “best” rookie season may be a bridge too far. But Fox can be among the top five rookies overall, and that’s a goal he should target.

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