Sacramento Kings: 3 players facing the most pressure in 2018-19

SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 9: Willie Cauley-Stein #00 of the Sacramento Kings dunks against the San Antonio Spurs on April 9, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. 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 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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3. Justin Jackson

Justin Jackson had a rookie season to forget. He failed to make open shots, often looked hesitant and didn’t put up any kind of resistance on defense. Then came NBA Summer League, where Jackson looked like a completely different player. He was more aggressive than ever in Summer League and found a way to score from inside and out.

As he goes into his second season, Jackson must find a way to replicate his Summer League performance or at least close to it. If he goes back to his rookie performance, the Kings will look elsewhere for help at the small forward position.

For the moment, there is no clear plan for what the Kings want to do with the small forward position. Because of his Summer League performance and familiarity with the team, Jackson may have a chance to be the starter on opening night.

If Jackson shows immediate progress, he may get to keep the starting role for a long time. Otherwise, it will be somebody else taking over. The Kings might even consider taking Jackson back-and-forth from the G League like they did last season.

Clearly, that’s not what Jackson wants in his second season. Hopefully, Kings fans will see a new Justin Jackson in 2018-19.

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