Sacramento Kings: 2018-19 NBA season preview
By Luke Swiatek
2018-19 roster
Key additions: Marvin Bagley III (draft), Yogi Ferrell (free agency), Nemanja Bjelica (free agency), Ben McLemore (trade)
Key subtractions: Vince Carter (free agency), Garrett Temple (trade)
Unfortunately, the Sacramento Kings lost Bruno Caboclo in free agency. That might not sound like a blow, but you’re forgetting that four years ago Fran Fraschilla said Caboclo was two years away from being two years away, which means he must be there now, wherever “there” is. Even JaKarr Sampson and Jack Cooley are gone!
In all seriousness, there are only two major departures from the team: Vince Carter and Garrett Temple. Letting Carter walk and trading Temple shows that the Kings really are committed to playing the youngsters this year.
In terms of new players to the team, the list is much longer. Marvin Bagley III is obviously the biggest name, but Harry Giles (back after missing all of last season with an injury) is also a rookie and was arguably more impressive than Bagley in NBA Summer League.
Ben McLemore is back thanks to the Garrett temple trade, which was a bit puzzling. Integrating Iman Shumpert and adding Yogi Ferrell and Nemanja Bjelica should give the Kings the veteran talent they lost in the offseason.
The roster might have more upside than last season’s, but it also will take some time to jell. The starting lineup could be an all-youth movement of De’Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Bagley and Giles. That group has a ton of potential, but it’ll be pretty bad on defense and make a lot of mistakes given the players’ age and inexperience