Sacramento Kings: Crowded frontcourt complicates 2019-20 outlook
By Alec Liebsch
On the heels of a surprise 2018-19 season, the Sacramento Kings promptly bolstered the support cast around their young core.
For the first time in quite a while, the Sacramento Kings look … competent! They churned out 39 wins in 2018-19 and a huge part of that was De’Aaron Fox‘s second-year leap.
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The rising star was given more freedom to run the offense and it showed on the stat sheet, as he catapulted to 17.3 points and 7.3 assists per game on respectable shooting numbers.
Fox was not the only youngun to make strides either. Buddy Hield entrenched himself as an elite shooter, as he ranks seventh in the league in 3-pointers made over the past two seasons. Bogdan Bogdanovic showed the skills to be a wing who can run through various offenses. Marvin Bagley III, though raw, displayed the skills to be a high-level slashing big one day.
While Sacramento enjoyed a breakout season, it wasn’t enough in the loaded Western Conference. It wouldn’t have been enough in 2019-20 either, as nearly everyone in the playoff hunt got better.
Fortunately the Kings did as well, surrounding their intriguing youngsters with solid veterans while also retaining Harrison Barnes. If last year’s leap was for real, then the Kings will be in good shape heading into this season.
Here’s a look at the roster, things to watch as the season goes on, and potential scenarios that could play out.