NBA Power Rankings Week 16: Rise of the Phoenix Suns

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 08: Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns and Mikal Bridges #25 talk during the fourth quarter in a 113-103 LA Clippers win at Staples Center on April 08, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) 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. /

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Sacramento Kings

Last Week: Lost to Minnesota Timberwolves 116-106, Lost to Detroit Pistons 113-101, Lost to Utah Jazz 128-112

This Week: 4/12 at New Orleans Pelicans, 4/14 vs. Washington Wizards, 4/15 at Phoenix Suns

Back to normal, the Sacramento Kings find themselves unlikely to be competing for a playoff berth anytime soon, even if they are only three games out of the play-in. Stringing together another winning streak of any note feels impossible.

The spotlight remains on De’Aaron Fox, the face of the franchise. Fox has been special this season, averaging 24.7 points, 7.2 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game. It is not because of any lack of effort on his part that the Kings remain incapable of winning in a meaningful way. Much of that blame falls on the ever-changing front office leadership and the should-be changing head coach Luke Walton.

The reason this remains focused on Fox considering how long he remains content with the plan (or lack thereof) in Sacramento. He did just sign a max contract extension before the season, which should lock him down in Sacramento for years to come, but as has become the norm in the league today, winning trumps all. The Kings need to put a winning team around Fox to keep him happy in Sacramento. He is the pillar of the franchise that was meant to carry the Kings back to the postseason. The clock is ticking.