5 NBA teams stuck between excellence and mediocrity

PORTLAND, OREGON - JANUARY 14: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers react to a jump ball call by the referee in the fourth quarter at Moda Center on January 14, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. 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. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – FEBRUARY 26: Marvin Bagley III #35 of the Sacramento Kings prepares to shoot a free throw against the Detroit Pistons during the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena on February 26, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

5 NBA teams that are too good to blow things up, but too bad to win an NBA championship this season: Sacramento Kings

We know how poor this organization has been for over a decade, having not made the playoffs since the 2005-06 season. This current Sacramento Kings team is bad as well, sitting 11th in the west with an 8-14 record, and having already fired Luke Walton as a coach.

There’s enough talent there though to win some games and to entice ownership and the front office to continue pushing for a playoff berth. For that reason, I suspect they’ll be lucky to get a top-five pick at the NBA draft lottery. Maybe that’s a good thing, given their drafting record in recent years has been mediocre at best.

There are just so many question marks on this team. What’s their future guard rotation look like with De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton, and Davion Mitchell? What are they doing with Buddy Hield whose been in trade discussions for what feels like forever? What about Marvin Bagley III, who went from out of the rotation to getting minutes since Walton got the ax?

All the question marks probably wouldn’t exist if they’d just taken Luka Doncic over the aforementioned Bagley. That’s just one of a number of blunders for a franchise still seeking their big-time superstar.