Decision time awaits Sacramento on a potential rebuild
Kings fans may not want to hear this, but the hard truth is a rebuild could serve this team best. The team's core of De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Malik Monk has proven it can win games, but not at a championship-winning level.
In addition, adding DeMar DeRozan has negatively affected Keegan Murray's game, who's the prized jewel of the team's future. The team had opportunities to trade Murray for Jazz star Lauri Markkanen throughout the summer but elected to keep Murray.
The trade package of assets the team could get for Fox could be an opportunity the organization can't pass up. The same could be said for Sabonis and Monk, players who could help contenders needing their skillsets.
Building around Keegan Murray, Keon Ellis, first-round pick Devin Carter, and two-way players Isaac Jones and Isaiah Crawford could create a formidable unit for Sacramento into the future. But that's the catch. The Kings have solutions on the roster, but they refuse to use them.
The Kings stubbornness has blinded them off their internal solutions
The Kings lack three main components to their team. The team's defense and shooting could use significant upgrades. Additionally, the team lacks the size and rim protection it needs in the frontcourt behind and alongside Domantas Sabonis.
Sacramento replenished its youth in each of the last few seasons, signing or drafting Keon Ellis, Devin Carter, Isaac Jones, Isaiah Crawford, Colby Jones, and Orlando Robinson. While not all of these players are rotation pieces, the majority are.
Kevin Huerter's continued struggles and the disappearance of Jordan McLaughlin's occasional minutes warrant even more playing time for both Ellis and Carter, who's returning from injury. The first-round lottery selection, alongside Ellis, provides shooting, defense, and playmaking the Kings could use off the bench.
Meanwhile, Alex Len and Trey Lyles have been mainstays for the Kings, but they're both aging and clogging the minutes of younger players Isaac Jones and Isaiah Crawford. Both on two-way contracts, Jones and Crawford could contribute to Sacramento as forwards, a position the roster severely lacks. Crawford has shown an ability to hit threes at an elite level in the G League and guard every position on the floor.
Jones, 6 feet 9 inches, is an undersized center. But, his athleticism and rebounding could be more useful behind Domas. Plus, if the Kings need size, they should lean more on Orlando Robinson's shooting at 6 feet 10 inches, instead of Len's 7-foot frame.
The clock is ticking on the Kings, and the NBA world is watching. The organzation has time to wake up, make some moves, and try to turn this season around. That, or they can kiss their franchise guard goodbye sooner, rather than later.