This season, the Sacramento Kings rank among the league’s most annoying teams. One night, they can appear to be a real playoff danger, but the next, they might absolutely collapse.
Not only has this inconsistent play put Kings supporters through an emotional rollercoaster this whole season, but it may potentially cost the team a trip to the playoffs. Several of the NBA’s most talented players reside in the West, which is now largely healthy. Sacramento is having difficulty keeping up with other teams that have improved dramatically.
The defense hasn’t lived up to Mike Brown’s dream of a competitive unit, and the offense isn’t humming like it did last season. It appears that until the roster is released, none of that will alter.
Now, let’s examine six guys who may soon play their final game wearing a Kings outfit.
1. Harrison Barnes
Since the playoffs the previous season, fans have been frustrated with Harrison Barnes’ role on this Kings team. Barnes’s defense isn’t always the best, and he has an odd habit of disappearing offensively, especially in close games.
This season, Coach Brown has defended the veteran on numerous occasions, stating that his role is challenging since he must find ways to influence the game even when he does not have the ball in his hands. In addition, there isn’t a better choice available to the Kings. Their nearly nonexistent wing depth has proven to be an issue.
Barnes will likely be traded if the Kings are able to acquire a starting 3-and-D player on the wing, which is what they really need. Not much has changed since the front office placed Barnes, Kevin Huerter, and Davion Mitchell on the trade market in the past.
One of the team’s main problems is still defense, so Barnes’ contract would probably need to be included in a trade for a more well-known player who could help the Kings advance. Barnes and Huerter are the weakest players in this starting lineup, which appears to have reached a standstill. It’s likely that at least one of them will begin the 2024–25 season in a different city.
2. Huerter Kevin
Kevin Huerter was a key member of the Kings when the team was winning games just by outscoring opponents. He was deadly in the dribble handoff with Domantas Sabonis, shooting 40% from three.
The Kings very likely wouldn’t have made it to the playoffs without Huerter. But after that, his shooting percentage fell down and it took him a bit too long to bounce back.
Huerter has struggled to perform up to Mike Brown’s standards on defense and is suffering his worst shooting season since 2020–21. He is too frequently pulled early from games because he is being blown by on the perimeter or fails to finish them because his shot is not falling. You can handle that if you have a sturdy rim protector to fix those errors. That is not what the Kings have. Players will get to the rim if they are not stopped on the perimeter.
Although Huerter has demonstrated a talent for deflections and is of decent size, Brown prefers a different kind of physical defense from him. During the summer, changes must be implemented. Sacramento needs better defenders, and one of the Kings’ most important trade pieces is Kevin Huerter.
Huerter is the kind of movement shooter that many teams in the league would adore. Meanwhile, the Kings are in dire need of a defensive improvement.
3. Mitchell Davion
The development of the former lottery choice has not gone as expected. Davion Mitchell is averaging the fewest minutes, points, and assists of his career in his third NBA season. His three-point shot has not yet translated into games, despite intense preparation in the offseason, and Keon Ellis has been on his tail the entire time.
The former two-way player used Mitchell’s minutes and performed admirably on multiple occasions. Even now, many fans would rather see Ellis on the court—Mitchell just had one of his greatest games of the season in Minnesota. He is taller than Mitchell, more athletic, and a more proficient three-point shooter.
Mitchell has previously demonstrated a willingness to be moved by the Kings front staff. It might very possibly occur over the summer. Mitchell does not fit the mold that Sacramento needs surrounding De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis—long 3-and-D players.
But as a young player with excellent defensive potential, he might make a compelling trade chip for the Kings looking for that one piece lacking. Mitchell may be transferred in a lesser deal to strengthen the team’s supporting cast, or he may be packaged with other players, such as Harrison Barnes and/or Kevin Huerter, to bring in a bigger name. In any case, it may not be long before Mitchell dons a Kings suit again.
4. Edwards Kessler
Although the Kings are in dire need of a wing defender with Kessler Edwards’ talent, Mike Brown clearly lacks faith in Edwards’ ability to score goals. Edwards has therefore played very little throughout the season, occupying the wing rotation spot behind Chris Duarte, Sasha Vezenkov, Harrison Barnes, and Keegan Murray.
He was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets around the 2023 trade deadline, and he played a reserve role during the regular season before being benched for the postseason. He is scheduled to reach restricted free agency following the season after the Kings exercised their team opinion last summer.
He doesn’t really have a position with the Kings at the moment, and there aren’t many developing minutes available for players other than Keegan Murray. They won’t likely want to keep Edwards around for very long as a result. With a team that isn’t particularly looking to contend right now, the 23-year-old might gain from a fresh start, and the Kings could use the roster spot to add a more dependable player.
For the entire season, depth has been an issue. Malik Monk and Trey Lyles have been accompanied by an inexperienced and erratic bench. Edwards might not be in Sacramento for very long if the Kings are to succeed at the highest level, since that needs to alter.
5. JaVale McGee
In order to provide size and rim protection, the Kings signed McGee to a one-year contract over the summer. He has given that in his few minutes played, but all in all, the big man’s season has not gone well.
There’s not much time left for a backup center, with Trey Lyles frequently becoming the small-ball five and Domantas Sabonis playing big minutes almost every night. But McGee hasn’t been performing at all lately.
Instead, Alex Len has received the minutes. Although McGee’s voice and championship experience are valuable, he is not helping the team on the court. He will be an unrestricted free agent after the season and may need to sign with a different team.
Right now, Keegan Murray and Malik Monk lead the team in blocks, and rim protection has been an issue the entire season. It’s time to switch up the big man rotation and introduce some fresh blood instead of returning time and time again to the same old faces.
The Kings should ideally look for a backup big man who can defend the rim, stretch the floor, and possibly even play next to Sabonis when needed. Due in part to the minimal impact of its current backup big men, the Kings’ extreme smallness can be a hindrance at times.
6. Monk Malik
Malik Monk ought to be on this list despite how agonizing it is. After the season, he will be an unrestricted free agent, so there is no guarantee he will remain in Sacramento until he signs a new deal.
Numerous factors indicate that he ought to remain: On this team, Monk has a well-established role and has excelled in it. On a team with one of his greatest friends, he’s playing the best basketball of his career.
However, Monk has received a significant salary increase for his performance, and other teams may be able to outbid the Kings. The decision will then be made solely by the Monk. Finding a new agreement should undoubtedly be in the interests of all parties, but as of right now, nothing is certain.
