Sacramento Kings 2025-26 season preview: West playoff contender or Beam Crew pretender?

[ad_1] The 2025-26 NBA season is right here! Over the subsequent few weeks, we're analyzing the most important questions, best- and worst-case situations, and win projections for all 30 franchises — from the still-rebuilding groups to the true title contenders.

2024-25 end File: 40-42 (ninth in West, eradicated in play-in match)

Offseason strikes Additions: Dennis Schröder, Nique Clifford, Dario Šarić

Subtractions: Jonas Valančiūnas, Jake LaRavia

Can Zach LaVine assist elevate the Kings within the loaded West? (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports activities Illustration)

The Massive Query: Which route are the Kings headed? It looks like simply yesterday that the Kings have been Lighting the Beam, using good vibes to a 48-34 document and their first playoff look because the 2005-06 season. Domantas Sabonis was an All-Star for the primary time within the Western Convention, and De'Aaron Fox was an All-Star for the primary time ever. They have been surrounded by younger expertise, and their commerce of Tyrese Haliburton had not but come to hang-out them.

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Two seasons have previous since, and although they've made the play-in match every time, they don't have one other playoff look to point out for it. Gone is Fox, who they traded for Zach LaVine, somebody who has performed 4 playoff video games in 11 seasons. Following that midseason deal in February, Sacramento completed the season with a 15-18 document — house owners of a bottom-10 protection — and misplaced its play-in opener.

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Then, the Kings watched as Haliburton made a miraculous run to the NBA Finals for the Indiana Pacers.

Sabonis, the prize in return for Haliburton, continues to be there. He's nonetheless an incredible offensive participant, able to posting a triple-double on any given evening, and he's nonetheless a detriment to fielding a title-caliber protection.

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Likewise, LaVine is an unbelievable particular person scorer, however he gives little in the way in which of defensive resistance. The identical might be stated of a 36-year-old DeMar DeRozan, one other nice particular person scorer. Downside is, when final LaVine and DeRozan shared the wings collectively on the Chicago Bulls, they received solely 39 video games.

In Fox's stead there's newcomer Dennis Schröder, the EuroBasket MVP. His efficiency as the purpose guard for Germany this summer season was the newest motive to consider in his potential to make the same affect on the NBA degree, however we've got 12 seasons of proof that means in any other case, and he's no defensive savior.

This workforce just isn't with out expertise. Everybody talked about above is an effective participant — three All-Stars and the most effective participant in Europe this summer season, to be truthful. There are additionally latest first-round picks Keegan Murray, Devin Carter and Nique Clifford, all of whom carry with them appreciable promise. Keon Ellis is a 25-year-old member of their core. (It appears they wish to commerce Malik Monk, although he's there, too.)

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And collectively this group may generate a top-10 offense, however, man, that protection goes to be laborious to beat, particularly on this West. They presently have the Eleventh-highest projected win whole within the West, in line with BetMGM, which might put them outdoors the play-in image for the primary time in 4 years.

So, which route are they headed?

Greatest-case state of affairs Everybody jells and performs to the most effective of his potential, and the Kings are a surprisingly thrilling offense — one which strikes the ball and scores from all three ranges, together with the midrange, the place DeRozan continues to be king. They continue to be dedicated to protection, even when they aren't that gifted on that finish, they usually squeeze out one other play-in match bid, with an actual likelihood to emerge for a primary playoff look since 2023.

If every little thing falls aside The protection is so unhealthy that the Kings cease taking part in the kind of offense that may win video games and begin taking part in hero ball. Everyone seems to be vying for his subsequent contract, solely we will all see that, and none of their prime items — Sabonis, LaVine or DeRozan — holds any commerce worth. They hinder the event of Sacramento's latest draft picks, and there's little hope subsequent season will likely be any completely different, save for an additional lottery decide.

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2025-26 schedule Season opener: Oct. 22 at Phoenix

The Kings, I concern, are the identical outdated Kings once more. Take the beneath. Pray for pingpong balls.

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