*NEW ACQUISITION
With the signings they
made and the progress
of their young guys,
they expect to be in the
playoff race. They have
a real galvanizing guy in
DE’AARON FOX. Everybody
has benefited from
his burst and ability to
attack the paint. He
has All-NBA potential;
it’s just a question
of how fast he gets
there.... They have
a mix of younger and
older guys now, and it’ll
be a challenge for Luke
Walton to figure out
what his best units will
be.... MARVIN BAGLEY is
a dynamic finisher and
was really impressive
training with Team USA
this summer. He has
to get stronger and
probably play some
small-ball five. If they
can get away with
playing him up front,
it could make them
much more explosive
getting up and down
the floor.... With TREVOR
ARIZA and HARRISON BARNES
and BOGDAN BOGDANOVIC ́
they have a bevy of
wings they can play
together.... BUDDY HIELD
has established himself
as one of the best
shooters in the league.
With Fox that’s a really
nice fit. They’re going
to have to find a way
to retain Buddy next
summer just because
his shooting is that
important.... Barnes
has been durable, and
he’ll give them a lot of
minutes, but he doesn’t
blow you away in any
one aspect.... HARRY
GILES has the big-time
pedigree, but it’s hard
to know if he’ll get a
chance to play with
DEWAYNE DEDMON and
NEMANJA BJELICA.... If
they can squeeze into
the eighth seed, they
should feel bullish
about the future. But if
they fall short, they’ll
have to take a step back
and look at things.
Projected Lineup
Bench
Sacramento made the curious
decision to let go of coach Dave
Joerger in the offseason. The Kings
appeared to be turning the corner
last year, capitalizing on years in the
lottery to produce an exciting team that briefly
challenged for a playoff spot before finishing with
the franchise’s best record since 2005–06. Joerger
allowed speedy point guard De’Aaron Fox to push
a PACE OF 103.9, THIRD-FASTEST IN THE LEAGUE,
benefiting a youthful core that included Buddy
Hield, Marvin Bagley III and Bogdan Bogdanovi ́c.
Joerger’s replacement, Luke Walton, at least fits
Sacramento’s style. His Lakers pushed the tempo,
even after the arrival of a famously deliberate
LeBron James. The last time Walton had a roster
of up-and-comers—Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram
and Julius Randle—his team was the NBA’s third-
fastest. A new coach is a big wrench to throw into
what was an improved operation, but at least the
Kings won’t have to adapt to a new style. —R.N.
103.9
TELLING NUMBER
SF
HARRISON
BARNES
16.4 PPG; 4.7 RPG;
42.0 FG%; 39.5 3FG%
C
DEWAYNE
DEDMON*
10.8 PPG; 7. 5 RPG;
1.1 SPG; 49.2 FG%
SF
TREVOR
ARIZA*
12.5 PPG; 5.4 RPG;
39.9 FG%; 33.4 3FG%
SG
BOGDAN
BOGDANOVIC ́
14.1 PPG; 3.8 APG;
41.8 FG%; 36.0 3FG%
ENEMY LINES
A rival scout weighs in
SG
BUDDY
HIELD
20.7 PPG; 5.0 RPG;
45.8 FG%; 42.7 3FG%
MARVIN
BAGLEY III
14.9 PPG; 7. 6 RPG;
1.0 BPG; 50.4 FG%
PF
Starters
DE’AARON
FOX
17.3 PPG; 7. 3 APG;
45.8 FG%; 37.1 3FG%
PG
99
JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (FOX)
SACRAMENTO
2018 – 19 RECORD 39– 43 3rd in Pacific
Kings COACH LUKE WALTON 1st season with Kings
∂39 wins ∂Miss the playoffs ∂Bogdan Bogdanovi ́c will be the NBA’s top scoring Bogdanovi ́c.
THE
WEST
Crystal Ball: