Power Rankings
Overall Ranking: 22nd
Tier: Playoff Hopefuls
Projected Seeding: 11th in West
After years of frustration surrounding superstar C DeMarcus Cousins in Sacramento, the Kings have finally established some talent around "Boogie." Most notably, star SF Rudy Gay is still in town, and pass-happy PG Rajon Rondo was brought in from Dallas this summer. There is also a solid supporting cast: SG Ben McLemore and SG Marco Belinelli are the main shooters, while PG Darren Collison backs up (and may take the starting spot of) Rondo at the point. PF/C Kosta Koufos and rookie C Willie Cauley-Stein are the key pieces in the frontcourt rotation, along with Cousins of course. However, there is still one huge looming issue: chemistry. Cousins, while having grown past his maturity issues for the most part, still can be difficult to get along with and has repeatedly clashed with new Head Coach George Karl multiple times, who has even reportedly demanded that his superstar be traded away. Rondo was also extremely disgruntled in Dallas, while Gay is no stranger to being traded away (from both Memphis and Toronto) due to team chemistry issues. Those are the Kings' three best players right there, plus their head coach, all potentially posing problems to this team in the future, and we all know how much internal issues can really destroy a team's success from the inside. Worse yet, the Kings' history has not been so great despite Cousins' dominating presence, as a nine-year playoff drought still looms heavily over Sacramento. Still, with the talent around DeMarcus that the team does have, they'll at the very least remain in the playoff hunt, even if snapping that drought remains unlikely.
Overall Ranking: 22nd
Tier: Playoff Hopefuls
Projected Seeding: 11th in West
After years of frustration surrounding superstar C DeMarcus Cousins in Sacramento, the Kings have finally established some talent around "Boogie." Most notably, star SF Rudy Gay is still in town, and pass-happy PG Rajon Rondo was brought in from Dallas this summer. There is also a solid supporting cast: SG Ben McLemore and SG Marco Belinelli are the main shooters, while PG Darren Collison backs up (and may take the starting spot of) Rondo at the point. PF/C Kosta Koufos and rookie C Willie Cauley-Stein are the key pieces in the frontcourt rotation, along with Cousins of course. However, there is still one huge looming issue: chemistry. Cousins, while having grown past his maturity issues for the most part, still can be difficult to get along with and has repeatedly clashed with new Head Coach George Karl multiple times, who has even reportedly demanded that his superstar be traded away. Rondo was also extremely disgruntled in Dallas, while Gay is no stranger to being traded away (from both Memphis and Toronto) due to team chemistry issues. Those are the Kings' three best players right there, plus their head coach, all potentially posing problems to this team in the future, and we all know how much internal issues can really destroy a team's success from the inside. Worse yet, the Kings' history has not been so great despite Cousins' dominating presence, as a nine-year playoff drought still looms heavily over Sacramento. Still, with the talent around DeMarcus that the team does have, they'll at the very least remain in the playoff hunt, even if snapping that drought remains unlikely.