Here at Wingspan, we will be installing a new feature where we will have NBA rosters updated as free agency continues and trade discussions are ongoing.
Written by: Mike Ryan
In this segment, predictions will be made of the teams projected depth charts and a quick preview on how they may fair for the upcoming season.
All rosters are based on players signed. Restricted free agents are still free agents and will not count on the roster until an agreement is in place
Let’s first begin with the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings have been an organization that has been struggling mightily over the past decade and after trading away franchise center Demarcus Cousins to the Pelicans. A franchise that was seemed to be in disarray and continuing the spiraling trend downwards had surprisingly one of the NBA’s best off-seasons.
Roster breakdown: (bold indicates new addition to the team)
Starters:
PG – George Hill – Free Agent
SG – Buddy Heild
SF – Justin Jackson – Draft Pick
PF – Zach Randolph – Free Agent
C – Willie Cauley – Stein
George Hill and Zach Randolph are solid veteran players that have been a part of winning cultures as the Kings look to rebuild with a whole new foundation of young players. Each are well respected and do not necessarily block much playing time of the younger assets. Justin Jackson steps in as a day one starter on the wing as he is the only small forward on the roster currently.
Bench:
PG – De’Aaron Fox – Draft Pick
PG – Frank Mason – Draft Pick
SG – Malachi Richardson
SG – Garrett Temple
SG – Bogdan Bogdanović – acquired draft rights in trade
SG/SF – Vince Carter – Free Agent
PF – Harry Giles – Draft Pick
PF – Skal Labissiere
C – Kostas Koufos
C – Georgios Papagiannas
The Kings bench is extremely young outside of Vince Carter but are filled with players of high upside and future starters. Fox was the fifth overall selection in the draft and may become the starting point guard if the Kings decide to move George Hill to the 2.
Frank Mason is coming off a season in which he was the Naismith National Player of the Year in college.
Harry Giles looks healthier now than he has in the past two years.
Skal Labissiere showed out at the end of season after receiving an increase in playing time after the Cousins trade. Labiessiere flashed the potential that he did not show his freshman year at Kentucky. The more floor spacing in the NBA really helped his game at the end of the year.
Koufos and Temple are the veteran presences off the bench and playing time will be sparse for both as the Kings really try to develop their younger guys.
Analysis:
The Kings will be improved and will be a fun league pass team to watch to this season. They are still not ready for a playoff position but they will be much more competitive and will be a tough matchup on most nights for opposing teams. It will be nice to see Randolph and Carter share their final seasons as teammates.
The veteran presence of Hill and Randolph should help the progression of the young stars. The only concern is that Hill and Randolph are good enough players to carry the Kings to 3-5 extra wins this year which could hurt their draft position.
