The Sacramento Kings need a changing of the guard
The Sacramento Kings are in the awkward phase of a rebuild. They have some pieces they like and some pieces they don’t, but it isn’t at all clear what type of team they are — and worse, what type of team they want to be.
The Kings have three young guards who they are ostensibly building around, but it’s hard to envision any of them as the centerpiece of the team. De’Aaron Fox, age 24, is a turbocharged pinball who can get to the rim against anyone. But he’s not a great shooter. And despite his Swipa the Fox nickname and his ability to jump passing lanes, his overall defense leaves a lot to be desired.
The next oldest guard is actually their rookie, Davion Mitchell, who just turned 23. That’s old for NBA prospects, but the kid has already shown that he can play some grown-ass man defense.
All the on-ball defensive tools are there — terrific lateral movement, the ability to fight over screens, closing out with a hand up (and not fouling). You already hear respected veterans showing him respect and praising his work on the defensive end of the floor.
Donovan Mitchell: “First off, [Davion] is as advertised. He does a lot of solid things that disrupted not only myself, but a lot of us.”
Steph Curry: “You could definitely tell he has all the tools in the kit to be a defensive stopper.”
All of this helps you understand why he has earned the terrific Off-Night nickname. He’s already capable of whipping the home crowd into a frenzy with his defense — how many players can you name that are capable of this?
The problem is, Off-Night can also be applied to his offensive efforts to start the season. Davion shot it well from deep in his last collegiate season (44.7%) — but it was also the only season he shot over 32% from the outside. A prospect’s pre-NBA free-throw percentage in college is often a reliable indicator for shooting success. Mitchell was only 65.7% from the line, which gives you pause about how the shot may develop.
But by all accounts, the kid is a relentless worker. And even though he’s 23 years old, it isn’t outrageous that he could develop a respectable outside shot.
Their final young guard — and my personal favorite — is 21-year-old Tyrese Haliburton. Haliburton has an unorthodox-looking shot, tremendous instincts, and an infectiously positive personality. He functions like a luxury role player, sort of like a really nice Volvo. He may not be the sexiest car on the lot, but you could do a lot worse. Maybe Haliburton doesn’t have the lead-guard skillset to dominate out of the pick and roll like some of the more electric prime initiators, but he doesn’t need to. What he lacks in high-end burst or athleticism is made for with his elite basketball IQ. He profiles a bit like Lonzo Ball, except with a more reliable shot at the same age. Haliburton is a force multiplier who serves to amplify the abilities of those around him. I love guys like Haliburton — Kyle Lowry-like basketball savants who know how to power a winning team.
But can Haliburton be the best player on a contending team? I don’t think so. And we haven’t even discussed Old Ancient Like I’m Pharaoh Buddy Hield.
You’ve got to give it to Buddy, he’s going to shoot his shot (although, he did pretty quickly delete this post). If there’s one thing Buddy Hield can do, it’s shoot. Maybe Kings’ lead governor, Vivek Ranadive, gets an inkling for a little transhumanistic experimentation and hires some CRISPR proficient neuro-scientist to splice some of Hield’s DNA into Fox and/or Mitchell. If Buddy could pass his shooting ability to his teammates, it would be his most significant contribution to the team. Alas, Buddy Hield is not great at passing.
And therein lies some of the problem with these Kings — if you could Frankenstein them together into some sort of Basketball Voltron, you’d really have something. I suppose this underscores the obvious observation of why big, versatile wings that can do everything are so immensely valuable.
It’s unlikely that Sacramento has the juice to get Daryl Morey salivating without roping in a third team, but if you could hold onto Haliburton and Mitchell and somehow land Ben Simmons, suddenly you’ve got a fun young nucleus and a path towards the ever-elusive identity.
The goal for Sacramento would be to surround Simmons with as much shooting and other serviceable defenders. The goal would be to get stops and get into transition. Would it work if Mitchell doesn’t develop a shot? Who’s generating offense and taking the shot down the stretch in a tight game? Would this work in the playoffs when the games invariably slow down and teams tighten their rotations and scouring reports dial on players’ greatest strengths and weaknesses? No, it wouldn’t. You still need some more pieces. None of these guys are generational superstars, which is still the most sure-fire path towards contention.
A Simmons trade is a pipe dream. When Luke Walton is inevitably fired at the end of this season, the Kings can still prioritize a defensive-minded coach with a development mindset. A frisky team that gets after it defensively is still better than what they’re currently offering their fans. The Kings need to pick a lane, and an emphasis on defense would be an interesting counter to the modern mindset. Say what you want about the tenets of defense in today’s NBA, but at least it’s an ethos.