The Sacramento Kings made one of many ultimate main free company strikes earlier than the beginning of the season with the signing of veteran guard Russell Westbrook. The Kings’ Westbrook signing was met with combined reactions from throughout the NBA world, and media member Zach Lowe from The Ringer likened the Kings roster to the famed Hindenburg explosion when a German airship crashed over New Jersey in 1937.
“I hate this staff. I hate this roster. I hate that Keegan Murray is already injured. I hate the vibes. I hate all the pieces. I believe that is going to be a 12 months from Hell for the Kings,” Zach Lowe mentioned. “That is the Hinderburg of NBA groups this 12 months.”
Even earlier than the Russell Westbrook signing, the Kings appeared to be a staff that was locked into play-in rivalry. A staff that isn’t adequate to contend within the playoffs, however not unhealthy sufficient to get a excessive sufficient draft decide to leap begin a rebuild.
Previous to the Westbrook addition, the Kings’ main offseason strikes have been signing Dennis Schroder, buying and selling for Dario Saric and re-signing Doug McDermott. Their draft acquisitions have been Nique Clifford with the No. 24 total decide and Maxime Raynaud with the No. 42 total decide.
This previous season, the Kings missed the playoffs after dropping within the play-in to the Dallas Mavericks. Simply a few months into the common season, the Kings fired head coach Mike Brown and named Doug Christie as interim. Following the tip of the season, the Kings named Christie head coach with a multi-year contract.
The Kings additionally shook up their roster final season on the commerce deadline. They traded away De’Aaron Fox in a three-team commerce that reunited Zach LaVine along with his previous Chicago Bulls teammate DeMar DeRozan.
Following the Kings’ newest roster transfer, one of many key questions popping out of coaching camp and preseason is who would be the start line guard between Westbrook and Schroder.