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NLL Insider - Team by Team: Sacramento Kings

by vt, updated on Sunday, September 30 2007, 10:06 am EST

Team by Team: Sacramento Kings
2006-2007 Finish: 28-54

What went well

The Sacto Kings that had been missing a GM for a long time. Though the squad had some very talented players, they hadn't made the playoffs since winning their division in 2003. In fact, this California club consistently bowed out each year with one of the worst records in the league.

As the new season began, the Kings went through a mini-makeover, letting many of its veterans walk way in free agency (Alan Henderson, Maurice Taylor, Mikki Moore and more) and bringing in some new talent to ranged from great choices (Jorge Garbajosa) to a waste of cash (David Wesley, Marko Jaric). Once again, no one really thought the Kings would amount to much.

Partway through the season, the team hired Canadian GM Forrest. This GM seemed different, he promised to improve the squad and stick it out. Since he had been hired after the trade deadline, GM Forrest had no choice but to wait.

What didn't

Things seemed to get worse after GM Forrest's hire. The team did nothing but lose and lose. Fans stopped coming. Other GMs smelled a tanked season. Besides, with such a talented draft what else would a team that has been a constant cellardweller do but try for the best talent? As the season ended, the Kings were one of the worst teams in the league, fans decried the team for not living up to their bargain to win and the gloves came and GM Forrest began to trade.

Star

- Deron Williams, PG-

This was a breakout year for sophomore Williams. He averaged 23.5 points and 7.7 assists. He also competed in all 82 games, not missing one game yet in his NLL career. This former rookie game MVP is expected to improve....which makes his end of season trade to the Knicks for a pick a major headscratcher. Could it be a stroke of genius by GM Forrest or another step of King ineptitude. Only time will tell, but the maxim goes: Don't trade an established talented young man for questionable potential....

Goat

- Marko Jaric, GF –

But the Kings also moved their goat at the end of the season too in a different move. Signing Jaric at 5 years at $5.5 million seemed like the Kings were investing in the future. He came off a brilliant season in Orlando and why not pay the man? But his time in Sacramento was just flat-out awful. He played in 53 games and averaged 3 points. That's it. One of the problems is he got no time at all. He averaged 7.6 minutes per game. The Kings found a taker in the Jazz and though the trade seems like good riddance, Jaric could improve with more playing time. He'll get that in Utah.

Looking to the future

The Kings were a big player in the brief time between Finals and shutdown. The entire team would through a makeover as GM Forrest sprung into action. His first move was to ship off Wiliams for two picks. Then Randy Foye packed his bags for Boston for two more draft picks. Then Stephen Jackson got sent to Memphis for two MORE picks and some cash. The Kings were ready to go in the draft. They had picks four, five, eight and 17.

After the draft, the Kings made its blockbuster move. They sent out Garbajosa (so good until he got injured) and Corey Brewer (not so good) to the Warriors, goat Jaric and selectee Jeff Green to the Jazz and got back Carlos Boozer, Stephane Lasme and Donyell Marshall. The league learned the Kings coveted Boozer all along, but is he worth a breakout sophomore star (Williams) whose initial trade started this long road? This Insider thinks not. Others may think otherwise. Boozer, slated to make almost $12 million this season, has only played close to one complete season since 2004. He has one more year on his contract and we all know if the Kings don't improve IMMEDIATELY he will be gone to greener pastures. The Kings also get Marshall's inflated contract that will hang around for two years.

After the draft dust settled, the Kings netted Mike Conley and Marco Belinelli in the first round. One could say that Conley was the reason Williams got the heave-ho, but one strong freshman year really isn't proof enough to bank a franchise. True, the Boozer-Conley combo looks a lot like the Oden-Conley combo at Ohio State, but this is the NLL we're talking about. Belinelli has been tearing it up in summer league games, but he also needs to work on his shot selection. With some conditioning he could be a solid NLL player.

Looking at the Kings, they have a strong starting lineup (Shane Battier and Samuel Dalembert rounding it out), some good prospects and some extra cash to net a few good free agents. If GM Forrest is wise with that money this team could, conceivably, make the playoffs very soon.

Archive

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