2008-2009 Finish: 42-40

What went well

Those poor Kings. Long the laughing stock of the league, GM Mlok seemed to do nothing but make these guys worse by trading away good players for picks, selecting good players in the draft and then getting rid of them for more picks and bad players. So ditching pick Brook Lopez and Mike Conley for Lamar Odom and the lesser talented Lopez, Robin, seemed like another of Mlok's annual bad moves.

But then the Kings didn't do anything else. They signed some picks, including future Rookie of the Year O.J. Mayo and quietly went to work. Mlok didn't trade anyone else and the Kings actually played well. Remember, this is the team that finished dead last the past few seasons (mostly due to Mlok's tanking), but the team gelled and something amazing happened. For the first time since 2003, the Kings made the playoffs!

What went bad

But Tim Duncan and the mighty Timberwolves awaited the Kings in the first round. To no one's surprise, the Kings went down 4-0, but the feeling of actually making the playoffs should have felt good enough.

Star

- O.J. Mayo, G-

In a year when Greg Oden dominated, O.J. Mayo emerged as the league's top rookie and the gamechanger for the normally stinky Kings. He started in all 82 games, scored 23.2 points on 48% shooting and even made 40% of his three pointers. He will look to extend his amazing season in his sophomore year in Sacramento.


Goats

- Antoine Walker, F –

Walker's career may be over following a year where he was paid close to $15 million to play in only 4 games, shoot 27% and average less than 3 points. Now the loan sharks are after him. It's a shame he couldn't go out on top and left such a bad taste for years in this league.



- Steve Francis, G–

Another sad ending comes with former NLL All-Star Steve Francis. Bounced from team to team, he never even suited up for the Kings, despite being on the squad since March. In fact, he played in 0 games in his presumed final NLL season.

Looking to the future

If Mlok is Frankenstein's monster, his electricity is draft time. This is the time he really comes alive. After a season with no deals, the Kings pulled off two trades after the Finals ended. First, Mlok Boris Diaw-Riffiod, Beno Udrih and the rights of James Johnson to the Thunder for Tony Battie, Luke Walton, Matt Bonner and the rights to Tyreke Evans and Jon Brockman. This guy show loves his rookies. He also acquired Jermaine O'Neal from the Wizards for Tony Battie and a 2nd rounder.

In Evans, the Kings may get that point guard they've been searching for. Though he really can't shoot well, he is an upgrade over Marco Bellini, a non-point guard. The Memphis freshman could have used a little more seasoning, but with a relatively young Kings squad could learn the system quick. Brockman and Henk Norel will be non-factors.

Though Odom is currently unsigned, the Kings come into this new season with more than $15 million. Odom and Evans will take a lot of that, but that still leaves the team with enough to get a good player and then the MLE. With Francis and Walker gone, the team enjoys financial freedom for the first time in ages. The starting lineup looks good, even better if Kevin Love (though hurt now) starts at PF and Odom at SF. The bench, however, needs some work. GM Mlok should get a good 6th man out of the FA pool and other key pieces to get this team back into the playoffs.