Sacramento Kings Preach Patience Amid Another Tumultuous Season
In Sacramento, the word “patience” doesn’t land softly. It echoes like a buzzer beater that clanks off the rim-familiar, frustrating, and far too frequent. After nearly two decades of unmet expectations and playoff absences, the Kings once again find themselves asking fans to trust the process.
General manager Scott Perry faced the media Friday, a day after the NBA trade deadline, and the message was clear: this rebuild is still in its infancy. The Kings made just one move before the deadline, a modest deal unlikely to shift the course of a franchise now staring down its 19th playoff miss in 20 seasons. Despite a roster that includes four former All-Stars-Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Domantas Sabonis-Sacramento owns the league’s worst record.
Perry didn’t shy away from the harsh reality. Over a 36-minute press conference, he addressed the team’s struggles, the future of Sabonis, the failed Dennis Schroder experiment, and the acquisition of De’Andre Hunter. But above all, he emphasized a theme that’s become a familiar refrain in Sacramento: patience and prudence.
“We’re at the extremely early stages of laying the foundation here,” Perry said. “You’ve heard the phrase from me-prudent and patient.
That’s how it has to be if you want to create a foundation of sustainable winning like what we want to do. So we’re not going to do anything out of panic.”
That kind of measured approach might not soothe a frustrated fanbase, but Perry’s stance is rooted in experience. He’s seen how short-term fixes can derail long-term goals. And with Sacramento having churned through five general managers and 13 head coaches in the past 20 years, stability isn’t just a luxury-it’s a necessity.
Head coach Doug Christie echoed the sentiment with a metaphor that fits the Kings’ current state.
“The garden does not grow overnight,” Christie said. “You’ve got to go and pick the weeds.
You’ve got to tend to the garden. You’ve got to water it.
You’ve got to care for it, and when there’s bugs and stuff, you’ve got to get those out, too.”
It’s a poetic way of saying what Kings fans already know: building something meaningful takes time, and the mess has to be cleaned before progress can bloom.
From Contenders to Cellar Dwellers
Just a season ago, the Kings were riding high. They won 48 games in 2022-23, clinched the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, and finally broke a 16-year playoff drought-the longest in NBA history.
Monte McNair was named Executive of the Year, Mike Brown took home Coach of the Year honors, and De’Aaron Fox was crowned Clutch Player of the Year. It felt like the corner had been turned.
Fast forward to now, and the Kings have plummeted to the bottom of the standings. Saturday’s loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers dropped them to 12-42, extending their losing streak to 12 games-their longest skid since the 1997-98 season. The franchise record for consecutive losses is 14, set back in the Cincinnati Royals days.
It’s a stunning fall from grace, and the roster’s talent only adds to the confusion. But Perry insists the front office won’t be baited into rash decisions just to chase short-term gains.
The De’Andre Hunter Addition
Sacramento’s lone move at the deadline was a three-team deal that brought in De’Andre Hunter. Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis were sent to the Cavaliers, while Dario Saric landed in Chicago. The move clears up a crowded backcourt and brings in a versatile wing who can help defensively.
Hunter, a 6-foot-7 forward with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, has averaged 14.7 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 36.4% from deep over his seven-year career. Perry believes Hunter’s skill set fills a need.
“He allows us to defend at a high level, I believe,” Perry said. “He’s exhibited that throughout his career.
He’s been a very good shooter from the perimeter. I know his numbers were a little down this season coming from Cleveland, but there’s enough historical evaluation that leads me to believe he’ll be helpful.”
It’s not a blockbuster move, but it’s a calculated one-adding size and length to a lineup that’s lacked both.
Schroder Experiment Ends
When the Kings signed Dennis Schroder to a three-year, $44.4 million deal last summer, the plan was for him to lead the offense as the starting point guard. But that role quickly evaporated when Russell Westbrook signed a minimum deal just six days before the opener and took over the starting job.
“As the season unfolded, the fit didn’t work,” Perry said. “That happens sometimes.”
It’s a blunt but honest assessment. Schroder never found his rhythm in Sacramento, and moving him now clears both cap space and positional clutter.
Sabonis Stays (For Now)
As the trade deadline approached, rumors swirled around several Kings veterans-Sabonis, LaVine, DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Schroder among them. It’s no secret Sacramento is eyeing salary cap flexibility for the summer of 2027, and moving big contracts could be part of that plan.
Sabonis, however, is staying put. At least for now.
He’s in the second year of a four-year, $186 million deal that will pay him $45.5 million next season and $48.6 million in 2027-28. When asked about Sabonis’ future, Perry kept it straightforward.
“Well, he’s here,” Perry said. “His future is with the Kings right now. He’s a Sacramento King right now.”
That’s not exactly a long-term commitment, but it’s a signal that the front office isn’t in a rush to move one of its cornerstone players-especially one who helped end the playoff drought just last year.
Looking Ahead
The Kings are betting on a slow build rather than a quick fix. They’re eyeing the upcoming draft, hoping to secure a top pick that could reshape the franchise’s trajectory. And they’re leaning on a core philosophy: don’t panic, don’t overreact, and don’t compromise the future for fleeting results.
It’s a tough sell in a city that’s been waiting for a winner for two decades. But Perry and Christie are asking for time-and promising that, with patience and prudence, the payoff will come.
Sacramento has been here before. The difference now? Maybe, just maybe, they’re finally laying a foundation that can hold.