The Sacramento Kings have no shortage of offense heading into the season. The concern, as this offseason chatter has made clear, is everything that happens when they have to get back on defense.
Doug Christie’s group is suddenly loaded with scoring options. Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine are back from injury, and that gives the Kings more shot creation and 3-point shooting around rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. But that firepower comes with a catch: with Murray as the exception, that core is not built to stop anyone.
That reality is why Sacramento’s defense has become such a focal point. On Oct.
8, ESPN’s Ben Golliver listed each NBA team’s biggest weakness, and Sacramento’s was tagged as “plus defenders.” Golliver pointed to the Kings’ numbers from last season and the shape of the roster now.
"Sacramento ranked 28th in defensive efficiency last season and could drop even further this season with a roster that's light on point-of-attack stoppers and rim protectors..." Golliver wrote. "Sacramento should focus on surrounding the talented Acuff with as many young, versatile defenders as possible."
That’s where the Kings’ offseason math gets interesting. LaVine and Sabonis are set to make close to $100 million combined next season, and both players remain names to watch if Sacramento eventually chooses to reshape the roster. Their trade value has dipped because of recent missed time, but they would still draw plenty of interest if the Kings ever made them available.
For now, though, the organization is trying to build around Acuff and change the tone on the less glamorous end of the floor. Acuff has already said defense matters to him, and he’s been working to get stronger there. He’s not close to being labeled a lockdown defender yet, but the Kings did add some help around him.
Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban, Sacramento’s other two rookies, bring exactly the kind of perimeter toughness the team needs. Both were viewed as strong defenders in college, with Sharp earning that reputation at Houston and Karaban doing the same at UConn.
Longtime play-by-play announcer Mark Jones also pointed to Sharp’s work on that end in late September on SacTown Sports. He highlighted what Sharp showed at Houston and in Summer League, and joked that opposing teams will need a "restraining order to keep him off people defensively."
In Other News...
Ben Simmons Absence Vs Blazers Says A Lot About Kings Plan
Ben Simmons first taste of Kings basketball came after more than a year away from the NBA, and Sacramento wasted little time treating his preseason as a careful ramp-up rather than a sprint. After making his debut, Simmons sat out the next preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers, a move Doug Christie framed as part of a broader workload plan designed to keep him on track for opening night.
For a Kings team trying to blend a new piece into its rotation without asking too much too soon, the decision fits the moment. Simmons is reportedly healthy and in good condition, and the expectation is that he will be in the starting lineup when the regular season begins, but Sacramento appears determined to be intentional about every step between here and then. [Read more 🡒]
Kings May Be Seeing Nique Clifford Very Differently Than Fans Realize
Nique Cliffords rough night against the Portland Trail Blazers stood out on the box score, with the young Kings player going 0-for-11 from the field and finishing with only two points at the line. But the bigger takeaway may have been the role he was asked to fill, because Sacramento spent significant stretches using him at point guard, a spot that is not naturally his home on the floor.
For the Kings, that kind of usage hints at a broader evaluation going on behind the scenes. The coaching staff may not be viewing Clifford simply as a wing, but as someone who could offer value in more than one lane, including as a backup ballhandler. Even on a night when the shot never fell, the experiment itself may have been the point. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Simmons Just Made The Kings Gamble A Lot More Interesting
Ben Simmons said the Kings were the first team to come see him in person and evaluate where he stood physically, a detail that helps explain how Sacramento ended up landing him on a one-year deal. For a team looking to add size, playmaking and defensive versatility behind its rookie point guard, the fit is easy to understand, and the move carries the kind of low-risk upside front offices like to chase this time of year.
Simmons also made clear how much the chance means to him after missing last season because of injuries, saying he is excited to get back healthy. For Sacramento, the signing is less about a splash than about a roster bet: if Simmons is right physically, the Kings may have added a useful multipurpose piece, and if he is not, the cost stays contained. [Read more 🡒]