The Sacramento Kings are heading into Wednesday’s season opener against the L.A. Clippers at Intuit Dome with more questions than momentum after an 0-5 preseason run. With the regular season only four days away, the noise around this team has cooled fast, but Sacramento still has a chance to reset once the games count for real.
The biggest development from preseason was the rise of Ben Simmons, and that has clarified the shape of the opening night group. The Kings’ expected starting five looks set as Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Ben Simmons, and Domantas Sabonis.
That backcourt pairing of Acuff Jr. and LaVine gives Sacramento plenty of offensive firepower. Acuff Jr. made a strong case in preseason, leading the team with 17.3 points per game and putting himself in the mix as a Rookie of the Year candidate. LaVine brings the kind of scoring punch the Kings have been waiting to lean on when he’s healthy.
On the wing, Murray and Simmons give this lineup its defensive backbone. Murray’s value gets a big boost if his shot from deep comes around, while Simmons’ role hinges on two things: health and confidence. If both are there, the Kings believe he can be their most complete player.
Sabonis remains the anchor in the middle. The two-time All-Star still has the reputation of one of the league’s best bigs, and the Kings are banking on him returning to the level he showed before last season’s injury.
If Sacramento sticks with a 10-man rotation, the bench should open with Malik Monk*, Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban, De'Andre Hunter, and Precious Achiuwa.
That second group has already been altered by injuries up front, with Maxime Raynaud and Dylan Cardwell both sidelined. Achiuwa looks positioned to handle backup center duties, and he could be one of the more reliable pieces in that unit.
The guard rotation may depend on Monk’s status. He didn’t play at all in preseason while dealing with ankle soreness, and there’s even some skepticism that something else is going on behind the scenes. If he can’t go on opening night, Clifford would likely take over the backup point guard role, with Emanuel Sharp stepping in beside him.
At forward, Karaban and Hunter are the names to watch. Hunter was once projected to start this season, but a rough preseason and Simmons’ emergence have pushed him toward the bench. Karaban’s role is less certain, but the Kings appear confident in the two-time NCAA champion.
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Kings End Preseason With A Problem Fans Cant Ignore
The Kings closed preseason with another rough night, dropping a 126-97 decision to the Spurs and extending a five-game skid that leaves little question about how uneven these final tune-ups were. Sacramento opened with Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Keegan Murray, Ben Simmons, and Domantas Sabonis, but San Antonio seized control early and never really let the Kings settle in.
The bigger concern was how one-sided the game became in the areas that usually travel well into the regular season. The Spurs owned the glass 61-38 and buried 17 three-pointers, while Sacramento managed only three, a spread that underscored how far off the Kings looked at both ends. Preseason results only matter so much, but this was the kind of finish fans notice because it exposed the same kinds of issues that can linger if they are not cleaned up quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Opening Lineup Looks Set But One Concern Still Looms
The Kings appear to be closing in on a starting group for the new season, with Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Ben Simmons, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis lining up as the most likely opening five. It is a look that brings more clarity than Sacramento had at times last year, when injuries and constant roster shuffling kept the team from ever settling into much of a rhythm.
Even so, there is still a layer of uncertainty hanging over the roster. Rookie center Maxime Raynaud is already dealing with a preseason injury, and at least two starters are considered possible trade candidates, which means the group the Kings open with may not be the one they carry very far into the season. For a team trying to turn stability into real traction, health and cohesion may end up mattering as much as talent. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Preseason Created A Real Rotation Debate Before Opening Night
The Kings left preseason with plenty to sort through, and not much of it was flattering on the scoreboard. Sacramento went 0-5, losing by an average of 14.8 points, but the exhibition slate still offered a clearer look at the roster battle taking shape before opening night. Darius Acuff Jr. emerged as the team's top scorer in preseason action, giving the Kings a promising glimpse at what the rookie point guard might become as the regular season approaches.
Ben Simmons also made a case for more minutes after sitting out the previous season, and Jonathan Mogbo turned heads on a two-way contract with encouraging play. The tricky part for Sacramento is figuring out where that leaves everyone else, especially De'Andre Hunter, who struggled enough that his role could shrink if the Kings lean more heavily on Simmons and the other players who outperformed him in exhibition play. [Read more 🡒]