Our Playoff field is closer to being set with last night's conclusion of the Western Play-in 9/10 game, and our TWELFTH team eliminated, the Sacramento Kings after losing to the Mavericks.
Previous Threads:
Time of death: April 16, 2025
Record at elimination: 40-42 (0-1 in play-in)
Head coach: Doug Christie (interim), Mike Brown (former, fired mid-season)
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/sacramento-kings/yearly
Contract summary:
LaVine – extension eligible, or 2/98M remain, final year 49M PO
Sabonis – 3/140M remain
DeRozan – 1yr at 24M remains, extension eligible next offseason and a non-guaranteed amount in the final year
Monk – 3/60M remain final year is 21M PO
Valanciunas – 2/20M remain, final year is non-guaranteed amount
Trey Lyles – UFA
Doug McDermott – UFA
Jae Crowder – UFA
Markelle Fultz - UFA
Rookie Scale/minimums (varies on 2-4 years remaining):
Keegan Murray – extension eligible or 11M QO
Devin Carter – 2yrs remain before extension
Jake LaRavia – UFA
Keon Ellis – 1-yr, 2.3M TO
Isaac Jones – 2M TO
TW
Isaiah Crawford
Mason Jones
Dead-cap – 1.3M off the books this season, NONE retained next season.
25-26 Capspace – 1st apron, hard-capped. Will have about 25M until 2nd apron
PICKS for 2025 draft: *
CHI 2nd
*CHA 1st will not convey
A SMALL SEASON REVIEW:
https://www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/sac/sacramento-kings
The Kings have had a tumultuous year not unlike many other mid-table teams in the NBA. The roster has undergone changes to say the least [6-trades since June 28, 2024]. Acquiring Derozan for Harrison Barnes in the offseason. Swapping Fox (who had some huge games for the Kings this year) for Lavine in another Bulls/Spurs/Kings trade. Two of the stalwarts on Sacramento are now Spurs [Barnes, Fox]. Derozan and Lavine, former Bulls teammates together, are now Kings. Both Kings and Bulls were eliminated on the same day.
Mike Brown was also fired after a 13-19 start to the year. I’m not entirely sure how the players and Brown disagreed, leading to his departure, but they have played better after he was shown the door. Former Kings player Doug Christie is now the HC and has helped Sacramento stay in the play-in zone, ultimately losing to Dallas last night. They were thoroughly beaten by a vastly different Mavericks team that started the season. The Kings held on to a plus .500 record much of the season, but only just, and have leveled off with a final record of just below even at 40-42.
There’s a lot of money on the books for 4 players and Murray is up for an extension. However also a handful of players heading to UFA. I think some players will not return, like Trey Lyles. There’s not a 2025 1st Rd selection for the Kings because the Charlotte pick acquired with Fox’s trade won’t convey, and all the other picks are future ones. So, the Kings get a Chicago 2nd rounder currently unless other trades occur.
I don’t know how this team will look next season because I’m really not sure Lavine or Derozan are long-term players in Sac-town. Monk and Devin Carter seem to be the best players on the roster to keep and they need a PG, and they need a defensive C. How do you rate the Kings season and what's on tap for them in the future ?
Also shoutout to Sacramento, I went to only one NBA game in-stadium this season, and it was Indiana @ Sacramento. A very fun night and the scene around Sac-town is excellent. May you light many beams next year.
BONUS: Stockton Kings won the GL Title, and Mason Jones (TW player) won GL MVP.