Sacramento Kings Team Preview 2010-2011
By Anonymous
Wed, 10/06/2010 - 1:06am
By Eric Yearian
The 2009-2010 NBA season was one of transition for the Sacramento Kings. They struggled last season, finishing with a 25-57 record, ending up in last place in the Pacific division. There is plenty of reason for optimism going into the 2010-2011 NBA season, however. Last year, the Kings decided to start over and build around their young rookie guard, Tyreke Evans. They dealt away their top scorer, Kevin Martin in a deal with the Houston Rockets, netting them Carl Landry. Evans went on to become NBA rookie of the year, despite the franchise’s losing ways on the court.
The Kings went into the off-season looking to upgrade the team’s interior. First, they traded away their outspoken starting center, Spencer Hawes. Hawes never hesitated to question the coaching decisions of head coach Paul Westphal, especially his playing time and rotations. Hawes was jettisoned to Philadelphia along with Andres Nocioni in a deal that brought Samuel Dalembert to Sacramento. Dalembert was more of an afterthought in Philly, but Sacramento has been enamored with him for a long time, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to add him to a team searching for an inside presence.
In Cousins do Kings have Back to Back ROY
As if that wasn’t enough, the Kings struck gold in the draft. With the 5th pick, they knew they would get someone good, but when DeMarcus Cousins was still on the board they jumped on him. When it came time for their 2nd round pick, Hassan Whiteside, who was considered a lottery-level talent for much of the draft process, was still on the board. The Kings scooped him up as well. These big men are not without their flaws, though. Dalembert was a chronic complainer in Philadelphia, where he was never content with his role on the team. Cousins was an absolute beast at Kentucky, where he was arguably the best player on a team that had four fellow first round draft picks, including #1 selection John Wall. However, in the time leading up to the draft, Cousins had to try to convince teams he wasn’t the head case he was perceived as. Were it not for his attitude problems there is little chance he would have fell to the fifth pick of the draft. Whiteside went from lottery pick to second round pick largely because of questions about the teenager’s immaturity and poor work ethic. If the three of them can overcome these flaws they can really help the Kings inside next season, although Whiteside faces an uphill battle for minutes on this roster.
Carl Landry and Jason Thompson are both quality forwards that will both look to improve on solid seasons. There is little doubt that Landry and Thompson will find themselves playing alongside each other for stretches. The Kings statistically did worse last season when they were on the court together. Much of that has to do with the fact that neither of them matchup well guarding true centers, as Thompson is still learning to play NBA level post defense and Landry, at 6 foot 9, struggles to matchup with bigger opponents.
The Kings are not only improved under the basket. Francisco Garcia, who missed all but 25 games last season due to a freak accident, is back and ready to play this season. While Garcia only averages 9 points per game over his career, he shot just under 40% from the three point line the last three years, which helps create driving lanes for Evans. Point guard Beno Udrih will also be back, a year removed from setting career highs in points, assists, field goal percentage, and three pointers while starting half of the team’s games. Udrih and Garcia are expected to battle it out for the starting guard spot next to Evans. Omri Casspi, the Israeli forward, will be beginning his second season after averaging double-digit points last year. They will look to him for increased production on the perimeter and to be a complementary piece to the team’s stars.
Tyreke Evans aims at regaining his Jump ShotThe most important factor for the Kings success this season is how much Evans progresses. In his rookie season Evans averaged 20 points and just under 6 assists, and over 5 rebounds per contest. Evans was consistently phenomenal, scoring single digits in only 5 of 72 games. With an improved supporting cast, if he can be consistently good this upcoming season it will result in many more wins for the Kings. It wouldn’t be out of the question for Evans to boost his averages to somewhere in the realm of 24-7-5 this season with the improved talent level around him.
It’s unrealistic to expect too much from the Kings this season, as they will be a very young team looking to form an identity. They are in luck however, as the Pacific division has been weakened. They obviously are not going to overcome the Lakers, but they will be competing against a Phoenix team minus Amare Stoudemire, a Warriors squad that is going through a coaching and playing style change, and the Clippers, who historically find a new way to struggle each year. The Kings will be improved, but may experience growing pains in trying to form their identity. Look for them to struggle out of the gate as they rely on Evans a little too much, but as the season goes on and DeMarcus Cousins develops, they could go on a late run. The playoffs aren’t likely (although not an impossibility) but it’s reasonable to expect 30-40 wins.
Predicted Record: 34-48 (Last Year’s record: 25-57)
Expected Team Roster
Name Height Weight School
PG: Beno Udrih 6-3 205 Slovenia
SG: Tyreke Evans 6-6 220 Memphis
SF: Omri Casspi 6-9 225 Israel
PF: Carl Landry 6-9 248 Purdue
C: Samuel Dalembert 6-11 250 Seton Hall
6: Jason Thompson 6-11 250 Rider
7: DeMarcus Cousins 6-11 270 Kentucky
8: Francisco Garcia 6-7 195 Louisville
9: Donte Green 6-11 226 Syracuse
10: Antoine Wright 6-7 215 Texas A&M
11: Darnell Jackson 6-9 253 Kansas
12: Hassan Whiteside 7-0 235 Marshall
13: Pooh Jeter 5-11 175 Portland
14: Luther Head 6-3 185 Illinois
15: J.R. Giddens 6-5 215 New Mexico
The 2009-2010 NBA season was one of transition for the Sacramento Kings. They struggled last season, finishing with a 25-57 record, ending up in last place in the Pacific division. There is plenty of reason for optimism going into the 2010-2011 NBA season, however. Last year, the Kings decided to start over and build around their young rookie guard, Tyreke Evans. They dealt away their top scorer, Kevin Martin in a deal with the Houston Rockets, netting them Carl Landry. Evans went on to become NBA rookie of the year, despite the franchise’s losing ways on the court.
The Kings went into the off-season looking to upgrade the team’s interior. First, they traded away their outspoken starting center, Spencer Hawes. Hawes never hesitated to question the coaching decisions of head coach Paul Westphal, especially his playing time and rotations. Hawes was jettisoned to Philadelphia along with Andres Nocioni in a deal that brought Samuel Dalembert to Sacramento. Dalembert was more of an afterthought in Philly, but Sacramento has been enamored with him for a long time, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to add him to a team searching for an inside presence.
In Cousins do Kings have Back to Back ROYAs if that wasn’t enough, the Kings struck gold in the draft. With the 5th pick, they knew they would get someone good, but when DeMarcus Cousins was still on the board they jumped on him. When it came time for their 2nd round pick, Hassan Whiteside, who was considered a lottery-level talent for much of the draft process, was still on the board. The Kings scooped him up as well. These big men are not without their flaws, though. Dalembert was a chronic complainer in Philadelphia, where he was never content with his role on the team. Cousins was an absolute beast at Kentucky, where he was arguably the best player on a team that had four fellow first round draft picks, including #1 selection John Wall. However, in the time leading up to the draft, Cousins had to try to convince teams he wasn’t the head case he was perceived as. Were it not for his attitude problems there is little chance he would have fell to the fifth pick of the draft. Whiteside went from lottery pick to second round pick largely because of questions about the teenager’s immaturity and poor work ethic. If the three of them can overcome these flaws they can really help the Kings inside next season, although Whiteside faces an uphill battle for minutes on this roster.
Carl Landry and Jason Thompson are both quality forwards that will both look to improve on solid seasons. There is little doubt that Landry and Thompson will find themselves playing alongside each other for stretches. The Kings statistically did worse last season when they were on the court together. Much of that has to do with the fact that neither of them matchup well guarding true centers, as Thompson is still learning to play NBA level post defense and Landry, at 6 foot 9, struggles to matchup with bigger opponents.
The Kings are not only improved under the basket. Francisco Garcia, who missed all but 25 games last season due to a freak accident, is back and ready to play this season. While Garcia only averages 9 points per game over his career, he shot just under 40% from the three point line the last three years, which helps create driving lanes for Evans. Point guard Beno Udrih will also be back, a year removed from setting career highs in points, assists, field goal percentage, and three pointers while starting half of the team’s games. Udrih and Garcia are expected to battle it out for the starting guard spot next to Evans. Omri Casspi, the Israeli forward, will be beginning his second season after averaging double-digit points last year. They will look to him for increased production on the perimeter and to be a complementary piece to the team’s stars.
Tyreke Evans aims at regaining his Jump ShotThe most important factor for the Kings success this season is how much Evans progresses. In his rookie season Evans averaged 20 points and just under 6 assists, and over 5 rebounds per contest. Evans was consistently phenomenal, scoring single digits in only 5 of 72 games. With an improved supporting cast, if he can be consistently good this upcoming season it will result in many more wins for the Kings. It wouldn’t be out of the question for Evans to boost his averages to somewhere in the realm of 24-7-5 this season with the improved talent level around him.It’s unrealistic to expect too much from the Kings this season, as they will be a very young team looking to form an identity. They are in luck however, as the Pacific division has been weakened. They obviously are not going to overcome the Lakers, but they will be competing against a Phoenix team minus Amare Stoudemire, a Warriors squad that is going through a coaching and playing style change, and the Clippers, who historically find a new way to struggle each year. The Kings will be improved, but may experience growing pains in trying to form their identity. Look for them to struggle out of the gate as they rely on Evans a little too much, but as the season goes on and DeMarcus Cousins develops, they could go on a late run. The playoffs aren’t likely (although not an impossibility) but it’s reasonable to expect 30-40 wins.
Predicted Record: 34-48 (Last Year’s record: 25-57)
Expected Team Roster
Name Height Weight School
PG: Beno Udrih 6-3 205 Slovenia
SG: Tyreke Evans 6-6 220 Memphis
SF: Omri Casspi 6-9 225 Israel
PF: Carl Landry 6-9 248 Purdue
C: Samuel Dalembert 6-11 250 Seton Hall
6: Jason Thompson 6-11 250 Rider
7: DeMarcus Cousins 6-11 270 Kentucky
8: Francisco Garcia 6-7 195 Louisville
9: Donte Green 6-11 226 Syracuse
10: Antoine Wright 6-7 215 Texas A&M
11: Darnell Jackson 6-9 253 Kansas
12: Hassan Whiteside 7-0 235 Marshall
13: Pooh Jeter 5-11 175 Portland
14: Luther Head 6-3 185 Illinois
15: J.R. Giddens 6-5 215 New Mexico
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