- Here We Reign - Kings pull out close wins, beat OKC (43-34)

Kings drop game 1 despite relative success of 'anybody but Harden'
Rockets: 121
Kings: 109


The Rockets' supporting cast managed to outshine that of the Kings, despite McCallum's 29 points

Houston Rockets Top Performers
Dwight Howard: 22 PTS - 12 REB - 11/17 FG
Terrence Jones: 20 PTS - 15 REB - 9/13 FG - 2/3 FT
Isaiah Canaan: 18 PTS - 6 AST - 7/10 FG - 2/3 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
James Harden: 16 PTS - 8 AST - 6/17 FG - 2/7 3PT FG - 2/2 FT - 6 TO

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Ray McCallum: 29 PTS - 4 AST - 9/15 FG - 1/2 3PT FG - 10/12 FT - 25 MIN
Demarcus Cousins: 17 PTS - 10 REB - 7/16 FG - 3/5 FT
Quincy Acy: 13 PTS - 5/9 FG - 3/5 3PT FG - 22 MIN
Derrick Williams: 13 PTS - 2 REB - 6/9 FG - 1/3 3PT FG
Ben McLemore: 12 PTS - 3/13 FG - 1/8 3PT FG - 5/7 FT
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Game 2 goes to Sacramento in OT
Kings: 133
Rockets: 131


Whether it was his strong efforts in last year's series against OKC, his 29 in game 1, or his OT game winner here, RayMac has shown a tendency to shine in big moments

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 29 PTS - 23 REB - 6 AST - 12/22 FG - 5/6 FT
Ray McCallum: 23 PTS - 4 REB - 6 AST - 8/14 FG - 3/5 3PT FG - 4/4 FT - 24 MIN
Ben McLemore: 18 PTS - 7/14 FG - 4/6 3PT FG
Julio Martin: 15 PTS - 5 AST - 6/10 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 2/2 FT

Houston Rockets Top Performers
James Harden: 49 PTS - 3 REB - 8 AST - 17/33 FG - 3/11 3PT FG - 12/12 FT
Terrence Jones: 17 PTS - 12 REB - 8/11 FG - 1/3 FT
Dwight Howard: 16 PTS - 13 REB - 8/11 FG - 0/4 FT
Isaiah Canaan: 15 PTS - 5 REB - 14 AST - 5/10 FG - 1/2 3PT FG - 4/5 FT
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Games continue to be at Rockets' pace, home team wins in Houston
Rockets: 117
Kings: 109


The Kings have given Derrick George minutes defending Harden out of necessity, with the rookie proving his worth as a developmental project

Houston Rockets Top Performers
Dwight Howard: 24 PTS - 17 REB - 12/20 FG
James Harden: 20 PTS - 6 REB - 4 AST - 9/22 FG - 0/5 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Trevor Ariza: 18 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 6/12 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 5/6 FT
Terrence Jones: 13 PTS - 13 REB - 4 STL - 4 BLK - 5/5 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 2/2 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Ben McLemore: 25 PTS - 3 REB - 10/16 FG - 5/8 3PT FG
Demarcus Cousins: 19 PTS - 10 REB - 8/16 FG - 3/4 FT
Derrick Favors: 15 PTS - 15 REB - 3 BLK - 6/12 FG - 3/3 FT
Ray McCallum: 13 PTS - 5 AST - 4/9 FG - 5/6 FT
Derrick George: 8 PTS - 4 REB - 2 STL - 3/7 FG - 2/2 FT - 28 MIN
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Kings slow tempo in game 4, but still fall short
Rockets: 107
Kings: 104


Dwight looked like Orlando Dwight, dominating the paint on both ends like he used to do

Houston Rockets Top Performers
Dwight Howard: 38 PTS - 8 REB - 14/26 FG - 10/12 FT
James Harden: 17 PTS - 2 REB - 3 AST - 5/13 FG - 5/9 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Terrence Jones: 14 PTS - 3 REB - 5/9 FG - 4/4 FT
Isaiah Canaan: 7 PTS - 9 REB - 8 AST - 3/4 FG - 1/1 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 25 PTS - 9 REB - 8/18 FG - 9/11 FT
Ben McLemore: 19 PTS - 6 AST - 6/12 FG - 4/6 3PT FG - 3/3 FT
Derrick Favors: 19 PTS - 5 REB - 6/12 FG - 7/8 FT
Ray McCallum: 12 PTS - 4 REB - 3 AST - 5/9 FG - 2/5 3PT FG - 19 MIN
Julio Martin: 9 PTS - 6 AST - 3/6 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 2/4 FT
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Harden finally gets free, drops 39 to close out series
Rockets: 105
Kings: 96

Houston Rockets Top Performers
James Harden: 39 PTS - 8 REB - 6 AST - 13/24 FG - 8/13 3PT FG - 5/5 FT
Dwight Howard: 11 PTS - 9 REB - 4/14 FG - 3/6 FT
Terrence Jones: 11 PTS - 13 REB - 3/6 FG - 5/5 FT
Isaiah Canaan: 5 PTS - 4 REB - 8 AST - 2/4 FG - 1/1 3PT FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 18 PTS - 7 REB - 8/16 FG - 2/3 FT
Derrick Favors: 16 PTS - 11 REB - 3 BLK - 8/15 FG
Derrick Williams: 12 PTS - 9 REB - 4/9 FG - 4/6 FT
Julio Martin: 10 PTS - 4 REB - 6 AST - 5/8 FG
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Welll atleast you got one game

I don't see going too far in the Playoffs without Gay. Let's hope Cousins can out-play Dwight, but stopping Harden is a huge problem.

After Game 1 I was like, oh shit. I loaded up on Harden, but literally everybody else did their job and make shots. I just don't have a defensive stopper to slow down someone like Harden without sending way too much help. Dwight did enough on both ends as well.

Despite the seeding, there really wasn't any way I was going to win. Technically they had a better season, I had no Rudy and nobody to stop Harden. I couldn't get stops and Houston just kept running and launching 3s.

Tough break for you guys.

You should bring in some more talents this offseason

Money is a bit of a problem, with Cousins, Favors, and Gay all making at least $10M each. I have a few targets, but the main thing I need to resolve is my PG rotation and if I finally commit long-term money to Jackson.

Thunder get revenge in Finals, beat Cavs in 5



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NBA Retirements and HOF Inductees



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Mavs win lottery after 3rd best odds, Hawks jump in top 3


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Dwight, Derozan, D-Will to hit free agency

For the latest Kings
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and highlights.
Kings Season in Review 2015-16
The biggest news for the Kings this season included the switch they made at point guard

W-L: 44-38

Best Performances:
Points: D. Cousins: 34 PTS vs. MIN
Rebounds: D. Cousins: 23 REB vs. GS
Assists: J. Martin: 15 AST vs. MIA
Blocks: D. Cousins: 8 BLK vs. MEM

D. Cousins - 26 PTS, 21 REB vs. OKC - 30 PTS, 13 REB vs. WAS - 20 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST, 5 STL vs. DEN - 28 PTS, 17 REB, 8 BLK vs MEM
R. Gay - 34 PTS, 10 REB vs. DEN - 22 PTS, 11 REB, 11 AST vs. MIN
B. McLemore - 29 PTS, 5 AST vs. LAC - 28 PTS vs. POR
D. Favors - 16 PTS, 17 REB, 4 BLK vs. DEN - 19 PTS, 19 REB vs ORL

Last season was a relative success for the Kings, reaching the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Demarcus Cousins keeps seeing his star rise in the league and a supporting cast featuring Rudy Gay gave the team something to build around. The team traded for Derrick Favors to add to their frontcourt and upped their win total from 41 to 44 this year. But that small increase isn't overwhelming, and some of the questions that arose about the team make it clear that the Kings still have work to do until they could be considered any kind of legitimate title threat.

The point guard position is the main question facing the front office this offseason. Rookie Julio Martin stepped up in the latter half of the season and was the starter for the team down the stretch. His playmaking and defense are welcome in the starting lineup, but he needs to gain experience and well as improve his outside shooting. Reggie Jackson was the starter when Martin wasn't, and his dynamic offensive ability is something the team lacks from the backcourt aside from him. Ray McCallum had a very difficult season statistically, but broke out of his role in the team's playoff series vs. Houston with a 29-point effort in game 1 and and 23-4-6 night in game 2 including the game-winning basket in OT. McCallum is too good to be a 3rd string PG, but might be too inconsistent to be a high-level backup. Martin showed promise, but needs much more experience and a larger sample size before a team can be confident of having him as their everyday starter. Jackson can score almost at will, but struggles a bit when he needs to control the tempo and set up his teammates. He is an unrestricted free agent this offseason as well.

Rudy Gay went down with an MCL injury at the end of the regular season and was ruled out for the postseason. The Kings had a first round matchup with the Rockets which exposed some of the needs the team still has, most notably a reliable defensive stalwart on the perimeter. The Kings found themselves either overplaying on James Harden and letting the supporting cast get free shots (which they made in the series) or letting Harden abuse his defender 1-on-1. Having their #2 option to support Demarcus Cousins would have helped matters, but the odds were stacked against the Kings in the playoffs without a player capable of slowing James Harden on a consistent basis.

Demarcus Cousins: Boogie was Boogie. Putting up consistently strong performances every night on both ends of the court, leading the NBA in rebounds, another All-Star appearance and All-NBA First Team honor as the #1 center in the league, nothing else needs to be said. The Kings would like to reward his efforts and improvements in his defensive effort and on-court maturity with a legitimate playoff run soon instead of first round exits like they have had the last two seasons. But at least Cousins has been to the postseason now, something that couldn't be said about the team in a long time.

Rudy Gay: Rudy had another efficient season, proving his rebirth and renaissance in Sacramento isn't a fluke. The big story about him however is now his health after suffering an MCL injury towards the end of the regular season. He missed the team's playoff series against Houston and might have made enough of a difference to make the series much closer than an easy 5 game loss. Moving forward, the team hopes Rudy can come back at 100% with his athleticism and dynamic scoring ability still intact.

Derrick Favors: Favors came to the Kings from Utah in exchange for John Henson and Nik Stauskas and played his role very well. He was a capable post scorer to help Demarcus Cousins slow the tempo, as well as anchoring the defense with his rebounding and shot blocking. He isn't an elite athlete or prolific shot eraser, but is strong and smart on the defensive end. His two-way play and greater ability to be an offensive threat than Henson was makes him a good partner for Cousins. He has been a good teammate as well, sacrificing some of his own touches for much of the year. But the Kings finally seem focused on embracing this defense-first, half-court, physical gameplan and his touches could go back up next season.

Ben McLemore: His rookie season is starting to look more and more like an aberration, thanks to a 14.4 PPG season. McLemore's shooting percentages last year were off the charts at 50% and 42%. With an increased workload this season, his percentages still remained respectable for a starting 2-guard at 48% and 38%. His defense continues to steadily improve, and even if Ben is never a star in the backcourt, his athleticism, shooting, and defense promise that he will be a solid NBA pro for years at worst and likely an above-average starter.

Julio Martin: When the Kings traded Isaiah Thomas to the Thunder, they got Reggie Jackson and a 1st round pick in exchange. That pick turned into Julio Martin. The point guard from Ohio State showed a lot in the second half of the season with his playmaking skills and started the final 39 games of the season for the Kings. Specifically, he showed good instincts in feeding Cousins and Favors in the post, running the pick-and-roll, and finding athletes like McLemore and Williams for lobs. His shooting still needs improvement, but the Kings have to be interested in seeing what kind of lead guard he can develop into.

Reggie Jackson: After a few bumps in the road in Sacramento the last few seasons, Reggie Jackson's identity crisis is over. He is a scorer, for better or worse. The question about him being a starting point guard are determined by the team around him, not by his own talents now. He has proven to be adequate enough as a playmaker to find a balance with his scoring abilities. On this Kings team, he might have to be a 6th man because of the half-court pace of play the Kings want to transition into and the capable scorers of Cousins, Favors, Gay, and McLemore. He is a free agent and could find a team that can make use of his talents as a starter if he wishes, or accept a 6th man role either here or somewhere else. His dynamic scoring ability is needed with the current group of point guards the Kings have, but it is unclear exactly what price tag the team is willing to place on him.

Kostas Lekic: The Lithuanian national was a huge surprise for the Kings this season for a number of reasons. It was unclear if he would even come to the NBA right away after being drafted in the 2nd round last summer. Most 2nd round picks fail to make a huge impact immediately anyway, but Lekic found his offensive confidence quickly. Playing off of inside forces like Cousins and Favors, Lekic needed to do little except spot up in the corners and wait for the ball. 146 of Lekic's 236 FGA in his rookie season were from behind the arc. Overall he shot almost 44% from downtown, and for much of the year his percentage was over 50%. He is definitely a keeper for a Kings team in need of shooting about their frontcourt stars. His ceiling seems to be more than simply an Anthony Morrow/Marco Belinelli 3pt specialist. A future as an elite shooter like a J.J. Redick or even a Kyle Korver is something the Kings can dare to hope for with Lekic.

Derrick Williams: D-Thrill played as expected, with his inconsistent nights interrupted by a few breakout games showcasing his offensive skill and athleticism. His first 4 games as a starter in place of Rudy Gay were good, scoring 12, 15, 21, and 18. His defense still leaves things to be desired and his perimeter shot might never fully develop now, but his athleticism and dunks off the bench are a good spark plug that the Kings will likely keep around.

Ray McCallum: RayMac is still consistent when it comes to defensive effort and overall work ethic, but his shooting numbers have not increased over his career as quickly as the team would hope. His percentages skyrocketed in the second half of the season though, helping him finish with a career-best 42% overall and 40% from 3 on the season. His position on the team is still unclear though, due to the previously mentioned PG quandary in Sacramento.

Jonas Jerebko: Last summer's main FA signing struggled in Sacramento and might not last through this summer, if the rumors are to be believed. Jerebko was expected to be the third big, playing beside either Cousins or Favors in a stretch-4 role. Unfortunately, he shot below 29% from downtown. Without his perimeter shooting, Jerebko found himself on the bench due to inferior rebounding and defense compared to Quincy Acy. With Acy also shooting practically as well as Jerebko from three, there was no reason for Mike Malone to give the Swedish forward many minutes. There's no reason he couldn't turn it around, but unfortunately it probably won't be in Sacramento.

Quincy Acy: Acy might have come close to his talent ceiling now at 25, but is a fan-favorite and versatile reserve forward who plays will never play with less effort than his opponent. He can step out to the 3pt line well enough now and his athleticism and effort make him an all-around option to shoot, rebound, finish, and defend. He is a free agent but the Kings are expected to offer him a fair contract to retain him.

Eric Moreland: The Department of Moreland Security is still a developmental project. His MPG didn't increase much since last season, but his games played did go up from 13 to 44. His work in practice and the weight room has been noticable as well. Depending on what the Kings do this offseason, he might find himself with some regular playing time next season backing up Boogie Cousins.

Derrick George: George was signed by the Kings in free agency after being waived by the Jazz before the season. He was a 2nd round pick of the Jazz, ironically with a pick the Kings sent to Utah as part of the Derrick Favors trade. George has solid physicals and good defensive instincts, but struggles with his handle and his perimeter shot. The Kings gave him some minutes in the playoffs out of necessity to guard James Harden and could be interested in bringing him back as a long-term project, but roster space is always the enemy for fringe NBA players and young prospects like George.

Francisco Garcia: El Flaco was brought back to Sacramento after a difficult start to the season for the Kings' bench. Jeff Taylor was traded after a very forgettable stint with the team in which he only played 6 games. Garcia provided the veteran leadership the team needed off the bench, along with the shooting and defense they hoped to get when the signed Taylor. But Garcia played less and less as the season went along, and is now 35. If the 12-year veteran wants to keep playing, then the Kings would likely be at the top of his list. Otherwise, the Kings might offer their former draft pick an opportunity to get into coaching. The veteran was practically a player-coach for the team for the majority of the season anyway, and showed an excellent mentoring relationship with young players like Kostas Lekic.



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Kings accept team options on McLemore, Lekic, Moreland

The Sacramento Kings announced that they have accepted the contract options on G Ben McLemore, G Kostas Lekic, and F/C Eric Moreland. McLemore played in all 82 games for the Kings with averages of 14.4 PPG on 48% shooting and 38% 3PT shooting. Lekic has a strong rookie season with 6.9 PPG, 49% shooting, 44% from three, and 12.9 MPG in 45 games. Moreland appeared in 44 games with averages of 1.8 PPG and 2.4 RPG in 6.7 MPG.

2016 NBA Draft

1: Dallas Mavericks - Zach Harrison - C, Arizona
The consensus #1, Harrison has a special combination of size, skill, and maturity. He spent 3 years in college, a rarity for top prospects. With an aging Dirk Nowtizki, the Mavs hope Rondo can stay healthy and productive to facilitate a team with younger players like Chandler Parsons and Harrison.

2: Atlanta Hawks - Jeffrey Dawkins - SF, Kentucky
A versatile all-around swingman, Dawkins is an outstanding consolation prize for the #2 team that missed out on Harrison. Dawkins can both shoot the ball and finish inside with his strong frame at 6'8". All he lacks is some experience and overall polish to his skills. He will be a quality small forward for many years in the league.

3: Philadelphia 76ers - Geoffrey Watson - SG, North Carolina
With Dawkins gone, the Sixers selected a player that fits their other position of need. Last year's rookie Byron Knight seems poised to take over the reigns in Philadelphia, and bigs Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid can anchor a defense for years to come. Watson adds defensive firepower on the perimeter, which the team can use to make up for the defensive downgrade of an MCW-Knight swap. Athleticism and defensive instincts are the calling cards of the former Tarheel, and a little more consistency from downtown would do wonders for him.

4: Phoenix Suns - Marcus Buford - PG, UCLA
Talented enough to be considered for #2, Buford fell to the Suns at 4 after the Sixers had no need for yet another PG. The Suns plan to play both Buford and Bledsoe together. Buford can do it all offensively, whether he is scoring, driving, or passing. Some say that point guard is the deepest and most replaceable position in the NBA, but with Buford and Bledsoe, it is doubtful that any replacements will be made in Phoenix for a while.

5: Orlando Magic - Ron Glover - PF, Notre Dame
Athletic 4-man who can also score with his back to the basket, Glover is a very solid pick for Orlando. With Aaron Gordon's development, some could argue that the Magic could have selected a small forward based on need, but Glover was a smart pick based on talent.

6: Minnesota Timberwolves - Donte Wright - PF, Ohio State
As the Magic showed, picking for talent is usually the safest strategy, but sometimes need has to be considered. Or in the Timberwolves' case, a lack of need. They selected Terrence Fields #1 last year, they have former #1 Anthony Bennett and quality veteran Thaddeus Young at the power forward position in Minnesota. Wright is a physical scorer inside, but they had better hope Fields and Wright can figure out how to play together. They have Pekovic and Dieng at center as well, so even that solution might not be feasible.

7: Boston Celtics - Darnell Stone - PG, Kansas
Another BPA pick instead of a need pick, the gap between Stone and the #3 PG prospect is a steep one. The Celtics landed the former Jayhawk despite having Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, and Thomas Jackson in the backcourt. He will be a solid player, but, like the Timberwolves, the Celtics will likely need to balance their roster through trades.

8: Toronto Raptors - Ramon Walker - SG, Colorado
A natural scoring guard, Walker projects to be a quality 6th man in the league. He joins an already deep Raptors team and adds even more firepower to a wing group with Derozan and Ross

9: Utah Jazz - Frederic Klein - PF, Germany
Not to be overhpyed as the next Dirk, Klein comes from Germany with similar skills from midrange and from the post, but lacks the 3pt shot right now. Defensively, he isn't much better than a young Nowtizki was, but is an intriguing prospect with plenty of talent.

10: Los Angeles Lakers - Warren Hayes - SG, Texas
A natural slasher, Hayes reminds some of Tyreke Evans with his ability to get to the rim and good playmaking skills in a SG body. Like Evans, he might struggle to find a role and position. But if he does find his niche, his talent can make a big impact in the NBA.

11: Boston Celtics - Tyrone Harris - SF, VCU
Boston showed good restraint picking the BPA at 7 instead of reaching for a swingman with that pick. They still landed the next-best small forward at 11 in Harris. He has good size and can score in the midrange and on post-ups.

12: Sacramento Kings - Darin Gibson - PF, Michigan
The Kings traded with the Warriors to move up in the draft for Gibson. His ability to play either the 4 or 5 behind Favors and Cousins makes him a fit with the Kings. His rebounding and effort are NBA ready.

13: Denver Nuggets - Randall Todd - SG, Arkansas
With the safe picks off the board, the Nuggets took a chance with elite athlete Randall Todd. With no obvious positions of need, Todd has a chance to grow together in the backcourt with ROY winner Allen Montgomery.

14: Philadelphia 76ers - Lazaro Stefan - SF, Romania
A somewhat typical european prospect, Stefan has outstanding offensive skills but lacks the same kind of foot speed of most wings in the league. He does provide some much needed 3pt ability around non-shooters like Carter-Williams, Knight, Noel, and Embiid.

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Kings move up in draft, gain some cap space by trading RayMac

Sacramento Kings trade: Ray McCallum, 2016 1st Round Draft Selection (#19)

Golden State Warriors: 2016 1st Round Draft Selection (#12)

The Sacramento Kings traded Ray McCallum to their Northern California rivals, along with their 1st round pick, in exchange for the #12 pick in the draft. The Kings feared that all four of their frontcourt targets (Gibson, Douglas, Graham, Williams) would be gone by #19 and decided to move up and get the one they really wanted. The team was reportedly reluctant to trade the 25-year-old McCallum, but their mistake in offering him a contract extension during the season forced their hand. The team wanted more than just the MLE in free agency in the event of chasing multiple free agent targets, and trading McCallum's $4M helps significantly in that regard. McCallum would have been a restricted free agent this offseason had the team not given him the extension. The Kings also have to consider resigning Reggie Jackson.

The Warriors had a difficult season last year and missed the playoffs due to a lack of depth. Letting Draymond Green walk last summer was the biggest reason for that, but Shawn Livingston had some significant struggles as the backup point guard. McCallum steps in as a younger player who has already proven to be capable in the postseason after some strong performances with the Kings last year against OKC and then this postseason against the Rockets. Moving back to the #19 pick in the draft from #12 might end up being a very small price to pay for the smart young guard.
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Kings acquire veteran Jameer Nelson from Mavericks

Sacramento Kings trade: Jonas Jerebko, 2016 2nd Round Draft Selection (#42 overall)

Dallas Mavericks trade: Jameer Nelson, 2017 2nd Round Draft Selection

The Sacramento Kings traded Jonas Jerebko and the 42nd overall pick to the Mavericks in exchange for Jameer Nelson and a future 2nd round pick. The rumors of the Kings looking to trade Jerebko make the trade unsurprising, and they get a reliable veteran at point guard after trading away Ray McCallum. Jameer Nelson likely still has a year or two of productive basketball in him, and can be an excellent mentor to Julio Martin in Sacramento. If things fall apart for Martin or the Kings suffer injuries in the backcourt, Nelson is more than capable of stepping in as a starter. After moving McCallum's $4M contract, losing Jerebko's $3M in exchange for Nelson's $1.7M gives the Kings a passable amount of cap space to spend in free agency in addition to their MLE.

The Mavericks are still working to clear their backcourt logjam and get minutes for last season's 2nd round surprise Calbert Townsend. They also have Rondo and Devin Harris to man the point guard spot. The frontcourt is an area of need for Dallas, so with Jerebko they get a forward with something to prove on an expiring contract.

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Kings select Gibson, Washington, and McCormick



Darin Gibson: As much as fans and coaches alike appreciated Quincy Acy's improved skills and his unflappable effort, a half-court interior gameplan needs a legitimate 3rd big behind Demarcus Cousins and Derrick Favors. Darin Gibson projects to be that at worst with his rebounding and solid size at 6'11". The Canadian-born forward played at Michigan and showed defensive toughness and good hands inside. His post moves could use some polish but likely brings enough NBA-ready skills to contribute right away while having room to grow.

Shaun Washington: Without a true center behind Demarcus Cousins, the Kings used their first 2nd round pick on the Washington from Washington. Shaun is a legit 7-footer, but is definitely raw. After teams made a run on centers at the end of the first round, Washington was the best bigman prospect left when the Kings' selection came up. He has a good motor and is just 20 though, so the team has some time to see what he could become.

Dee McCormick: McCormick is a gritty point guard prospect with solid physicals. He needs some coaching on his playmaking and outside shooting, but his athleticism and defensive effort might help some fans forget about Ray McCallum. He likely won't play much even if the Kings don't add to their PG rotation of Martin and Nelson.

Last edited by Vespasian92 on Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:29 am, edited 1 time in total.

NBA Free Agency Headlines

Dwight, Rubio, Deron all stay put
Three of the bigger free agent targets failed to make significant waves as they accepted contracts to stay with their current teams. The Houston Rockets resigned star bigman Dwight Howard with a 5yr/$122.71M to keep him with the team going forward. The Minnesota Timberwolves retained point guard Ricky Rubio with a 3yr/$28.26M contract. Deron Williams will remain in Brooklyn after signing a 2yr/$18.59M deal.

Raptors lose Derozan to Pacers
The Indiana Pacers managed to sway star swingman Demar Derozan to leave Toronto with a 4yr/$60.99M contract. Indiana made the playoffs in the East, but had very little consistent production from anybody besides Paul George. Derozan adds another offensive force to play next to George and the Pacers have a dynamic wing duo that will cause plenty of matchup problems. The Raptors traded for Chris Bosh during the season and looked poised to have a dominant core going forward, but a disappointing first round exit to the Cavs changed some things. The Raptors would be well into luxury tax territory if they had resigned Derozan using bird rights, and instead opted to make an unpopular but probably necessary sacrifice.

Spurs add underrated talent in FA
The retooling period that the Spurs find themselves in after Tim Duncan's retirement finally seems to have some direction now after a quietly impressive free agency. They signed F John Henson and G Greivis Vasquez to very favorable contracts of 3yr/$13.70M and 3yr/$15.57, respectively. Henson and last season's signing Kevin Seraphin are still just 25 and 26, as is Kawhi Leonard. Corey Joseph is 25 and finally seems ready to step into a major role for the team. The Spurs have a new core of solid, team-first players that are young enough to stay together for multiple seasons now. That doesn't mention flipping Jeff Ayers for a future 1st round pick during the draft.

Cleveland uses roster space on Blake and Prigioni, but have massive holes upfront
The Cavaliers signed veteran point guards Steve Blake and Pablo Prigioni, but failed to address their biggest needs. They traded for Udonis Halsem and Chris Andersen last season, but let both walk in free agency and did nothing to fill the holes upfront. Timofey Mozgov also remains unsigned by any team at this moment, so all the Cavaliers have in the frontcourt are Kevin Love, 2nd year forward Stacey Stafford, and an undrafted center.

Lakers keep Kobe for one more year, but sign Eric Gordon as well
The Lakers gave Kobe a one-year deal for $7.08M for what most expect to be his final season. In light of that fact, the Lakers also landed Eric Gordon with a 3yr/$26.99M contract. The writing seems to be on the wall for Kobe's departure from the game after this season, one in which the Lakers probably won't be serious contenders.

Heat get bigger after free agency
The Miami Heat had a large amount of cap space this summer after trading Chris Bosh and Luol Deng to the Raptors. But considering the number of marquee names resigning with their own teams, the dearth of top-level free agents made it hard for the Heat to cash in. Ultimately they ended up with Miles Plumlee, J.J. Hickson, and D.J. Augustin. Plumlee especially is a solid signing. He has played 80, 82, and 82 games for the Suns in the last three seasons. Many are considering him to be in at least the second tier of NBA centers with his all-around production. Augustin can help mentor and spell young star Shabazz Napier with his experience. Like Plumlee, Augustin is 28 and still has plenty of basketball in him.

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Kings land Crowder with 3-year deal



The Sacramento Kings have announced an agreement with F Jae Crowder on a 3yr/$15.68M contract. Crowder comes from the Mavericks after having a career season across the board playing 29 minutes per game. The Kings reportedly pursued Magic F Maurice Harkless very aggressively on the first day of free agency, but came up just short of what he was hoping to receive. After missing on the 23-year-old Harkless, the Kings turned to the 26-year-old Crowder. The Marquette product projects to be a heavy-minute reserve for the team and will be asked to fill the role of defensive stopper that the Kings have been looking for. His perimeter shot has significantly improved since entering the league as well. Crowder averaged 11.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.3 SPG on 42% FG and 36% 3PT FG in 29.0 MPG last season with Dallas.

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Kings retain Jackson and Acy, release Moreland



The Sacramento Kings resigned G Reggie Jackson with a 2yr/$13.91M deal. Jackson, 26, entered free agency with speculation that he would seek a starting role elsewhere after the emergence of young point guard Julio Martin in Sacramento. But the market dictated his price point and the Kings felt comfortable enough with that amount to retain him using their bird rights. Even with Martin and Jameer Nelson already on board, the team obviously believes they can create large roles for all three point guards to warrant having them all on the roster. The Kings did go well over the cap and close to the luxury tax after Jackson's contract. Jackson averaged 10.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 5.0 APG in 25.3 MPG last season.

The Sacramento Kings resigned F Quincy Acy with a 3yr/$5.30M deal. Adding rookie Darin Gibson did nothing to convince the team to let Acy's team-first mindset, tireless motor, and developing perimeter shot walk. Acy averaged 5.5 PPG and 4.5 RPG in 18.3 MPG last season.

The team also announced they have waived F/C Eric Moreland to create roster space for the transactions.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eminescu to come to NBA this season

In a surprising move, Tudor Eminescu has reportedly agreed to an NBA contract with the Kings and will come over from Europe for the upcoming season. Eminescu was selected 60th overall in last summer's draft by the Kings. Despite the lack of immediate playing time available in Sacramento at his position, the Romanian forward opted to enter a new chapter in his career and don an NBA uniform. Eminescu, 21, stands 6'8" and projects to develop as a stretch 4 in the league.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


2016-2017 Opening Day Rosters

Philadelphia 76ers
Additions: Geoffrey Watson (R) - Lazaro Stefan (R) - Kent Bazemore
Resigned: Jerami Grant
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: B. Knight - K. Bazemore - L. Stefan - N. Noel - J. Embiid

Milwaukee Bucks
Additions: Roberto Valencia (R)
Resigned: Allen Crabbe
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: B. Knight - N. Wolters - J. Parker - P. Millsap - L. Sanders

Chicago Bulls
Additions: Jacob Warrick (R)
Resigned: Joakim Noah
Notable Departures: Ben Gordon - Samuel Dalembert - Kirk Hinrich (Retirement)
Starting 5: D. Rose - J. Butler - T. Harris - N. Mirotic - J. Noah

Cleveland Cavaliers
Additions: Steve Blake - Pablo Prigioni
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Timofey Mozgov - Udonis Haslem - Chris Andersen
Starting 5: K. Irving - D. Waiters - K. Middleton - L. James - K. Love

Boston Celtics
Additions: Darnell Stone (R) - Tyrone Harris (R)
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: M. Smart - A. Bradley - J. Young - J. Sullinger - K. Olynyk

Los Angeles Clippers
Additions: Jerryd Bayless
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Carlos Boozer
Starting 5: C. Paul - J.J. Redick - J. Taylor - B. Griffin - D. Jordan

Memphis Grizzlies
Additions: Corey Stribling (R)
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Vince Carter (Retirement)
Starting 5: M. Conley - J. Adams - W. Chandler - J. Stokes - M. Gasol

Atlanta Hawks
Additions: Jeffrey Dawkins (R)
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Kent Bazemore
Starting 5: J. Teague - K. Korver - J. Dawkins - A. Payne - A. Horford

Miami Heat
Additions: Miles Plumlee - J.J. Hickson - D.J. Augustin
Resigned: Mario Chalmers
Notable Departures: Anderson Varejao
Starting 5: S. Napier - D. Wade - J. Ennis - A. Johnson - M. Plumlee

Charlotte Hornets
Additions: Ramon Sessions
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Bismack Biyombo
Starting 5: K. Walker - L. Stephenson - M. Kidd-Gilchrist - N. Vonleh - A. Jefferson

Utah Jazz
Additions: Frederick Klein (R)
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: D. Exum - A. Burks - G. Hayward - F. Klein - R. Gobert

Sacramento Kings
Additions: Jae Crowder - Darin Gibson (R) - Shaun Washington (R) - Dee McCormick (R)
Resigned: Reggie Jackson - Quincy Acy
Notable Departures: Ray McCallum - Eric Moreland
Starting 5: J. Martin - B. McLemore - R. Gay - D. Favors - D. Cousins

New York Knicks
Additions: Trevor Booker - Tyson Chandler - Ersan Ilysasova
Resigned: Iman Shumpert
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: S. Larkin - T. Hardaway Jr. - C. Anthony - T. Booker - E. Kanter

Los Angeles Lakers
Additions: Eric Gordon
Resigned: Kobe Bryant
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: J. Lin - K. Bryant - E. Gordon - J. Randle - J. Hill

Orlando Magic
Additions: Ron Glover (R)
Resigned: Maurice Harkless
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: G. Dragic - V. Oladipo - M. Harkless - A. Gordon - N. Vucevic

Dallas Mavericks
Additions: Zach Harrison (R) - Troy Daniels - Jonas Jerebko
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Tyson Chandler - Jameer Nelson
Starting 5: R. Rondo - T. Daniels - C. Parsons - D. Nowitzki - Z. Harrison

Brooklyn Nets
Additions: Bismack Biyombo - Emanual Fernandez (R)
Resigned: Deron Williams
Notable Departures: Kevin Garnett (Retirement)
Starting 5: D. Williams - J. Johnson - B. Bogdanovic - M. Plumlee - B. Lopez

Denver Nuggets
Additions: Randall Todd (R) - Evan Turner
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: J.J. Hickson
Starting 5: T. Lawson - A. Afflalo - D. Gallinari - K. Faried - T. Thompson

Indiana Pacers
Additions: Demar Derozan
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Luis Scola
Starting 5: G. Hill - D. Derozan - P. George - D. West - R. Hibbert

New Orleans Pelicans
Additions: Edwin Wade (R)
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Eric Gordon
Starting 5: J. Holiday - T. Evans - D. Green - A. Davis - O. Asik

Detroit Pistons
Additions: Travis Hubbard (R)
Resigned: Brandon Jennings
Notable Departures: Kyle Singler
Starting 5: B. Jennings - W. Matthews - J. Smith - G. Monroe - A. Drummond

Toronto Raptors
Additions: Ramon Walker (R)
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Demar Derozan
Starting 5: K. Lowry - T. Ross - L. Deng - C. Bosh - J. Valanciunas

Houston Rockets
Additions: P.J. Tucker - Richie Barlow (R)
Resigned: Dwight Howard
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: I. Canaan- J. Harden - T. Ariza - T. Jones - D. Howard

San Antonio Spurs
Additions: John Henson - Greivis Vasquez
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Jeff Ayers - Manu Ginobli (Retirement)
Starting 5: T. Parker - P. Mills - K. Leonard - J. Henson - K. Seraphin

Phoenix Suns
Additions: Marcus Buford (R)
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: Miles Plumlee
Starting 5: E. Bledsoe - M. Buford - T.J. Warren - M. Morris - A. Len

Oklahoma City Thunder
Additions: Jeff Ayers
Resigned: None
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: I. Thomas - R. Westbrook - K. Durant - S. Ibaka - S. Adams

Minnesota Timberwolves
Additions: Donte Wright (R) - Al-Farouq Aminu
Resigned: Ricky Rubio
Notable Departures: None
Starting 5: R. Rubio - M. Ellis - A. Wiggins - T. Fields - N. Pekovic

Portland Trailblazers
Additions: Cameron Douglas (R) - Anthony Tolliver
Resigned: Will Barton
Notable Departures: Byron Hughes
Starting 5: D. Lillard - C.J. McCollum - N. Batum - L. Aldridge - M. Leonard

Golden State Warriors
Additions: Ray McCallum - Jermaine Williams (R)
Resigned: Marreese Speights
Notable Departures:
Starting 5: S. Curry - K. Thompson - H. Barnes - D. Lee - A. Bogut

Washington Wizards
Additions: Scot Graham (R) - Patric Young
Resigned: Kris Humphries
Notable Departures: Paul Pierce (Retirement)
Starting 5: J. Wall - B. Beal - D. Thompson - Nene - M. Gortat

DeRozan in Pacers? Wow...
Jae Crowder is great, good job

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and highlights.

Sacramento Kings 2016-17 Season Preview


Kings Coach Michael Malone can no longer use the excuse of not having talent

2015-16 Season: 44-38
Notable Additions: Jae Crowder, Jameer Nelson, Tudor Eminescu, Darin Gibson (R), Shaun Washington (R), Dee McCormick (R)
Notable Departures: Ray McCallum, Jonas Jerebko, Eric Moreland

It is a painful decision to trade homegrown talent like Ray McCallum, but the team decided that the move would help in the long run. The starting unit for the Kings played very well together, so turning attention to the bench unit was an easy choice. Rookie Darin Gibson has more size than Quincy Acy and, once he adjusts to the NBA game, should be at least as good as Acy defensively and likely better. Last year's surprise rookie Kostas Lekic seems to have impressed so much that the team added no other shooting guard to the roster. Some of the team's 4 point guards will likely get minutes at the 2, but Lekic has the role of backup shooting guard and elite floor spacer on lockdown. Those 4 point guards include a resigned Reggie Jackson as well as Jameer Nelson to provide veteran leadership. Jae Crowder comes in as a perimeter defender, who is more than capable from behind the arc as a 3-and-D wing. The Kings have depth in addition to their starters, but now the team needs to prove itself.

Will the Kings need to blow it up next offseason? The team hasn't been shy about spending money recently, marked by trading for Derrick Favors' $11M per year contract and going well into the cap to resign Reggie Jackson. A more prudent team might have elected to let Jackson walk in free agency, especially considering the presence of Julio Martin and Jameer Nelson on the roster. Cousins, Gay, and Favors make a combined $37M, Jackson's deal is at close to $7M, and Crowder is at $5M. $52M of the $64M salary cap is spent on those 5 players, not to mention Ben McLemore. McLemore's rookie contract expires after this season and the Kings certainly won't let him leave. But it will cost at least $8-9M per year to retain him, and likely more. This is a crucial year for the team to show what they are really capable of. They are expected to be a playoff team once again, and hopefully they will be healthy entering the postseason. The addition of Crowder should theoretically fill the hole of a defensive stopper to guard the star 2s and 3s in the league. Cousins is entering his prime, as is Derrick Favors. All reports suggest Rudy Gay's rehab is going well and he could return from his MCL injury close to the same player. Missing the playoffs or a 1st round exit would be considered a disappointment and could be cause for large-scale changes.

Will the defense finally show up? For all the talk about an improved defense and a focus on a half-court gameplan, the Kings still struggled on the defensive side of the ball. Running in transition is fine and likely still necessary when you have Ben McLemore and Derrick Williams on the wings, but the team needs to pick their spots when you have Cousins and Favors coming up behind. Placing Martin at the point instead of Jackson helps defensively, McLemore continues to improve, Cousins has turned into an above-average defender, and Favors fills his role rebounding and blocking shots. The problem of elite scoring wings forcing the Kings to overhelp should theoretically be helped by signing Jae Crowder. Rookie forward Darin Gibson adds more size off the bench in place of Quincy Acy, and the team now has Shaun Washington to provide legitimate size for backup center, instead of relying on Favors to move up to the 5. There are no more excuses now. If the defense doesn't improve, the blame has to fall on coach Malone now.

Home opener dampened by significant injury
Clippers: 119
Kings: 105


Seeing their newly acquired veteran go down is not what the Kings hoped to see on opening night

Los Angeles Clippers Top Performers
Blake Griffin: 23 PTS - 20 REB - 11/22 FG - 1/4 FT
J.J. Redick: 20 PTS - 8/12 FG - 2/4 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Chris Paul: 19 PTS - 10 AST - 8/16 FG - 3/8 3PT FG
Jeff Taylor: 14 PTS - 6 REB - 6/10 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 1/2 FT
Deandre Jordan: 2 PTS - 6 REB - 1/2 FG - 6 FLS

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 23 PTS - 11 REB - 6 AST - 6/17 FG - 11/13 FT
Rudy Gay: 21 PTS - 4 REB - 9/18 FG - 2/6 3PT FG - 1/2 FT
Ben McLemore: 14 PTS - 4/5 FG - 2/3 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
Julio Martin: 13 PTS - 10 AST - 5/6 FG - 3/3 FT
Derrick Favors: 12 PTS - 17 REB - 3/10 FG - 6/9 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Lillard puts up 13 threes, only makes 3
Kings: 105
Trailblazers: 99


A normally reserved Ben McLemore gave Myers Leonard something extra after dunking on the 7-footer

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 26 PTS - 3 REB - 10/18 FG - 2/4 3PT FG - 4/5 FT
Reggie Jackson: 15 PTS - 5 REB - 4 AST - 6/8 FG - 2/3 3PT FG - 1/1 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 12 PTS - 9 REB - 5/12 FG - 2/3 FT
Julio Martin: 11 PTS - 7 REB - 6 AST - 4/7 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 2/4 FT

Portland Trailblazers Top Performers
Nicolas Batum: 25 PTS - 7 REB - 5 AST - 8/14 FG - 3/6 3PT FG - 6/7 FT
Damian Lillard: 24 PTS - 6 REB - 9 AST - 7/26 FG - 3/16 3PT FG - 7/7 FT
Lamarcus Aldridge: 13 PTS - 13 REB - 6/16 FG - 1/1 FT
C.J. McCollum: 8 PTS - 5 AST - 3/7 FG - 2/3 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Kings control tempo through three, but Warriors drop 39 in 4th
Warriors: 116
Kings: 106

Golden State Warriors Top Performers
Stephen Curry: 25 PTS - 5 REB - 7 AST - 10/22 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
Harrison Barnes: 21 PTS - 8 REB - 8/16 FG - 2/4 3PT FG - 3/5 FT
Marreese Speights: 15 PTS - 11 REB - 7/14 FG - 1/1 FT
Klay Thompson: 12 PTS - 5/13 FG - 2/6 3PT FG - 6 FLS
Festus Ezeli: 9 PTS - 19 REB - 4/6 FG - 1/2 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 21 PTS - 12 REB - 7/19 FG - 7/8 FT
Kostas Lekic: 14 PTS - 3 REB - 3 AST - 4/8 FG - 3/6 3PT FG - 3/4 FT
Jae Crowder: 13 PTS - 5/9 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Rudy Gay: 13 PTS - 2 REB - 5/8 FG - 2/4 3PT FG - 1/1 FT
Derrick Favors: 13 PTS - 16 REB - 2 STL - 4 BLK - 5/13 FG - 3/7 FT
Reggie Jackson: 13 PTS - 7 AST - 5/10 FG - 3/4 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

NBA Notes:

NBA Injury Updates:

NBA Transactions:
Jazz extend G Trey Burke with 3yr/$30.71M deal.
Hornet extend G Lance Stephenson with 2yr/$33.34M deal.
Knicks extend G Tim Hardaway Jr. with 3yr/$34.50M deal.
Sixers extend C Nerlens Noel with 3yr/$28.26M deal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------


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Nelson to miss 2-4 months with Torn Achillies



The Sacramento Kings announced that G Jameer Nelson suffered a Torn Achillies in the team's opening game against the Clippers. He suffered the injury during the 2nd quarter and was assisted off the court. Nelson was acquired from the Mavericks in exchange for Jonas Jerebko during the offseason. The Kings hoped Nelson's 13 years of NBA experience would be a benefit to younger guards Julio Martin and Reggie Jackson. The 34-year-old will still be on the sidelines to mentor his new teammates but will be unable to contribute on the court until he is reevaluated after January 1st.

McLemore go this dunkface on! Martin out for long?

That was some bad luck/2k cheese with Nelson

Rudy, Cousins shine offensively to overcome questionable defense
Kings: 124
Timberwolves: 114


A Minnesota team with playoff hopes can't afford to lose their star players like Monta Ellis

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 32 PTS - 12/16 FG - 4/5 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 31 PTS - 12 REB - 8/18 FG - 15/17 FT
Kostas Lekic: 12 PTS - 2/3 FG - 2/3 3PT FG - 6/6 FT
Derrick Favors: 12 PTS - 9 REB - 4 AST - 5/8 FG - 2/2 FT

Minnesota Timberwolves Top Performers
Ricky Rubio: 20 PTS - 9 AST - 8/13 FG - 2/4 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Zach LaVine: 17 PTS - 7 AST - 6/17 FG - 1/7 3PT FG - 4/6 FT
Monta Ellis: 16 PTS - 6/12 FG - 1/2 3 PT FG - 3/3 FT - 18 MIN
Andrew Wiggins: 15 PTS - 3 REB - 2 AST - 5/17 FG - 1/6 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Kings take both in home-and-home
Kings: 124
Timberwolves: 114

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 30 PTS - 14 REB - 12/21 FG - 6/9 FT
Rudy Gay: 18 PTS - 4 REB - 4 AST - 7/7 FG - 2/2 3PT FG - 2/4 FT
Ben McLemore: 16 PTS - 7/18 FG - 2/8 3PT FG
Derrick Favors: 12 PTS - 15 REB - 5/8 FG - 2/2 FT

Minnesota Timberwolves Top Performers
Zach LaVine: 28 PTS - 6 AST - 10/22 FG - 4/10 3PT FG - 4/6 FT
Andrew Wiggins: 21 PTS - 3 REB - 5 AST - 8/17 FG - 2/4 3PT FG - 3/3 FT
Al-Farouq Aminu: 13 PTS - 5/10 FG - 1/2 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Ricky Rubio: 10 PTS - 4 AST - 4/9 FG - 2/2 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Rudy continues to have a strong comeback from his injury
Kings: 124
Suns: 114

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 26 PTS - 5 REB - 10/14 FG - 4/5 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Kostas Lekic: 19 PTS - 7/8 FG - 5/6 3PT FG - 17 MIN
Demarcus Cousins: 18 PTS - 5 REB - 5/11 FG - 8/9 FT
Ben McLemore: 17 PTS - 4 AST - 5/8 FG - 3/4 3PT FG - 4/4 FT

Phoenix Suns Top Performers
Victor Alenichev: 25 PTS - 4 REB - 10/17 FG - 3/6 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Ben Taylor: 20 PTS - 8 REB - 9/15 FG - 2/3 FT
T.J. Warren: 17 PTS - 5/11 FG - 1/6 3PT FG - 6/8 FT
Eric Bledsoe: 16 PTS - 12 AST - 7/12 FG - 2/2 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Nuggets put up 123 in Denver
Nuggets: 123
Kings: 114


In need of more offense and a different defensive look on Ty Lawson, the Kings gave Reggie Jackson the kind of minutes he hasn't seen since losing the starting role

Denver Nuggets Top Performers
Evan Turner: 22 PTS - 8 REB - 5 AST - 10/15 FG - 2/5 FT
Gary Harris: 21 PTS - 9/16 FG - 3/6 3PT FG
Kenneth Faried: 19 PTS - 15 REB - 8/14 FG - 3/7 FT
Ty Lawson: 13 PTS - 10 AST - 4/13 FG - 5/6 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Reggie Jackson: 22 PTS - 9 AST - 8/13 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 5/5 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 20 PTS - 9 REB - 7/16 FG - 6/8 FT
Derrick Favors: 14 PTS - 12 REB - 6/9 FG - 2/3 FT
Rudy Gay: 14 PTS - 6 AST - 6/9 FG - 2/2 3PT FG
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Kings hold on against Grizzlies' youth
Kings: 119
Grizzlies: 112

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 21 PTS - 5 REB - 8/14 FG - 2/6 3PT FG - 3/3 FT
Reggie Jackson: 18 PTS - 10 AST - 7/9 FG - 4/4 3PT FG
Ben McLemore: 16 PTS - 6/12 FG - 4/10 3PT FG
Jae Crowder: 14 PTS - 4 REB - 6/10 FG - 2/4 3PT FG
Demarcus Cousins: 14 PTS - 12 REB - 5/12 FG - 4/4 FT

Memphis Grizzlies Top Performers
Jordan Adams: 20 PTS - 8/15 FG - 4/6 3PT FG
Jarnell Stokes: 19 PTS - 10 REB - 6/12 FG - 7/7 FT
Marc Gasol: 16 PTS - 7 REB - 7/11 FG - 2/2 FT
Martin Adams: 16 PTS - 9 REB - 5/9 FG - 6/8 FT - 21 MIN
--------------------------------------------------------------------

NBA Notes:
Clippers win 7th straight, now 7-0 overall.
Lakers lose 5th straight, now 1-7 overall.
Thunder lose 5th straight, now 1-6 overall

NBA Injury Updates:
Timberwolves G Monta Ellis out 2-4 months with Torn MCL.
Knicks C Tyson Chandler out 2-4 weeks with Lower Back Strain.

NBA Transactions:
Nets extend C Mason Plumlee with 3yr/$32.31M deal.
Pelicans extend G Jrue Holiday with 3yr/$41.88M deal.
Clippers sign F Carlos Boozer with 1yr/$538K deal.
Cavaliers sign C Chris Andersen with 1yr/$538K deal.
Thunder sign G Anthony Morrow with 1yr/$3.16M deal.

Reggie struggles, but converts down the stretch
Kings: 111
Spurs: 110


Despite shooting 2/14, Jackson stepped up at the foul line to secure the win

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Jae Crowder: 18 PTS - 4 AST - 7/10 FG - 3/5 3PT FG - 1/2 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 37 PTS - 16 REB - 6/16 FG - 5/8 FT
Kostas Lekic: 14 PTS - 5/7 FG - 4/6 3PT FG - 21 MIN
Reggie Jackson: 13 PTS - 10 AST - 2/14 FG - 9/12 FT
Derrick Favors: 13 PTS - 14 REB - 5/8 FG - 3/4 FT

San Antonio Spurs Top Performers
Jordan Davis: 21 PTS - 8/17 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
Kawhi Leonard: 18 PTS - 7 REB - 6 STL - 7/12 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 3/3 FT
Tony Parker: 14 PTS - 5 REB - 6 AST - 6/11 FG - 2/3 FT
Kevin Seraphin: 12 PTS - 10 REB - 4/9 FG - 4/5 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Jackson bounces back, scores 22 against Dallas
Kings: 118
Mavericks: 108

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Reggie Jackson: 22 PTS - 9 AST - 8/16 FG - 2/6 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 20 PTS - 13 REB - 8/15 FG - 4/5 FT
Ben McLemore: 14 PTS - 5/7 FG - 4/6 3PT FG - 21 MIN
Rudy Gay: 13 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 5/8 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 2/2 FT

Dallas Mavericks Top Performers
Josh Norman: 21 PTS - 6 REB - 8/14 FG - 4/5 3PT FG - 1/1 FT
Zach Harrison: 18 PTS - 12 REB - 8/18 FG - 2/3 FT
Dirk Nowitzki: 16 PTS - 7 REB - 8/15 FG
Troy Daniels: 14 PTS - 4 REB - 6/17 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 1/1 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Kings get little help from supporting cast
Rockets: 105
Kings: 90

Houston Rockets Top Performers
Dwight Howard: 22 PTS - 9 REB - 11/24 FG - 3/3 FT
James Harden: 21 PTS - 5 REB - 6 AST - 7/13 FG - 6/9 3PT FG - 1/3 FT
P.J. Tucker: 20 PTS - 6 REB - 4 ASAT - 7/15 FG - 3/6 3PT FG - 3/3 FT
Rudy Barnes: 17 PTS - 9 REB - 2 BLK - 8/12 FG - 1/2 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Derrick Favors: 20 PTS - 11 REB - 8/16 FG - 4/6 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 17 PTS - 13 REB - 7/14 FG - 3/3 FT
Rudy Gay: 17 PTS - 8 REB - 6/14 FG - 2/5 3PT FG - 3/4 FT
Ben McLemore: 8 PTS - 3/10 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 1/2 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Strong Bulls team wins in Sacramento
Bulls: 113
Kings: 102

Chicago Bulls Top Performers
Derrick Rose: 24 PTS - 11 AST - 9/16 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 5/5 FT
Nikola Mirotic: 17 PTS - 6 REB - 7/16 FG - 3/3 FT
Tobias Harris: 16 PTS - 10 REB - 6/9 FG - 3/3 3PT FG - 1/2 FT
Gerald Green: 13 PTS - 3 REB - 5/10 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 2/2 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 23 PTS - 5 REB - 10/23 FG - 3/6 FT
Ben McLemore: 18 PTS - 7/10 FG - 4/6 3PT FG
Reggie Jackson: 16 PTS - 7 AST - 6/7 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 3/4 FT
Rudy Gay: 12 PTS - 3 REB - 6 AST - 4/10 FG - 1/5 3PT FG - 3/3 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

NBA Notes:
Celtics lose 5th straight, now 2-11 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:

NBA Transactions:
Spurs extend F Josh Smith with 3yr/$6.31M deal.

Miami Heat trade: Norris Cole, Shawne Williams
New Orleans Pelicans trade: Russ Smith

--------------------------------------------------------------------


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Rudy aggravates knee against Chicago



The Sacramento Kings announced F Rudy Gay suffered a hyperextended knee in the team's 113-102 loss to the Bulls on Thursday. He played through the injury against Chicago and it is unclear if the injury will force him to miss any games. He injured the same left knee that he tore his MCL in at the end of last season. Before this setback, Gay was having a phenomenal start to the season in his return from the MCL injury, averaging 18.2 PPG on 59% FG and 48% 3PT FG.

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Kings to go back to Jackson as the starter
The ability to get into the paint and make the drop-off passes is a vital skill that Martin still lacks

When the Kings selected Julio Martin in the first round last year, the team hoped to see him develop as a pass-first point guard to get their star frontcourt trio more shots. He shined in the second half of the year and overtook Reggie Jackson as the starting point guard. They hoped he would improve on his weaknesses in the offseason, but instead it was Jackson who came back as the improved player. In his shooting and quickness, Martin didn't make any improvements worth writing home about. Jackson entered training camp with a better understanding of how to use his athleticism on the defensive end as well as how to balance his scoring and playmaking.

The matter of roster balance in the starting lineup seems to favor Jackson now, while it was a benefit to Martin when the team first made the change last year. Yes, when Jackson plays with the starters there would seem to be 5 scorers on the court with only one ball. But today's NBA game has a priority on perimeter shooting and penetration. Jackson does both at a far higher level than Martin. Having your three stars as your frontcourt trio can cause problems of roster balance on its own. Cousins, Favors, and Gay all play better when there is a dynamic guard to initiate offense when the half-court sets break down. The proof is in the numbers in the last 6 games, in which Jackson has taken over most of the point guard minutes with the starters.

R. Jackson: 15.7 PPG, 8.5 APG, 48.5% FG, 47.4% 3PT FG, 29.2 MPG, Total +/- of +31
J. Martin: 6.7 PPG, 4.7 APG, 42.5% FG, 14.3% 3PT FG, 19.2 MPG, Total +/- of -45

The difference in the +/- between Jackson and Martin is staggering. It results to an average of a +5.2 margin for the team with Jackson in the game compared to a -7.5 margin under Martin. The first quarter of the Spurs game is a vivid indicator of the difference that Jackson makes for the starters. The Kings started the quarter giving up an 18-6 run with the usual starting lineup with Martin in the game. Jackson for Martin was the only substitution the team made, and the Kings quickly closed the gap and trailed by just two after the quarter, 21-23. The lineup of Jackson, McLemore, Gay, Favors, and Cousins went on a 17-3 run after the substitution.

Martin still has a potential future in the NBA, possibly even one as a starter. But if you can't shoot the ball and can't penetrate at will, you will struggle in today's NBA. He didn't make the kind of leap in his perimeter shooting that the team hoped he would during the offseason. A worse defending Ricky Rubio seems to be Martin's comparison right now.

The Kings hope to finally show what their current core of players can do in the postseason. For a team looking to win now, Jackson is the better choice. For a team that has two bigmen that dominate the paint and need more perimeter shooting, Jackson is the better choice. For a team in need of a dynamic scoring guard to punish a defense for focusing on the frontcourt trio, Jackson is the better choice. For a team with one of their top 3 scorers seeming more and more like an injury risk, Jackson is the better choice to take more of a scoring load.

Boogie struggles against Thunder
Thunder: 106
Kings: 97

Oklahoma City Thunder Top Performers
Stephen Adams: 21 PTS - 6 REB - 9/13 FG - 3/6 FT
Isaiah Thomas: 19 PTS - 8 AST - 6/11 FG - 2/5 3PT FG - 5/6 FT
Kevin Durant: 17 PTS - 5 REB - 8 AST - 5/15 FG - 3/5 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
Russell Westbrook: 14 PTS - 10 AST - 6/14 FG - 2/7 3PT FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 25 PTS - 4 REB - 6 AST - 10/15 FG - 3/3 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Reggie Jackson: 17 PTS - 6 REB - 7 AST - 6/14 FG - 3/9 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Ben McLemore: 14 PTS - 8 REB - 4/9 FG - 6/7 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 11 PTS - 11 REB - 5/13 FG - 1/2 FT
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Harden crushes McLemore in SG matchup
Rockets: 112
Kings: 89

Houston Rockets Top Performers
James Harden: 31 PTS - 6 REB - 7 AST - 9/15 FG - 3/4 3PT FG - 10/10 FT
Terrence Jones: 25 PTS - 8 REB - 11/18 FG - 1/5 3PT FG - 2/5 FT
Isaiah Canaan: 17 PTS - 10 AST - 7/11 FG - 3/4 3PT FG
Dwight Howard: 10 PTS - 6 REB - 4/10 FG - 2/2 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 20 PTS - 5 REB - 7/10 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 5/6 FT
Reggie Jackson: 16 PTS - 7 AST - 6/8 FG - 2/3 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 12 PTS - 12 REB - 5/12 FG - 2/2 FT
Ben McLemore: 7 PTS - 4 REB - 2/12 FG - 1/6 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
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Offensive struggles continue in Kings' loss to Pelicans
Pelicans: 97
Kings: 84

New Orleans Pelicans Top Performers
Anthony Davis: 17 PTS - 11 REB - 8/14 FG - 1/3 FT
Ryan Anderson: 14 PTS - 4 REB - 5/15 FG - 4/6 3PT FG
Norris Cole: 14 PTS - 3 AST - 5/8 FG - 4/7 3PT FG
Tyreke Evans: 11 PTS - 5 REB - 4 AST - 5/8 FG - 1/2 3PT FG

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 19 PTS - 6 REB - 6/10 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 6/7 FT
Reggie Jackson: 13 PTS - 6 REB - 5/11 FG - 2/6 3PT FG - 1/2 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 10 PTS - 8 REB - 5/12 FG
Ben McLemore: 8 PTS - 4 REB - 2/7 FG - 1/2 3PT FG - 3/3 FT
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Favors takes touches away from Cousins, but Kings get win with defense
Kings: 96
Mavericks: 79

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Ben McLemore: 18 PTS - 4 REB - 5/13 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 7/9 FT
Derrick Favors: 15 PTS - 13 REB - 7/19 FG - 1/4 FT
Rudy Gay: 15 PTS - 7 REB - 7/16 FG - 1/3 3PT FG
Demarcus Cousins: 9 PTS - 8 REB - 3/7 FG - 3/4 FT

Dallas Mavericks Top Performers
Dirk Nowitzki: 17 PTS - 4 REB - 6/11 FG - 1/2 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
Troy Daniels: 13 PTS - 3/10 FG - 2/7 3PT FG - 5/5 FT
Josh Norman: 12 PTS - 8 REB - 3/8 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 5/5 FT
Zach Harrison: 11 PTS - 12 REB - 4/12 FG - 3/6 FT
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Demarcus regains his dominance as Kings top Spurs
Kings: 113
Spurs: 98

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Rudy Gay: 20 PTS - 3 REB - 7/11 FG - 4/5 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 20 PTS - 19 REB - 9/15 FG - 2/2 FT
Kostas Lekic: 16 PTS - 5/11 FG - 5/11 3PT FG - 1/2 FT - 27 MIN
Ben McLemore: 14 PTS - 6/11 FG - 2/4 3PT FG

San Antonio Spurs Top Performers
Tony Parker: 16 PTS - 6 AST - 7/12 FG - 2/3 3PT FG
Jordan Davis: 15 PTS - 7/22 FG - 1/9 3PT FG
Kawhi Leonard: 14 PTS - 5 REB - 8 AST - 5/13 FG - 2/4 3PT FG - 2/3 FT
Kevin Seraphin: 13 PTS - 9 REB - 6/10 FG - 1/2 FT
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Kings top Sixers while frictions increase
Kings: 113
Sixers: 106


There were multiple instances of Derrick Favors and Demarcus Cousins having animated conversations against the Sixers

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Derrick Favors: 23 PTS - 13 REB - 2 BLK - 9/14 FG - 5/8 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 18 PTS - 11 REB - 5 AST - 5/10 FG - 8/8 FT
Ben McLemore: 17 PTS - 7/10 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Kostas Lekic: 16 PTS - 6/13 FG - 4/8 3PT FG - 19 MIN

Philadelphia 76ers Top Performers
Byron Knight: 18 PTS - 8/13 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 1/1 FT
Kent Bazemore: 16 PTS - 3 REB - 5 AST - 6/19 FG - 4/4 FT
Joel Embiid: 10 PTS - 10 REB - 4/7 FG - 2/2 FT
Michael Carter-Williams: 9 PTS - 7 AST - 2/8 FG - 2/4 3PT FG - 3/4 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

NBA Notes:
Raptors win 5th straight, now 13-4 overall.
Cavaliers win 5th straight, now 13-6 overall.
Timberwolves lose 6th straight, now 6-12 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:

NBA Transactions:
Timberwolves extend C Gorgui Dieng with 3yr/$27.08M deal.

Miami Heat trade: J.J. Hickson
San Antonio Spurs trade: Patty Mills

November Summary
Harden, Griffin putting up numbers


No team is running away with a lead in either conference so far this season, but some players are doing their best for their teams to do so. Few thought it was possible for James Harden to take another step forward in his production yet he is posting career highs of 30.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 9.2 APG. His Rockets have a narrow .5 game lead in the Western Conference. The team chasing them also has the same kind of star production from their leader. Blake Griffin is averaging 28.4 PPG and 12.7 RPG for the Clippers, which is a career-best mark in scoring by a large margin.

But the Eastern Conference leaders could not be more different in their approach. The Raptors lost Demar Derozan last summer in free agency, yet still have their core of Chris Bosh, Kyle Lowry, Terrence Ross, and Jonas Valanciunas. None of their players average more than 33.3 MPG, and their leading scorer in Ross only scores 16.2 every night. The next highest is Valanciunas at 13.3 PPG, but they have 8 players scoring at least 8.5 PPG. Using team play and the best defense in the league, Toronto has found a way to stay competitive despite losing Derozan.



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For the latest Kings
news, blogs, interviews,
and highlights.Kings Month in Review

Derrick Favors yearning for larger role

Favors did not help his teammates congratulate Ben McLemore after beating the clock at halftime vs. Philadelphia

When the Kings acquired Derrick Favors in the 2015 offseason, they expected him to come in and accept a reduced offensive role and focus on his rebounding and defense. Last season most thought he was capable of contributing more scoring if he was given the offensive touches, as Favors accumulated just 11.5 PPG and 9.3 RPG in 34 MPG. Derrick is more than capable of being the premier post presence on a team, but with Demarcus Cousins already here that will likely never happen in Sacramento. Favors has not gotten a huge portion of shot attempts this season either. His 14.5% usage is the 11th lowest of the 14 players who have played in a game for the Kings this season. The only players using less possessions than Favors are Quincy Acy and rookie bigs Shaun Washington and Darin Gibson.

Derrick certainly has a case for getting more attempts, as we have mentioned before. Demarcus has more space when the other Kings on the floor are threats to score, but logic would suggest that holds true regardless of who the other 4 players are. This season, Boogie has actually played better when he is paired with Quincy Acy instead of Favors. Acy is much better than Derrick from the perimeter as well as moving off of the ball. Both of those are valuable skills to have around Cousins.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that the Kings' gameplan of a physical half-court team is not working as planned. When Cousins and Favors are playing together, the offense almost invariably struggles. When the team plays two of Gay, Crowder, Williams, and Acy at the forward spots next to Cousins, the floor opens up significantly. Those lineups have the shooting and the athleticism off the bounce to punish teams for doubling Demarcus. The Cousins/Favors frontcourt should be the better choice defensively, but opposing teams use large lineups less and less frequently. Favors finds himself guarding Kenneth Faried, Terrence Jones, Paul Millsap, Nikola Mirotic, and Kevin Love, who can all beat Favors with their shooting or their footspeed.

To be fair, the team has done a poor job of utilizing Favors' talents and don't even take advantage of his athleticism with lobs or running the break. The Kings invariably have him posting up to bully his way inside, which is useless if he doesn't get the ball and instead only clogs the paint for Boogie. They have Derrick crashing the offensive glass instead of looking to beat his man to the other end.

Aside from the on-court difficulties, Favors has clashed with teammates recently, especially Demarcus Cousins. Things came to a head in the Philadelphia game when Derrick broke playsets in order to get more touches personally. The fact that he converted frequently did little to make his teammates overlook it. He and Demarcus Cousins had two heated conversations during the course of the first half. When Ben McLemore beat the buzzer at the end of the first half, Favors seemed to sulk off to the lockerroom instead of celebrate with his teammates. Coach Malone started Quincy Acy at the 4 in the second half and never played Cousins and Favors together after halftime.

Again, Derrick is probably deserving of more looks offensively. But showing poor body language and clashing with the star of the team is not the best way to go about resolving his grievances. Ultimately, the NBA is a star-driven league, where star players can get coaches fired and teammates traded. Time will tell if the the situation worsens to the point where the Kings consider making a trade.

Crowder, Rudy step up when Kings go small
Kings: 110
Cavaliers: 106


This was the exact reason the Kings signed Jae Crowder

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Demarcus Cousins: 27 PTS - 17 REB - 10/15 FG - 7/9 FT
Reggie Jackson: 24 PTS - 5 REB - 8 AST - 6/10 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 11/11 FT
Rudy Gay: 24 PTS - 7 REB - 4 AST - 10/17 FG - 2/7 3PT FG - 2/3 FT
Jae Crowder: 18 PTS - 4 REB - 3 AST - 6/9 FG - 4/4 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Derrick Favors: 4 PTS - 3 REB - 2/4 FG - 12 MIN

Cleveland Cavaliers Top Performers
Kyrie Irving: 38 PTS - 4 REB - 4 AST - 17/28 FG - 3/7 3PT FG - 1/1 FT
Lebron James: 30 PTS - 6 REB - 6 AST - 12/21 FG - 1/3 FT - 5/6 FT
Khris Middleton: 14 PTS - 8 REB - 6/13 FG - 2/5 3PT FG
Kevin Love: 11 PTS - 7 REB - 5/13 FG - 1/1 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Rudy banged up again in loss to Heat
Heat: 96
Kings: 87

Miami Heat Top Performers
Shabazz Napier: 18 PTS - 9 AST - 7/15 FG - 1/5 3PT FG - 3/3 FT
Russ Smith: 18 PTS - 7/10 FG - 4/5 3PT FG
D.J. Augustin: 16 PTS - 3 REB - 4 AST - 5/11 FG - 2/5 3PT FG - 4/5 FT
Dwayne Wade: 14 PTS - 7 AST - 4/11 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 5/8 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Ben McLemore: 21 PTS - 8/14 FG - 5/6 3PT FG
Demarcus Cousins: 20 PTS - 10 REB - 7/15 FG - 6/8 FT
Derrick Favors: 12 PTS - 11 REB - 5/10 FG - 2/2 FT
Reggie Jackson: 10 PTS - 3 REB - 7 AST - 4/6 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 1/3 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

NBA Notes:
Raptors win 6th straight, now 14-4 overall.
Clippers lose 5th straight, now 12-7 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:

NBA Transactions:

--------------------------------------------------------------------


For the latest Kings
news, blogs, interviews,
and highlights.

Rudy strains Achilles, expected to rest for 7-10 days



The Sacramento Kings announced F Rudy Gay strained his left Achilles tendon in their recent game against the Miami Heat. He is expected to sit out for at least a week to recover. Gay has played very well this season coming off of his MCL injury, but has suffered a few minor injuries already this year. The team will have to be cautiously aware of Gay's health going forward.

The injury comes at a bad time for the Kings considering the rumors swirling around Derrick Favors, the team's other supporting star to Demarcus Cousins.

Traditional lineup struggles to score
Jazz: 102
Kings: 90

Utah Jazz Top Performers
Dante Exum: 22 PTS - 6 REB - 3 AST - 8/10 FG - 3/3 3PT FG - 3/4 FT
Gordon Hayward: 21 PTS - 3 REB - 8/12 FG - 5/5 FT
Nik Stauskas: 12 PTS - 2/7 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 7/8 FT
Alec Burks: 12 PTS - 4/8 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 3/3 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Ben McLemore: 16 PTS - 5 REB - 5/14 FG - 2/5 3PT FG - 4/4 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 14 PTS - 8 REB - 4 STL - 6/13 FG - 2/2 FT
Derrick Favors: 14 PTS - 10 REB - 5/13 FG - 4/5 FT
Reggie Jackson: 12 PTS - 5 AST - 5/11 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 1/2 FT
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Kings fall again in L.A.
Lakers: 107
Kings: 100

Los Angeles Lakers Top Performers
Jeremy Lin: 20 PTS - 5 REB - 8 AST - 6/9 FG - 2/4 3PT FG - 6/7 FT
Eric Gordon: 18 PTS - 5/8 FG - 1/2 3PT FG - 7/8 FT
Kobe Bryant: 17 PTS - 4 REB - 7/17 FG - 3/4 3PT FG
Julius Randle: 14 PTS - 7 REB - 5/8 FG - 4/4 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Derrick Favors: 26 PTS - 8 REB - 8/14 FG - 10/13 FT
Reggie Jackson: 15 PTS - 5 REB - 7 AST - 3/7 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 7/7 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 13 PTS - 4 REB - 4/11 FG - 5/6 FT
Ben McLemore: 13 PTS - 6/12 FG - 1/5 3PT FG
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Miserable offense continues for Kings
Pelicans: 105
Kings: 85

New Orleans Pelicans Top Performers
Anthony Davis: 19 PTS - 9 REB - 8/18 FG - 3/4 FT
Jrue Holiday: 19 PTS - 6 AST - 9/14 FG - 1/1 FT
Ryan Anderson: 15 PTS - 4 REB - 6/13 FG - 3/7 3PT FG
Tyreke Evans: 13 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 5/8 FG - 1/3 3PT FG - 2/2 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Reggie Jackson: 18 PTS - 5 AST - 7/9 FG - 1/2 3PT FG - 3/4 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 17 PTS - 8 REB - 8/13 FG - 1/1 FT
Ben McLemore: 7 PTS - 6 REB - 2/9 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 2/2 FT
Derrick Favors: 5 PTS - 5 REB - 2/9 FG - 1/2 FT
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Kings score just 14 in 4th quarter for 5th straight loss
Pistons: 93
Kings: 89

Detroit Pistons Top Performers
Andre Drummond: 19 PTS - 9 REB - 8/15 FG - 3/6 FT
Greg Monroe: 16 PTS - 4 REB - 6/11 FG - 4/8 FT
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: 12 PTS - 4/5 FG - 1/1 3PT FG - 2/3 FT
Brandon Jennings: 11 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 4/9 FG - 1/4 3PT FG - 2/2 FT

Sacramento Kings Top Performers
Derrick Favors: 13 PTS - 6 REB - 6/13 FG - 1/2 FT
Reggie Jackson: 12 PTS - 7 REB - 4 AST - 4/6 FG - 4/6 FT
Demarcus Cousins: 12 PTS - 8 REB - 6/16 FG - 1/1 FT
Jae Crowder: 11 PTS - 6 REB - 4/7 FG - 3/6 3PT FG
--------------------------------------------------------------------

NBA Notes:
Kings lose 5th straight, now 11-13 overall.
Nuggets lose 5th straight, now 11-13 overall.

NBA Injury Updates:

NBA Transactions:

Utah Jazz trade: Danny Green, Alonzo Gregory
Cleveland Cavaliers trade: Khris Middleton, Oscar Graham

For the latest Kings
news, blogs, interviews,
and highlights.

Kings cut ties with frustrated Favors, bring local product home

Sacramento Kings trade: Derrick Favors (81 - NOP) - Shaun Washington (66 - NOP) - Tudor Eminescu (60 - NOP) - 2017 1st Round Draft Selection (TOR)



New Orleans Pelicans trade: Ryan Anderson (79 - SAC) - Xavier Henry (75 - TOR)



Toronto Raptors trade: Bruno Caboclo (73 - SAC) - Chuck Hayes (68 - SAC) - 2017 1st Round Draft Selection (SAC)



When the Kings acquired Derrick Favors to place with Demarcus Cousins, they envisioned a physical, defense-first team that dominated opponents in the half court. Favors sacrificed much of his offense last season to fit into a defensive and rebounding role next to Cousins' offensive dominance, but was quietly unhappy about it. This season the Georgia Tech product was much more demonstrative and outspoken in his desire for a larger offensive role, and found himself clashing with teammates about it. Most notably, back on November 29th in the Kings' game against the Sixers, Favors ignored multiple playsets to demand the ball on the block himself. He and Demarcus Cousins had two arguments on the court during the first half of the game, and Malone opted to bench Favors after halftime.

Since the Philadelphia game, the Kings have gone 1-5, with the only win coming against Cleveland in a game where Favors only played 12 minutes. The Kings seemed to find some magic in going small with Quincy Acy or Jae Crowder at the 4. The injury to Rudy Gay prompted the Kings to go back to Favors in search of more individual offense, yet as a team their offensive production plummeted. The team has averaged just 94 PPG in the last 4 losses, games in which Favors and Cousins played large minutes together. Considering Cousins' poor production and frustration with Favors, the team's miserable offensive numbers, and Derrick's own growing discomfort in Sacramento, the Kings decided to make the trade.

Ryan Anderson comes to Sacramento from New Orleans as the main return in the trade. He will likely become the everyday starter at the 4 to try and replicate the success the Kings' have had in recent small samples with small-ball lineups. Cousins will be free to dominate the paint alone, and with Anderson on the court, will have 4 shooters to pass to if he draws double-teams. For opponents, lineups with Anderson and Cousins might force teams to choose between giving up open threes or letting Cousins beat you in single coverage. Ryan has many fans in the Sacramento area, having played at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills. He grew up a Kings fan during their glory years with Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and Peja Stojakovic.

The Kings also involved the Toronto Raptors in the deal and sent Xavier Henry up north in exchange for Bruno Caboclo and Chuck Hayes. Caboclo has plenty of potential to be a high-level player and is still just 21. The "Brazilian Kevin Durant" can easily push Derrick Williams for playing time and even force the Kings to get him on the court along with Crowder and Gay. More importantly though, the Kings can roll the dice with Caboclo in case Rudy Gay's recent injury struggles continue and he never returns as the same player he was before his MCL injury. The Kings gave up the right for the Raptors to swap 1st round picks in next summer's draft depending on which pick ends up being higher. Chuck Hayes returns to Sacramento where he spent 2 1/2 seasons in 2011-2014. He found himself out of the rotation in Toronto this season. Along with Anderson, his veteran leadership and high character will be excellent anecdotes for the recent frictions the Kings' lockerroom has witnessed.

For the Pelicans, Favors will likely start at center next to Anthony Davis and will be a bigger part of the offense in New Orleans. The Pelicans are used to running pick-and-rolls and throwing lobs to their bigs like Davis, and Favors can finish lobs very well in his own right. The Kings underutilized those aspects of Favors' game and he will likely enjoy getting those kinds of opportunities again. Omer Asik is having a very poor season and has found his minutes dwindling recently, so Derrick will have plenty of floor time with Asik's minutes as well as those left by Ryan Anderson. Losing the 3yr/$14.89M contract of Xavier Henry was a positive for the Pelicans, who have a large amount of minutes and almost $25M in salary invested in the guards of Norris Cole, Austin Rivers, Tyreke Evans, and Jimmer Fredette. That salary number doesn't even include the $11.3M they are paying Jrue Holiday.

The Raptors were very thin in the backcourt, with Kyle Lowry, Lou Williams, and 1st round pick Ramon Walker carrying the load alone. Henry will be a valuable addition and provide much-needed depth for Toronto. For the backcourt depth and the ability to swap picks with the Kings, who are currently below .500 and seemed close to collapsing before the trade, giving up Caboclo can be stomached.

Caboclo!!! ... The Future

Enjoy your 6'6 Center

Enjoy your 6'6 Center

You can't measure heart. Aside from not wanting Henry's contract, Chuckwagon was the real reason I involved Toronto. He's one of my favorite players and I'm glad to bring him back.

Caboclo!!! ... The Future

As I said, getting Hayes was actually my main idea. I thought to add Bruno later when I realized I don't have anybody in my fictional draft class in the middle of the first round I really want. After the first few games, I'm realizing I am going to have to make some room for Bruno

I think it will work out well, at least it did in 2009 for Orlando and perhaps the Pistons can make a jump this year. Expecting some 30-15 games from Cousins again.

I think it will work out well, at least it did in 2009 for Orlando and perhaps the Pistons can make a jump this year. Expecting some 30-15 games from Cousins again.

My defense really isn't much worse with Anderson than it already was (a lot of that I'm thinking is due to the terrible sliders I was using). Always having an athletic, active forward at the 3 helps my rebounding and defense enough. All of Gay, Crowder, Caboclo, and D-Will fit that mold. The first few games say that teams are giving up the threes much more than letting Cousins dominate.