Kings mailbag: Is Luke Walton a sleeper agent for the Lakers? Who gets fired first?
The start of the 2019-20 season has Kings fans calling for a do-over after they dropped their first three games by an average of 23.7 points and lost Marvin Bagley III for four to six weeks with a broken thumb. Unfortunately, there are no do-overs, no takebacks and no erasies in the NBA, but there are 29 other teams that will be happy to exploit your weaknesses.
The Kings are 0-4 going into Wednesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets at Golden 1 Center. Signs of progress in a 101-94 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Monday might have quelled a mutiny among fans for the moment, but people still have lots of questions about the team’s direction under first-year coach Luke Walton.
First question:
@coyote95667 asks: Wtf?
This is a common question in Sacramento and many haven’t bothered to abbreviate the expression. We’ve talked a lot about how the trip to India and injuries have hindered this team, but the bottom line is the Kings weren’t ready for the start of the regular season and that could prove very costly.
Walton has rightly deduced the Kings must establish an effective half-court offense and improved defense if they’re ever going to be truly relevant in playoff discussions, but those endeavors will take months or years of gradual progression. They certainly shouldn’t abandon these pursuits, but they also can’t lose sight of their identity as a run-and-gun team because they’re so focused on fixing other things – especially if they’re going to do those things poorly.
After a weekend of reflection, Walton took responsibility for the early identity crisis and vowed to pick up the pace. The Kings looked faster, looser and more energetic in a competitive game against the Nuggets. Let’s see what they do next.
@JordanN1333272 asks: How much are the Lakers paying Luke Walton to sabotage the Kings and destroy the hopes of long-suffering fans?
Revenge for Kobe’s cheeseburger? That’s an amazing NBA conspiracy theory, Jordan, but there’s no payola at work here. Walton wants to win in Sacramento and I believe he will.
Luigi Bertini @luigibertini asks: Why were the starters in during a 30 point blowout? Why so much Trevor Ariza? Is it because he and Walton are friends?
Walton was using those minutes in the season opener against the Phoenix Suns as practice time, giving his players extra reps against a live opponent. He wanted to establish continuity and accelerate the learning process, but it backfired when Bagley broke his thumb.
As for Ariza, the Kings expect him to be a key reserve. He’s a 16-year veteran who has averaged 29.8 minutes a game in his career. He could find his niche and play an important role as a backup 3-and-D specialist, but first he has to make 3s and play D. Ariza posted an offensive rating of 68 and a defensive rating of 117 in the first three games, averaging 2.3 points in 22 minutes per game. Dewayne Dedmon (21 mpg), Cory Joseph (20 mpg), Richaun Holmes (16.7 mpg), Wenyen Gabriel (8.3 mpg), Yogi Ferrell (6.3 mpg) and Justin James (5 mpg) all scored more points in fewer minutes.
Ariza had a much better game against the Nuggets, scoring nine points on 3-of-4 shooting from 3-point range with five rebounds and two assists. Like other guys on this team, he’s figuring out where he fits and how to play with new teammates.
@Weezy916 asks: Any players not in the current rotation (other than Giles) that could get a chance if they continue to struggle?
Gabriel could see increased minutes if Ariza’s struggles continue. The Kings recently converted Gabriel’s two-way contract to a standard NBA contract, giving them added depth at the small forward spot. Gabriel is a long, bouncy 6-foot-9 forward who averaged 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds in 20.8 minutes per game for Sacramento’s G League affiliate in Stockton last season. He logged only five minutes in the first two games but posted eight points, three rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes against the Utah Jazz.
Josh @jbeasley123 asks: Who are your favorite draft prospects for 2020?
Sizing up potential lottery picks is one of our favorite pastimes in Sacramento. The top prospects at this point are James Wiseman, a 7-foot-1 center from Memphis, and Anthony Edwards, a 6-4 shooting guard from Georgia. LaMelo Ball, a 6-7 point guard, is quickly rising up draft boards. Can you imagine a union of the Bagley, Ball and Fox families in Sacramento? For what it’s worth, Tankathon.com has the Kings selecting Deni Avdija, a 6-9 small forward from Israel, with the No. 2 pick. NBA Draft Room describes Avdjia as a “diaper Doncic.”
@divingmelvin asks: Dedmon has seemed like a major downgrade from WCS. Lots of turnovers. Is center their biggest weakness?
Dedmon hasn’t been himself after signing a three-year, $40 million contract with the Kings over the summer. If he turns it around, he’s still a better fit with Bagley than Willie Cauley-Stein, but Bagley is hurt now and the Kings miss Cauley-Stein’s speed and verticality as a lob threat. The Kings have to figure out what they want to do here. The coaching staff has discussed starting Richaun Holmes and Harry Giles III will be back soon, but the best scenario for this team would be to have all three healthy and able to contribute.
@foxthefuture asks: If it keeps up, who gets outed first?
General manager Vlade Divac and Walton are both in the first year of four-year contracts. No one is getting fired, guys.
@staypositive123 asks: Who’s gone first? Coach, a player (or few) or management? Or things get better and we start winning games? Your thoughts?
Things will get better. If they don’t get better soon, it will be too late to salvage this season, but even then I wouldn’t forecast major changes in the basketball operations staff. The roster, however, is always subject to change, especially if the season becomes a lost cause as the February trade deadline approaches.
Sacramento Kings upcoming schedule
Oct. 30 vs. Charlotte Hornets
Nov. 1 vs. Utah Jazz
Nov. 3 at New York Knicks
Nov. 6 at Toronto Raptors
Nov. 8 at Atlanta Hawks
This story was originally published October 30, 2019 at 4:00 AM.
