Kings mailbag: Why didn’t Dewayne Dedmon work out and will the despair ever end?
You know things are bad when people start talking about the “soul-crushing despair” associated with being a Kings fan, but this is a rite of passage, kids.
The Kings (13-23) have lost nine of their last 10 going into Monday’s game against the Golden State Warriors (9-28). They snapped an eight-game losing streak with a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday, but then they turned around and lost to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Kings have problems and the people have questions. Let’s get into this week’s mailbag.
@ChrisDuerr asks: When does the soul-crushing despair abate?
This city’s misery and misfortune will end one day and it will be glorious, but I cannot tell you when that will happen. All we know for sure is that the Kings are 10 games under .500 and 13th in the Western Conference. They have not had the look of a playoff contender since they won four out of five from Dec. 8-15. In fact, they’ve only won one game since then, but somehow they are only two games out of the eighth seed in the weird West. Even a modest winning streak would vault this team back into contention, but the despair will continue unabated if the Kings don’t start winning some games.
@RedRedWhine1 asks: Are there any worthwhile hobbies you can recommend instead of caring about this team? Anything perfect for the winter and early spring/summer months? I’m always available then. Haven’t had anything planned for that time period the last 14 years. Thanks!
You can do what long-suffering Kings fans have always done — get prepared for the NBA Draft. No one knows draft lottery odds, probabilities and procedures like the good people of Sacramento. Some franchises hang championship banners. Around here, we collect ping pong balls. Who should the Kings send to represent the team at the draft lottery? Who are the top prospects? What are the team’s chances of getting the No. 1 pick? The Kings didn’t have a first-round pick last year, so we only have a few short months to get reacquainted with the lottery system.
@Abe_Fro_69 asks: Is there any scenario where the Kings bring back Iman Shumpert? Would that move even make sense financially?
We documented the immediate changes to the team’s chemistry and culture after Shumpert was traded last season. Shumpert was the glue guy, the old-school vet who taught his younger teammates about life in the league. Shumpert started the #PurpleTalk movement, branded the team as a “ball club” and gave the squad an edge as a roughneck from Chicago who was always willing to fight, but he’s gone now and he isn’t coming back.
Shumpert remained unsigned until the Brooklyn Nets picked him up in November. He was waived after averaging 4.2 points on 32.8-percent shooting from the field and 24.2-percent shooting from 3-point range in 13 games.
@StevenZP2 asks: Fans are becoming apathetic. Would it be worth it to make a trade to create some energy and gets fans interested again?
The Kings are entertaining offers for center Dewayne Dedmon, who has asked for a trade, but they aren’t going to make a move just to rekindle excitement among fans. Sources throughout the organization have maintained that general manager Vlade Divac and his front office will consider trades that meet their short- and long-term goals, but they aren’t going to sacrifice their future to make an immediate splash.
The Kings haven’t been to the playoffs since 2006 and fans are frustrated. Even Divac talked about this team reaching the “next level” under coach Luke Walton this season, but Walton isn’t necessarily operating on the same timeline as everyone else. Fans feel they’ve waited long enough, but Walton is steadfast in his belief that the team must improve half-court execution and defense to have any meaningful playoff success.
@JbTochterman asks: Why in the world didn’t it work out with Dedmon? I get it that he got off to a rocky start but he is clearly a very good player that could be helping this team.
The Kings signed Dedmon to a three-year, $40 million deal to play alongside Marvin Bagley III in what was supposed to be a fast-paced, run-and-gun game. Dedmon started cashing big fat checks, but the other parts of that plan haven’t come to fruition. Bagley broke his thumb in the season opener, Dedmon was outplayed by Richaun Holmes and then point guard De’Aaron Fox suffered a severely sprained ankle, forcing Walton to make major adjustments to the team’s rotation and style.
You can’t help but wonder if both sides gave up on each other too soon considering how much the Kings invested in Dedmon. He endured almost identical shooting struggles over the first 20 games with the Atlanta Hawks last season before he caught fire to shoot 42.7 percent from 3-point range over the last 62 games, but it doesn’t look like we’ll see that in Sacramento.
Kings upcoming schedule
Jan. 6 vs. Golden State, 7 p.m.
Jan. 7 at Phoenix, 6 p.m.
Jan. 10 vs. Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 vs. Orlando, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 vs. Dallas Mavericks
This story was originally published January 6, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
