NBA analysts predict where Sacramento Kings will finish in Western Conference playoff race
ESPN experts believe the Sacramento Kings are poised to make a return to the playoffs after falling short last season.
A panel of ESPN analysts recently released their summer forecast for the Western Conference as the 2024-25 NBA season approaches. The Kings are predicted to finish sixth in the West with 47 wins, one game ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the final automatic playoff berth.
ESPN noted that the Kings “added All-Star DeMar DeRozan, who joins guard De’Aaron Fox to create one of the most clutch backcourts in the league.”
The Kings went 46-36 to finish ninth in the West last season. They beat the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the play-in tournament before suffering a season-ending loss to the Pelicans in the final play-in game. The outcome was disappointing for a team that went to the playoffs as the No. 3 seed in the West in 2022-23, ending the longest playoff drought in NBA history after 16 consecutive losing seasons.
The Kings are hoping continuity and the upgrade in talent DeRozan provides can help them get back to the playoffs. They signed coach Mike Brown to a contract extension, re-signed Sixth Man of the Year runner-up Malik Monk and acquired DeRozan in a three-team sign-and-trade deal involving the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.
DeRozan is a six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection. He was an All-NBA Third Team selection in 2017 before earning Second Team honors in 2018 and 2022. A master of the midrange game, DeRozan averaged 24.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.1 steals for the Bulls last season.
The Kings now have two of the best fourth-quarter scorers in the NBA. Fox won the inaugural Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year award in 2023. DeRozan finished third in Clutch Player of the Year voting in 2023 and second in 2024.
ESPN predicted the Oklahoma City Thunder will finish first in the West with 57 wins followed by the Minnesota Timberwolves (54), Dallas Mavericks (52), Denver Nuggets (52), Phoenix Suns (49) and Kings (47).
The Pelicans (46), Warriors (45), Memphis Grizzlies (44) and Houston Rockets (44) are projected as play-in teams. The Los Angeles Lakers (44), Los Angeles Clippers (43), San Antonio Spurs (35), Utah Jazz (26) and Portland Trail Blazers (22) are expected to miss the play-in tournament.
This story was originally published August 28, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
