What The Sacramento Kings Must Do To Gain NBA Relevance

Jan 13, 2015; Sacramento, CA, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Rajon Rondo (9) drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Ray McCallum (3) during the second quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

The Future

Out of the 38 players listed over the eight year period, the Kings only signed two players in Collison and Udrih, who have made an immediate impact. The Kings must do a better job luring free agents to Sacramento if they want to compete in the near future. Sacramento will need to open up the check book in 2015 and sign at least one “big time” free agent.

Luckily, the 2015 offseason is flush with those types of players and the Kings have many options in who they could bring in.

Rajon Rondo, Point Guard

The Kings had interest in Rondo last season when the Celtics placed him on the trading block. Rondo’s stock may have diminished due to injuries and lackluster play, which makes it the perfect time for the Kings to pounce.

Rondo is having a down year, scoring only 8.9 PPG — his career average at 10.9 PPG. Rondo has never been known as a scorer though, as is evident by his jump shot. He is a great point guard because he is a pass first player, which will be key in a King’s lineup revolving around Cousins. Rondo’s APG are technically down, with him only averaging 8.0 and having a career average of 8.3, but Rondo is still one of the top point guards in assists, sitting at 5th in the NBA in APG.

Another benefit of Rondo is having a point guard who can rebound. Point guards are usually the smallest guys on the court, so having one that will scrap down low for the rebound is a plus. Rondo has a career average of 4.7 RPG, but this season he is actually excelling in the category with 5.7.

Rondo is currently tied with James Harden in the NBA as guards with the highest rebounding total. He took a hit this season, but he is still a stud and a top ten point guard. If the Kings can lure him in and pair him with Cousins, it could be a match made in heaven as one of the best point guard-center combos in the league.

Kevin Love, Power Forward

Another option for the Kings would be add a big man via free agency. That big man could be Kevin Love. Love is not your stereotypical power forward. Yes, he can play down low, be he has the ability to stretch the floor and hit a three-point shot.

That spacing could allow more room for Cousins to work down low. Pairing him with Cousins would also provide one of the better rebounding front courts in the NBA. Kevin Love is currently 11th in the NBA with 10.0 RPG. That number is actually down from his 11.9 RPG career mark, but considering no one but Cousins averages 7.0 RPG, Love would be a great fit.

Love will most likely demand a big contract, but his playmaking ability, along with his knack for rebounding, would make him a great front court partner for Cousins. The Kings’ name showed up when Love was on the trading block a couple of times during the offseason. In the 2015 offseason though, they can get it right and get their guy in Kevin Love.

Khris Middleton, Small Forward

Last year at this time, Middleton would more likely be found in the irrelevant signing list from earlier in this article rather than the “marquee” free agent section. He has remade himself in the 2014-2015 season though,  and looks poised for a big money deal this offseason.

Apr 3, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Khris Middleton (22) drives the ball against Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley (0) in the first half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Middleton has had a career year to the tune of 13.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, and a .415 shooting percentage, and a rate of 1.4 three’s per game. He has truly broken out, and at only 23 years old, he is still young enough to make improvements. Middleton would be a good signing for the Kings because he would be a playmaker in the middle of their lineup. He can spread the floor with his three point ability, but also facilitate with the ball down low.

The signing of Middleton would either move Rudy Gay to power forward or move Gay out-of-town to allow a rookie to take over. Middleton’s arrow is red hot and pointing up, and the Kings need to pounce.

Whoever the Kings decide to sign this offseason, the same idea remains — that player needs to make an instant impact and cannot fall by the wayside. Too many players over the years for the Kings have been flops and they cannot afford another bad free agency class. They must make a splash in the 2015 offseason.

Next: Finding the Right Head Coach