Sacramento Kings: Top 3 moves that must happen in free agency

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The Sacramento Kings face a crucial offseason ahead of them this summer. Here are three moves that absolutely must happen if the Kings are going to find success next season.

The Sacramento Kings are set to embark on what is expected to be a pivotal free agency period for the young franchise. The team has done an excellent job of building a young core that will hopefully serve as the foundation of the next era of Kings basketball.

But their work is far from done.

This is an incomplete team and although there are plenty of promising building blocks, you need a complete roster up and down to be able to compete in today’s NBA. The Kings are working their way there — as much as a small-market team like themselves can — but they aren’t quite there yet.

That’s why this offseason will be crucial for the Kings if they are, indeed, to take the next step towards contention next season. For the first time in what seems like forever, there will be expectations.

Anything short of a playoff appearance next season will be considered a failure. Here are three moves that must happen in free agency that will hopefully help the Kings reach the postseason.

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 11: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic dribbles past Enes Kanter #00 of the New York Knicks during the game at Madison Square Garden on November 11, 2018 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Sacramento Kings (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /

1. Upgrade at center

When the Kings drafted Willie Cauley-Stein sixth overall back in 2015, the hope was that he would be the team’s center of the future. And at times, he looked like the perfect fit for the team.

He was an agile, athletic big man who could move well on defense and be an effective rim-runner on offense. Unfortunately, the consistency just wasn’t there and frustrations have reached a boiling point for both sides.

Related Story. What assets could the Sacramento Kings get for Willie Cauley-Stein?. light

It’s likely that we’ve seen the last of Cauley-Stein in a Kings jersey as he’s set to be a restricted free agent and it’s high time that the team upgrades at the position. The most obvious upgrades will come in the form of free agency.

Nikola Vucevic and Al Horford are the top two centers on the market and if the Kings could draw one of them to Sacramento with a max contract, it would be a huge get for a franchise in need of more star power. If not, Atlanta Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon is a cheaper, albeit less exciting option.

Or if free agency doesn’t suit them, they could always attempt a sign-and-trade with Cauley-Stein and move him to a team strapped for cap space. Two teams to keep an eye on are the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets who each have a center — Steven Adams and Clint Capela — that could pique the Kings’ interest.

Either way, an upgrade is needed and the Kings will very much have the opportunity to do so this offseason.

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