Sacramento Kings: An updated look at the projected starting lineup/rotation

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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 07: Dewayne Dedmon #14 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after hitting a three-point basket against the Toronto Raptors at State Farm Arena on February 07, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The Sacramento Kings should sport a new and improved roster this upcoming season. Here is an analysis of their projected starting lineup and rotation after the first day of free agency.

The Sacramento Kings had a very busy first day of free agency and while they didn’t come away with any star players on max contracts as some had hoped, it’s hard to be upset at the four players inked to new contracts.

For the first time in what seems like forever, the Kings might actually host a deep roster. A 10-man rotation seems probable with possible playing time for others including the team’s three second-round picks.

Not to mention that the Kings will likely add at least one more player — potentially another wing — in the waning days of free agency. The roster isn’t totally set but let’s take a look at what the team is working with so far.

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 14: De’Aaron Fox #5 high-fives Buddy Hield #24 of the Sacramento Kings during their game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Golden 1 Center on January 14, 2019 in Sacramento, California. 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. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

The Starting Five

The promising, young backcourt duo of De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield will return for yet another year in Sacramento. And hopefully, with the benefit of another offseason of development, the two will be better than ever next season.

The Kings also brought back small forward Harrison Barnes and signed him to a hefty four-year, $88 million contract. Barnes did an excellent job of shoring up the wing for Sacramento last season after being acquired in a February trade from the Dallas Mavericks.

While the cap figure on Barnes’ contract looks a bit steep, the deal is front-loaded which will allow the Kings to maintain cap flexibility down the line.

But while the Kings’ backcourt and wing will look the same, two new starters are expected to take the reigns in the frontcourt.

Second-year big man Marvin Bagley is expected to assume the starting role after a promising rookie season spent almost exclusively coming off the bench. Much like Fox and Hield, Bagley should benefit from another year of growth and look to break out this season as a full-time starter.

And perhaps the biggest new addition to the Kings roster came in the form of former Atlanta Hawks center Dewayne Dedmon. Dedmon was signed to a three-year, $41 million contract and will take over the starting center role from the soon-to-be-departed Willie Cauley-Stein.

Dedmon is an ideal fit as a rim-protector with excellent spacing ability and a plus three-point shot. He should be a great fit in the Kings up-tempo offense and an improvement over Cauley-Stein.

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