The Kings are in a familiar place, sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings after a 4-13 start. New general manager Scott Perry is preaching something that fans in Sacramento have heard for many years — be patient.
“I totally understand their frustrations to this point,” Perry told Sam Amick of The Athletic. “It hasn’t been what they wanted. But again, it’s the old saying that Rome wasn’t built in a day — and that’s a fact. If you look at a number of the top teams in the league, they all went through a very tough stretch when they were trying to lay a foundation and create an environment that led to sustainable winning. … All I’ve ever asked from the very beginning is just: buckle up, be patient for the ride. We definitely have a plan in place, and we’ll do this thing together.”
Complicating Perry’s mission is the fact that six high-salary players are signed through next season. The highest of the 2026/27 salaries, Zach LaVine‘s $49MM, is a player option and there’s no clarity as to whether he’ll pick it up, according to Amick. The Clippers have shown some interest in the oldest player on the Kings’ roster, DeMar DeRozan, per Amick. He has a partial guarantee ($10MM) on his $25.7MM contract for next season.
We have more from the Pacific Division:
- Kevin Durant will miss the Rockets’ game at Phoenix tonight due to a family matter. Suns guard Devin Booker is disappointed he won’t get to face his former teammate, Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic tweets. “I hope everything is OK with his family first, but yeah, I would love a matchup with him,” Booker said.
- Jordan Goodwin won a training camp battle to earn a roster spot after being claimed off waivers by the Suns. Goodwin has been a steady contributor off the bench, averaging 7.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. “He just has a knack not only on offensive rebounds, but deflections. Any type of loose balls. Just has a hunger to get the basketball. That’s part of who he is, that’s part of what made him and that’s part of why we love him,” coach Jordan Ott said, per Rankin (Twitter link).
- Chris Paul evokes a wide range of reaction but The Athletic’s Zach Harper lays out his case of why the Clippers guard should be appreciated by NBA fans. The 12-time All-Star is retiring after the season.
DeRozan to Clippers is inevitable.
What ?? 40 yrs is Not Patient enough for him ?? He needs to shut that hole under his nose and do something, besides sit on his thumb and do Nothing !!
Rome wasn’t built in a day, but surely they had some measurable progress on the project after 15 or 20 years…. can the kings say the same?
For the past 18 months or so
Kings major asset collections are
Schroder, Westbrook, Lavine, Carter
1. Zach LaVine: LaVine is a major trade asset, but his high salary may require the Kings to attach other assets to move him.
2. Domantas Sabonis: Sabonis is a high-value player who could be moved for assets in a rebuild.
3. Malik Monk: Monk is another valuable asset, although his trade value may not be as high as some others due to his contract and performance.
4. Keon Ellis: His valuable contract and skillset make him a desirable trade chip, though he is a popular player who might be difficult to part with.
“Zach LaVine: LaVine is a major trade asset, but his high salary may require the Kings to attach other assets to move him.”
So that means LaVine is NOT a major trade asset. He is a liability in the biggest way possible. $49 million? Wow.
“Domantas Sabonis: Sabonis is a high-value player who could be moved for assets in a rebuild.”
Ok.
“Malik Monk: Monk is another valuable asset, although his trade value may not be as high as some others due to his contract and performance.”
Again, so that makes monk NOT a valuable asset. Nobody wants him and that contract. He is a liability, NOT an asset.
“Keon Ellis: His valuable contract and skillset make him a desirable trade chip, though he is a popular player who might be difficult to part with.”
The Kings don’t play Keon Ellis. They won’t let him “show or grow” lol
For the past 18 months or so
By comparison, Lakers have assets collections are
Luka – superstar
Ayton – 8 million a year
Smart – 5 million a year
Schroeder – average $15 million a year
Ayton + Smart = 13 million a year
Small market team versus large market team plus. Not only is LA big market, but it’s LA. Probably top of the list and history proves it.
The only way the kings can get back to the top is way they did it 20 years ago. Draft properly #1, sign a key free agent or two, and make smart trades.
Kings haven’t been able to draft properly. That will put a wrench into any bid for success.
OKC, the grizzlies when they were good, Rockets now, they draft well, Make a key trade or the proper free agent comes in and they’re on their way.
Starts with drafting properly and kings have never done that. I should know, the Warriors were crap drafters for 30 years in the 80s 90s And most of the 2000s. Charlotte too.
Three worst drafting teams of the last 30 years in the history of sports.
They’ve drafted perfectly fine, it’s the trades where they’ve been awful. They won’t be good again until vivek stops being involved
saying they’ve drafted “fine” is a bit of a reach
I nominate you for GM – for real 😊
I like Goodwin. Rooting for him to get a multi-year deal after this season
Perry and Former Kings Joe Dumars are basketball experts but they don’t know player trade value.
How did he offer Carter, Saric and 2 Seconds for Kuminga?
Lakers gave Ayton $16 million contract. How did he give Murray $140 million contract?
Are you saying you would’ve offered more for Jonathan Kuminga? That’s about what he’s worth right now lol.
I actually think the offer was Carter Monk and two seconds. Warriors already had Dario Šarić. They don’t want him again lol I think that was a made up story.
Goodwin and Gillispie have been so bad a$$ for Phx
Man Lebron if you just took a little bigger shave 2 yrs ago we woulda had him as our 15th guy currently- Just needed to shave off like 3 m total 1.5/yr ;(
Your comment reminds me of that comedian I’ve seen lately on YouTube and Facebook.
A$$ means bad, unless you say Bad A$$.., then it’s good. Lol.
Who are the 6 high salary players that are impacting his ability to turn this ship around? Sabonis and LaVine I get. Monk is at about 20 aav, wouldn’t classify that as “high” in today’s NBA. Seems like a very movable contract. Dennis is making 14m. We all know Demar will either be traded or cut so his cost to the Kings is either 0 or 10m.
The only other guy would be Murray and Perry is the one who made that deal?
The rome comment shows the disconnect between the franchise and the fans that has existed since Viveks honeymoon phase wore off. The fans know how bad this team is. The fans also know that many other terrible teams aren’t terrible forever.
We’re not expecting Perry to make a move that solves everything. But signing Russ and handcuffing the young guards on the roster, signing Keegan to a major deal he certainly hasn’t earned yet, and preaching patience to a fanbase who has done this song a dance for 2 decades are choices that fans who have seen how other teams have become competitive are not expecting.
Light the beam.
Well said.
Expecting DDR goes to the Lakers.. they can prolly do it got Kleber and Vincent, 2 expiring deals.
Bad owners you can’t trade away. Perry is not a guy I would want running things. He is a brownoser who only looks out for himself.
Kings problems stem from constantly changing things up. New players new coach new GM. You never commit to a core. Or to the draft. A market like theirs. They should have done what Thunder did ….. a long time ago. Full rebuild and stick to it.
Moving DeM to Clippers is a good start. DeM would want that. Now you can move LaVine where he belongs at the 2. Next year he is an expiring contract. So should be easier to move.
Brook Lopez and Bogdanovic >>> to Kings
DeM DeR >>>>>> to Clippers
Start there. Both Brook and Bogdan have team options next year. I would not give away Sabonis. You can get a good haul for him. You do it right.
Sabonis already has his plane ticket to Boston. They should pull the trigger on the Derozan move asap. Give LaVine 50 shots a game and see if he can trick anyone into buying low on him and try to get an extension done before he can take his player option. See if Houston will give you a 2nd rounder for Russ. Hope the lottery works in your favor.
I cannot express how much happier the fans will be if most of these things happen.
Full rebuild is ok. But you have to commit. You just can’t give players away. You need another Jerry West to help run things. I don’t know who that guy is today. You need a West type talent scout …….. I’m the Rockets I definitely give up a 2nd rs pick.
I’m available lol.