PG: Darren Collison/Ray McCallum/David Stockton
SG: Ben McLemore/Nik Stauskas
SF: Rudy Gay
PF: Jason Thompson/Carl Landry/Eric Moreland
C: DeMarcus Cousins
2015 Free Agents
F Derrick Williams (RFA)
F Omri Casspi
PF Reggie Evans
C Ryan Hollins
PG Andre Miller
2015 Draft Picks
1-6
Team Needs
In some ways, the Kings have a nice young core to begin building upon, yet because DeMarcus Cousins is involved, that foundation could crumble at any minute. Success will be built around Cousins and finding players to fit around him is crucial. Sacramento has decent makings of a supporting cast; Rudy Gay is perpetually underrated because people want to focus on his flaws, but there aren't many better small forwards in the league. Ben McLemore's offense and defense both took a step forward last season and he should continue to develop into an above-average two way player. Nik Stauskas undoubtedly struggled as a rookie, but his shooting and ball skills are plus for a wing. Beyond that, Darren Collison and Jason Thompson are solid, but they are miscast as a starters. There positions, point guard and power forward are where Sacramento can improve the most. Perhaps the best fix to power forward is moving Rudy Gay there full time, where he has proved to be a much more efficient scorer.
Potential Fits
If PG Emmanuel Mudiay is available, he is exactly the kind of player Sacramento needs, a second potential star that Cousins would enjoy playing with because of his intensity and playmaking abilities. If Mudiay is off the board, Sacramento should look at wings Stanley Johnson of Arizona, Justise Winslow of Duke, and Croatian Mario Hezonja if they want to move Gay to power forward. All three can make shots and should be good at creating space for Cousins to operate, while Johnson and Winslow bring versatile, physical defense, Hezonja has the chops to be more of a go-to scorer. Latvian power forward Kristaps Porzingis' ability to shoot and block shots would be a excellent fit next Cousins, but I don't think Sacramento has the patience to wait a year or two for him to be ready to play starters minutes. If they wish to go off the board a bit, Wisconsin's PF Frank Kaminsky is an excellent shooter, passer, and ball-handler, but a Cousins/Kaminsky frontline could have defensive issues. One persistent rumor is that the Kings, namely Cousins himself, really want Kentucky C Willie Cauley-Stein to play power forward. While he would certainly improve Sacramento's defense, I would really worry about the offensive pressure it would put on Gay at small forward. It could easily turn him back to the low efficiency that plagued him in Memphis and Toronto.
Mock Draft
6. Emmanuel Mudiay, PG, Guandong
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