3-kings who have fallen short of expectations…

The NBA is frequently predicated on gambling. In the hopes that a player can live up to expectations, teams take a gamble on them when they draft, trade for, and sign them.

When they sent Tyrese Haliburton to acquire Domantas Sabonis, the Kings took a chance on him. It was successful. They took a chance on Keegan Murray in the 2022 NBA Draft. A lot of people thought that Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr., and Jaden Ivey would be the top four players in the draft.

Nevertheless, the Kings gambled wisely by selecting Keegan Murray fourth. Murray has been fantastic for the Kings, performing above and beyond on the court.

But that isn’t always the case. Let’s examine three Kings who haven’t lived up to the hype thus far.

JaVale McGee

JaVale McGee is playing admirably for a 35-year-old, and he has had some excellent games as a King. He is, however, falling short of expectations at the same time.

Mike Brown is familiar with McGee from their time together on the Warriors and is aware of the seasoned leadership and championship background he offers. Although the Kings signed him over the summer, they expected more. That’s why it’s valuable.

The Kings require an improvement over Alex Len in terms of size and rim protection. He hasn’t been that yet. Rather, he is barely getting 10 minutes a game on average, and Mike Brown frequently chooses to go with Trey Lyles instead.

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Kings player who should lose minutes

After a sluggish start to the season, the Sacramento Kings are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference and are back on track. De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, who will both probably be chosen for the All-Star Game in February, continue to lead the Kings’ outstanding play. Malik Monk, Kevin Huerter, and Keegan Murray are all doing well in their roles.

With a similar group of guys from the previous season, the Kings are counting on continuity, and it has proven to be a winning formula. The ongoing debate regarding Sacramento’s roster construction centers on the absence of a third star to balance out Fox and Sabonis. Although names like Zach LaVine, Pascal Siakam, and OG Anunoby have been mentioned, nothing concrete is happening just yet. Under head coach Mike Brown, one player who might be traded is also the one who needs to cut down on playing time.

Harrison Barnes has been a staple in Mike Brown’s starting lineup, but he has often been the man rumored to move if a blockbuster deal occurs in Sacramento. Even if Barnes has been producing adequate numbers with Sacramento, especially in terms of shooting efficiency (over 40% from 3-point range), his overall production has dipped to 11.8 points per game. That’s his lowest mark since he was a member of the Golden State Warriors.

Making a trade for an upgrade can help Barnes’ standing in the starting lineup. De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and Keegan Murray appear to be a long-term group, so either Barnes, Kevin Huerter, or both of them are disposable assets in a big trade.

It has not been reported that Sacramento is nearing any sort of deal, but it is also time for Brown to pull back on Barnes’ minutes a bit. He is playing over 30 minutes a night, which is a ton for someone whose playing time dropped immensely in the 2023 playoffs. There were crucial contests in which Sacramento decided to go small with three guards, which were Fox, Huerter, and Monk.

The value of Barnes is a bit questionable for some organizations, but there should be a squad willing to pounce on the opportunity, especially because he signed a three-year, $54 million contract in the offseason. Barnes’ contract is not untradable, and the length of the deal gives the receiving team leverage to experiment with possible combinations to maximize his talent.

The Kings find it difficult to accept Barnes’ inconsistent play, even in games where he performs well. Barnes has fallen short of double digits in scoring in a number of games in December. Therefore, rather than going after a player who is more talented but inconsistent than they had hoped, their front office should focus more on finding a player who fits their timeline and system. These guys should get more playing time than Barnes, so even the shooting guard rotation of Huerter and Monk can be changed.

Barnes’ defensive prowess is what elevates his playing time a tad bit because many of the Kings’ players are subpar when it comes to that end of the court. Even if that is the case, Sacramento must find a way to fortify their roster in order to take the next step in the tough Western Conference.