Starting 5: PG: Darius Acuff Jr. SG: Zach Lavine SF: DeAndre Hunter PF: Keegan Murray C: Domantas Sabonis

Bench: Malik Monk, Emanuel Sharp, Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban, Precious Achiuwa, Maxime Raynaud, Dylan Cardwell

The Kings will play a bit faster than usual with Darius Acuff but they won’t be one of the fastest in the league. Domantas Sabonis will most likely to most of the initiating from the post to give Darius Acuff time to adjust to the NBA. All 4 guards and forwards will be expected to move off the ball to create open three point looks. Malik Monk or Emanuel Sharp may be brought off the bench to get more playmaking at the 1. Nique Clifford may start over Zach Lavine or in place of him for injury. However, I fully expect Lavine to be waived or traded at the deadline so Clifford will start then. Precious Achiuwa, Maxime Raynaud, and Cardwell will be utilized as some high energy bigs off the bench, Maxime Raynaud may even start some if Sabonis is traded or injured.

Scott Perry says the Kings will be an aggressive defense but Deandre Hunter is the only good defender in the starting lineup. Both Zach Lavine and Sabonis lack the defensive work ethic and Darius Acuff showed in college that he is a below average defender. This means the Kings will highly rely on young energy off the bench to play aggressive defense and make plays. Deandre Hunter will be the main on-ball defender with Keegan Murray acting as a help defender on the most threatening forward. However, Acuff and Lavine both lack a defensive work ethic and will have to be hidden on lesser offensive players. Sabonis is not an elite defender but he is an underrated rim protector who can stop some drives. Emanuel Sharp and Nique Clifford will be very important on-ball defenders who can come off the bench. Dylan Cardwell and Precious Achiuwa may be used as small-ball centers who can protect the rim on defense.

Projected Wins: 19 The Kings will be one of if not the worst team in the NBA next season. The veteran scoring of Lavine and Sabonis will win them a few games. I fully expect Lavine to be gone and Sabonis to have a phantom injury at the end of the season and the Kings to be playing random G League guys. Since they own their own pick, they will most likely be tanking. The new lottery odds may discourage some but the Kings will still struggle to win.