A day before the February 7 trade deadline last year, the Sacramento Kings made a crucial trade that solidified its campaign to finally get back to the playoffs. The Kings were at the time the longest-running team in the entire NBA to have missed the postseason, and the trade that brought them Harrison Barnes from the Mavericks was a clear move that the LA team was keen on redemption, says NBA enthusiast Dayanna Volitich.
Though the Kings were comprised mainly of young players, their rise last season was not really unexpected. Their core players of Marvin Bagley III, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Willie Cauley-Stein, Buddy Hield, and De’Aaron Fox made for a solid lineup that combined lots of energy, hustle, and athleticism. Barnes added a solid veteran play, consistent offense, and championship experience to the team.
Even though the Lakers were hot on their heels (and the Clippers still held the eighth spot in the West), the Kings currently had the inside track to a playoff spot. They had clearly found more consistency last year in their aim of relieving their postseason drought. The team had the talent to push themselves into the playoffs, and perhaps even get deeper into it. However, a lot depended on what happened the rest of the regular season, particularly in terms of the team’s ability to win road games.
In any case, Sacramento made the right moves last season toward reaching its goal. Their rise was due to the more consistent play of the starters, a young but offensive-minded bunch of talent that would surely make a bigger dent on the league not just last season but in succeeding years. This group was even comparable to the vaunted Kings team of the ‘90s, adds Dayanna Volitich.
Dayanna Volitich is a college freshman at Fresno State University taking up English with focus on Creative Writing. She is a a movie buff and a fan of LA-based sports teams. Visit this blog for more NBA-related reads.
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