2023 Sacramento Kings Predictions with Futures Odds and Expert NBA Picks
The Kings appeared in the postseason for the first time since 2006 last season, thanks to their 48-win season, which was good enough for the 3rd seed in the West. Can they replicate last year, or even push further for their first series win? Or will their Cinderella story prove to be nothing more than a flash in the pan among the Western Conference contenders?
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Sacramento Kings Offseason Recap
The Kings elected to run it back with their current lineup, which is very understandable considering the strides they made last season. They locked up Harrison Barnes and Domantas Sabonis to multi-year extensions and have a solid young core for years to come. Their top 9 minute loggers from last season are all back in a Kings uniform. And besides a few depth signings like JaVale McGee, the Kings chose not to open up the checkbook for any significant NBA level reinforcements.
However, they did look to the Euroleague for talent, and found Sasha Vezenkov. Vezenkov joined the NBA after playing the early stages of his career in the Euroleague and has the potential to make an impact. While he won’t be grabbing headlines from the main media sources, Vezenkov can certainly inject himself into the rotation and get meaningful minutes for the Kings. His 17.6 PPG in the Euroleague led the league, and adding him into the best offensive unit in the league will not be difficult. The 28-year-old is a natural born scorer, but lacks the physical qualities to be an NBA star. However, once he gets accustomed to the league’s brand of basketball, he will be a very effective member of the Kings squad.
Sacramento Kings Season Expectations
The ‘Beam’ was lit last season, and the desperate Kings fan base will be eager to see if their squad can exceed expectations once again. They soared past their 34.5-game win total with a record of 48-34 and are expected to have another solid year, with a season long win total of 44.5. There is no doubt the Kings can score, and you’d be hard pressed to find a more clutch player in the league than De’Aaron Fox. However, their defense remains an issue. The 118.1 PPG they allowed last season ranked 26th in the league, and the highest among playoff teams. While there is no doubt they can score, highlighted by their league leading 120.7 PPG, if they expect to make a deep playoff run, they will need to consistently limit their opposition, as there are a plethora of talented scorers lining up across from them on a nightly basis.
Fox is the leader of this team, posting a career best 25 PPG last season and winning the inaugural ‘clutch player of the year’ award in the process. His ability to draw in defenders, then either drive to the hoop or find the open man, all with his head up, makes him an excellent cornerstone for the franchise moving forward. A statline of 25 PPG with 6.1 Assists is not easy to come by, and we’ll see the season hinge on whether or not he can replicate last season’s play. Sabonis, Kevin Huerter, and Harrison Barnes are great role players, but none of them possess the same level of talent Fox does.
Sacramento Kings Schedule Breakdown
The Kings play 10 of their first 15 games away from Sacramento, and we will learn a lot from this opening span. If the Kings can start the year off with at least 8 wins in their first 15, considering the opposition and venues, that would be viewed as success. The Kings follow it up with one of the longest homestands in the league, as they play 10 of their next 11 at home, with a quick trip to LA against the Clippers being their only road game in a month.
Sacramento Kings Odds
The Kings are expected to make just their second playoff appearance since 2006 and are -200 to secure a postseason berth. A win total of 44.5 wins feels a little high. However, considering they won 48 games last season, it makes sense. In the in-season tournament, they have a wide-open group, as either the Warriors, Timberwolves, or Thunder could all realistically finish atop Group C (Sorry Spurs fans). At +200 odds, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to place a wager on the Kings, one of the best regular season teams from last year, to usurp the Warriors and co. in the tournament games. In the playoffs, the Kings are a longshot to do anything meaningful, as they are +2500 to win the West and +4000 to win the championship.
The Kings managed to stay completely healthy last year and were able to take advantage of other teams’ misfortune. Unless they have another clean bill of health, it would be no surprise to see the Kings drop into the play-in tournament by the season's end.
Sacramento Kings 2023-24 Season Predictions
While I don’t think the Kings will get sent back to the Western Conference basement, I don’t think they’ll be nearly as successful as last season. Their empty hospital bill, timely 3-point shooting, and Fox’s clutch shots allowed them to win regular season games they shouldn’t have, and they won’t be as lucky this season. They are +150 to participate in the play-in tournament. And considering I expect them to go an even 41-41, that is a great wager. Expectations are understandably high in Sacramento, but they lack the defensive lockdown abilities to prey on their opponents once again. They shot the second best FG% last season, and will see this mark tick downwards, and the wins to fall with it. A record of 41-41 would’ve been a blessing for Kings fan’s just one season ago, and they’ll learn the hard way it takes more than one good season to build a legitimate championship contender. A .500 record awaits, cashing the Under 44.5 wins and the +150 bet on their play-in tournament participation in the process.
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