RealGM Analysis
After the 2010 Draft, I nicknamed the Kings the Antichrist version of the Kings and some of that has materialized during the sophomore season of Tyreke Evans and rookie season of DeMarcus Cousins. Evans and Cousins to combine to score 35.9 points per 36 minutes at a relatively inefficient rate, but that has to be looked at through the prism of how the majority of their offense comes entirely on their own accord.
Evans, to be reasonable, hasn't made the second-year improvement we were hoping to see. His eFG% has dropped from 47.3% to 43.3%, his assist/turnover ratio has gone the wrong way and he isn't drawing nearly as many fouls. We will need to wait until November to reserve judgment to see how big of an issue his injuries have truly been.
We haven't seen Cousins impose his will physically in the NBA on a consistent basis, falling into the trap of attempting too many jumpers. Once he gets more comfortable in the paint, his efficiency will increase substantially. We have seen bigs make a full 10% jump in eFG% from their rookie season and I would be more surprised if Cousins doesn't jump in that same way by year-three. A team that plays more intelligently and has better passers will help Cousins off the top without even accounting for his own improvement.
But as far as building blocks go, even though many feel they will ultimately be incompatible with building a winning team, Reke DMC is the NBA's most fascinating paragon of risk/reward. The Kings should be able to eventually build a top-15 offense simply out of the Evans/Cousins pick and roll and three perimeter shooters on the floor at all times.
Sacramento scores most efficiently in transition, or when there is productive movement in the halfcourt. As great as the Tyreke on five show can be at times, the Kings are 2-10 when he attempts 20 or more shots from the floor and the two losses were against New Jersey and Cleveland, so how about we just call it 0-10 and take it for what it is. In his ROY season, the Kings were 4-10 when he attempted 20 or more shots.
Two of Sacramento's biggest wins of the season came in January against the Nuggets and Blazers. Evans scored 27 on 18 shots from the floor and 26 on 16 shots and he also had 12 assists in the Denver game. These are the types of nights Evans will need to have on a regular basis as he evolves and the Kings have a better overall team.
The Kings do clearly need a point guard for the long-term, preferably one that is a spot-up machine. That point guard is almost certain to come from the draft, however, either Kyrie Irving or Kemba Walker.
Desperation Meter: The Kings have heaps of cap space and are unlikely to sacrifice it unless something extraordinary is presented.
I'm not sure there is a playoff team that wouldn't love to have Carl Landry for the final weeks of the season/postseason and since he is unlikely to re-sign with the Kings, they should look aggressively at moving him in case he signs elsewhere without a sign-and-trade. A trade of Landry to unload a contract, or pick up a future pick of some kind will likely be as far as Geoff Petrie goes as a follow-up to his Kevin Martin February 355 days ago.
Without question, every transaction Sacramento makes from here on out needs to be made through the prism of how to build around Evans and Cousins.
