Fansided

5 reasons the Sacramento Kings can make the playoffs

By John Buhler

Dec 28, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks up during a Portland Trail Blazers free throw in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Sacramento Kings forward DeMarcus Cousins (15) looks up during a Portland Trail Blazers free throw in the second half at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 4, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) shoots a free throw during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Sacramento Kings forward Rudy Gay (8) shoots a free throw during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Rudy Gay

While he may hate playing for the Kings, small forward Rudy Gay is massively important for Sacramento’s 2017 Western Conference Playoff chances for so many reasons.

Gay can create his own shot and is a guaranteed 15 to 20 points per game in the Kings starting lineup. He can be a go-to guy in crunch time scenarios to give the Kings lift late in games. His stock continues to rise as an excellent complementary player in the NBA and can score from all over the floor. He is especially lethal in the mid-range.

Gay isn’t flashy, but is a model of consistency in a highly dysfunctional Kings organization. He once called the organization Basketball Hell, but Gay is playing great in the final year of his contract. Gay may want out of town, but his high-level of play only benefits the Kings’ playoff chances.

At the NBA trade deadline, Gay might be the biggest name to be moved. He will have to go to a team he’ll likely re-up with in 2017 NBA free agency, but the Kings could garner a great package in return. They might get a first-round pick and two solid rotational players to keep the machine going in Sacramento towards summer playoff basketball.

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