The most surprising player from each NBA team this season
By Connor Learn
Sacramento Kings: Arron Afflalo
The Sacramento Kings, despite a questionable draft night to some, sought stability this off-season. Armed with cap room, they brought in steady veterans to play roles. Anthony Tolliver, Garrett Temple, and even Matt Barnes and Ty Lawson fit this description with their play. They brought in one free agent who was assumed to be a starter — Arron Afflalo.
Signing Afflalo to a two-year, $25 million dollar deal was supposed to be a move that helped the Kings win. The 31-year-old wing has provided steady play as a starter for most carer; with averages of 11.4 points across his ten seasons. Despite that, Afflalo is turning in the worst season since he was in his early twenties. He has only averaged 8.0 points per game and lost his starting role for a period this season. Defensively, he hasn’t played at the level he once did.
Losing Rudy Gay for the season was a sting to a team with playoff aspirations. Criticism of DeMarcus Cousins and the Kings organization become more frequent and the odds of Cousins leaving rises with each season that they fail to make it. Despite another All-Star season from Cousins, Sacramento is 19-31 and 11th in the West. Their wing scoring has suffered since they lost Gay, and Afflalo hasn’t proven to be an answer there. To date, his tenure with the Kings has been disappointing.