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NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s best case scenario

By John Hugar

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Marvin Bagley III of the Sacramento Kings poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
TARRYTOWN, NY – AUGUST 12: Marvin Bagley III of the Sacramento Kings poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot at MSG Training Center on August 12, 2018 in Tarrytown, New York.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Sacramento Kings

The Kings have been bad for so long that the idea of them being good sounds absurd at this point. That being said, if you squint hard enough, you can find some hope. The Kings were scrutinized for taking Duke’s Marvin Bagley III over Luka Doncic, but the fact is, he was considered to be as much of a sure thing as Deandre Ayton, and it’s quite possible that the pick is being viewed in a negative lens purely due to the recent history of poor drafting by the Kings. Basically, just because they’ve gotten it wrong before just mean they’re destined to get it wrong this time, too.

Indeed, if we’re looking at how many strides the Kings can make this year, the first ingredient would be Bagley looking more like Jayson Tatum than Jahlil Okafor. That being said, the sophomore campaign of De’Aaron Fox is key here as well. While rookie point guards — especially one-and-dones joining poor teams — can be forgiven for taking their lumps, it was honestly shocking how ineffective he was last year, looking nothing like the relentless scorer he was in his lone season at Kentucky. It feels like Fox has nowhere to go but up.

Let’s be honest, the Kings aren’t going to be good this year in terms of wins and losses, but this still has a chance to be their most successful season in years. The Kings have been botching the lottery for years, but Bagley could be their most talented player since DeMarcus Cousins left town. If he can have an impact right away, and Fox can recover from his disappointing rookie year, and Buddy Hield — probably their best shooter now — can make a leap in year three, this team can actually have a solid young core, and break the cycle of misery that’s been haunting Sactown for over a decade now.