NBA Power Rankings: One reason every team can be optimistic

By Ian Levy | Dec 18, 2018

BROOKLYN, NY - DECEMBER 3: Collin Sexton #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball against the Brooklyn Nets on December 3, 2018 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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The Sacramento Kings’ Buddy Hield celebrates with teammate Bogdan Bogdanovic (8) during action against the Golden State Warriors at the Golden One Center in Sacramento, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. The Warriors won, 130-125. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/TNS via Getty Images) /

Previous: 20th. sacramento Kings. 15. team. 84. . 16-14

The Sacramento Kings are still a long way from where they would like to be but the pieces are finally starting to take shape. De’Aaron Fox is averaging 17.9 points, 7.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, shooting 47.7 percent from the field and 38.7 percent on 3s, and making himself a dark horse All-Star and Most Improved Player candidate. Next to him, Buddy Hield is hitting 42.9 percent of his 3s and averaging 19.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

Bogdan Bogdanovic and Willie Cauley-Stein are both still young and looking like viable rotation pieces. With Marvin Bagley and Harry Giles still lingering and coming along slowly they have upside to be developed. They’ll almost certainly be handing off their first-round pick to the Celtics this summer but the young talent is in place to legitimately consider this a team on the rise.

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