SN&R's official Sacramento Kings season preview

It’s media day and Coach George Karl sits on a stool, his back against a black promotional banner inside the Sacramento Kings practice facility. Reporters' point boom mics, handheld recorders and an obsidian void of video cameras at his face. It's an interrogation by a local media that wants to know more on the status of his relationship with all-star center DeMarcus Cousins, after a rocky offseason. Unfortunately, that's just one concern in a crab barrel of questions for a franchise that just once would like to make SportsCenter instead of the tabloids.

For a while now, the Kings, from the roster to the front office, have been musical chairs on ice. Everyone responsible for last season’s meltdown is presumably gone. Former King Vlade Divac was hired as top brass to restore order. His familiar face was at the very least a nostalgic win for a franchise in need of some positive spin.

But then Karl’s declaration this summer that “no player is untradeable” threw oil on the ice. A whirlwind of unfounded rumors, and threats of Karl’s firing, ensued. Peak chaos was Cousins’ emoji tweet—tall grass fronds, snake, tall grass fronds, an impressionistic take on Karl.

Somehow, Divac cleaned up the entire mess—wearing a hard hat, no less—and here we are on media day with Karl. A Kings spokesperson steps in and says “final question.” Divac himself enters the journo-scrum and asks Karl the big one: “Coach, are they gonna make the playoffs?”

To which Karl playfully fires back: “I feel good about that challenge, but the puzzle hasn’t been put together yet.

“You just threw all these pieces on the table.”

The repartee plays with such gusto it feels rehearsed. But it goes to the heart: Can the Kings make the playoffs?

Fans’ unwavering optimism, despite a decade-long playoff drought, is at once endearing and depressing. They’re hungry. But insiders are more guarded about the team’s chances. Former Kings columnist for The Sacramento Bee Marty McNeal says any forecasts are conjecture. “And I ain’t a speculative guy. I’ll wait and see,” he told SN&R. Even Kings TV color commentator Jerry Reynolds is prudent: “I’m cautiously optimistic.”

But this is SN&R; ain’t no pussy-footing here. We are keeping tabs on the Vegas odds, because if the Kings prediction remains at 30.5 wins this season, we’re taking a personal day to drive to Nevada.

It’s also the farewell season at Arco Arena—err, Power Balance, err Sleep Train—and the Golden 1 Center’s imminent arrival downtown means the team has to get good again. If the Kings are going to keep this oil spill on ice from igniting in flames, SN&R must tackle some of the big questions going into opening night tip off. Here are 10:

He can put on a hard hat and shut down corrosive rumors of trading Cousins or firing Karl, but his flavorful aplomb and deftness at firefighting are but peripheral to the core skills needed for the job.

The consensus is Divac keeps good company. He held onto Mike Bratz as an assistant general manager despite him being a hire of his predecessor, a widely supported move. He brought in sabermetrician Roland Beech as the vice president of basketball strategy and data science. Beech is the kind of hire that only the nerdiest of hoops analysts might value, but his resume includes time on the coaching staff during the Dallas Mavericks' championship run.

SN&R spoke to a few local reporters that cover the Kings, and the early Divac report card by insiders like James Ham, of Comcast SportsNet, and writer Akis Yerocostas, of Sactown Royalty, amounts to high points for charisma and magnetism. Ham even went so far as to declare Divac's summer as “a better offseason than any other GM the Kings have had in the last decade.”

Kings broadcaster Jerry Reynolds sees Divac as a natural leader who's equipped to learn on the job. He's patient and egoless and will defer when required.

Bee columnist Ailene Voisin's take is concise: “Vlade knows what he doesn't know.” To her, his international résumé is integral in making the team better. “We were the dominant franchise internationally,” she said of his player tenure with the Kings. Having him in a GM role offers our small market stronger, proactive international scouting.

Our take? The Golden 1 Center need to tweak its construction blueprint to include more smoking patios for Divac to satisfy those nicotine cravings.

Karl was stern in his expectations during media day: “We demand to be a winning team. We demand to be a serious, accountable team.”

There are championship rings on this roster; when was the last time the Kings could say that? Barring a locker-room implosion of egos that ignites a fire sale at the trade deadline, or injuries that sideline our starting five in business suits, the Kings on paper appear to be a sneaky threat.

“That's an impressive leap for a team that hasn't won 30 games since 2007,” Yerocostas said.

Ham's of the opinion that last year's team was a 37-win caliber roster—with coaching changes, illness and injuries accounting for the missed mark. He sees this year's as well constructed, and therefore capable of 40 wins without a doubt. Sentiments echoed by Reynolds and Yerocostas.

“The added depth the Kings acquired this summer, and more familiarity with George Karl's system, will help propel this team to a .500-or-better record,” Yerocostas said.

It being enough to break the playoff drought depends on the health and volatility of eighth-seed competitors like the Suns, Jazz, Pelicans and Mavericks. The Kings potential will at the very least raise the stakes in April and ignite some high drama down to the wire.

But 42 wins is the type of serious, accountable play rewarded with a playoff berth—in the Eastern Conference. Is it too late to move to Virginia Beach?

Fans and insiders alike walk on eggshells when it comes to the controversial acquisition of veteran point guard Rondo.

Yerocostas noted that the Kings have a reputable history of retaining free agents. It's led to jerseys retired in the rafters, and kept Rudy Gay on the roster. Sacramento is a Never Never Land for crestfallen superstars in need of a second chance.

But Reynolds put a twist on Rondo leaving, as he's wont to do, saying we should hope to have that problem. “I'd rather have him play so well that a bunch of teams are trying to get him, than at the end of the year nobody wants him.”

Flashes of vintage Rondo wowed fans at the preseason home matchup against San Antonio. He exited the game after a dominant third quarter two rebounds and four points shy of a triple-double. It's the type of play that confirms Cousins' declaration that Rondo is a “flat-out genius on the court.” It also had Ham invoking the 2001 Kings roster.

“He has an ability to get people open in a way that the Kings haven't had since Jason Williams probably,” Ham said.

Rondo has also said all the right things so far. Things like he's here to play with the best big man in the league. But the point guard has also trolled our anxiety, because he's well aware of those eggshells. His dry humor made it appear as though an off-court meltdown with Karl would arrive before the season opener. Thankfully, it was a false alarm. Rondo must be a big Andy Kaufman fan.

But what if next time Rondo isn't kidding? That will come down to chemistry and the win column. Hopefully that $27.7 million in cap space next season is an added carrot to keep Rondo around.

Cousins wants to be MVP. But how to get there? The consensus is simple: win first.

Karl has already graded his starting center for delivering an A+ summer, noting he's less that problem child of preceding reputation. “I see a different player,” Karl said at media day. “I see a different substance of character.”

Rondo confirmed the same: “He can control the game in so many different areas and, not to put any pressure on him, but I expect him to be the best big man in the game.”

Does that translate to leadership? It certainly needs to. Statistics show last year Cousins was more dominant post-technical foul—but playing angry is not MVP material. His on-court demeanor, according to Yerocostas, is a defining setback in the conversation. “He needs to become a better and more trusting teammate, and he can't let frustrations with officials or other players affect his game,” he said.

The big man is clearly applying the “aim for the stars and at worst land on the moon” philosophy this season. And the Kings will need an MVP-worthy year from Cousins just to finagle an eighth seed.

There's no such thing as an MVP who won 29 games.

Perhaps former Bee writer McNeal said it best: “The fuck is a team mom?”

The topic was most notably, albeit suggestively, breached on a CowbellKingdom.com podcast when Ham, in his final episode, asked Lieberman if her motherly instincts factor into her interactions with the players.

“I am a mom. I am a woman. It's my natural instinct to nurture somebody and put my arm around them,” Lieberman responded. “Men are more vulnerable to show if something is bothering them to us because they won't be judged. They'll just be loved. … The bonus here is I can coach the game and I can teach the game.”

Anyway, when it comes to glass ceilings, Lieberman breaks them like Shaquille O'Neal breaks backboards.

The Kings' Reynolds described her as the Pistol Pete of her time. She played at a level that was ahead of everyone else in her era. The world is still catching up with Lieberman.

Is anyone saying she's team mom? That's an emphatic hell no, no matter who you ask.

Voisin noted it's not about media reaction; what matters is player reaction. “They act like it's not a big deal having her there. That's the most important element. At practice she's got droopy, baggy shorts, a sweaty T-shirt and hair. She looks like any other NBA coach after good practice.”

Only the second woman to hold an NBA coaching position, her role has yet to be defined, but many take notice that she's embraced by the team without question. She's definitely reaching the players on a personable level that's unlike her male counterparts on staff.

“She's won at every level and she's already coached men,” Voisin said. “That gives her a huge advantage over any woman coming into the NBA.”

Of the lottery picks the Kings have obtained during their crummy run in the Western Conference for nine seasons, only two remain: Cousins and Ben McLemore. Reynolds philosophy is be patient with young players—but not forever.

Reynolds also says weaker teams tend to keep their first-round picks. Well, we've moved many and we're still waiting to be considered a strong team.

This year, the Kings selected Willie Cauley-Stein with the sixth pick in the draft. Already, the center is turning heads with his preseason minutes and general adaptability to the rigmarole of professional basketball. Yerocostas loved this pick in June and continues to sing praise.

“He is the most polished rookie I've seen in a Kings uniform in a long time and yet he still has a lot of things he can improve, which speaks to his potential,” he said.

Karl is notorious for limiting minutes of young players, but Cauley-Stein's been so much better than advertised at rebounding and defending that the old coach has suggested changing his tune. It's worth noting Karl expects far more defense this season, and Cauley-Stein flat out loves himself some defense.

There were some bad picks in the past (Jimmer Fredette, Thomas Robinson) that proved tough to shed. We also traded a rookie for cash once (Robinson). But that was one of the final Maloof goofs before the boys sold the farm. Cauley-Stein is making us look smart for once. That alone seems like a prospect worth coveting.

As Ham put it: “He's 7 feet tall. He's got a 9-foot-3-inch standing reach. He's got a 42-inch vert. That tells me that he can almost touch 13 feet. He's a freakish athlete that league hasn't seen in a long time in the post.”

Third-year shooting guard McLemore gained 12 pounds of what looks to be pure muscle in the off-season. Ask any insider, it's widely understood McLemore is a hard worker. No one is calling into question his ambition to up for consideration as Most Improved Player of the year.

Last year's winner was Chicago Bulls' Jimmy Butler, who stepped in as a starter for the injured Luol Deng in 2013 and never looked back. Butler recorded career numbers across the board and earned his first All-Star appearance.

The Kings already picked up the option on McLemore's fourth year of his rookie contract. Smart move considering the tremendous strides he made while enduring three coaches with different systems in a single season. He doesn't have to play for a contract and he started all 82 games last season—but early Most Improved chatter has been followed by timid preseason performances. Third seasons are when players tend to define their worth in the league.

Voisin says that, when it comes to shooting mechanics, McLemore is a marvel specimen. “His form is beautiful, but it's got to go in,” she said. “He's got to convert more and get to the foul line.”

He's not a combo-guard like Collison, so his off-ball play needs to encourage honest defense that creates floor spacing for Rondo's playmaking. “Rondo is basically a nonthreat to the perimeter. If Ben is erratic, if he's not not moving without the ball, not cutting, and attacking the basket, it raises a lot of questions. You're basically playing five against three,” she said.

When it comes to McLemore's defense, Reynolds will tell you that “if you base anything off preseason, then you're an idiot.” So, the young guard will need to be a shutdown defender to keep James Anderson off his heels, a lights-out shooter to keep Marco Belinelli at bay and have crunch-time smarts to stay on the court in the fourth quarter.

In a post-game interview McLemore addressed every shortcoming here, proving the young man's hard work is matched with self-awareness. By 10 games in, we'll know whether McLemore is delivering a Most Improved-worthy season—or ‘za for Pizza Guys.

Veteran forward and off-season acquisition Caron Butler wrote an autobiography and actually titled it Tuff Juice. Don't try to take this literally; it's not Butler's recipe book for how to make a tasty smoothie from volcanic rock. (Seriously, that's what tuff is.) So what the hell is tuff juice, Caron?

We asked a bunch of insiders to help define it, and the only answer worth sharing comes from Yerocostas of Sactown Royalty: “Tuff Juice is what Vlade drinks to curb his nicotine habit.”

McNeal's philosophy is you can never have too much toughness. But it's unlikely 13-year veteran Butler will play a major role. So who's making us tough?

“The one thing this team lacks is thick skin,” said Ham. “They're going to face scrutiny. They'll have time where the wheels fall off the bus and they lose three or four games. If they can pull themselves together and get through those times as a team, they'll be just fine.”

Karl is 64 years old. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005. In 2006, he recorded his 800th career win as a coach. Four years later, he's diagnosed with neck and throat cancer. He beat that, and became one of seven coaches in history to win 1,000 games. Karl is 13 wins shy of surpassing Phil Jackson as the fifth most winningest coach of all time. In two seasons, he could catch Pat Riley and Jerry Sloan. This is likely his last stop as long as Vivek trusts in Divac. It's his last stop as long as Cousins isn't provoked again to emoji-art tweets. It's his last stop as long as Rondo's complaints are flip.

“I don't know if Karl will be with this team long enough to get us to the promised land, but I could see him having some successful seasons before finally retiring and possibly grooming a successor,” Yerocostas said.

It's worth noting Karl's entire coaching career was lived out in small markets like Sacramento. He took the Milwaukee Bucks to the playoffs, narrowly missed championships in Seattle and never missed the playoffs in Denver despite Carmelo Anthony's shot chart. “Wherever George goes, George wins,” Voisin said. “It was ‘88 the last time he had a team finish sub-.500. That's an amazing run of 22 years. And he's had very, very different teams.”

At media day, Divac told a story of Karl writing the names of Cousins, McLemore and Gay on a white board, then saying, “Vlade, you need to fill in [the holes].” Three names on a 15-man roster makes for a lot of holes to fill. It's not just about high-profile signings, either; there can't be square pegs in round holes. Translation: We need better perimeter shooting and defense.

Ham thinks Divac supplied the goods. “He brought in a lot of talent, he brought in winners, he brought in experience at every position. He's filled all the little holes on this roster. It's a well-constructed team,” he said.

Expectations are high. Lieberman predicted a playoff-caliber team on the Cowbell Kingdom podcast. At media day, Cousins said his goal was “to make the playoffs. We're extremely talented this year and so we have a chance to surprise people.”

McNeal thinks the Kings have enough talent to play with any team in the league. “That hasn't been the case in quite a few years.”

Karl is rightfully diplomatic: “The challenge of us being a winning team is the first step. I think we'll become that. Then, of course, the next challenge is to make the playoffs.”

His track record suggests great possibilities. He took ragtag Bucks and Nuggets teams to the playoffs. Shouldn't he fare better with an MVP-caliber center, a healthy premiere playmaker in Rondo, Gay playing his most aggressive ball in years and a deep roster of defenders and perimeter shooters?

Divac admits it looks good on paper, but the court is where it matters. “We want to make sure we say thank you to an arena that hosted this franchise for a long time,” he said.

There would be no better way to end the Kings' Natomas chapter than to prolong it an extra month.