Restoring the Roar: A Preview of the 2010-11 Sacramento Kings

This time last year, the Sacramento Kings were coming off of a league worst 17 victories, were trotting out an opening day lineup of then unknown Tyreke Evans, Kevin Martin, Jason Thompson, Desmond Mason and Sean May, and featured a new head coach who hadn't roamed the sidelines since 2000-01.

What a difference a year makes. The 2009-10 season saw an eight-game improvement in the standings for Sacramento, a Rookie of the Year award recipient in standout guard Tyreke Evans, as well as the midseason acquisition of a legitimate post threat in Carl Landry via trade. The Kings dealt Spencer Hawes and Andres Nocioni to Philadelphia in exchange for Samuel Dalembert to address a longtime issue for this franchise. A center who can and will contest shots in the paint, and someone who can rebound in traffic.

Despite a boatload of cap space, management determined it best to stand pat with their considerable young talent and build through the draft. In late June, the Kings called upon two true freshmen centers in the NBA Draft.

With the fifth pick, Sacramento called on Kentucky's DeMarcus Cousins to help revitalize this once proud franchise. Considered by many the most talented of all prospects, Cousins is expected to contribute as a post presence offensively from day one. DeMarcus slipped to fifth due to concerns over his immaturity and attitude. Those issues will be something to watch keenly throughout the year, but if he can keep his head on straight the sky is the limit for this gifted big man.

Additionally, the Kings pegged Hassan Whiteside of Marshall with their second-round selection. Hassan is a project at this point, but his athleticism and shot-blocking ability easily warranted his drafting.

Over the summer, the Kings refrained from making splashy moves, just solid ones. They added veteran swingman Antoine Wright, who'll contend for minutes at the shooting guard and small forward positions. Five-year pro Luther Head was signed and will likely make the final cut. His stellar three-point shooting will help space the floor. And after years of solid play in the NBDL, Eugene 'Pooh' Jeter gets his first real opportunity to be an NBA player. Jeter is a speedy playmaker who could serve as the team's second-string point guard.

The Sacramento Kings come into 2010-11 with a renewed sense of confidence and a roster loaded with talent. For the first time in years, the Sacramento Kings truly have a face of the franchise. Tyreke Evans, fresh off earning the franchise's first Rookie of the Year trophy during the Sacramento era, will look to take his game to the next level. Evans spent an appreciable amount of time on the improvement of his mid-range and three-point shot over the summer, and just like last year, the offense will again run through the ability and creativity of Tyreke Evans.

Beno Udrih figures to start alongside Evans in the backcourt, where the two essentially divvy up the duties and responsibilities of the point guard and shooting guard positions. With Beno's ability to play on or off the ball, and his adept shooting touch, he is an ideal candidate to start alongside Tyreke Evans. Udrih is coming off of a very successful season, where he was third in the NBA amongst guards in field goal percentage.

An extremely heated competition between Omri Casspi, Donte Greene and newcomer Marcus Landry is underway for the rights to the starting small forward spot. A season ago, Casspi started 31 times compared to Greene's 50 starts. Omri quickly earned the role as the starter early on, but it is believed that he hit the rookie wall. Casspi found the NBA's marathon 82-game schedule to be quite daunting and grew tired as the year wore on.

Greene impressed many with his improved perimeter shooting and his versatility to play (and defend) the small forward and power forward positions. Not uncommon for a young player by any means, Greene, however, was marred with inconsistency. Marcus Landry, who is the younger brother of fellow King Carl, is a relative unknown in NBA circles. He has impressed in training camp thus far, but it is likely a long-shot that he would beat out either Casspi or Greene for the honor.

In his 28 games with the Kings after his arrival last February, Carl Landry posted impressive averages of 18 points and nearly seven rebounds per contest. Landry will reprise his role as the team's starting power forward, and will be joined in the frontcourt by Samuel Dalembert. Two of Landry's main weaknesses are that he isn't a strong rebounder and he is undersized for his position. Thus playing alongside the Haitian will prove extremely beneficial.

The 29-year-old Dalembert will man the post for the Kings in 2010-11. In the 6'11" Dalembert, the Kings will have someone who can play goalie at the rim. One would figure that Samuel will aid in the King's porous rebounding as well. Dalembert will also be charged with the tutelage of Sacramento's young bigs, DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson and Hassan Whiteside.

Sacramento's rotation will be fortified by DeMarcus Cousins, Jason Thompson, Francisco Garcia, Donte Greene, Antoine Wright, Marcus Landry and Pooh Jeter. By in large, it is a very young bench unit, however at some time or another in their respective careers most of them have had the experience of starting in the NBA.

The Kings carry a very unfortunate streak of beginning their season with a devastating road trip. Not since the 2003-04 season have the Kings opened up in Sacramento. But as we all know, the schedule evens out in the end. Each team will play 41 home games and 41 road games (with the exception of the Lakers and Clippers, who share the Staples Center). Expectations for the club are rising, and most analysts are predicting the Kings to improve from 2009-10 and win between 32 and 38 games this season.

Despite being the third youngest team in the NBA, I am predicting the Sacramento Kings to finish at 37-45. That will likely put them just outside of the playoff picture, but I do envision the Kings competing for the final playoff spot until the last couple weeks of the season.