How will Kings general manager Monte McNair approach NBA trade deadline?

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Sacramento Kings general manager Monte McNair chose to run it back with the same basic core from the previous season. In fact, through 47 games, the three veteran additions to the club; Chris Duarte (461), Sasha Vezenkov (419) and JaVale McGee (295), have combined to play just 1,175 minutes. 

For comparison, those three players have combined to play a few more minutes than Malik Monk (1,167) and Kevin Huerter (1,124), who rank fifth and sixth on the team in minutes played this season. The eight players that led the Kings in minutes played last season, lead the team this year as well, although the order is slightly jumbled.

The idea of running it back isn’t just a clever catch phrase. It is literally what has happened this season in Sacramento.

While the core is intact, the look and feel of the team is different. The offensive numbers are down from last season’s record setting performance. The Kings posted an incredible 118.6 offensive rating per NBA.com during the 2022-23 campaign and that has dropped to 116.7 this season, despite league numbers being up across the board.

On the defensive end, the team has stagnated. Their 115.8 defensive rating looks very similar to the 116 rating they posted last season, although with offensive numbers around the NBA, the Kings have jumped from 24th last year to 17th this season.

Outside of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis getting snubbed from the All-Star game, the team is extremely similar to last year’s squad, even if the way they have arrived to this exact spot in the season feels very different. After 47 games, Sacramento has a record of 28-19. After 47 games last year, they were at 27-20.