While the Los Angeles Clippers will wade into an uncertain new era, the Sacramento Kings will be out to take a step forward with a young roster as the California rivals meet to open the season Wednesday at Inglewood, Calif.
The Clippers bid farewell to Kawhi Leonard during a tumultuous offseason that included an investigation and severe draft-pick punishment from the NBA for a scheme to facilitate additional income for their All-Star forward that circumvented the salary cap.
Not only is Leonard gone in a trade to the Toronto Raptors, star guard James Harden was moved at the trade deadline. In addition, owner Steve Ballmer will not be allowed to occupy his baseline seat for the entirety of the season as part of the team’s punishment.
There are new arrivals aplenty like veteran forward Rui Hachimura, guard Gradey Dick and first-round draft pick Keaton Wagler, the 19-year-old No. 5 overall selection from Illinois. Point guard Darius Garland will be the focus of the offense as he starts his first full season in Los Angeles after he was acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers in February.
Also new but unavailable to start the season are Brandon Ingram (heel) and Max Strus (foot). Returning players who are out at the outset of the season include Bradley Beal (knee), Jordan Miller (shoulder) and Yanic Konan Niederhauser (foot).
“We got to be a defensive mindset team and just go from there. It should be in our nature,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “I think the guys that we’re starting the season with, they’ve had to play that way, that style of basketball to get to where they’re at right now. So, there shouldn’t be any difference.”
The Kings also experienced key departures like DeMar DeRozan, who was waived, and Russell Westbrook, who retired. Guard Ben Simmons was signed in the offseason but is already out for the campaign with a torn Achilles tendon.
Sacramento will lean into a trio of players who are back from injuries. Domantas Sabonis is back after playing just 19 games because of a knee injury, while Zach LaVine (finger) should provide plenty of scoring punch after playing 39 games last season. Keegan Murray (finger) played just 23 games.
The hope is that rookie Darius Acuff Jr. gets up to speed as soon as possible to also assist with scoring from the backcourt. Acuff, 19, was the No. 7 overall draft pick after he averaged 23.5 points at Arkansas last season.
“I’ve seen him be a primary ball-handler and just dominate the game,” Kings coach Doug Christie said on SacTown Sports 1140 AM. “He comes in early, comes back late. Like, that is the type of work ethic. He wants to be great.”
Center/forward Maxime Raynaud showed he was a quick study when he averaged 12.5 points with 7.5 rebounds as a rookie last season. Raynaud (knee) will miss the outset of the season.
While the Clippers managed to overcome a 6-21 start last season to finish with the ninth-best record in the Western Conference and advance into the play-in tournament, the Kings missed the playoffs for the 19th time in the past 20 seasons.
The Kings’ 22-60 record last season gave them a .268 winning percentage that was the franchise’s worst since the 2008-09 season when they went 17-65 (.207).
