ESPN Ranks Kings Bottom Half in NBA Future Power Rankings

ESPN disrespects the Sacramento Kings in their predictions for the next three NBA seasons.

Dec 14, 2023; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox (5) is congratulated by forward Domantas Sabonis (10) after a basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images / Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

The Sacramento Kings have built a solid core around De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan to set themselves up for success this season, but how is their future looking?

Coming off a disappointing 2023-24 season, the Kings have reloaded their roster with upgraded talent. The headlining acquisition of the offseason was 35-year-old DeRozan, along with a lack of draft capital, the Kings might have shortened their window significantly.

ESPN dropped their NBA future power rankings, placing the Kings at 18th. ESPN is projecting each franchise's on-court success over the next three seasons, suggesting Sacramento is not set up very well.

The Kings ranked 18th in the "Future NBA Power Rankings."@The_StilesFiles and @ChrisMWatkins said why they strongly disagree with their placement.

"I don't know if they necessarily have to be in the top 10, but they should not be far out of it." pic.twitter.com/anPcC0Nw98

— Sactown Sports 1140 (@Sactown1140) September 25, 2024

ESPN's Bobby Marks explained Sacramento's position in the ranking, blaming their serious lack of draft capital for a seven-spot drop since last offseason.

The Kings still owe Atlanta a 2025 top-12 protected first-round pick from the Kevin Huerter trade, and Sacramento sent San Antonio the right to swap firsts in 2031 as part of the DeRozan trade. The Kings have no second-round picks available to trade in the next three years.

- Bobby Marks, ESPN

ESPN split their rankings into five different categories, with Sacramento's respective rank: Players (16), Management (15), Money (16), Market (22), and Draft (20).

Sacramento's most interesting ranking is their placement in the Players category. Their core group of Fox, DeRozan, Sabonis, Malik Monk, Keegan Murray, Keon Ellis, and Kevin Huerter certainly sets them up for success over the next few years, with the potential for their young studs to keep improving.

Sacramento's biggest knock comes from their market, but that did not affect their biggest move this offseason. DeRozan chose to join the Kings over big market franchises like the Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Miami Heat.

ESPN's placement for the Kings in the future power rankings is slightly disrespectful and certainly underestimates Sacramento's potential over the next three seasons.

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