Hanifan's Offseason Outlook: Evaluating the Sacramento Kings' 2024 offseason

Hot Hot Hoops senior writer Matt Hanifan will provide his take on the offseasons of all 30 teams for the next 30 days! Today, we are looking back on the Sacramento Kings’ offseason!

Previous Offseason Outlooks:

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Additions: DeMar DeRozan (sign-and-trade), Jalen McDaniels (trade), Jordan McLaughlin, Orlando Robinson, Isaiah Wong

Subtractions: Harrison Barnes (trade), Davion Mitchell (trade), Chris Duarte (trade), Sasha VezenkovKessler Edwards, JaVale McGee, Jalen Slawson, Jordan Ford

Re-signed: Alex Len, Malik Monk

Draft: Devin Carter (No. 13 overall)

Hanifan’s Take: After placing as the No. 3 seed in 2022-23, the Kings fell back down to No. 9 in an airtight Western Conference last season. Though they suffered unfortunate injury luck late in the season with unfortunate injuries to Monk, who finished second in Sixth Man of the Year, and Kevin Huerter. Sacramento capitalized on an inactive start to free agency by acquiring veteran wing DeMar DeRozan in a three-team sign-and-trade involving the San Antonio Spurs. Sacramento sent Harrison Barnes plus a 2031 swap to the Spurs while sending two second-round picks and Chris Duarte to Chicago. I don’t like giving up an unprotected 2031 swap at all, especially when DeRozan will likely be retired and their two best players (De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis) will be entering their mid-30s. The trade likely doesn’t get complete without the swap, but I don’t know if it’s what I would’ve done for a 35-year-old DeRozan, respectfully. Nevertheless, I’m fascinated by DeRozan’s on-court with Sabonis–who operates in similar spaces–in addition to Fox. Unfortunately, Carter will miss the start of the season recovering from torn labrum surgery, but I’m very high on him as a prospect; he was an elite defender in college, one of the most athletic players in the entire class and a budding shooter, despite having a shot-put-esque form.