Quinn, like many others around the league, highlighted ongoing concerns about the Kings\u2019 organizational stability, roster construction, and long-term vision as they open up the final stretch of the regular season with the worst record in the NBA.<\/p>\n
The Pelicans and Kings have run away with the two bottom slots, but New Orleans has talent evaluation as a redeeming quality. I\u2019m not sure what the Kings do well, if anything.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s as true on the court as it is off of it. They rank 28th in offense, 28th in defense and 28th in rebounding. They foul more than almost anyone and they even lose the turnover battle on average.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s so startling about this is that, in the midst of one of the most egregious tank-offs in NBA history, the Kings weren\u2019t even trying to be this bad. They signed Dennis Schr\u00f6der to a contract that worked out so poorly that they had to give up Keon Ellis, one of the few desirable players on the roster, just to dump it.<\/p>\n
The irony of that is that they could have used a team-option to make Ellis a restricted free agent and re-sign him under favorable terms last offseason, but didn\u2019t in order to keep his salary low enough to fit Schr\u00f6der under the luxury tax line.<\/p>\n
They bungled this from every angle and wound up De\u2019Andre Hunter, a contract Cleveland was eager to dump. Speaking of contracts teams were eager to dump, how\u2019s Zach LaVine working out for them?<\/p>\n
They had the unanimous Coach of the Year in 2023. He didn\u2019t even last until the end of the calendar year of 2024. He\u2019s now thriving with the Knicks. Let\u2019s just say his replacement, Doug Christie, is not.<\/p>\n
At least he played for the 2002 Kings, though. Between Vlade Divac\u2019s disastrous GM tenure and Peja Stojakovic\u2019s time as his deputy, more than half of that team\u2019s starting lineup has now held vital roles within the organization. What\u2019s Chris Webber up to? Maybe he can fix this.<\/p>\n
When this season ends, they\u2019ll have made the playoffs once in the last 20 years. Dylan Cardwell was a nice two-way signing. I\u2019m really straining to find anything else positive here. It\u2019s a shame, too.<\/p>\n
The Kings have some of the NBA\u2019s best fans. They deserve better than this.<\/p>\n
CBS Sports\u2019 Sam Quinn<\/a> | February 17, 2026<\/p>\n Of course, criticizing the Sacramento Kings right now comes off as low-hanging fruit.<\/p>\n Sacramento is 12-44 on the season, entering play on Thursday looking to avoid losing their 15th-straight games, a mark that would establish a new all-time franchise record for longest losing streak.<\/p>\n After trading De\u2019Aaron Fox for Zach LaVine last February\u2013a deal that was completed by the previous front office staff that included former general manager Monte McNair\u2013the Kings also have no true franchise centerpiece to build around for the next five-plus years.<\/p>\n Domantas Sabonis will turn 30 later this year and appears likely to be traded before the end of his contract. LaVine might pick up his monstrous $49 million player option for 2026-27, but it\u2019s almost a certainty that both sides will try to create a pathway to finding the former All-Star a new home this summer.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve watched a single quarter of Sacramento Kings basketball this season, it\u2019s evident that this team is searching for a new identity and looking for answers in any fashion.<\/p>\n You can\u2019t blame Quinn for shedding light on Sacramento\u2019s misfortune from a national perspective\u2013as he said, it isn\u2019t the fans\u2019 fault, and they deserve better.<\/p>\n As we learned during the 2022-24 seasons, one thing can make articles and opinions like these change: Winning.<\/p>\n The Kings own all of their upcoming draft picks and are in a strong spot to finish with a top-five pick in this summer\u2019s loaded NBA Draft.<\/p>\n General manager Scott Perry will get back on the phones this offseason and look to find solutions for the aging veterans on the roster, such as LaVine, Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan (a $10 million partial guarantee for 2026-27).<\/p>\n As currently constructed, the Kings are a mess\u2013But it\u2019s up to Perry to hit on this draft, clean up the roster, and climb Quinn\u2019s rankings this time next year<\/p>\n When is the next Sacramento Kings game?<\/p>\n The Sacramento Kings will return from the All-Star break on Thursday, February 19th, and face the Orlando Magic at Golden 1 Center.<\/p>\n Last season, Orlando swept the season series vs. Sacramento (2-0).<\/p>\n Be sure to catch all of the Sacramento Kings vs. Orlando Magic action right here on Sactown Sports 1140 AM, with pregame coverage beginning at 5:30 PM PT on\u00a0Game Night before a 7:00 pm PT tip-off from downtown Sacramento.<\/p>\n More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports<\/p>\n Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n Thursday, February 19th\u00a0vs. Orlando Magic \u2013 7:00 PM PT Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n
\nSaturday, February 21st\u00a0@ San Antonio Spurs \u2013 5:00 PM PT
\nMonday, February 23rd\u00a0@ Memphis Grizzlies \u2013 5:00 PM PT
\nWednesday, February 25th\u00a0\u2013 @ Houston Rockets \u2013 5:00 PM PT
\nThursday, February 26th @ Dallas Mavericks \u2013 5:30 PM PT<\/p>\n
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