The Sacramento Kings are in a position they are all too familiar with: Out of the playoffs and once again searching for a new head coach.
Since Sacramento last appeared in the 2006 postseason, there have been 12 coaching hires, six of them coming since the 2014 season.
For this organization to finally find stability, it starts with the search for a new head coach.
MORE: Where do the Kings rank in ESPN's Future Power Rankings?
State of the roster
Roster status: In a holding pattern until a coach is hired
According to Kings general manager Monte McNair, the process of hiring the next head coach will be long and exhaustive.
"We're going to run a comprehensive and very process-driven coaching search," he said after the season. "We're going to let that run its course and we're going to take as long as we need to find the correct person to lead this organization, lead the team on the floor, and I'm excited to see the people that we talk to and what their vision is for the team as well."
It should be thorough.
The hiring of the next coach is the most important transaction in Kings history and will define McNair's tenure.
That's correct. The most important transaction is not whom Sacramento drafts in June or signs as a free agent, but whom McNair hires.
The New Orleans Pelicans' hiring of Willie Greene last offseason, the Minnesota Timberwolves with Chris Finch and Taylor Jenkins at the Memphis Grizzlies only confirm how hiring the right person can turn a team's fortunes around.
It's also up to McNair and his front office, however, to improve a roster that has a 61-93 record in his first two seasons.
This past year, the Kings ranked 26th in defensive efficiency under Luke Walton and 27th after Alvin Gentry took over.
Per ESPN Stats & Information research, the Kings have not finished in the top half of the league in defensive efficiency since Rick Adelman's final season in 2005-06. That is also the last time they finished with a winning record, and the last time they made the playoffs.
Roster resources
The Kings have 11 players under contract heading into the offseason, including Domantas Sabonis, De'Aaron Fox, last year's lottery pick, Davion Mitchell, and veteran Harrison Barnes.
Fox and Sabonis played only 360 minutes after the trade deadline but showed how potent they could be on offense. They had an offensive efficiency of 115.2, and per Second Spectrum averaged 1.22 points per chance in pick-and-rolls. That ranked second best among 52 combinations to run 100 pick-and-rolls since Feb. 9, trailing only Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.
Like the entire team, they struggled on the court defensively with a 117.2 rating per 100 possessions. Both are foundation pieces, but they aren't enough for Sacramento to even contend for a play-in spot.
"I think most winning teams are built the same," Fox said after the season. "You got your two, three, maybe four guys and everything else is kind of length and shooting. Just being built like that, I feel like we have a pretty good foundation where we're at. But obviously you can never have too much length and too much shooting in the NBA. That's at a premium."
How the Kings add to their roster starts with the June draft, where they have three picks. The lottery first-round pick is certainly of the most value, but do not discount picks Nos. 37 and 48.
The Pelicans selected Herb Jones in the second round last year (No. 35) and proved you can find impact players and even a starter outside of the first round. Jones started 78 games and is one of the best wing defenders in the NBA.
Adding outside of the draft will likely be done through the trade market. Sacramento is over the salary cap and will have the $10.3 million midlevel exception.
Its best resources are the expiring contracts of Barnes, Justin Holiday, Maurice Harkless and Alex Len. The four players combine to earn $35 million in 2022-23.
Barnes has been the Kings' most consistent player, averaging 14.5, 16.1 and 16.4 points the past three seasons. Because he is on an expiring contract but also extension eligible, the Kings have a decision to make about the forward's role in their future.
Richaun Holmes is not on an expiring contract but is the Kings' most appealing trade asset besides Fox and Sabonis. He is under contract for the next three seasons ($11.2 million, $12.0 million and $12.9 million) but there are concerns about how he fits with Sabonis and whether he can adapt to coming off the bench. He went from averaging 25.7 minutes as a starter to a part-time role player (15.4 minutes) after the trade deadline.
"I think we certainly have players on this team that fit great with them [Sabonis and Fox] and will continue to go like we do every offseason through draft, trade and free agency, and continue to try and add others," McNair said. "I think shooting, we can clearly acknowledge, will be a huge priority. It's a priority for every team, but certainly around those two guys. ... Length, athleticism, versatility -- we've talked about all that as well. Obviously, you want the whole package, but shooting will be a big priority for us."
Offseason cap breakdown
The Kings have $112 million in salary but are over the $122 million cap because of the free-agent hold of Donte DiVincenzo, and their exceptions (midlevel, biannual and trade).
Team needs
An identity
Shooting
Backup shooting guard, small forward and power forward
Resources to build the roster
Draft: 3 picks (one first-round pick and two second-round picks)
New head coach
Future assets: own all future first-round picks
Expiring contracts: $40M of salary
Exceptions: $10.3M midlevel and $4M trade
Cash: $6.3M to send or receive in a trade
Dates to watch
June 28: Trey Lyles has a $2.6 million team option in his contract. The forward was acquired at the deadline from the Detroit Pistons and went on to start 20 games. He averaged a career-high 22.8 minutes, 10.6 points and 48.9% from the field. He is on a good value contract, and it is unlikely Sacramento will decline the option.
June 29: The Kings acquired DiVincenzo at the trade deadline with the intention that the guard would be part of their future. Since coming back from a left ankle injury that cost him the 2021 playoffs in Milwaukee and most of this season, though, he has struggled to shoot. In 25 games with Sacramento since returning, he averaged 10.3 points on 36.2% from the field and 36.8% from 3. He will become a restricted free agent if the Kings tender him a $6.6 million qualifying offer. Two-way player Neemias Queta is also eligible to receive a $50K qualifying offer.
June 29: Chimezie Metu has a $1.9 million contract that will become guaranteed. Metu averaged career highs in minutes (21.3), points (8.9) and rebounds (5.6) this season. He started 20 games, averaging 10.2 points and 6.9 rebounds.
Restrictions
Holmes has a 15% trade bonus in his contract, valued at $3.5 million. If he is traded before June 30, the bonus is added to his salary in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24. If he is dealt after July 6, $1.75 million is added to his 2022-23 and 2023-24 salaries. The Kings are responsible for paying the bonus.
Extension eligible
Starting Oct. 1, the Kings can extend Sabonis for an additional three years and $75.4 million. The $23.3 million salary in 2024-25 is roughly $15 million below the maximum per-year salary Sabonis can sign for as a free agent in 2024.
Barnes is in the last year of his contract, and Sacramento can extend him for an additional four years and $98.6 million.
The draft
The Kings enter the draft with three picks, a first and two seconds. They also own all their future first-round selections.
Here's how ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz have Sacramento selecting in June:
No. 7 (own): Johnny Davis | PG/SG | Wisconsin
The most improved player in men's college basketball, Davis went from role player to superstar in the span of an offseason after winning a gold medal with USA Basketball. Davis' rebounding, defensive versatility and all-around grit stand out in addition to the strides he has made offensively. He's a streaky shooter who gets a lot of his offense in the post, on midrange pull-ups, in transition and while using his aggressiveness, physicality and smarts attacking out of the pick-and-roll.
Davis has taken some lumps in the Big Ten, struggling at times to create efficient offense, making some scouts wonder just how heavy of an offensive role he can shoulder at the NBA level. Few will question his toughness or willingness to play a winning style of basketball, but the extent of his upside is still a topic of conversation. -- Givony
No. 37 (own): Justin Lewis | SF/PF | Marquette
The small center role might ultimately be Lewis' most advantageous position. He's not quick-footed or consistently locked in guarding the perimeter (on and off the ball) and still needs to improve as an offensive decision-maker, finding more ways to add value when he's not making shots. There's no question Lewis made a huge jump in the 2021-22 college basketball season, and the fact that he's still 19 years old with NBA length and strength, a projectable shooting stroke and solid ball skills for a player his size, makes him undoubtedly interesting to scouts. He didn't help himself against the Tar Heels in the NCAA tournament, though, and will surely have to have a strong pre-draft process to prove he's worthy of a first-round selection. -- Schmitz
No. 48 (via CHI): Keon Ellis | SG/SF | Alabama
A junior college transfer who played a minor role in 2020-21, Ellis emerged as a draftable option as a senior at Alabama this past season, converting 36% of his 3-pointers while guarding everyone from point guards to power forwards. Looking the part of an NBA wing physically with his long arms and solid frame, he brings great energy on the glass, gets in passing lanes frequently, fills lanes effectively in transition and is an efficient scorer who does a lot of little things to impact winning. Ellis has been streaky with his shooting against better competition this season, and scouts will want to get a better feel for his ballhandling and decision-making. -- Givony