NBA Notes: Kings, Zach LaVine, Mavericks, Daniel Gafford, Pacers
Kings' Early Season Struggles
The Sacramento Kings' early season narrative took another hit after a 126-113 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports observed that the old joke about the Kings "turning into the Bulls" no longer fits. The Bulls are younger, faster, and more modern, featuring a young rotation aside from Nikola Vucevic. Meanwhile, Sacramento remains stuck relying on mid-range shots, ranking 22nd in attempts at the rim and fifth worst in overall offense.
Quinn remarked that the Kings resemble more of an All-Star nostalgia team than a cutting-edge NBA squad. Additionally, interest in Zach LaVine appears limited, with Sam Amick of The Athletic stating on The Carmichael Dave Show that he “cannot name one team” seriously monitoring LaVine at this moment.
While Keegan Murray’s return will offer some help, Sacramento needs a larger transformation. The Kings experienced success but seemed to panic, holding onto older players and ultimately losing their identity in the process.
Daniel Gafford's Upcoming Return
Daniel Gafford is set to make his season debut on Saturday in Mexico City against Detroit. He has been sidelined since spraining his ankle on the first day of training camp. Gafford shared this update with reporters including Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News and Christian Clark of The Athletic.
Player Updates
- D’Angelo Russell is currently questionable for upcoming games.
- Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Dante Exum remain out.
Sam Quinn: "It looks more like an All-Star nostalgia team than a cutting edge NBA offense."
Sam Amick: "I cannot name one team monitoring LaVine right now with any certainty."
Author's summary: The Sacramento Kings face early season challenges with stagnant offense and limited scouting interest in LaVine, while key players like Daniel Gafford prepare to return from injury.