Editor's note: This article is part of a continuing series in which Insider Bill Herenda highlights a every player on the Kings roster leading up to the 2014-15 season opener on Oct. 29
Ryan Hollins/Center
Age: 30
Salary: $1,310,286
Contract status: Under contract through 2014-15. (Signed as a free agent on September 18, 2014.)
2013-14 in review: Off the bench for the Clippers last season, Hollins averaged 2.3 points on the strength of a robust 73.6 field goal percentage and a modest 62.5 free throw percentage while garnering 1.5 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game.
2014-15 outlook: The former UCLA Bruin brings experience in winning cultures to Sacramento -- from his NCAA career to stints in NBA playoff runs with Boston, Dallas and most recently, the Clippers.
His value on the floor will be as a basket protector, a deterrent to dribble penetration into the paint as a help defender, and overall as a vocal frontcourt leader. He'll spell DeMarcus Cousins, who will log major minutes.
Along with Reggie Evans in particular, Hollins will provide guidance and peer pressure on Cousins to assist the former Kentucky Wildcat’s pursuit of maturity -- to not only meet his self-imposed goal of five technical fouls for the season, but also emerge as the NBA’s best big man.
[RELATED: Cousins determined to change mindset of Kings]
“(Cousins) is one of, if not the most talented big that I’ve ever played with or seen -- up there with Kevin (Garnett) and Dirk (Nowitzki),” said Hollins early in training camp.
“Last year, he showed so much maturity on the court so now it’s that consistency -- for 82 games doing it,” the 7-footer continued.
Improving Sacramento’s defense -- 24th in the NBA last season, allowing 103.4 points per game -- and the maturation of Cousins are two huge keys for a Kings turnaround.
While Hollins’ individual statistics may not always reflect it, his impact on and off the court may be immeasurable if Sacramento is successful improving upon back-to-back 28 win seasons in the NBA’s rugged Western Conference.
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Kings Outlook
F Omri Casspi
G Darren Collison
C DeMarcus Cousins
F Reggie Evans
F Rudy Gay
C Ryan Hollins
G Trey Johnson
F Carl Landry
G Ray McCallum
G Ben McLemore
F Eric Moreland
G Ramon Sessions
G Nik Stauskas
F/C Jason Thompson
F Derrick Williams
