After adding George Karl as their new head coach and with Thursday’s NBA trade deadline looming, the Kings are exploring opportunities to improve their roster.
“We’re always active,” Kings general manager Pete D’Alessandro said on Tuesday.
The second year GM admits he will seek input from the new Sacramento coach often on personnel.
[HERENDA: Ready to go, Karl wants to re-energize Kings' players]
The pair previously worked together in Denver and D’Alessandro calls Karl a “basketball savant.”
“If we get better, we should make a trade,” Karl said at his introductory press conference on Tuesday.
[RELATED: Six things you need to know about Karl & Kings]
Karl is inheriting a team that has a multitude of needs.
Certainly not all, perhaps some, or maybe even none of the gaps will be solved by Thursday’s trade deadline, but here’s a look at some of Sacramento’s glaring needs and potential fits:
1) Need: Dishing and valuing the ball
The Kings are last in the NBA in assists and need more poise as well as Sacramento ranks 27th in the league in turnovers.
Fit: Goran Dragic (Phoenix), Reggie Jackson (Oklahoma City), Deron Williams (Brooklyn) Andre Miller (Washington), Jose Calderon (New York), and Jeremy Lin (New York)
2) Need: Swishing and backcourt depth
Sacramento shoots 32.4 percent from downtown, ranking 26th in the league, and suffers from a lack of overall backcourt production.
Fit: Arron Afflalo (Denver), Wilson Chandler (Denver), Gerald Green (Phoenix), and Lance Stephenson (Charlotte)
3) Need: Basket protection and Cousins back up
The Kings are allowing 104.2 points per night, which ranks 27th in the NBA.
The Kings and Nets talked earlier in the season, but Sacramento coveted Mason Plumlee and Brooklyn walked away from the negotiating table.
Fit: Brook Lopez (Brooklyn), Enes Kanter (Utah), Andrea Bargnani (New York), and Mason Plumlee (Brooklyn)
4) Need: Athleticism and stretch at four position
Sacramento would like to complement its front court of center DeMarcus Cousins and small forward Rudy Gay with a power forward possessing athleticism to run the floor, rebound, defend and ideally shoot from the perimeter.
Fit: Mason Plumlee (Brooklyn), Tayshaun Prince (Boston), Kenneth Faried (Denver), and Greg Monroe (Detroit)
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