Cousin had impressive stats for a rookie last year.  Averaging 14.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, Cousins made the All-Rookie team.  Cousins also started 62 games last year, and looks to increase that number this year.  Cousins was only on the floor for 28.5 minutes a game, which means there is room for improvement.  His per 36 stats were very impressive, as it projected him for 17.8 points and 10.9 rebounds.  Those would be All-Star type numbers.

The Kings roster might now allow for Cousins to get those stats however.  He had a usage rate of 27 percent, which means over one-fourth of their possessions ended with the ball in Cousins’s hands.  Add in Tyreke Evans, Jimmer Fredette, and John Salmons, there might not be a ton of shots for Cousins.  This roster is full of shoot-first players, which could derail his All-Star opportunity.  These three players project to have high usage rates, which means Cousins could lose out on some shot opportunities.

Cousins is one of the most talented players in the league.  However, his potential remains untapped.  His temper could derail him from becoming the success he should be.  Cousins will need a jump in his stats to make the All-Star team, but it’s not unrealistic.  If the Kings are to succeed, Cousins needs to be one of the best players on the team.  I believe Cousins can overcome his temper and the lack of shots and make the All-Star team this year.  There are few top centers left in the league, and Cousins can force his way in there with a good season.  A great season from Cousins and Co. could be the first step in keeping this team in Sacramento.

That doesn’t come to a shock to me, however.   Right now, this team isn’t nationally relevant.  It has the chance to with a couple of good seasons, however.  In the mean time, this team is heavy on potential.  If all of the young players jell together, this team could easily be one of the most exciting in the league.

The season opens November 2nd at home against the Golden State Warriors.  The first road game is November 4th in Houston against the Rockets.  The longest road trip occurs in February with six games in a row and nine of ten on the road.  The team follows that stretch up with eight in a row at home.  For more schedule questions, check out the ESPN listing at this link here

Overall, this isn’t really a big deal.  The ESPYs are fan-voted, so it means that Jimmer is more popular than the other contestants.  However, he truly did deserve the award.  No player was more fun to watch and no one meant more to his team than Jimmer.  I’ve always poked fun at the ESPYs, but I’m sure it does mean a lot to the people that manage to win one.  We here at Kings Round Table congratulate Jimmer on his award as we await the upcoming NBA season to watch him perform.

You can follow all of my writing by following my Twitter account @Riles23

Evans is going to enter his third year as a pro.  As a rookie, he came in with the hype of being the next Derrick Rose.  Both were exciting one-and-done point guards at the University of Memphis who looked to set the NBA on fire.  Evans got off to a great start, netting the Rookie of the Year award in his first season.  Evans also became just the fourth player in NBA history to average 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists in his rookie year.

This past season, Evans faced adversity at almost every corner.  A bout of plantar fasciitis robbed him of numerous games as Evans played in just 57 contests.  The injury and subsequent recovery time also led to a drop in Evans’s stats across the board.  However, Evans’s usage rate remained about the same at nearly 25.  For those who don’t know, usage rate basically means the percentage of a team’s possessions that end with a certain player shooting, shooting free throws, or turning it over.  Many pundits used this to knock Evans as a shoot first, pass later point guard who would fail to make his team better.

Evans has struggled at times with maturity issues as well.  Coming into a situation that lacked veteran leadership, Evans had his run of the place in his first two seasons.  He has been noted to take a lot possessions off on defense, and his isolation heavy offense has drawn criticism.  This year could be a key year in defining Evans’s NBA legacy.

The Kings have a good looking lineup on paper.  Evans, Marcus Thornton, John Salmons, J.J. Hickson and DeMarcus Cousins are quite a formidable starting five.  Jimmer Fredette, Jason Thompson and Francisco Garcia make up the key subs.  On paper, that team looks like it could cause a lot of headaches in the Western Conference.   However, games are not played on paper.  This team will go as far as Tyreke takes them.  In order for the Kings to be their best, I believe Evans needs to look in the mirror and change his style of play.

If Evans were to focus more on defense and distributing, the Kings could take off.  Defense is contagious and if the team leader is going all-out, others will soon follow.  Evans could easily average over 10 assists per game without harming his scoring average.  If Evans were to cut his usage rate down to about 20 percent, and raise his shooting percentage up to 46 or 47 percent, the offense would be much more diverse.

By making these changes, Evans could average 18-6-10 without losing a ton of shots.  It would require him to make smart decisions and avoid gunning for his own stats.  A lot of players fall victim to stat hunting.  If Evans also falls prey, the Kings will suffer.  A line of 23-6-5 with an above-average usage rate would hurt the Kings overall.  The first stat line could mean the Kings sniff .500 and drum up enough suppport to stay in Sacramento.  The second stat line could mean another bad record and relocation to Anaheim.

The Kings will go as far as Tyreke takes them.  It’s up to him to decide if he wants to be a leader, or just a good stats on a bad team guy.  Either way, it’ll be an interesting season.

You can follow all of my writing on Twitter by following @Riles23.

Hickson, who is just 22, is coming off a season in which he averaged nearly 14 points and 8.7 rebounds per game in just under 29 minutes per game.  If Hickson was able to play around 35 minutes a game, an average of 17 and 10 isn’t out of reach. Hickson figures to move to the starting lineup if the Kings play talented, but moody post DeMarcus Cousins at center.  This frontcourt could be deadly in the future, as both players are still young and still developing. This move also allows the Kings to trade Jason Thompson for more assets.

Casspi, the first NBA player from Isreal, had a fantastic rookie season, but saw his numbers dip slightly next year.  With the trade for John Salmons and with Francisco Garcia still under contract, Casspi was the odd man out.

This trade should help the Kings in the long run.  In Hickson, they have grabbed another potential double-double threat to pair with Cousins.  As it stands, a startling lineup of Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton, Salmons, Hickson, and Cousins could be quite formidable down the road.  With a young core that has the potential to the light up the scoreboard, the Kings should be able to play exciting basketball for years to come.