Dave Joerger, speaking on how Zach Randolph and Kosta Koufos helped the Kings win games last season: "I'm not saying those guys won't play but our bigger priority is to play as many young guys as possible."
https://twitter.com/mr_jasonjones/status/1044376268592967680
Good news for us.
Probably not. I'd expect Bagley, at a minimum, to far out perform Randolph. Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if Giles and Labissierre also are just better than him. Randolph has been deteriorating pretty quickly. I frankly see that quote as Joerger trying to save some face for Randolph.
You might be right. There's definitely potential for the Kings to be better than people expect.
That said, most young guys, especially big men, aren't prepared to help their team win games. They may produce, and they may even show big-time potential, but most of the time, win totals don't go up until closer to their second contract.
Sure, but Randolph didn't actually help them win any games last year. He had by far the worst on/off differential on the Kings last year at -7.6. Koufos was also negative at -1.5. Labissierre for comparison was a +3.9 and WCS was -0.9 (so at least better than Kosta and Zach).
The simple reality is, Randolph is shot and Koufos just isn't any good. Bagley, Giles, Labissierre, and of course WCS are going to be the main rotation because quite frankly they are going to be their 4 best big men (I'm counting Bjelica as a wing - see below).
The Kings problem is going to be the wing. They have only 2 wings on the roster, Justin Jackson and Jamel Artis. That is their real problem as they are going to have to play Bjelica on the wing. They really don't have any choice unless they play an undersized guard like Hield or McLemore their.
Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if they kicked the tires on Butler since they don't own their pick anyway. I don't think they'd give up a premier young player for him, but they could absolutely absorb Dieng as well. Obviously that depends on what Minnesota's market actually is. But that would instantly make the Kings interesting (so say they give up salary filler, WCS and Skal for Butler and Dieng). I don't know if a lineup of Fox, Hield, Butler, Bagley, Dieng with Giles, Ferrell, Bjelica, and Jackson makes the playoffs in the West, but it would at least make for some excitement in Sacramento for the season and if Butler leaves, oh well.