Does Sacramento even have a chance for the playoffs?

[jpotter33]

I'm fully of the belief that I don't think Cousins is actually on the market right now, and they'll at least attempt to see what the team will look like this year with Joerger at the wheel.

However, does Sacramento stand any chance whatsoever at making the playoffs in the West? If we break them down by tier, I don't think there's much more than an outside shot:

Guaranteed to be in the Playoffs - Golden State, San Antonio, Los Angeles Clippers

Probable to be in the Playoffs - Portland, Dallas, Memphis, Houston, Utah, OKC (w/Westbrook)

Hopeful to be in the Playoffs - OKC (w/out Westbrook), New Orleans, Minnesota, Denver, Sacramento

Doubtful to be in the Playoffs - Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix

So I think any potential trade for Cousins will come closer to the deadline when the playoff picture is better set. I firmly believe that barring any big trades or injuries, there are at least nine teams, including OKC w/Westbrook, that are clearly better than Sacramento. Hopefully, the combination of them being outside the playoff race and the Nets looking horrible again will finally encourage them enough to trade Cousins at the trade deadline. I think those are two things that will almost necessarily have to happen to end up forcing them to trade him to us.

[jambr380]

I'll go with a resounding no, especially if they are trading off Gay.

Is the plan for Labissiere and Papagiannis to make an immediate [major] impact? Because as I see it, they are the same team as last year, minus Rondo. Yuck!

[BudweiserCeltic]

Of course not. They'll be one of the worst teams this season.

Also Utah is definitely a guaranteed for the Playoffs.

[saltlover]

I'm fully of the belief that I don't think Cousins is actually on the market right now, and they'll at least attempt to see what the team will look like this year with Joerger at the wheel.

However, does Sacramento stand any chance whatsoever at making the playoffs in the West? If we break them down by tier, I don't think there's much more than an outside shot:

Guaranteed to be in the Playoffs - Golden State, San Antonio, Los Angeles Clippers

Probable to be in the Playoffs - Portland, Dallas, Memphis, Houston, Utah, OKC (w/Westbrook)

Hopeful to be in the Playoffs - OKC (w/out Westbrook), New Orleans, Minnesota, Denver, Sacramento

Doubtful to be in the Playoffs - Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix

So I think any potential trade for Cousins will come closer to the deadline when the playoff picture is better set. I firmly believe that barring any big trades or injuries, there are at least nine teams, including OKC w/Westbrook, that are clearly better than Sacramento. Hopefully, the combination of them being outside the playoff race and the Nets looking horrible again will finally encourage them enough to trade Cousins at the trade deadline. I think those are two things that will almost necessarily have to happen to end up forcing them to trade him to us.

Don't forget that the Kings give their pick to Chicago if it's 11-30.  If they don't give it this year, it becomes a 2nd round pick.  So I think that will create some additional motivation if they're on the outside looking in.

[saltlover]

Of course not. They'll be one of the worst teams this season.

Also Utah is definitely a guaranteed for the Playoffs.

Utah, no.  Portland, absolutely.

[jpotter33]

Of course not. They'll be one of the worst teams this season.

Yeah, which is why there just doesn't seem to be any rational basketball reason to keep their disgruntled, polarizing big man. Last year they at least had a chance at making it, but after losing Rondo and most likely trading away Gay this year, combined with the fact that the West got even better and deeper this summer, there doesn't even seem to be any real chance of them making it this year, though I do think Afflalo will help them.

This finally might be the year that he's actually traded. The stars seem to finally be aligning.

[jpotter33]

Of course not. They'll be one of the worst teams this season.

Also Utah is definitely a guaranteed for the Playoffs.

Utah, no.  Portland, absolutely.

Really? They added Johnson, Hill, and Diaw to an already playoff-caliber roster, along with getting Burkes and Exum back. I wouldn't say guaranteed, but they're a strong probable playoff team, along with Portland.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Of course not. They'll be one of the worst teams this season.

Also Utah is definitely a guaranteed for the Playoffs.

Utah, no.  Portland, absolutely.

I easily see them among the best 2-4 teams in the West. Added some good talent to an already upcoming good team with great defense to boot.

As for Portland, I don't trust them. It'll require Damien Lillard going on an MVP level type of run again. But at the same time I see a weaker West this year, so probably in good position as it is regardless. Yet, I simply see a weaker supporting cast at the moment at this point in time.

[saltlover]

Of course not. They'll be one of the worst teams this season.

Also Utah is definitely a guaranteed for the Playoffs.

Utah, no.  Portland, absolutely.

Really? They added Johnson, Hill, and Diaw to an already playoff-caliber roster, along with getting Burkes and Exum back. I wouldn't say guaranteed, but they're a strong probable playoff team, along with Portland.

I like the Hill addition, but I'm not convinced that Diaw and Johnson have much left in the tank.  I don't think their worthless, but they don't move the needle much.  I like Exum's potential, but his game relies on speed, and that doesn't always come all the way back in year 1 after an ACL tear.  Burks missed about half the season.  It's not uncommon for teams to lose a rotation player for half a year, so while he's back, someone else might be gone this year.  (In other words, I'm not sure his injury caused Utah to play worse than you otherwise would have expected, because you'd expect someone to miss time.)

I think they're going to be a in group competing for spots 6-10.  I wouldn't be shocked if they make it, but I don't think they're near a lock.

[celticsclay]

Houston seems kind of doubtful right? They limped in last year and got worse.

[Kuberski33]

I'm fully of the belief that I don't think Cousins is actually on the market right now, and they'll at least attempt to see what the team will look like this year with Joerger at the wheel.

However, does Sacramento stand any chance whatsoever at making the playoffs in the West? If we break them down by tier, I don't think there's much more than an outside shot:

Guaranteed to be in the Playoffs - Golden State, San Antonio, Los Angeles Clippers

Probable to be in the Playoffs - Portland, Dallas, Memphis, Houston, Utah, OKC (w/Westbrook)

Hopeful to be in the Playoffs - OKC (w/out Westbrook), New Orleans, Minnesota, Denver, Sacramento

Doubtful to be in the Playoffs - Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix

So I think any potential trade for Cousins will come closer to the deadline when the playoff picture is better set. I firmly believe that barring any big trades or injuries, there are at least nine teams, including OKC w/Westbrook, that are clearly better than Sacramento. Hopefully, the combination of them being outside the playoff race and the Nets looking horrible again will finally encourage them enough to trade Cousins at the trade deadline. I think those are two things that will almost necessarily have to happen to end up forcing them to trade him to us.

Don't forget that the Kings give their pick to Chicago if it's 11-30.  If they don't give it this year, it becomes a 2nd round pick.  So I think that will create some additional motivation if they're on the outside looking in.

They'll have one of the worst records in the league.  We should probably run a pool as to when Cousins finally demands to be traded.

[max215]

The Lakers and Kings are the only two Western Conference teams that I can't envision even being pretty good. They're guaranteed bottom-feeders in my mind.

[saltlover]

The Lakers and Kings are the only two Western Conference teams that I can't envision even being pretty good. They're guaranteed bottom-feeders in my mind.

Suns?  I think the Lakers will pass the Suns this year.

[greece66]

Re: Sacramento

With their current roster their chances for the playoffs are very limited. They did bad last year and their roster was arguably better (Rondo, Belinelli). What's more other lottery teams seem to have improved: Utah (Exum is back), LAL (Ingram, Walton), Minny (Thibs) etc

[jpotter33]

Re: Sacramento

With their current roster their chances for the playoffs are very limited. They did bad last year and their roster was arguably better (Rondo, Belinelli). What's more other lottery teams seem to have improved: Utah (Exum is back), LAL (Ingram, Walton), Minny (Thibs) etc

Well, they did add Afflalo, who will greatly help their perimeter D along with Collison as the starting point guard now. However, I don't see them even sniffing the playoffs.