What LaVine immediately brings to Kings amid drastic changes

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What LaVine immediately brings to Kings amid drastic changes originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

It will take some time for the dust to settle from De’Aaron Fox’s emotional departure from the Kings. But when fans are ready, they should be excited about what they’ll receive in return from Zach LaVine.

While the trade itself raises a few questions, such as how the San Antonio Spurs managed to acquire Fox without giving up any of their young core in Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan or Keldon Johnson, nor any of their 2025 draft assets, Sacramento didn’t necessarily receive a bag of coal in return.

So, politics aside and just focusing on the player, LaVine could help elevate what’s been a surprisingly struggling Kings offense this season.

Just two seasons ago, the magical “Beam Team” showcased a historic offense built around fast pace, DHOs and elite 3-point shooting. They have yet to match that same success offensively and, this season in particular, it’s not even close. Watching the Kings this year feels like that 2022-23 season was a century ago. They simply are not a good 3-point shooting team.

There are a lot of reasons for that. Kevin Huerter went from averaging 15.2 points and shooting 40.2 percent from 3-point range on 6.8 attempts per game two seasons ago to averaging 7.9 points on a career-low 30.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc on 4.8 attempts this season.

Keegan Murray went from his record-breaking rookie season of shooting 41.1 percent from long distance on 6.3 attempts to 32.3 percent on 5.6 attempts this campaign. Of course, Murray’s to-do list on a nightly basis consists of more than shooting the rock. He’s being asked to defend the opposing team’s best player while unlocking new aspects of his game on the other end of the floor.

Trey Lyles also played a vital role in the “Beam Team” year, but his down production since has been detrimental to the rotation. Not to mention, the Kings also lost Harrison Barnes, a 38-percent 3 point shooter who’s shooting 41.9 percent from beyond the arc with San Antonio this year.

Enter LaVine.

The Minnesota Timberwolves…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lavine-immediately-brings-kings-amid-124812287.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-02-03 12:48:00

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