The Sacramento Kings’ front office has been under scrutiny for a series of decisions that have cost the franchise dearly. In a league where elite point guard play is paramount, the Kings have managed to part ways with three potential superstars in a relatively short span.
These decisions, coupled with a history of draft missteps, have left fans and analysts questioning the direction and vision of the organization. Let’s go through the list of terrible decisions made by the Kings franchise and it will be shocking once names like Luka Doncic and Tyrese Halliburton get mentioned.
1. Drafting Marvin Bagley III Over Luka Doncic
In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Kings held the second overall pick and selected Marvin Bagley III, a decision that has since been heavily criticized. Luka Doncic, who was selected third by the Dallas Mavericks, has emerged as one of the league’s premier talents, earning five All-Star selections and leading his team to the NBA Finals last year. He is now the face of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bagley, on the other hand, struggled with injuries and inconsistent play during his tenure in Sacramento, failing to live up to the expectations of a second overall pick. The decision to pass on Doncic was reportedly influenced by then-general manager Vlade Divac, who had personal reservations about Doncic’s fit with the team.
This choice has become emblematic of the Kings’ struggles in talent evaluation and has had long-term implications for the franchise’s competitiveness. Bagley III has averaged 12.0 points and 6.5 rebounds per game so far in his career and has appeared in 289 games in seven seasons as a role player.
2. Trading Tyrese Haliburton to Build Around De’Aaron Fox
In a surprising move during the 2022 season, the Kings traded promising young guard Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Domantas Sabonis. Haliburton, who had quickly become a fan favorite and showed significant potential as a floor general, expressed his disappointment, stating, “They didn’t want me… It hurt when I got traded”.
While Sabonis has been a productive player for Sacramento, Haliburton’s subsequent rise in Indiana, including two All-Star selections and impressive assist numbers (league-leading 10.9 APG last season), has led many to question the wisdom of the trade. It doesn’t help that Haliburton has led the Pacers to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances either.
The decision to prioritize Fox over Haliburton, only to later trade Fox as well, underscores a lack of clear long-term planning within the organization. If the Kings had Haliburton now, they would have likely been in the postseason rather than in the lottery consistently.
3. Trading De’Aaron Fox to Start Rebuild
In February 2025, the Kings traded De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team deal that brought Zach LaVine to Sacramento. Fox, who had been the face of the franchise and led the team to its first playoff appearance in 16 years, was moved in a deal that signaled a shift towards rebuilding.
The trade raised eyebrows, especially considering Fox’s contributions and leadership. His departure, following the earlier trade of Haliburton, left the Kings without a clear cornerstone at the point guard position.
The acquisition of LaVine, while adding scoring punch, did not address the team’s need for a primary playmaker, further highlighting the organization’s inconsistent strategy. Fox is now a key member of the San Antonio Spurs alongside Victor Wembanyama and the Kings have to be thinking about their past decisions that led to this one.
Kings Making Too Many Mistakes in Recent History
The Kings’ recent history is marred by a series of draft and personnel decisions that have hindered the franchise’s progress. Beyond the aforementioned point guard missteps, the team selected Jimmer Fredette over Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard in 2011, and Thomas Robinson over Damian Lillard in 2012. Could it get any worse than this?
These choices have contributed to a prolonged period of underachievement and have almost destroyed the confidence of the fan base. As the Kings continue to search for a path forward, acknowledging and learning from these past mistakes will be crucial in rebuilding a competitive team.
Until they show the proper resolve, it doesn’t seem like the Kings will be going anywhere anytime soon unless it involves trading away their star players for a massive rebuild. No doubt, Kings fans will be utterly disgusted at the way the front office has gone about building a team in a competitive Western Conference.
