NBA Fantasy Preview 2021-22: Sacramento Kings

In a 30-part series leading up to the start of the 2021-22 National Basketball Association season, we will take a look at each NBA franchise from a fantasy perspective. The 26th team we will review is the Sacramento Kings.

You could make the argument that the Sacramento Kings head into the season as rather mediocre, and a playoff spot is unlikely for a franchise that has not made the postseason since 2006. In 2020-21, they were at 31 wins and 41 losses, a year after the team was hit by coronavirus prior to games being played in the Orlando bubble.

On paper, you would think the Kings would make room for guard Buddy Hield of Freeport, Bahamas somewhere in the starting rotation. Last season he had 1982 fantasy points*, including a .406 field goal percentage, a .846 free throw percentage, 282 three points made, 1176 points scored, 334 rebounds, 257 assists, 63 steals and 130 turnovers.

However, despite the fact Hield was ninth among small forwards, and 11th among shooting guards, he is not expected to be among the Kings starting five to begin the season according to ESPN. The Kings are expected to have Hield coming off the bench in a reserve role, with De’Aaron Fox starting at point guard, Tyrese Haliburton at shooting guard, and Harrison Barnes at small forward.

Fox should be strongly considered in the top five rounds of your fantasy basketball draft. Last year he was ninth among point guards with 2097 fantasy points. He had a field goal percentage of .477, a free throw percentage of .719, 103 three-pointers, 1461 points, 203 rebounds, 417 assists, 87 steals and 174 turnovers.

Barnes should be considered in the middle rounds. He should be taken as a small forward rather than a power forward. Last season Barnes had 100 three-pointers, compared to only 11 blocked shots.

Two other Kings players worth considering are Haliburton and center Richaun Holmes. Last season, Holmes had 1534 fantasy points and Haliburton had 1229 fantasy points. Where Holmes is an asset is the fact he only turned the basketball over 75 times in 2020-21. Among the players ranked ahead of him in fantasy, only Clint Capela of the Atlanta Hawks turned the basketball over less at 73 times.

*Please note: To calculate NBA fantasy points for point guards, shooting guards and small forwards, I use the formula (3PTM+Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals-Turnovers). For power forwards and centers, I use the formula (Points+Rebounds+Assists+Steals+Blocks-Turnovers).

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