NBA Notes: Kings, Zach LaVine, Mavericks, Daniel Gafford, Pacers
Kings Struggle to Find Form
The early narrative about Sacramento’s potential took another setback after their 126–113 loss to the Bulls on Wednesday. Analyst Sam Quinn of CBS Sports observed that the once-popular joke about the “Kings turning into the Bulls” no longer works—Chicago now has the energy and pace Sacramento lacks.
“Chicago is younger, faster, and modern. A young rotation outside of Nikola Vucevic. Sacramento is stuck in mid-range land.” — Sam Quinn, CBS Sports
The Kings rank twenty-second in attempts at the rim and have the fifth-worst offense overall. Their attack looks more like a nostalgic All-Star lineup than an evolving NBA team. Keegan Murray’s return may bring improvement, but it won’t solve the deeper issues.
“The reality is the Kings tasted success and panicked. They tried to preserve it with older names and lost their identity in the process.”
Zach LaVine’s Trade Market Quiet
Despite Zach LaVine’s talent, few teams seem interested in acquiring him. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, speaking on The Carmichael Dave Show, he could not “name one team” currently monitoring LaVine with any real interest.
Gafford Nears Return for Mavericks
Dallas center Daniel Gafford plans to make his season debut on Saturday in Mexico City against the Pistons. He has been sidelined since spraining his ankle on the first day of training camp, reporters Mike Curtis (The Dallas Morning News) and Christian Clark (The Athletic) confirmed.
Injury Notes
- D’Angelo Russell is listed as questionable.
- Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Dante Exum remain out of action.
Author’s Summary
The Kings continue to lose offensive rhythm, LaVine’s market cools off, and Gafford’s return may boost Dallas, though key stars across the league remain sidelined.