The instability of NBA jobs is enough to make temp workers uneasy.
When prospects enter the league, they’re afforded a short window of time to prove their skills, which in the case of a handful results in a second contract. From there, the lifespan of an NBA career is not just dependent on one’s own hard work, but the work of their equally talented peers fighting for the same minutes and available team salary. Additionally injuries, bad attitudes and off-court behavior have repeatedly cut short basketball careers. In short, nobody’s role is safe.
As training camp in September draws closer, several Sacramento Kings veterans are positioned to considerably boost or stunt their stock. Not all are in danger of washing out of the association, but success this season would go a long way for their 2016 fortunes.
Rajon Rondo
How the mighty have fallen. Rondo won a championship at age 22 and quickly established himself as a perennial All-Star, but a torn right ACL in January 2013 began the downward momentum.
He returned to the Celtics nearly a year later but looked rusty and a step slow, while Boston missed the playoffs for the first time in seven seasons. Then Rondo broke his left hand last September, and struggled to mesh with the Mavericks following a deadline trade. Speculation grew that he quit on the team when Dallas deactivated him for the last three games of the opening playoff round.
On a one-year deal, Rondo won’t have the luxury of an adjustment period. The 29-year-old point guard will have to pick up the dribble drive offense quickly and regain the dominant stopper form of his past. Rondo can parlay a strong 2015-16 campaign into a multi-year contract, but he risks losing his leverage in the market if he flops.
Darren Collison
The journeyman and starting point guard was on course for a career year before a core muscle injury shelved him for the final 34 games. The addition of Rondo shifts Collison to the second unit, which may be an unjustified move to some.
Collison has played off the bench for multiple teams in his six-year career, but how the 28-year-old handles his latest demotion will be key. He is arguably the Kings’ X-factor in 2015-16, if he can replicate his balanced offense and tough on-ball defense. Contrarily Collison may show his emotions on his sleeve, considering he signed a three-year deal last summer with the promise of running the show full-time. While the latter situation is unlikely, a slow start for Rondo will manifest any underlying issues.
Ben McLemore
The former seventh overall pick has shown flashes of becoming a star two-way off guard. After a rough rookie season, McLemore led the Kings in 3-point makes and displayed lockdown defense in the early goings of 2014-15.
But inconsistency continues to hamper his progress. McLemore shot less than 40 percent from the floor in 31 contests last season, and he was partly responsible for the Kings’ leaky perimeter defense.
Entering year three, the 22-year-old will be expected to make a substantial leap in his efficiency and playmaking. McLemore’s defensive chops and ability to spread the floor make him an ideal fit to start at the two, but $19 million free agent import Marco Belinelli will be ready should he falter. McLemore will be eligible to sign a lucrative extension next season, increasing the stakes even more for the young man.
James Anderson
No one on this list is in more danger of leaving the NBA fraternity than Anderson. The Spurs’ 20th overall pick five years ago has already suited up for the Rockets and 76ers, and he played in Lithuania during the 2014-15 season.
The Kings need 3-and-D wings and Anderson is trying to rebrand himself as one, so the opportunity is there. Anderson couldn’t show he was suitable for the role in Summer League, shooting 16.7 percent from behind the arc and failing to separate himself from the pack on the other end. Sacramento will give the 26-year-old a hard look in training camp and the preseason.
DeMarcus Cousins
For Cousins, the concern is not about his on-court ability but his reputation as a leader. Drama between the All-Star and George Karl has enforced the national opinion that he’s hard to coach. A 34.3 winning percentage in the pros has made folks question his impact motivating others.
This season Cousins has a chance to put a sock in critics’ mouths, but he’ll need to take immediate action. He has worked to clear the air with George Karl and to prove he prioritizes winning over personal indifferences. Next the 25-year-old can continue to cut down his average of 14.6 technical fouls a season. Winning games will look nice on any resume, but another mid-season implosion for the Kings will hurt any progress made to Cousins’ name.
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