No team in the NBA outperformed expectations this season more than the Sacramento Kings, who were predicted to finish with the league's second-worst record but ended up winning 39 games. Now comes the hard part: taking the next step into the playoffs. Heading into the offseason, which path do the Kings take?
The first decision came one day after the season ended, when GM Vlade Divac fired head coach Dave Joerger.
Two days later, Divac would hire former Lakers coach Luke Walton. The team that Walton will now lead returns 11 players next season, including four of its five starters, and it will be expected to once again contend for a playoff spot.
With a roster that ranks among the 10 youngest in the league, Divac identified Walton as the perfect fit -- one that has a skill set well suited to the identity of the roster, prior experience, including with a title team in Golden State, and a strong player development background.
Let's look ahead to free agency, draft and trade decisions facing the franchise this summer.