Kings’ Player Power Rankings Week 3: Glimpses of the Beam Team

Team Record (4-4) 8th in the West, 3rd in the Pacific Division

Week 3 started with a thud but ended with a bang, showcasing flashes of the Beam Team we all know and love. In their game against the Thunder, the team was zipping the ball all over the court, making the extra pass, and displaying determination to attack the basket. However, there’s a new dynamic emerging – not only are we witnessing offensive brilliance, but also consistent effort and hustle on the defensive end. In my previous analysis during the 30Q series, I pondered the possibility of the Kings improving defensively, and it seems that much of my optimism is coming true! The tenacity displayed by Sabonis is rubbing off on the team, Fox looked like a legitimate two-way player in his first three games, and the rim protection from JaVale McGee and Alex Len is competent and then some!

While the Kings are rediscovering their offensive prowess and building a new defensive identity, coach Mike Brown has been busy experimenting with different lineups and delving deep into his roster. In fact, he utilized 11 out of the 18 players on the roster just last week. This process has allowed Brown to unearth valuable contributors for the defensive system, creating a competitive environment where players either sink or swim. Players like Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Kevin Huerter have stepped up admirably, catching Brown’s attention. However, it remains uncertain what this means for established Beam core members like Harrison Barnes and Davion Mitchell, as well as newcomers Chris Duarte and JaVale McGee. The emergence of old-new players like Alex Len, Keon Ellis, and possibly Kessler Edwards is also worth noting, as they may pose a challenge to the aforementioned players. The imminent returns of De’Aaron Fox and Trey Lyles will undoubtedly add an intriguing twist to the rotation in the days or weeks to come.

1. Domantas Sabonis: I’ve been critical of Domas for much of this season. However, in the last two games, he has truly stepped up his performance on both ends of the court. With an impressive average of 22 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, a steal, and 1.5 blocks on 62% shooting, Sabonis has proven himself as a force to be reckoned with. Considering De’Aaron Fox’s absence and Sabonis’ remarkable improvement, it is only fair that he takes the top spot this week.
2. De’Aaron Fox: INJURED STUD
3. Keegan Murray: The jump from year 1 to year 2 isn’t exactly what we expected but things are starting to tend in the right direction. In the last two wins, Keegan is averaging 16.5 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block and a half per game. His shooting stroke is still… well missing but he continues to bring it every night on defense. Moreover, he’s looking for other ways to impact the game by focusing on rebounding, taking on a larger ball-handling role, and attacking the basket.
4. Malik Monk: It’s a mystery what Monk needs to do to earn more than 30 minutes of playing time this season, but when he’s on the court, he’s a productivity machine. He’s been a magician on the court, conjuring up plays and dishing out assists left and right, making him the third-best playmaker on the team after the Fox and the Ox. In fact, on a per 36-minute basis, he’s the undisputed assist king with 8.6 dimes. Keon may have impressed as a starter, putting his heart and soul into every game, but I still firmly believe that Monk is the team’s best option to kickstart the action. Not only can he dish out dimes, but he’s also a long-range sniper, stretching the offense and lighting the fuse right from the jump. Monk is like the spark plug that gets the whole offensive engine revving.
5. Kevin Huerter: Rejoice, for Kevin Huerter, has returned to his rightful place in the top 5! Comparing Huerter’s first four games to his last four games is like watching the Star Wars saga in sequential order rather than in release order. An easy translation for my non Star Wars dorks: Huerter’s dismal start of the season was akin to Hayden Christian complaining about sand for 2.5 hours.
   
6. Keon Ellis: Witness the remarkable ascent of Keon, rising from the bubble to claim the number six spot.  Despite limited minutes in his five games this season, he has proven to be a defensive beast playing within himself offensively during his stints on the court.
7. Alex Len: Once upon a time Alex Len was a part of a dominant Kings lineup that boasted impressive numbers in the 2022-2023 season. They had an overall plus-minus of +55.2, a 33% offensive rebounding rate, a defensively effective field goal percentage of 35%, and held teams to 75 points per 100 possessions. I like what JaVale brought this year but it remains to be seen if this is the temporary tactic of “let’s shake things up” or more of a permanent strategic move.
8. Davion Mitchell: During his benching in the Portland victory, Davion showed resilience bouncing back with an impressive performance, scoring 16 points and sinking 3 out of 4 shots from beyond the arc. Unfortunately, he fell right back into his slump against the Thunder,  scoring just 3 points on a 1-6 shooting in 17 minutes.
9. Harrison Barnes: As Greg recently pointed out, Harrison Barnes is basically off to the same start that he was last year: averaging 12 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in over 30 minutes a night. The notable difference is his plus-minus rating which currently stands at – 35 on the season compared to the -19 after 8 games last season. This means that during his time on the court this season, the team has lost an additional 16 points. One possible explanation for this is the increased depth and optionality available to the Kings compared to this time last year. 
10. Sasha Vezenkov: After being benched in the game against the Trailblazers on Wednesday, Sasha was given another chance in the rotation due to Kessler getting burned on a backdoor against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In that brief stint, he buried two crucial three-pointers and got handsy grabbing a steal.

On the bubble: JaVale McGee, Chris Duarte, & Kessler Edwards