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Why Is Sacramento’s Tank Stalling? | The Kings Herald Show with Jerry Reynolds

We had a better tank two weeks ago.
By and | 31 Comments | Mar 17, 2026

The Kings Herald Show returns with Jerry Reynolds, Will Griffith, and Tony Xypteras to break down the last two weeks of Sacramento Kings basketball, and the current state of the tank.

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Kfan
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March 17, 2026 12:17 pm

Tanks for another great Pod.

Last 10 games:

Nets: 2-8
Was: 0-10
Ind: 0-10
Mem: 2-8
Dal: 2-8
Uta: 2-8
Kangz: 5-5

Amonk81
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March 17, 2026 7:48 pm
Reply to  Kfan

The stubborn ego of these fucks….unreal. They think they know more than everyone else.

Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
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March 17, 2026 2:41 pm

Come on Commissioner, this tank is so ethical that it’s not even really a tank. Give us #1.

rockbottom
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March 18, 2026 7:44 am

Spurs great example of getting the number 1 pick when a franchise player is available . This draft seems to have a lot of good players with star potential but none as a franchise changer .

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 18, 2026 9:14 am
Reply to  rockbottom

I do’t know, the top three look like franchise cornerstones. If the ceiling comps are true and Boozer is the next Bosh, AJ the next McGrady/Carmelo, and Peterson dare I say the next Kobe, then they are definitely franchise changers.

rockbottom
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March 18, 2026 10:36 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Peterson hasn’t made Kansas better and actually have the lowest seed in a decade . Acuff of Arkansas seems a much better prospect but none close to Wemby .

RikSmits
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March 18, 2026 10:39 am
Reply to  rockbottom

Peterson hasn’t made Kansas better and actually have the lowest seed in a decade 

Agreed, and Jerry said the same thing on the podcast.

And like you, he also doesn’t see a franchise changer in this draft. I’m not entirley sure about that, but I tend to agree.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 18, 2026 2:26 pm
Reply to  RikSmits

Who qualifies as a franchise changer? Does Flagg count? Ant, Cade, AD? I’m just thinking of more recent 1 picks who completely changed franchises. That doesn’t count guys like Luka, Tatum, SGA, or even Jokic.

I wonder if any of the top 3 guys in this draft have higher expectations that top 3 picks of any draft over the past 15 or so years. I only ask because I seen multiple times that this is the best draft class since 2003 with LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Melo. I’d consider those 4 guys franchise changers, right?

rockbottom
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March 18, 2026 3:39 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I think the discussion was about immediate franchise changers . Like Jabbar, Robinson, Bird, Russell, and James . Their bad teams improved by anywhere from 15 games (James ) to 30 games Bird . Cade took 3 seasons and Flagg thus far little impact on winning .

RobHessing
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March 18, 2026 3:48 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I can see the potential for any one (or more) of Peterson, Dybantsa or Boozer becoming that level (Ant, Cade, etc.) of player.

The funniest thing that I constantly read is that Boozer has limited upside. Good grief, he will still be 18 on the night of the draft!

InigoMontoya
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March 19, 2026 3:07 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

This is more than the past 15 years, but for me, David Robinson was the ultimate franchise changer. Spurs were 21-61 in 88-89, but when the Admiral was a rookie, he guided them to 56-26 record, a 35 game turnaround. Spurs FO did some good moves too by bringing in Terry Cummings and Sean Elliot that year, and later, Rod Strickland, to support Robinson.

Meanwhile, i would not be suprised if the Kings get the BPA but fail to build around said top 3 pick rookie. Personally, i’d go with Boozer.

RobHessing
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March 18, 2026 2:41 pm
Reply to  RikSmits

I can see players in this draft changing a franchise. Just not this franchise. Unless there is a player that has $7billion+ and can convince Vivek to sell.

NorCalKingsFan
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March 18, 2026 7:30 pm
Reply to  RikSmits

I like AJ and Wilson as 1 & 2 in Tier 1, Boozer-Peterson-Flemings are now Tier 2 for me.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 18, 2026 8:16 pm
Reply to  NorCalKingsFan

Interesting. What is it that you like about Wilson?

Jack
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March 19, 2026 7:20 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Unless the Kings land in the top 3 then IMO they should draft Flemmings. I am also am starting to like Wagler.Acuff can’t play defense.

MidtownMike
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March 19, 2026 8:02 am
Reply to  Jack

Re Acuff, that’s okay if his scoring and playmaking is ELITE, remember we have an elite defensive sg next to him in Keo….oh wait

Last edited 6 days ago by MidtownMike
Jack
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March 19, 2026 10:42 am
Reply to  MidtownMike

Flemmings can defend. Now you have 2 good defenders in Kingston and Murray. By the way the Kings have 3 picks this year and if they trade maybe even 4. Could get some good players there too.

Jack
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March 19, 2026 10:43 am
Reply to  MidtownMike

Clifford ain’t bad.

NorCalKingsFan
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March 19, 2026 6:02 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

At 6-10, he is an athletic outlier with crazy body control and fluidity. He has quick feet, an outstanding first-step, and he’s a physical and emphatic finisher. Promising playmaker and gets to the foul line at high clip. Doesn’t turn the ball over or take bad shots and he has the mentality to push himself to maximize his ability.

Good hands, good rebounder on both sides, strong and consistent motor, high BBIQ, and his defense is a real (3.0 stocks/gm).

He’s not a 3pt threat at this point in his career, he needs to get stronger, he needs to become a better ball-handler (he has a high dribble), and I’d like him to stop relaying so much on his athleticism to recover when he does get beat on D.

IMO, he’s very similar to Cooper Flagg.
Flagg: 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks/gm
Wilson: 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 blocks/gm

I think he has the potential the best player from his draft (definitely the best 2-way player), especially if he can get to league average as a 3pt shooter (35-37%)…but its unlikely he’ll be the best player due to the presence of AJ. AJ is a truly fantastic prospect and worthy of the #1 selection on the strength and quality of his offensive game.

cloudyeyes
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March 18, 2026 12:28 pm
Reply to  rockbottom

Agreed. Lots of star talent, but I just don’t see once in a generation type talent. Watch Boozer and Kevin Love in college and their games are almost identical. AJ is like DeMar with the midrange game. Darryn Peterson…if I squint, maybe I see Kobe, but a Kobe that constantly takes himself out of games due to cramps. Definitely not mamba mentality. Also didn’t like his performance vs Houston. Caleb looks nice, but can only get so far in the league without a 3 point shot. Flemings is D-Rose lite minus the muscle or dunking, with a 3 point shot.

TheBaker
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March 18, 2026 10:59 am

Win or loss, highs or lows, lottery or just outside of it – I have complete trust in this franchise to make the absolute wrong decision in the draft.

ajonez81
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March 18, 2026 11:38 am
Reply to  TheBaker

I appreciate the sentiment, I’m clinging to the hope that eventually the Kings will accidentally get it right and ride the momentum of a few good picks. A little bit of foolish optimism is the only thing that keeps me hanging on, trying to put a little positive energy out there.

Bill2455
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March 18, 2026 12:22 pm

As of today the Kings are less than 50/50 to get a top four pick.

RobHessing
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March 18, 2026 2:43 pm
Reply to  Bill2455

Yes, their recent win streak took them from 52% down to 48%. More critically, they went from no worse than 5th pick to no worse than 8th pick.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 18, 2026 4:20 pm

Kings are down to 12 healthy bodies, 3 of which are two-way guys. That means only 9 regular rostered players for the rest of the season.

Drew Eubanks medical update- he underwent surgery on his left thumb and is out for the remainder of the season:

James Ham (@jameshamnba.bsky.social) 2026-03-18T23:11:46.301Z

Last edited 6 days ago by Adamsite
Jman1949
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March 18, 2026 5:21 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Given that they’ve had only 8 or 9 players dressed for the last several games, I don’t understand why they have Baldwin assigned to the Stockton team.

They also qualify to add another 10-day contract player to the roster under the hardship exception. I don’t know whether that would push them into tax payer territory.

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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March 18, 2026 8:15 pm
Reply to  Jman1949

No clue. From what I understand the hardship exception generally does not count against the cap, especially with 10-day deals. If they used the hardship exception to sign a guy to a regular deal, then it might push them into the tax. That means they can sign 10-day deals up until the end of the season if they want and it won’t put them into the tax. It would be a nice way to kick the tires on some other dudes.

My only conclusion…cheap ass owner who has already washed his hands of the season.

Jman1949
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March 19, 2026 11:54 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Both Nique and Malik are listed as GTD for tonight, and Carter is Out. The Kings could be down to 8 available players again.

Meanwhile, two-way players Baldwin and Stevens played for Stockton this morning—Baldwin 30 pts and 7 brds in 37 minutes and Stevens 19 pts and 10 assts in 38 minutes.

Ellis5
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March 19, 2026 12:47 am

King’s are great

Last edited 6 days ago by Ellis5
Kfan
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March 19, 2026 8:07 am
Reply to  Ellis5

at Kangzing everything up.

UpgradedToQuestionable
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March 19, 2026 8:27 am

Thank you Will, Tony and The Great Jerry Reynolds for another fun podcast.

Depressing news sweetened with good talk. Keep it coming.

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