Following the recent trade of De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs, the Kings have managed to ease concerns about the guard’s faith in the team’s direction. However, Fox was not the only Sacramento player conveying such sentiments, as indicated by Sam Amick and Anthony Slater from The Athletic.
League sources reveal that Kings center Domantas Sabonis is seeking “clarity” regarding the organization’s future plans this offseason.
With three years and $140 million left on his current contract beyond this season, and with eligibility for an extension not arising until the 2026 offseason, the Kings do not need to make immediate decisions about his future as they did with Fox. Nevertheless, like Fox, Sabonis and key teammates are concerned about who holds sway in vital personnel decisions and which voices are prioritized by team owner Vivek Ranadive.
Amick and Slater note that Ranadive has frequently consulted individuals outside the standard front office ranks for major team decisions. Former head coach Alvin Gentry is cited as one of these outside voices, alongside John Calipari, who has also served as a confidant. Prominent executives, including chief operating officer Matina Kolokotronis and president of business operations John Rhinehart, have also wielded significant influence.
“What is the vision here?” a league source familiar with a significant Kings figure remarked. “It feels like it could be headed toward chaos.”
Here are further observations concerning the Kings from Amick and Slater:
- While Ranadive’s son Aneel Ranadive played a key role early in his father’s ownership, his daughter Anjali Ranadive is believed to have taken on a larger voice recently, leading to speculation about her potential future as team governor. Reports suggest that Anjali’s views may have influenced the Kings’ hesitation to extend head coach Mike Brown last offseason.
- Despite Anjali Ranadive resigning as the Stockton Kings’ general manager in January 2024 and stepping back from an official role in basketball operations, she is still seen as having considerable sway within the organization, according to Amick and Slater. Following the public emergence of her relationship with former NBA player Jeremy Lamb, both were noted to have become more visible in the Kings’ decision-making process at the beginning of the season, although Lamb appears to have reduced his involvement in the franchise’s decisions in recent months.
- The status of Doug Christie is also in question; as of Friday, he holds a 19-11 record in his first 30 games as head coach of the Kings, leaving uncertainty regarding his future as the permanent head coach. Sources tell The Athletic that if Sacramento continues to perform well, Christie could solidify his position. Conversely, should the franchise opt for a different strategy, they would be in search of their 14th head coach since Rick Adelman departed in 2006.
- Amick and Slater further delve into the context surrounding Fox’s departure from Sacramento, indicating that the experienced guard was uneasy about spending his prime years with a franchise mired in a cycle of “mediocrity and instability.”
Image Source: De’Aaron Fox @ Instagram
