Rollercoaster ride for Kings

This has been a rollercoaster year for the Sacramento Kings. They entered the season with great expectations, but for the first half of the season the team never gelled and looked like the Kings of 1993.

All of Sacramento’s players showed potential, but a lot of them were young and lacked guidance. The team as a hole had a hard time getting into any kind of rhythm and was in disarray. Sacramento was plummeting towards an endless dark hole of “they used to be good but now they stink.” But then the trade for Artest was made and the King’s season was salvaged in an instant.

Many say the Kings took a chance when trading Peja Stojakovic for Ron Artest, but Sacramento had nothing to lose. Stojakovic was not coming back for another season and the Kings needed to shake things up in a major way.

Artest added the much needed leadership the Kings lacked since Vlade Divac left. Before Artest came to town nobody wanted to claim roll. It has been surprising-and scary-to watch Artest become the backbone of the Kings. I have enjoyed Artests presence and the Kings are a new team with a new identity thanks to the former troublemaker.

If you’re a Kings fan you have to feel good when it comes to the team’s future. The Kings preformed well in the playoffs this year and with that experience under their belt they will be one if not the top team in the West next season.

I am crossing my fingers that they do lose anyone over the off season. I know it might be tempting for the owners to save money by letting Bonzi Wells go, but he is one of three key components to the identity of the team. If Wells or any other member of the Kings is traded or shipped off, the team will have to start all over again at becoming a force in the league.

I predict that next season the Kings have a better record than ever before. Sacramento has shown that thy can hustle and play harder than any other Kings team of the past, which is the key that opens the door to a champion in their future.