NBA Notes: Kings, Zach LaVine, Mavericks, Daniel Gafford, Pacers

Sacramento Kings Struggles

The early season narrative around the Sacramento Kings took another blow after their 126-113 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports highlighted that the old joke about the Kings "turning into the Bulls" no longer fits. The Bulls are younger, faster, and more modern compared to Sacramento’s team.

With the exception of Nikola Vucevic, the Kings rely on a young rotation but remain stuck in mid-range shooting. They rank twenty-second in shots at the rim and have the fifth worst offense overall. Their style feels more like an All-Star nostalgia team than a progressive NBA offense.

Sam Quinn, CBS Sports: "Chicago is younger, faster and modern. Sacramento is stuck in mid-range land. Twenty-second in shots at the rim. Fifth worst on offense overall."

Zach LaVine's Market Situation

Regarding Zach LaVine, Quinn noted that teams are not actively pursuing him. Sam Amick from The Athletic mentioned on The Carmichael Dave Show that he cannot "name one team" currently monitoring LaVine with certainty.

Sam Amick, The Athletic: "I cannot name one team monitoring LaVine right now with any certainty."

Outlook for the Kings

Keegan Murray’s return will be a boost, but Sacramento needs far more than just a small improvement. The Kings previously experienced success and then panicked, attempting to hold onto it by keeping older players. This has led to a loss of the team's identity.

Injury Updates

Daniel Gafford plans to make his season debut on Saturday in Mexico City against Detroit after being sidelined since spraining his ankle on the first day of training camp. This was confirmed by Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News and Christian Clark of The Athletic.

D’Angelo Russell is currently questionable for upcoming games. Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, and Dante Exum remain out due to injuries.

Daniel Gafford’s debut: "Plans to play Saturday vs. Detroit after an ankle sprain from training camp."

Author's summary: The Sacramento Kings are struggling with offensive inefficiency and identity loss, while key players face injuries and uncertain futures, highlighting a challenging season start.

Hoops Wire — 2025-11-02