The Sacramento Kings didn’t hesitate to shake things up early this offseason as they prepare for a pivotal summer.
Less than 12 hours after being knocked out of the play-in tournament, the Kings moved on from general manager Monte McNair and quickly reached an agreement with his successor, Scott Perry.
Perry is being brought in with hopes that he can make a significant impact, and during his introductory press conference on Wednesday, he made his top priority clear. “My objective is to build a team that can win consistently,” Perry stated.
The Kings likely aren’t too familiar with the concept of a “sustainable winner,” having not experienced much long-term success in over 20 years. While they ended a 16-year playoff drought during the 2022–23 season, they’ve already slipped back out of postseason contention in the two seasons since.
Coming off a 40-42 campaign, the team’s direction remains unclear. With stars Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine set to earn a combined $91 million next season, there’s little optimism that this core will improve—and both players are aging, not ascending.
New GM Scott Perry faces a significant challenge in turning the franchise around. Building a sustainable winner could mean one of two things: making aggressive moves to contend now, or acknowledging the team’s deteriorating state and initiating a rebuild. The problem? The Kings don’t have many assets to fully commit to either strategy. Still, Perry appears ready to embrace the uphill battle.
“I enjoy challenges. I don’t run from them—I run toward them,” he said.
Perry’s confidence in his ability to turn the Kings into a “sustainable winner” is an encouraging sign for Sacramento and brings some much-needed optimism to a franchise that’s struggled for years.
With what’s expected to be a busy offseason ahead, Perry appears prepared to tackle the challenge of elevating the team to a higher level.