For the Sacramento Kings, it seemed like the rebuild would never end. This was especially true after a disappointing 2017-18 campaign that saw the team go 27-55, and the teams two prized building blocks — De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield — struggle to show they could be anything more than role players or specialists, despite high hopes for the two former lottery picks.
While Fox showed flashes in his rookie year, he struggled mightily adjusting to the NBA and many wondered whether he would ever develop a jump shot or even be able to succeed without one. For fans who have longed for a franchise-changing talent, taking Fox as the fifth overall pick in the 2017-18 NBA Draft seemed like a mistake for the Kings, something that was amplified as the league watched other first-round picks Kyle Kuzma, Donovan Mitchell, Lauri Markannen Bam Adebayo and OG Annunoby (among others) become foundational pieces for their respective franchises.