Editing Sacramento Kings (section)

===2009–2012: Arrival of Tyreke Evans and DeMarcus Cousins===
{{main|Sacramento Kings failed relocation attempts}}

Despite having the best odds to win the top overall pick in the [[2009 NBA draft]], the Kings obtained the 4th overall pick, the lowest they could possibly pick, to the outrage of many fans. Along with new head coach [[Paul Westphal]], they selected [[Tyreke Evans]]. With the 23rd pick, they selected [[Omri Casspi]] from Israel.

[[File:Tyreke Evans.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Tyreke Evans]] won the 2010 NBA Rookie of the Year award.]]
On April 27, 2010, Evans was the first Sacramento-era player to receive the [[NBA Rookie of the Year Award]]. Evans also became the fourth player in NBA history to average 20 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game as a rookie, joining [[Oscar Robertson]], [[Michael Jordan]], and [[LeBron James]].

On June 24, 2010, the Kings selected [[DeMarcus Cousins]] with the 5th pick of the [[2010 NBA draft]]. They also selected [[Hassan Whiteside]] with the 33rd pick of the [[2010 NBA draft]].

Despite the excellent play of Cousins and Evans, both of whom were front-runners in Rookie of the Year voting<ref>{{cite press release|title=Kings' Evans takes home T-Mobile Rookie of Year award|url=http://www.nba.com/2010/news/04/29/ROY.release/|publisher=National Basketball Association|date=April 29, 2010|access-date=June 15, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610232027/http://www.nba.com/2010/news/04/29/ROY.release/|archive-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/2011/news/05/04/rookie-of-the-year/index.html|title=Blake Griffin named 2010–11 T-Mobile Rookie of the Year|work=NBA.com|access-date=June 30, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140429161346/http://www.nba.com/2011/news/05/04/rookie-of-the-year/index.html|archive-date=April 29, 2014}}</ref> and received [[NBA All-Rookie First Team|All-Rookie First Team]] honors,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/2010/news/04/30/allrookie.2010/|title=NBA.com: Evans, Jennings, Curry unanimous All-Rookie team picks|website=[[NBA.com]]|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=June 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612045808/http://www.nba.com/2010/news/04/30/allrookie.2010/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/2011/news/05/11/all-rookie-team-2010-11/index.html|title=Unanimous pick Griffin leads T-Mobile All-Rookie team roster|work=NBA.com|access-date=June 30, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150612193144/http://www.nba.com/2011/news/05/11/all-rookie-team-2010-11/index.html|archive-date=June 12, 2015}}</ref> the Kings still ranked near the bottom of the NBA, going 25–57 in Evans' rookie year, and 24–58 in Cousins' rookie year. Much of this was due to the poor fit of the roster around Evans and Cousins, and the uninspired coaching of Westphal.

The 2010–11 season was marked with uncertainty towards the end of the season. Frustrated by the lack of progress towards an arena and dwindling profits from other businesses, the [[Maloof family|Maloofs]] sought an immediate relocation of the franchise to Anaheim. The move seemed certain towards the end of the year, with Grant Napear and Jerry Reynolds emotionally signing off at the final home game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers. But after a vote by the NBA Board of Governors, the relocation effort was ended, to the glee of the fans.

In the 2011 NBA draft the Kings traded for the draft rights of [[Jimmer Fredette]] in a three-team deal with the [[Charlotte Bobcats]] and the [[Milwaukee Bucks]], with the Kings receiving [[John Salmons]] sending [[Beno Udrih]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings_draft_pick_release_2011_06_23.html|title=Kings Acquire John Salmons and Draft Rights to Jimmer Fredette in Three-Team Trade|date=June 23, 2011|website=Kings.com|publisher=NBA Media Ventures LLC|access-date=March 5, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806193234/https://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings_draft_pick_release_2011_06_23.html|url-status=live}}</ref> This move was heavily panned by fans and media; by moving down in the draft and losing longtime starter Udrih for the unproductive Salmons, most found it difficult to find a bright spot in the deal. Westphal would shortly be fired, with Warriors assistant [[Keith Smart]] hired as his replacement. Around this time, the team took the slogan "Here we rise!" for its marketing campaign. Amidst various relocation rumors and locker room tensions, the Kings had yet another unsuccessful season. One of their few bright spots was rookie [[Isaiah Thomas (basketball)|Isaiah Thomas]]. Due to criticisms about his height (5'9" in shoes) and playmaking ability, Thomas slipped to the 60th and final pick of the draft. Despite this, and the presence of college superstar Fredette, Thomas earned the starting spot, finishing the season with averages of 11 points and 4 assists per game and earned a selection to the NBA All-Rookie team. In the [[2012 NBA draft]] they selected [[Thomas Robinson (basketball)|Thomas Robinson]] out of [[Kansas]].

Because of an unproductive rookie season by Robinson, he was traded with [[Francisco García (basketball)|Francisco García]] and [[Tyler Honeycutt]] to the [[Houston Rockets]] in exchange for [[Patrick Patterson (basketball)|Patrick Patterson]], [[Toney Douglas]] and [[Cole Aldrich]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Thomas Robinson, 2012 No. 5 overall pick, dealt by Sacramento Kings to Houston Rockets|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/8968568/thomas-robinson-2012-no-5-overall-pick-dealt-sacramento-kings-houston-rockets|publisher=ESPN|date=February 21, 2013|access-date=March 22, 2013|archive-date=February 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224005535/http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8968568/thomas-robinson-2012-no-5-overall-pick-dealt-sacramento-kings-houston-rockets|url-status=live}}</ref>