Editing Sacramento Kings (section)

===2015–2017: Rise of Cousins===
On March 3, 2015, the Kings announced former Sacramento center [[Vlade Divac]] as the new vice president of basketball operations.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kings Name Vlade Divac Vice President of Basketball and Franchise Operations|url=http://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-name-vlade-divac-vice-president-bball-franchise-operations|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Kings.com|date=March 3, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2015|archive-date=October 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023024557/http://www.nba.com/kings/news/kings-name-vlade-divac-vice-president-bball-franchise-operations|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the end of Sacramento's 29–53 season for 2014–15, The Kings made aggressive off-season moves in drafting [[Willie Cauley-Stein]] and acquiring [[Rajon Rondo]], [[Kosta Koufos]], [[Marco Belinelli]], and [[Caron Butler]] in preparation for the [[2015–16 Sacramento Kings season|2015–16 season]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kings Sign Rondo, Belinelli, Koufos|url=http://www.nba.com/kings/news/07132015-press-release|publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC|website=Kings.com|date=July 13, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2015|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127065209/https://www.nba.com/kings/news/07132015-press-release|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Kings select Willie Cauley-Stein with No. 6 pick in 2015 NBA draft|url=https://www.si.com/nba/2015/06/25/willie-cauley-stein-2015-nba-draft-sacramento-kings|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=June 26, 2015|access-date=August 20, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145618/http://www.si.com/nba/2015/06/25/willie-cauley-stein-2015-nba-draft-sacramento-kings|url-status=live}}</ref> To free up cap space, Divac traded [[Nik Stauskas]], [[Carl Landry]], [[Jason Thompson (basketball)|Jason Thompson]], a future top 10 protected first-round pick, and the right to swap two future first-round picks to the [[Philadelphia 76ers]] for the rights to second-round picks [[Artūras Gudaitis]] and [[Luka Mitrović]].<ref>Rich Hoffman, [https://www.phillyvoice.com/grades-trade-sixers-stauskas-thompson-landry-kings/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802223608/https://www.phillyvoice.com/grades-trade-sixers-stauskas-thompson-landry-kings/|date=August 2, 2018}} "Grading the trade: Sixers acquire Stauskas, Thompson, Landry, first-round pick, and two pick swaps from Kings", July 2, 2015</ref> While the 76ers gave up nearly nothing to acquire draft assets that would result in the selection of number 1 overall pick [[Markelle Fultz]], the Kings remained one of the worst teams in the NBA. It was regarded by many as one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history.<ref>Tony Manfred, [https://www.businessinsider.com/sixers-trade-stauskas-picks-kings-deal-2015-7], "The Sixers got 3 players and a 1st-round pick for nothing in one of the most lopsided NBA trades ever", July 2, 2015</ref>

On April 14, 2016, after a 33–49 season, the Kings fired head coach George Karl.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/15203663/sacramento-kings-fire-coach-george-karl|title=Kings fire Karl, search for 9th coach since '07|newspaper=ESPN.com|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221003949/http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/15203663/sacramento-kings-fire-coach-george-karl|url-status=live}}</ref> Karl compiled a record of 44–68 with the Kings.

The [[2016–17 NBA season|2016–17 season]] brought several changes. The Kings moved into their new arena, [[Golden 1 Center]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/city-arena/article109698662.html|title=Gleaming Golden 1 Center a big upgrade from Kings' previous eight homes|newspaper=sacbee|access-date=December 19, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221063551/http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/city-arena/article109698662.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 9, 2016, the Kings hired former Memphis Grizzlies coach [[Dave Joerger]] as head coach.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/kings/2016/05/09/dave-joerger-sacramento-kings-memphis-grizzlies/84132000/|title=Sacramento Kings hire Dave Joerger as next head coach|newspaper=USA TODAY|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221153200/http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/kings/2016/05/09/dave-joerger-sacramento-kings-memphis-grizzlies/84132000/|url-status=live}}</ref> During the [[2016 NBA draft]], the Kings traded the 8th pick to the Phoenix Suns for the 13th and 28th pick in the draft, as well as the rights to Serbian guard [[Bogdan Bogdanović (basketball)|Bogdan Bogdanović]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2016-nba-draft-kings-select-marquese-chriss-at-no-8-trade-him-to-suns/|title=2016 NBA Draft: Kings pick Marquese Chriss at No. 8, trade him to Suns|newspaper=CBSSports.com|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180536/http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2016-nba-draft-kings-select-marquese-chriss-at-no-8-trade-him-to-suns/|url-status=live}}</ref> Later in the evening, the Kings traded Marco Belinelli to the [[Charlotte Hornets]] in exchange for the 22nd pick in the draft.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/report-kings-trade-marco-belinelli-to-hornets-for-no-22-pick/|title=Report: Kings trade Marco Belinelli to Hornets for No. 22 pick|newspaper=CBSSports.com|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180602/http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/report-kings-trade-marco-belinelli-to-hornets-for-no-22-pick/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Kings selected four players in the 2016 NBA draft—Greek center [[Georgios Papagiannis]] with the 13th pick, [[Syracuse Orange men's basketball|Syracuse]] shooting guard [[Malachi Richardson]] with the 22nd pick, Kentucky forward [[Skal Labissière|Skal Labissiere]] with the 28th pick, and [[Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball|Oklahoma]] guard [[Isaiah Cousins]] with the 59th pick.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article85636657.html|title=Kings turn one first-round pick into three in NBA draft|newspaper=sacbee|access-date=December 16, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221061404/http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/article85636657.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In free agency, the Kings signed [[Anthony Tolliver]], [[Garrett Temple]], [[Arron Afflalo]], [[Matt Barnes]], and [[Ty Lawson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/team/transactions/_/name/sac/sacramento-kings|title=Sacramento Kings 2016 Team Transactions: Trades, Injured List, Free Agents and Signings - ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=December 19, 2016|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221041401/http://www.espn.com/nba/team/transactions/_/name/sac/sacramento-kings|url-status=live}}</ref>