There are a lot of unknowns about the Sacramento Kings with training camp set to open, and we are talking about more than just the mystery that surrounds their arena issue.
Can Tyreke Evans reclaim his game after falling off last season?
Is DeMarcus Cousins ready to take his abilities to the next level in Sacramento?
What kind of impact will Thomas Robinson have during his rookie season?
Even with all of these questions, the one thing no one has to worry about with the Kings is the one-two point guard punch they will pack this season. And a lot of that has to do with the addition of Aaron Brooks, who signed as an unrestricted free agent back in mid-July.
The deal came after much uncertainty surrounding Brooks finishing up his season playing in the Chinese Basketball Association's Guangdong Southern Tigers and whether the 6-foot point guard was going to return to the Phoenix Suns. Brooks may have led his team to the CBA Championship against Stephon Marbury and Beijing Ducks — where Starbury would finally win the big one — but the writing was on the wall even then about his future in Phoenix.
Now Phoenix’s loss is Sacramento’s gain.
Phoenix acquired Brooks acquired from the Houston Rockets at the trade deadline in 2011 and the four-year pro averaged 9.6 points and 4.2 assists in 18.9 minutes of play in 25 games with the Suns. The trouble is, Brooks never really got into a good rhythm with the Suns. But that is where the lockout and Brooks playing in China may have really helped his overall game.
The logic: even if it was the CBA, Brooks was able to regain his scoring touch averaging 22.3 points (shooting 55 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point) per game in 41 games for Guangdong.
Couple that with the impressive rookie season Isaiah Thomas had and the Kings will not have a problem pushing the tempo and running the show in Sacramento.
But who starts and who will come off of the bench?
That is the kind of problem head coach Keith Smart does not mind dealing with.
Last season Thomas was the fourth leading scorer for the Kings, when he averaged 11.7 points, 4.2 assists and shot nearly 50 percent from the field in 25 minutes. The plan could be to bring Thomas off of the bench to help bring some energy. But if Smart ends up starting Thomas, Brooks playing as a back-up is not a bad move either if he can boost scoring in the second unit.
Brooks’ best season in the NBA came in 2009-10 when he averaged 19.6 points and 5.6 assists per game in 82 starts for the Houston Rockets. Brooks followed up that season by winning the Most Improved Player award, before being shipped off to Phoenix for Goran Dragic and a first round pick in 2011.
One thing is for sure: Jimmer Fredette has some questions of his own to figure out with his back-up point guard role likely bumping to third on the depth chart.
Who should the Kings start at point guard? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below or on Twitter by using the hashtag #KingsDay.
