Keegan Murray
Getty
Keegan Murray of the Sacramento Kings.
Not much has gone according to plan for the Sacramento Kings this season. They are currently 8-28, tied for the fewest wins in the Western Conference. Injuries have definitely played their part and are only getting worse as another starter, Keegan Murray, is set to miss time.
Chris Haynes
Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray will be sidelined 3-4 weeks after sustaining a moderate left ankle sprain.
In a 115-98 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, Murray picked up an ankle injury that could keep himout for at least 3-4 weeks. That will be the second large chunk of time Murray will miss this season. He already missed the opening15 games of the season after needing surgery on his thumb.
Murray is now the second crucial starter on the Kings’ injury report who is going to miss a lot of time, with Domantas Sabonis being the other. Sabonis has not played since November 16due to a partial knee tear. Ironically, in that loss to the Bucks, Zach LaVine made his return after missing nine games with an ankle injury.
Why is Keegan Murray Important
Keegan Murray
GettyKeegan Murray with the ball in the paint.
Injuries have clearly played a factor in the Kings’ season. Last season, Murray, Sabonis, and LaVine were ranked in the top five in minutes and points per game for the Kings. This season, they have missed a combined 54 games.
That alone is a big reason why Murray’s injury is important. The Kings have consistently been without the players they relied on last season. In Murray’s 19 games this season, he is leading the Kings in minutes per game at 35.9. He is also averaging 14.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, ranking in the top five for the Kings this season.
However, it clearly has not turned into wins. The Kings are4-15 with Murray on the court, and he has a +/- of -128. Furthermore, the same can be said about Sabonis and LaVine. In the 11 games that Sabonis played, theKings went 2-9, while they are5-19 with LaVine on the court.
Even though injuries have played a part in the Kings’ struggles this season, they can’t be the only reason, as they keep losing even with their key players in the lineup. That has led to the possibility of the Kings being sellers at the trade deadline. Malik Monk has alreadybeen made available.
If the Kings do decide to sell at the deadline, the importance of Murray’s injury changes. While it is doubtful Murray will be traded, he could be what the Kings begin to build around. Murray is only in his fourth season, and at 25, he could be a building block for the future.
What Will Kings Do Without Murray
Keegan Murray
GettyKeegan Murray #13 trailing the play on defense.
The one positive about the loss to the Bucks was that LaVine made his return to the court and looked good. LaVine came off the bench, scoring 20 points on 12 shots, going 2-4 from three, and adding four assists.
Now with Murray out, it won’t be hard to find a starting spot for LaVine. Furthermore, LaVine’s scoring of 20.2 points per game will have a bigger impact than Murray’s 14.6. However, on defense is where swapping out these two players will hurt the Kings.
The Kings already have the league’sthird-worst defensive rating at 119.8. Because of that, no player on the Kings has a great defensive rating, but at least Murray’s is below the team’s average, at117.8. Then there is LaVine, who is above average at121.7.
On top of that, the Kings’ schedule is brutal. Their next five games are against the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and New York Knicks. Four of those teams are likely playoff locks, while the Mavericks are fighting to get back into the play-in. Not to mention, the Kings have already lost five straight, losing by at least 14 in each matchup.