Kings keep losing, but lack of progress makes slow start harder to take

The Kings weren’t expected to win much. They were supposed to learn something about the players who might eventually help them do it.

At 1-8, with seven double-digit losses, even that part has been difficult.

Will Zimmerle of Kings On SI highlighted the limited roles of Nique Clifford and Alex Karaban⁠ among the team’s early disappointments. Both arrived as first-round investments. Neither is getting much opportunity to establish himself.

Clifford is averaging 6.3 minutes and 1.6 points after showing promise as a rookie. Karaban has appeared in five games, averaging 1.4 points.

Those numbers don’t settle whether either player belongs in the long-term plan. They do raise a reasonable question about how the Kings intend to find out.

As Zimmerle noted, Clifford looked more comfortable alongside younger teammates last season than when fitting around the veterans. Finding useful minutes around Darius Acuff Jr., Zach LaVine, Domantas Sabonis and Malik Monk remains a challenge.

Acuff has supplied the strongest reason for optimism. But one promising rookie can only do so much to make repeated blowouts worth watching.

That’s the bigger concern here. Losing during a rebuild is understandable. Losing badly while potential building blocks barely play makes the purpose harder to see.

There are 73 games left, plenty of time for roles to change. The Kings need to use them to develop players and establish some competitive habits.

Otherwise, they risk finishing another season with a bad record and too many of the same questions.