The Kings were expecting big things out of 23-year old power forward J.J. Hickson last summer when they traded Omri Casspi and a first round pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers to get him.  He has not played too well for the Kings so far this season.  Hickson has played in 21 games (9 starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 21.8 minutes, 6.1 points, 6.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  He is also only shooting 37.7% from the floor so far this year and that is pathetic for a player of his size.  Hickson is going to have to earn his way out of Keith Smart’s Dog House.

32-year  old small forward John Salmons has been simply awful for the Kings so far this year.  He has played in 18 games (all starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 27.9 minutes, 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 seals per game.  He is only shooting 34.5% from the floor and a miserable 22.6% from the three point line this year.  Donte Greene and Francisco Garcia are going to push Salmons for P.T. if he doesn’t pick up the pace soon.

The Kings will be without starting power forward Chuck Hayes for the next 3-4 weeks due to a dislocated shoulder.  He has played in 8 games (all starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 25.4 minutes, 5.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.  J.J. Hickson will likely benefit the most from Hayes’ injury.  Hickson has played in 8 games (3 starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 22.1 minutes, 6.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game.  Hickson might not give Hayes his job back.

You have to think that Paul Westphal’s firing had a lot to do with his handling of 21-year old center DeMarcus Cousins.  Cousins recently requested a trade and I think it’s partially because the old man was a tad too hard on him.  Cousins has played in 6 games (4 starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 26.0 minutes, 13.7 points, 9.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.7 blocked shots per game.  Keith Smart’s first job as the Kings’ new head coach will be to get Cousins to act his age and not his shoe size.  That should be fascinating to watch as Cousins could be one of the best centers in the NBA right now if he were properly focused and motivated.  Cousins has a huge upside.

60-year old head coach Paul Westphal hasn’t done too good of a job with the Kings as they were 24-58 (29.3%) in 2010-11.  The Kings are now 49-115 (29.9%) in Westphal’s two years on the job and that just isn’t good enough to get the job done.  He will likely get the 2011-12 season to turn things around or he will likely be gone.  He has a 316-274 (53.6%) career record during the regular season and he is 27-22 (55.1%) in the playoffs, so he used to be a good coach.

The Sacramento Kings will be without 21-year old shooting guard Tyreke Evans at least the next three weeks as he is getting therapy on a injured foot.  Evans has played in 46 games (all starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 37.8 minutes, 18.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.  He has been banged up all season long so it’s no surprise that he’s going to miss more time due to his foot.  24-year old Jermaine Taylor and 23-year old Donte Greene will likely see bumps in P.T. as long as Evans is out of action.  Taylor has played in 10 games (2 starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 13.2 minutes, 5.2 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.  Donte Greene has played in 45 (20 starts) for the Kings this season and he is averaging 17.0 minutes, 6.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  The Kings need Taylor & Greene to step up as Evans is the best player the Kings have.

The Kings moved 22-year old small forward Omri Casspi into the starting lineup recently but they need more out of him offensively.  In his last 10 games, Casspi is averaging 34.4 minutes, 10.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.  But, Casspi is only shooting 39.8% from the floor and 32.6% from three point range in his last 10 games and that just isn’t going to cut it.  Casspi has now played in 47 games (17 starts) in which he is averaging 25.1 minutes, 9.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  Don’t be surprised if the Kings try to deal Casspi before the trade deadline later this month.

The Kings will likely be without starting shooting guard Tyreke Evans for the next three games due to plantar fasciitis.  Evans has played in 20 games (all starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 35.8 minutes, 16.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  The Kings will need Francisco Garcia and Luther Head to step up while Evans is out of action.  Garcia has played in 19 games (1 starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 20.1 minutes, 7.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.  Head has played in 18 games (8 starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 18.9 minutes, 6.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.  Evans’ play was starting to suffer because of his injury so giving him some time off is both in his best interest as well as the Kings’ best interest.

29-year old center Samuel Dalembert was supposed to add defense and rebounding to the Kings and he done that so far.  But, his offense has been so bad that it is starting to cost him playing time.  Dalembert has played in 17 games (12 starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 22.0 minutes, 4.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.8 blocked shots per game.  But, despite his size, he’s only shooting 39.8% from the floor.  Dalembert is also only shooting 60% from the free throw line which is pretty bad.

21-year old shooting guard Tyreke Evans is off to a rough start to his sophomore season in the NBA.  Evans has played in 14 games (all starts) for the Kings so far this year and he is averaging 36.8 minutes, 17.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game.  While those aren’t terrible numbers, his shooting has been way off so far this year.  Evans is hitting 40.8% from the floor and he’s only 5 of 27 (18.5%) from three point range.  Evans is the best offensive player the Kings have so they need him to pick up the pace.