Whether the West is "easier" next season or not, I just don't think you can rest on your laurels. I would have been fine if, after hiring Monte McNair, the Kings had decided to sell off all of their talent for young players, first rounders, and bad contracts that brought back more future picks. They could have gone full Presti. But they were in the middle of a decade-plus playoff drought, they had recently moved into a new arena, and the fans were still as disillusioned as ever. I don't fault the front office for trying to build around Fox. After it was abundantly clear that their mandate was to break the drought, I was a huge proponent of the trade for Sabonis and a huge fan of the Keegan pick. And the Carter pick this off-season was excellent value at 13. But... it's still not enough. If they want to be a perennial playoff team in the west for at least the next handful of seasons, they can't stall out, as you say. Asset depleted though they are, the Kings have to find ways to upgrade starting slots where they just aren't getting enough two-way production. That means repurposing HB and Huerter in some form or fashion.