Source: Kings.com

If you consider only names on a page, more specifically, the Kings 2015/16 roster, the answer to this question should be, yes. Rondo, motivated to get back to greatness and earn a huge contract. Cousins, arguably the best big man in the game, if not the best, then certainly the one with the brightest future besides Anthony Davis. Rudy Gay, apparently a smarter and more mature player than ever with no less scoring ability. And Willie Cauley-Stein, extremely motivated, extremely raw, looks like he could be a top three defensive big man by his first NBA game.

When you add to these stars the up-and-coming Ben McLemore, champion sharp-shooter, Marco Belinelli, solid, though disgruntled PG, Darren Collison, and the giant, Kosta Koufos, you could, being of sound mind, declare the Kings a playoff team.

I haven’t even mentioned the basketball mind behind this very good roster, George Karl, one of the more respected coaches in recent memory, and although not a champion, a perpetual visitor to Playoff Land. But that’s where the issues start, because an NBA team, or any type of team for that matter, is not just names on a page. They aren’t rosters in a video game whose games are simulated. They are people with opinions and desires and frustrations.

To me, the biggest determinant of whether or not the Kings make the playoffs will not be the combined skill of the team, or even in what style they’re employed, but rather, can this team win together? Can this organization win together?

If we assume that 90% of the rumors we heard about George Karl’s Draft Day-esque wheeling and dealing during this offseason were in fact manufactured by other organizations attempting to poison the water, Dan Fegan attempting to do the same, or some combination of the two, that is still not a good sign. Sure, you can’t control other organizations, but if Fegan really made all this nonsense up, it means that either he or Boogie would like to leave Sacramento, and they’d like a good reason for doing so. Perhaps the plan was a failure, thanks mostly to Vlade’s steadfastness, but that doesn’t make Boogie any happier. Do all the acquisitions and maneuvering make him happier? They should, but that doesn’t mean they will.

This year is absolutely pivotal for the Sacramento Kings organization, and I’m aware that that’s common knowledge. But if this team wins and shows real progress, the Kings will have real firepower to hold Boogie to his contract extension because he will have no real reason to demand a trade. Plus, if they really do play well, as the cap skyrockets after the season, the Kings may be able to even persuade Rondo to sign for a few more years.

Getting back to the titular question, will the Kings make the playoffs, I believe that they will, partially because I believe they have to. Failure is truly not an option.