Ceiling, floor for the Sacramento Kings: A deeper postseason run is in reach

The Sacramento Kings ended a 16-year playoff drought last season before losing to the Golden State Warriors in the opening round. 

Ceiling: 50-32 and a second-round exit

The Kings had their best season in almost two decades. A publicity stunt known as "The Beam" became a sense of pride for the playing staff. Heading into the new season, Sacramento will want that pride to continue. 

Under Mike Brown, the Kings deployed a robust offense. Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox became a fearsome duo. Keegan Murray showed signs of All-Star potential.

The shock factor is gone. Teams around the NBA know what to expect now. However, Sacramento's young core would have improved throughout the summer. 

Davion Mitchell will have a huge role as the Kings' point-of-attack lynchpin. Fox will be expected to take another developmental leap. The Kings are in a good spot heading into the new season. 

If Brown can get similar performance levels from his team, they should be a shoo-in for the playoffs. With some postseason experience under their belt, the Kings could progress out of the first round. After all, they pushed the Warriors to seven games. It took a 50-point night from Steph Curry to close out the series. 

The Kings are fun. They play up-tempo basketball. And they have multiple young stars wanting to prove themselves. A second-round playoff exit is not an impossible ceiling for them to reach. 

Floor: 42-42 and a play-in tournament spot

Last season, the Kings had something to fight for. Breaking the franchise's playoff drought was a cause everyone could get behind. "The Beam" was a fun and inventive way to incentivize winning. 

There is no guarantee that "The Beam" will return next season. The Kings must find a new reason to give their all in every game. However, Sacramento can't get caught up in finding their "why." 

Instead, the Kings need to prove last year wasn't an anomaly. Higher expectations bring higher pressure. Sacramento's roster isn't used to playing under that type of weight. We could see a regression before the team takes another step forward. 

Murray could find things more difficult in his sophomore year. Teams will have a full scouting report on his tendencies. Murray will need to adapt and evolve. 

The two-man game between Sabonis and Fox must elevate to a new level. Any slippage and Sacramento's season could become a battle for the play-in tournament. The Kings have built themselves a platform for future success. However, growth isn't linear. 

Sacramento could learn that lesson the hard way in the coming months, if their core rotation fails to evolve.