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The best way to understand what the Kings are doing here is to understand that their goal is to not eventually win a title and is not to be as good as possible immediately. Instead, the goal is to build a contender around De'Aaron Fox.
If their goal was an eventual title at any cost, they'd punt on everyone, including Fox, and try to win 15 games this year. This is what real tanking is. If the goal was contending now, they'd keep Bogdanovic and trade picks for good players.
They're riding the middle line because all players but Fox are assets to make an eventual team around Fox. This is clearly what Haliburton was sold, probably not what Bagley was sold, and definitely not what Hield and Bogdanovic were sold.
So your core is Fox and Haliburton. That's it. Bagley is a carryover from a previous GM who will be given the chance to prove he is the third part of this here. Hield and Barnes are under contract and will be started with the assumption they will eventually walk if not traded.
Everyone else, absolutely everyone else, is either a player here to fill the role right now who can have a job on a better, later version of the team if they want it or a flier with the chance to join the core if they show out. No exceptions.
This is what Portland was and is around Lillard (And committed to being the day Aldridge walked), among other current examples. It's how a team who will not get a great free agent on merit who has someone great on roster does and should operate. Carry on.
