The Sacramento Kings have not made the playoffs for eight seasons, but it has not been for lack of trying. Kings ownership wants to win and has not been afraid to make roster moves since Vivek Ranadive bought the team from the Maloof family in 2013. The trouble for Sacramento is that management continues to make befuddling choices that seem to keep the squad tolling near the bottom of the Western Conference.

The Kings have talent, particularly at the center position with DeMarcus Cousins, who many experts believe can blossom into the best big man in the league. A lack of leadership and a dysfunctional locker room, however, continue to be the downfall for Sacramento season after season. And 2014 may be no different. Let's take a closer look at the Kings 2014 futures odds with predictions and analysis.

2014 Sacramento Kings Betting Story Lines

Sacramento went into the offseason with a high draft pick, little cap space, and a list of free agents to re-sign to go along with questions about Cousins' maturity level heading into the FIBA World Cup. And while the team may have made a few uninspiring draft picks and free agent signings, the most encouraging news coming out of the summer, was Cousins' mini transformation playing with Team USA.

The center went into international play with questions surrounding his passion, maturity level and whether or not he was even worth having on the roster. Cousins has dealt with a long history of locker room issues and on-court outbursts that hurt his team and questioned his desire to be an elite NBA-level player. However, there were no such issues during the World Cup even after he was questioned the media, fans and his own coaches.

Cousins spent the summer with his head down, looking to improve his play and nothing else. That hard work manifested itself during the Gold Medal game where the center's play helped Team USA dominate after Anthony Davis got into early foul trouble. The question now is whether or not that attitude will carry over into the regular season.

2014 Sacramento Kings Roster Additions and Departures

The Kings made quite a few moves during the free agency period, but the biggest and most impactful was the swapping out of Isaiah Thomas for Darren Collison. Thomas was one of the few bright spots on last year's 28-win team and a player that could have been pivotal to Sacramento's rebuild. Management, however, was never sold on the guard and ended up choosing the wrong player according to most NBA experts.

Sacramento also added long-ranger shooter Omri Casspi and seven-footer Ryan Hollins to go along with its first-round draft choice Ben McLemore. The team will also have the quietly-resurging Rudy Gay for a full season-he joined the squad midway through last year.

2014 Sacramento Kings Futures Odds and Trends

NBA title Odds: +25000

Western Conference odds: +12500

Sacramento is near the bottom in both NBA title and Western Conference futures odds. The team simply does not have the talent, coaching or management to win an NBA title in 2014. The Kings could be a viable betting on option ATS-wise with the improved attitude and play from Cousins. In 2013 the squad produced a horrible 37-42-3 ATS record while recording the exact same totals mark.

2014 Sacramento Kings Predictions and Picks

Record : 35-47

Playoffs : No

The NBA can be a hard place for teams near the bottom of the heap. Unlike other sports, where the game is truly a team effort, basketball is a situation where one player can change a game. And unfortunately for Sacramento, they do not have a player of that caliber. Cousins is making strides, but 2014 will not be the year he turns into a Top 10 player in the league.

The Kings could be a viable option to wager on the "under" as they will continue to have a slower-paced offense, especially without Thomas handing the ball. However, betting on any Sacramento futures wagers will not have any value outside of being a fan and wanting a little action on the team.

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