12:20pm: The Kings have confirmed in a press release that the team has cut Jones and Heath.
8:32am: We heard yesterday that the Kings’ first round of roster counts would arrive soon, and according to Jonathan Santiago of Cowbell Kingdom, that decision has already been made. While the team hasn’t confirmed the moves yet, Santiago reports (via Twitter) that Sacramento has released camp invitees DeQuan Jones and Brandon Heath.
Jones, 23, recorded averages of 3.7 PPG, 1.7 RPG, and an 8.4 PER as an undrafted rookie last season for the Magic. Heath, who went undrafted out of San Diego State in 2007, played for Lukoil Academic in Bulgaria in 2012/13, averaging 12.0 PPG and 4.7 APG in 39 contests. Both players appeared very briefly in a single preseason game for the Kings.
Once the Kings make the two cuts official, their roster count will be down to 16 players. 14 of those guys have guaranteed contracts, and Trent Lockett has a partial guarantee on his deal, making him the odds-on favorite to be the club’s 15th man. Hamady N’Diaye also remains under contract, on a non-guaranteed deal.
Did they already cut C.J. Aiken?
I’m not 100% sure what the story with Aiken is. Even though he reportedly signed back in September, he isn’t listed on the Kings’ roster and there’s been no indication that he’s in camp with the team, as far as I know. We’re assuming for now that he’s not on the roster.
— Luke