Kings guard Kevin Huerter has been cleared for on-court workouts, shooting drills, and a complete strength-and-conditioning program, Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee relays (Twitter link) via a team medical update.
Huerter underwent surgery in late March to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He will be reevaluated in mid-October before being cleared for full-contact activity. That timeline suggests Huerter will miss some early season games.
Huerter was the subject of numerous trade rumors during the offseason. However, he remains the team’s projected starting shooting guard once he returns to action.
Huerter spent the first four seasons of his career in Atlanta before being traded to Sacramento during the 2022 offseason in exchange for a protected first-round pick. The 25-year-old set new career highs in points per game (15.2) and three-point percentage (40.2%) during his first season as a King, but saw his role and his numbers dip last season as head coach Mike Brown made defense a greater priority.
Huerter averaged just 10.2 PPG on .443/.361/.766 shooting in 64 contests (24.4 MPG) before suffering his shoulder injury on March 18 against Memphis. He started 59 of 64 games as De’Aaron Fox’s backcourt partner.
Huerter is entering the third year of a four-year, $65MM contract. He’ll make $16,830,357 next season and $17,991,071 in 2025/26.
Huerter has to go. His role is redundant. Unless you’re banking on Malik or Demar going down there’s not a real reason to hold on to that salary. Need depth literally everywhere else.
No one will take Huerter, until he is fully recoverd and able to play to prove he can still play !!
Unless Huerter develops consistency in his scoring I think they move him for a PF that can help Sabonis on defense.
Why didn’t Kings trade for Walker Kessler?
According to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, the Knicks and Jazz have indeed spoken about a trade centered around the young big man Walker Kessler
Because making a deal with Ainge is about as pleasant as a sandpaper condom
Think he makes too much to play 18-20 mins as a reserve. They already have a 6th man in Monk, so both of them make a combined 35 mil per year. Huerter throughout his career hasn’t even been too good off the bench anyhow. Should consider moving him for a PF.
Kings must really love him…