Sacramento Kings Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Kings Notes: Hield, Bogdanovic, Labissiere

October 22nd, 2017 at 9:32pm CST by Austin Kent

Shooting guard Buddy Hield isn’t afraid of putting up shots, even the occasional ones that leave Kings fans scratching their heads. That’s just something head coach Dave Joerger will have to work with if it means keeping the prolific deep threat in a rhythm, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee writes.

“I’m a shooting guard, so I’m trying to get as many shots as I can get,” Hield, who joined the Kings in the midseason trade that sent DeMarcus Cousins to the Pelicans last year, said. “They call me thirsty on the team. They say I’m thirsty because I’m always trying to get a shot up.”

Jones notes that Hield’s teammates don’t consider him selfish so they aren’t afraid to keep feeding him the ball if it means that he might get hot from the perimeter and change the outlook of a game.

“I’ve been reining him in, making him play the way we want to play,” said Joerger in his second year at the helm of the Kings. “[…] But then for certain guys at any moment you give them a little more latitude, and I think he’s one of those guys.”

There’s more news from Sacramento:

After sitting out the first three games of the season, Bogdan Bogdanovic‘s status for Monday’s game against the Suns has been upgraded to probable, the team announced on its website. If he plays, it’ll be the 25-year-old draft-and-stash rookie’s NBA debut after signing the largest rookie contract in league history.
It won’t be long before the Kings turn to Skal Labissiere as more of an offensive weapon, James Ham of NBC Sports writes. The 21-year-old sophomore has already made substantial improvements over the course of his young career.
Despite how impressive De’Aaron Fox looks in his rookie season, it’s unlikely that the Lakers regret drafting Lonzo Ball, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee writes in a question-and-answer with readers. Los Angeles knew exactly what they were getting in Ball and there’s a good choice that both end up becoming All-Stars.

Vlade Divac Talks Every Player On Kings' Roster

October 21st, 2017 at 11:26am CST by marksuleymanov

Lonzo Ball looked overmatched during his NBA debut against the Clippers as Patrick Beverley aggressively shut him down. Ball, 19, returned last night to post 29 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in the Lakers‘ win against the Suns. Team president Magic Johnson spoke to USA Today before Ball’s debut and addressed his mindset before the game.

“He’s nervous,” Johnson said. “But he has a demeanor where you don’t know he’s nervous. But tonight, he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.”

It did not take long for Ball to show a glimpse of why he was one of the most highly-anticipated rookies in recent memory. His near triple-double in the Lakers’ 132-130 win over Phoenix show his potential is off the charts. While one game does not define Ball or what his career will be like, it’s clear that he still has support from Lakers brass and it will stay that way for years to come.

“Last year he was the most efficient college basketball player,” Johnson said. “And now that he’s come to the pros, he’s been — ever since we drafted him — he’s been a great young man, a great teammate. His teammates, they love him. Love him. Those were the things I was looking for (before drafting him).

Check out other news around the Pacific Division:

Chris Paul has been mostly silent on why he left the Clippers to play for the Rockets. However, in a recent documentary, Paul said his former team’s “culture” is one reason he left, claiming the team did not do enough to compete with Golden State, Elliot Teaford of The Orange County Register writes. Clippers coach Doc Rivers fired back, saying, “I don’t think you have to try to burn the house down or justify why you left. That’s what I would say to it. I like our culture.”
Julius Randle looked lackadaisical on defense and offense in the Lakers’ season-opener, which led to a stern talk from head coach Luke Walton, Bill Oram of The Orange County Register writes. Whether it’s frustration over losing the starting spot or not being in game shape, Randle’s performance on Thursday was alarming.
Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee spoke with Kings‘ general manager Vlade Divac, who gave his thoughts on every player on Sacramento’s roster.
The Kings hired former WNBA coach and player Jenny Boucek as an assistant player development coach, according to the Associated Press.

Measuring Success In 2017/18

October 19th, 2017 at 7:48pm CST by Austin Kent

The Kings won’t be a playoff team in 2017/18 but that doesn’t mean they can’t still be successful, Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee writes. With so many new faces on the roster, the club will be happy to develop their young players and see a true culture shift.

Bogdanovic, Fox Among ROY Candidates

October 15th, 2017 at 10:58pm CST by Austin Kent

The Kings‘ rebuild is progressing well for a number of different reasons but one of the most obvious is the fact that they have two first-year players in the race for the Rookie of the Year award. By Jason Jones of the Sacramento Bee‘s count, both De’Aaron Fox and Bogdan Bogdanovic are legitimate contenders for the year-end hardware.

Kings Waive Three Players

October 15th, 2017 at 8:55am CST by Luke Adams

The Kings got down to the regular season roster limit on Saturday by parting with three players, according to RealGM’s official NBA transactions log. Sacramento waived camp invitees Matt Jones, David Stockton, and Reggie Hearn.

Jones, a 6’5″ guard out of Duke, received an Exhibit 10 contract when he signed with the Kings, so he’s a good bet to land in the G League with the Reno Bighorns as an affiliate player, earning him a modest bonus.

Stockton and Hearn, meanwhile, have been mainstays at Reno in recent years, so it makes sense that they’d return to the Bighorns for the coming season. Details of the contracts they signed with Sacramento earlier this week aren’t known, but there’s a good chance they include Exhibit 10 clauses as well, to ensure both players get a little extra bonus money for heading back to the G League.

With the three cuts, the Kings are now ready for the regular season, with 15 players on NBA contracts and two on two-way deals.

Kings Want Bogdan Bogdanovic To Be More Aggressive

October 10th, 2017 at 9:39pm CST by marksuleymanov

Kings head coach Dave Joerger wants Bogdan Bogdanovic to use his years of international experience in the NBA and stop passing up open shots, Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee writes.

Kings Sign Reggie Hearn, David Stockton

October 10th, 2017 at 4:18pm CST by ChrisCrouse

The Kings have signed Reggie Hearn and David Stockton, according to a team press release.

Hearn played for Sacramento’s G League affiliate, the Reno Bighorns, over the past three seasons. During the 2016/17 campaign, he averaged 13.5 points while shooting 44.2% from downtown.

Stockton played for the Bighorns during three separate stints since 2014. He supplemented his G-League experiences with contracts in Croatia and New Zealand.

The Kings’ roster now stands at 20 players. Sacramento is likely to waive both players before the season begins and the duo is expected to suit up for the Bighorns as a result.

Kings Waive Marcus Williams

October 10th, 2017 at 3:50pm CST by Luke Adams

The Kings have waived veteran guard Marcus Williams, the team announced today in a press release. Williams joined Sacramento last month as a camp invitee, but was viewed as a long shot to make the regular season roster.

Williams, 31, was the 22nd overall pick in the 2006 draft, but the UConn product spent just four years in the league, appearing in 203 total games for the Nets, Warriors, and Grizzlies. He hasn’t appeared in a regular season NBA game since the 2009/10 season, having continued his professional career overseas and spent time with clubs in Russia, China, Spain, Serbia, Montenegro, and France.

Williams played in two preseason games for Sacramento, averaging 6.0 PPG and 3.0 APG in 15.7 minutes per contest.

The Kings now have 16 players under contract, not counting their two-way players. With 15 of those players on guaranteed deals, non-guaranteed camp invitee Matt Jones figures to join Williams on the waiver wire sometime before opening night.

Poll: Sacramento Kings’ 2017/18 Win Total

October 10th, 2017 at 1:54pm CST by Luke Adams

As Dana Gauruder of Hoops Rumors detailed on Monday night, the Kings’ 2017 offseason was a somewhat unusual one. Sacramento continued loading up on young talent, adding four players in the top 34 picks of the draft, but the team also went out and signed a few veteran free agents, bringing in George Hill, Zach Randolph, and Vince Carter.

Those players have plenty of postseason experience, but the Kings aren’t necessarily expecting to be a playoff team in 2017/18. Having lost DeMarcus Cousins and several other vets within the last calendar year, the organization is simply looking for veteran mentors for all its first- and second-year players.

That means Hill will get a chance to work with players like De’Aaron Fox, Frank Mason, and Malachi Richardson in the backcourt; Carter will take swingmen like Buddy Hield, Justin Jackson, and Bogdan Bogdanovic under his wing; and Randolph will get an opportunity to mentor bigs like Willie Cauley-Stein, Skal Labissiere, and Harry Giles.

With so many youngsters expected to receive major minutes, it’s no surprise that oddsmakers don’t expect the Kings to be a postseason contender in the Western Conference. Sacramento has won between 28 and 33 games in each of the last five seasons after having won between 17 and 25 in the four years before that. Their over/under for 2017/18 falls right in between those two ranges, with offshore betting site Bovada pegging them at 27.5 wins.

What do you think? Will the new-look Kings exceed expectations, or is there simply too much turnover and unproven talent here to avoid piling up losses? Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts on Sacramento!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Previous over/under voting results:

Western Conference:

Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)
Dallas Mavericks: Under 35.5 (54.95%)
Los Angeles Lakers: Over 33.5 (50.4%)
Phoenix Suns: Over 28.5 (50.41%)

Eastern Conference:

Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)
Orlando Magic: Under 33.5 (75.24%)
Indiana Pacers: Under 31.5 (54.85%)
New York Knicks: Under 30.5 (57.87%)
Brooklyn Nets: Over 27.5 (66.33%)

2017 Offseason In Review: Sacramento Kings

October 9th, 2017 at 11:01pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Hoops Rumors is breaking down the 2017 offseason for all 30 NBA teams, revisiting the summer’s free agent signings, trades, draft picks, departures, and more. We’ll evaluate each team’s moves from the last several months and look ahead to what the 2017/18 season holds for all 30 franchises. Today, we’re focusing on the Sacramento Kings.

Signings:

George Hill: Three years, $57MM. Third year partially guaranteed ($1MM).
Zach Randolph: Two years, $24MM.
Vince Carter: One year, $8MM.
Jack Cooley: Two-way contract. One year. $50K guaranteed.
JaKarr Sampson: Two-way contract. One year. $50K guaranteed.

Camp invitees:

Matt Jones: One year, minimum salary. Exhibits nine and 10.
Marcus Williams: One year, minimum salary. Summer contract with exhibit nine.

Trades:

Acquired the draft rights to Justin Jackson (No. 15 pick) and Harry Giles (No. 20 pick) from the Trail Blazers in exchange for the rights to Zach Collins (No. 10 pick).
Acquired a 2019 second-round pick and cash ($400K) from the Knicks in exchange for the right to hire Scott Perry.
- Note: 2019 second-round pick will be the second-most favorable of Cavaliers’, Rockets’, and Magic’s picks.

Draft picks:

1-5: De’Aaron Fox — Signed to rookie contract.
1-15: Justin Jackson — Signed to rookie contract.
1-20: Harry Giles — Signed to rookie contract.
2-34: Frank Mason — Signed to three year, $4.181MM contract. Third year non-guaranteed.

Draft-and-stash signings:

Bogdan Bogdanovic (2014; No. 27) — Signed to three-year, $27MM contract.

Departing players:

Other offseason news:

Harry Giles will be out through at least January due to history of knee injuries.
Extended general manager Vlade Divac through 2019/20 and exercised head coach Dave Joerger‘s option for ’19/20.
Hired Scott Perry as executive VP of basketball operations, then lost him to Knicks.
Hired Brandon Williams as assistant general manager.
Zach Randolph agreed to plea deal after being arrested on marijuana charges.

Salary cap situation:

Operating under the cap, but over the salary floor. Can create up to $4MM+ in cap room (carrying approximately $95MM in team salary). Room exception ($4.328MM) still available if/when cap room used.

Check out the Sacramento Kings’ full roster and depth chart at RosterResource.com.

Story of the summer:

The Kings have traditionally done things in an unconventional fashion. This offseason was no different, as they lavished free agent contracts on some big-name veterans, including two in the twilight of their careers.

Signing George Hill, Zach Randolph and Vince Carter doesn’t make much sense on the surface. None of those players will be on the roster by the time the Kings become a playoff contender. It’s also a head-scratcher for those players to choose a floundering franchise that traded away its best player, DeMarcus Cousins, last February in a heavily-criticized deal.

The Sacramento brass had a ulterior motive for bringing in the trio. The team decided that the youngsters dotting the remainder of the roster needed proven winners to facilitate the mentoring process.

Hill, who got a front-loaded deal with $39MM in guarantees the first two seasons, will guide lottery pick De’Aaron Fox through the process of becoming a dependable NBA floor leader. Randolph will provide low-post tips to second-year man Skal Labissiere and third-year center Willie Cauley-Stein. Carter will show rookie Justin Jackson and second-year guard Buddy Hield the ropes on how to become top-notch wing players.

The results of those signings won’t be based upon how many games the Kings win this season, but rather how quickly their younger players develop.

Key offseason losses:

The Kings did a lot of roster churning to open up spots for all veterans and rookies they brought in. The biggest name they let go — to no one’s surprise — was Rudy Gay. Sacramento tried to move Gay before he hit the free agent market but a season-ending Achilles injury scuttled those efforts.

The Kings also had no interest in bringing back their unimposing point guard duo of Darren Collison and Ty Lawson. Ditto for shooting guard Ben McLemore, who was a major disappointment in his first four seasons after Sacramento used the No. 7 overall pick on him in 2013.

Tyreke Evans and Langston Galloway were throw-ins to make the Cousins trade to the Pelicans possible, but the Kings never had any plans to keep them long-term.

Key offseason additions:

Fox was the “other” big-time point guard in the draft behind top pick Markelle Fultz and No. 2 selection Lonzo Ball. The one-and-done youngster from Kentucky will allow the Kings to play faster because of his outstanding quickness and ability to push the ball.

Jackson, the leading scorer for national champion North Carolina, could jump right into the starting lineup. With three years under his belt at one of the country’s elite programs, he’s much more polished than most first-round picks.

The addition of Bogdan Bogdanovic was an under-the-radar move. Hield was the centerpiece of the Cousins deal for the Kings but Bogdanovic could supplant him from the starting lineup. The 2014 draft-and-stash prospect was the MVP of the Turkish league last season and led the Serbian national team to a silver medal in the EuroBasket tournament.

Outlook for 2017/18:

The Kings boast one of the more unusual rosters in the league — it’s top-heavy with unproven players, but has a few aging veterans sprinkled into the mix. Coach Dave Joerger has the challenge of trying to fit those pieces together.

Ownership made long-term commitments to both Joerger and GM Vlade Divac in an effort to provide some continuity to the rebuilding process. The free-agent additions signal that the Kings truly want to win as many games as possible this season. But playing in the loaded Western Conference without any All-Stars on the roster, a postseason appearance is a pipe dream. The best that the Kings can hope for is that Fox and Jackson flash All-Star potential and Hield emerges as a consistent 20-points per game scorer.

Salary information from Basketball Insiders used in the creation of this post. Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images. Luke Adams contributed to this post.