Sacramento Kings Free Agency Preview: How To Have a Perfect Offseason
Domantas Sabonis (left) and Keegan Murray (right)
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Cap space for a max free agent, two young all-stars in De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, and a plethora of excellent three-point shooters make this Kings team a prime free-agent destination. Here’s everything they need to do in 2023 free agency to execute a perfect offseason and continue their ascendance as a championship contender.
Sign Sabonis to an Extension
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Considering the insane production Sabonis gave the Kings last season with averages of over 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists, his contract is an absolute bargain at only $18.5 million per year. He has one more year left on a four-year, $74.9 million contract that the Pacers gave him a few years ago. Sabonis was the main reason for the Kings’ playoff surge, so, extending him now is crucial especially because they gave up young star Tyrese Haliburton and lights-out shooter Buddy Hield to acquire him in February 2022. Since Sabonis made an all-NBA team and was an all-star for the third time in his career, he could likely get a contract north of five years and $200 million. It’s a no-brainer that the Kings will keep Sabonis whether it’s through an extension this year or through free agency next year. At this point, it’s a matter of how much the Kings will offer Sabonis and how much Sabonis believes he should get.
Resign Harrison Barnes or Make a Big Splash?
Harrison Barnes may be set for a big payday this offseason.
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Harrison Barnes has been with the Kings through all the ups and downs during the past four years. He was infamously traded mid-game before the 2019 trade deadline to the Kings when he was in Dallas. The Kings resigned him to a four-year deal in the 2019 offseason, and he’s been such a valuable veteran presence for this young Kings squad. Barnes has been in so many trade rumors throughout his Sacramento tenure, but he’s remained a consummate pro through it all. His stats aren’t eye-popping and sometimes he isn’t the most consistent shooter; however, we can’t undermine his leadership and impact on the Kings’ major turnaround. The Kings now have over $30 million in cap space after trading Richaun Holmes and the 24th pick in this year’s draft to Dallas in a salary dump, so resigning Barnes shouldn’t be an issue, especially because the Kings have his bird rights and can go over the salary cap to resign him if needed. Despite having Barnes’ bird rights, the Kings have been rumored to take a different approach.
Is it possible for the Kings to sign Draymond Green in free agency?
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Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports detailed that the Kings could be possible landing spots for either Draymond Green or Kyle Kuzma. It’s definitely realistic for the Kings to offer both players a contract in free agency as the Kings have the cap space to do so, and Green and Kuzma fill a need at the forward position. Because the Kings have the bird rights to Harrison Barnes (in addition to Trey Lyles), they can comfortably sign Green or Kuzma in free agency while giving Barnes and Lyles their desired contracts. Still, it’s unrealistic that Green will leave the Warriors, despite having many connections to people in the Kings organization. Kuzma seems like a more realistic fit, but Barnes and Lyles should be priorities over any big-name free agent to sustain the continuity and chemistry.
Extend Monk and Resign Lyles
Malik Monk was one of best sixth men in the NBA last season as an electric scorer and secondary playmaker.
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Malik Monk was a massive signing for the Kings in the 2022 off-season. He had just come off a career year with the Lakers and established himself as one of the best bucket-getters in the NBA. Monk was set to have a perfect role as a sixth man, locker room leader, and spark plug for the Kings, and he was all of that and more. He formed a lethal pick-and-roll combination with Domantas Sabonis and sharing the backcourt with his former Kentucky teammate De’Aaron Fox proved to be a tough matchup that opposing teams just couldn’t handle. Monk’s combination of skill, athleticism, and shooting make him basically unstoppable, especially when sharing the court with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Monk has one year remaining on his two-year, $19.4 million contract, but the Kings should extend him now instead of possibly losing him in next year’s free agency. Still, Monk is likely a King for a long time, so waiting until 2024 free agency to resign him isn’t a risky option. His energy was electric in their first-round matchup against the Golden State Warriors, and the Kings will need that spark come time for the 2024 playoffs. If the Kings want to reach new heights, Monk will be a crucial part of taking them there.
Additionally, swingman Trey Lyles established himself as an important rotation player for this Kings team. His timely threes, improved defense, and hustle plays made him such a valuable glue guy. He was the perfect plug-and-play forward that could be effective in nearly every lineup Mike Brown used him in. Lyles has expressed a desire to resign, and the Kings will likely get a deal done. The Kings may not be able to replace Lyles in free agency, as he was the ideal stretch-four in every way, and the chemistry he developed there can’t be replicated.
Bolster the Bench
The Kings lacked depth at the center position last season when Sabonis needed a breather, and though Alex Len played well in the playoffs and Metu had some great moments in the regular season, the Kings may look to upgrade at that position. There are many solid centers the Kings could get in free agency like Dwight Powell, Thomas Bryant, or Bismack Biyombo. They also may look to upgrade at the backup forward spot, since they often ran a three-guard lineup off the bench with Davion Mitchell, Malik Monk, and Terence Davis. Terrence Ross, Yuta Watanabe, TJ Warren, Joe Ingles, or JaMychal Green would be nice options, but I like the fit of Joe Ingles the best. He’s another playmaker and shot-creator, and he could be a great veteran presence in the locker room. Lastly, the Kings may also look to upgrade the backup point guard spot. A third-string point guard would be great to have as an insurance option if injuries arise with Fox, Mitchell, or Monk. Cory Joseph might be a great veteran to sign, and he was on the Kings during the 2020 and 2021 seasons before being traded to the Pistons. However, a third-string point guard is not that necessary with Mitchell and Monk still in the early stages of their careers, and both have proved to be healthy and reliable options. The Kings were the healthiest team in the NBA last season, but one injury could change their entire outlook next year if they don’t have quality depth. In summary here’s what the Kings should do to have a perfect offseason: extend Sabonis, resign Barnes and Lyles, and sign some backup frontcourt players in free agency. Now it’s time to light the beam!
