Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are reportedly expected to sign general manager Monte McNair to a contract extension.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported the new deal will likely be announced in early 2023.

McNair is in the final season of a contract he originally signed in September 2020.

The Kings have not had a winning season during McNair's tenure, but they're in the midst of a promising turnaround. They currently sit 16-12 heading into Monday's game against the Charlotte Hornets and are in fifth place in the wide-open Western Conference.

Sacramento is 2.5 games out of being the No. 1 seed in the West and only five games ahead of the 13th-place Oklahoma City Thunder. The narrow race could be playing a part in ownership slow-playing McNair's contract extension. The Kings are a quick skid away from turning a promising season into another Kangs catastrophe.

The installation of Mike Brown as head coach has been a clear win for McNair, but there have been several questionable calls along the way. Including Tyrese Haliburton in a trade for Domantas Sabonis will never look smart regardless of how well Sabonis is playing, and first-round pick Keegan Murray has not been a consistent force despite being drafted in part for his potential for instant impact.

With Jaden Ivey and Bennedict Mathurin looking like better prospects at a younger age, it's fair to wonder if McNair made the right call.

With that said, even a modicum of success is better than the complete lack of it that the Kings have been dealing with for nearly two full decades. McNair has done enough to earn an extension, even if it isn't a particularly long one.

Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown has been fined $25,000 for "aggressively pursuing and directing profane language toward a game official," during the team's Dec. 14 game against the Toronto Raptors, the NBA announced Friday.

The incident occurred during the third quarter of Sacramento's 124-123 win over Toronto. Brown was given two technical fouls and ejected from the game.

Brown was enraged after Terence Davis was called for a shooting foul and De'Aaron Fox was given a technical foul for arguing with an official during the third quarter of the game.

The 52-year-old then ran onto the court to confront the officials before players and coaches followed to hold him back. The Raptors were given five free throws as a result of Brown's two technical fouls, Fox's technical foul and Davis' shooting foul.

The entire ordeal could have cost Sacramento the game, but it rallied in the fourth quarter for the victory.

The Kings enter Friday's game against the Detroit Pistons sixth in the Western Conference with a 15-12 record. The team has seen significant improvement since finishing 12th in the conference last season with a 30-52 record.

Brown is in his first season as head coach of the Kings and is hoping to lead the team to a playoff appearance for the first time since 2006.

Before being hired by the Kings, he spent six seasons as an assistant on Steve Kerr's staff with the Golden State Warriors. He previously held various other roles across in the NBA, including serving as head coach of both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.

Change could again be on the horizon for Kyle Kuzma. After getting traded from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Washington Wizards in August 2021, the 27-year-old's future is a bit uncertain, as he could soon be on the move.

Kuzma, who is in his second season with the Wizards, has a $13 million player option for the 2023-24 campaign. And at this point, it doesn't seem likely he'd opt in to remain in Washington, according to a recent report by Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report.

"He wants out," an NBA source told Pincus of Kuzma. "He's looking for over $20 million a season and in a big market [or with a contender]."

But it's also possible Kuzma could be on a new team before opting out and becoming a free agent this upcoming summer.

Pincus reported that Kuzma has been on the radar of the Sacramento Kings, who tried to acquire him when he was previously dealt from the Lakers to the Wizards. The Kings may even have the assets to try to swing a trade for Kuzma.

"The Kings can't trade a first until 2028 (due to protections on their obligation to the Atlanta Hawks for Kevin Huerter), but they could build a deal around Harrison Barnes with that distant pick and/or prospects like Davion Mitchell," Pincus wrote.

Sacramento may not be the only team with interest in Kuzma. The Lakers are a "team to monitor," per Pincus, while the Phoenix Suns "may also see a path" and the New York Knicks are "another team to keep a close eye on."

It would make quite a bit of sense for Kuzma to end up with the Kings, though.

Sacramento has gotten off to a strong start to the 2022-23 season. It is 14-10 and in fifth place in the Western Conference, and it may be trending toward a playoff appearance. The Kings have the longest active postseason drought in the NBA, as they haven't made it since 2006. And they haven't won a playoff series since 2004.

If Sacramento is aggressive and adds the right complementary players to its talented core, then it could make a legitimate push to the postseason—and possibly even have success once it gets there. Kuzma may be the right fit to help make that happen.

A six-year NBA veteran, Kuzma is having one of his best seasons yet. He's averaging a career-high 21.4 points through 26 games, as well as 7.7 rebounds. The 6'9" standout is also shooting a career-best 46.2 percent from the field.

The best possible scenario for the Kings would be to trade for Kuzma, then sign him to a long-term deal. Because not only is he having success this season, but he's a player who they could continue to build around for the long term.

With De'Aaron Fox anchoring the backcourt and Domantas Sabonis having success down low, Kuzma would be a great third scoring option to play alongside that duo. It's a trio that seems like it would mesh well and possibly take Sacramento to greater heights.

So if the Wizards are open to moving Kuzma now, the Kings would be wise to try to put together an offer to land him. If he stays in Washington, then Sacramento should be aggressive in its pursuit of him next offseason.

Free-agent center DeMarcus Cousins wrote on Twitter Wednesday that he would "love" to help his old team, the Sacramento Kings, get back to the playoffs.

Cousins' remarks were in response to a tweet from KHTK radio host and Kings fan Carmichael Dave about potential frontcourt bench options in support of Sacramento big man Domantas Sabonis:

Would love to help sac get back to the playoffs 🙏🏿

— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) November 9, 2022

The Kings selected Cousins with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. He played in Sacramento from 2010-17 and made three All-Star teams while he was a member of the Kings. During his time in Sacramento, Cousins averaged 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

He's taken the court for six teams since 2017 and most recently suited up with the Denver Nuggets last year, when he averaged 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds in 13.9 minutes per game.

Injuries have plagued Cousins since his Kings days, including a torn Achilles, a torn left quad and a torn left ACL. He hasn't been a full-time starter since his stint with the 2018-19 Golden State Warriors, but Cousins has been very efficient in limited time for various teams and stuffed the stat sheet for the Milwaukee Bucks and Nuggets last year.

He could be a great bench asset for the Kings, who are searching for their first playoff appearance since 2006. The Kings are just 3-6, but they have showed promise. Four of their six losses have been by just five or fewer points, and De'Aaron Fox (26.5 PPG) is playing at an All-Star level.

Cousins could be the spark that propels the Kings into the playoffs, but for now, Sacramento is looking for an upset win over the 8-2 Cleveland Cavaliers at home on Wednesday evening.

It's unlikely to provide much solace, but the NBA acknowledged Sacramento Kings players and fans have a right to be upset about the lack of a foul call on Klay Thompson as time expired in Monday's 116-113 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The league's Last Two Minute Report ruled Thompson committed a foul on Kings guard Kevin Huerter's game-tying three-point attempt. Officials swallowed their whistles on the floor, much to the chagrin of Kings players, who expressed their displeasure after the game:

Kevin Huerter & De'Aaron Fox's response to the refs not calling a foul on Klay Thompson trying to block Huerter's game-tying Three attempt. pic.twitter.com/QvRABV6o2T

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 8, 2022

The Last Two Minute Report also said officials missed a traveling call on Stephen Curry with 16.6 seconds remaining. Had the referees made the call, the Kings would have gotten possession down only one point and had a chance for a game-winning shot.

This is the second time in a week that officiating has arguably cost the Kings a close game. The league said officials missed a travel by Tyler Herro before the Miami Heat guard hit a game-winning three in last Wednesday's 110-107 win over Sacramento.

"I feel bad for our guys," Kings coach Mike Brown told reporters. "It's tough being a Sacramento King, I think, because Kevin got fouled. … I just want, at the end of the game, somebody to step up and make the right call. A guy gets hit on the arm shooting a three, that's a foul. A guy takes six steps, or three, four steps, that's a travel.

"We just want an opportunity to win in overtime, but just like in the Miami game, I asked the ref if it was a foul, and he said no. It was clearly a foul."

Monday's loss dropped Sacramento to 3-6 on the season. The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers are the only two Western Conference teams with worse records.

Sacramento Kings veteran Harrison Barnes has been included in trade rumors entering the 2022-23 season, and he admitted Sunday that he does monitor NBA insiders Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania for the latest news.

However, Barnes also added he's focused on putting his best foot forward with the Kings this season.

"You know how the NBA is," Barnes said (h/t HoopsHype). "I check Woj. I check Shams. They’ve still got me here, so as far as I’m concerned, this is where I’m supposed to be, and I’m going to give it my best effort."

Barnes added of the trade rumors, via Jason Anderson of the Sacramento Bee:

“That’s just part of the business. I don’t really pay too much attention to that. The biggest thing is just getting ready for opening night. That’s my focus. The guys on this court, the coaching staff, us building that trust now so, when things get going and adversity hits, you have a base of relationships that you draw on.”

Barnes is entering the final year of a four-year, $85 million deal that is worth $18.4 million in 2022-23. His expiring contract makes him a solid trade candidate, as does the fact Sacramento is building upon young talent.

The Kings acquired the 30-year-old from the Dallas Mavericks during the 2018-19 campaign, and he has become a staple in the team's starting lineup since then, starting every game he has appeared in.

Last season, Barnes averaged a respectable 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 77 games while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 39.4 percent from deep.

In 2022-23, he's expected to produce similar numbers in a starting lineup that also includes De'Aaron Fox, Kevin Huerter, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis.

If the Kings were to trade Barnes, they'd put themselves in somewhat of an interesting situation as they'd be left without anyone to fill his role as the small forward. Terence Davis likely would be next line, though he wouldn't be nearly as effective.

It's unclear what the Kings would be looking for in exchange for Barnes, though it's possible they could pry away a first-round pick from a contender in need of some depth during the second half of the season.

For now, it seems like Barnes is staying put, but his situation could change closer to the trade deadline.

The Sacramento Kings are hoping to finally see some results from their seemingly never-ending rebuild this season.

Last season's 30-52 finish continued the longest active postseason drought in the NBA. The Kings haven't finished with a record above .500 or made the playoffs since 2006.

However, things are finally looking up for Sacramento after a few key offseason additions. It selected promising power forward Keegan Murray with the fourth overall pick in the draft, and he proceeded to have a dominant showing at the 2022 Summer League in Las Vegas.

Sacramento also bolstered its backcourt by acquiring shooting guard Kevin Huerter and signing sixth man Malik Monk to a two-year deal.

The addition of Monk reunites him with star point guard and former Kentucky teammate De'Aaron Fox. With two-time All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis as the team's anchor, Sacramento has a roster that should be competitive in 2022-23.

Here's a look at the schedule the Kings will be up against this season.

---

2022-23 Kings Schedule Details

Season Opener: Oct. 19 vs. Portland Trail Blazers

Championship Odds: 420-1 (FanDuel)

Full Schedule: NBA.com

---

Top Matchups

Oklahoma City Thunder (First game: Jan. 20)

The Kings haven't enjoyed consistent success against other teams across the league, but the Oklahoma City Thunder are an outlier.

Sacramento has bested Oklahoma City in six of their last seven matchups, including three out of four in 2021-22. For a team like the Kings, every win is crucial, so it's imperative to take down the few opponents they're expected to defeat.

The Thunder went 24-58 last year and are in the middle of their own rebuild. They had the No. 2 pick this year and selected center Chet Holmgren, who is regarded as having the highest ceiling in his draft class.

Sacramento isn't likely to be favored against many other teams this year, but in the three scheduled games against Oklahoma City, the underdog team won't be wearing purple and black.

Winning the games you're supposed to win is a testament to a team's development, so the Kings should put forth their best effort when they face the Thunder.

---

Los Angeles Lakers (First game: Nov. 11)

Yes, this is a matchup between two vastly different teams. The Kings are desperate to see some sort of improvement this season, while the Los Angeles Lakers have hopes of contending for an NBA title.

While Sacramento might be overmatched on paper, the teams split the four-game regular-season series in 2021-22, which included a thrilling triple-overtime victory for the Kings in November.

Los Angeles is entering a new era under first-year head coach Darvin Ham and will be hoping to bounce back from a disappointing finish to last year. LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook were expected to be the most potent trio in the NBA, but instead, the team suffered from chemistry issues and various injuries.

The Lakers will be favored to get past the Kings without much resistance, but Sacramento shouldn't be disregarded so easily.

Rivalry games always carry some extra juice, so it should be expected that the Kings will raise their level of play in its four matchups against L.A.

---

Season Forecast

The Kings are a team with low expectations, but they could surprise some opponents this season.

On paper, their roster is deeper than last year's and has a solid blend of youth and experience. Under new head coach Mike Brown, who just won a championship as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors, the Kings should be more prepared to compete every night.

Fox will be the engine that has to drive the team to success this year.

The 24-year-old regressed slightly last season, averaging 23.2 points and 5.6 assists while shooting 29.7 percent from beyond the arc; in 2020-21 he averaged 25.2 points and 7.2 assists with 32.2 percent from three-point range. The Kings will need him to play more efficiently this time around, especially with better pieces surrounding him.

Sacramento's frontcourt should be the strength of the team. Murray will be playing alongside veterans in Sabonis and Harrison Barnes, so the rookie's learning curve shouldn't be too steep. The Kings also have a strong bench rotation with veterans Jeremy Lamb, Trey Lyles and Richaun Holmes set to lead the second unit.

The 2022-23 season will not be easy, but Sacramento should fare better against the competition thanks to its influx of talent and a new coaching regime.

---

Record Prediction: 38-44

---

21+ and present in AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, LA, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, or WV. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, IN, IL, NJ, PA, VA), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help (MI), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY(467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).

Sacramento Kings rookie Keegan Murray followed up his NBA Summer League MVP performance by having minor surgery on his right wrist.

Per James Ham of ESPN 1320 in Sacramento, Murray had a procedure to "clean out some loose bodies" and is expected to make a quick recovery that won't impact his readiness for the start of the season.

Ham noted Murray is back shooting on the court with his left hand.

The Kings surprised some analysts and fans when they used the No. 4 pick to select Murray.

"Murray is simultaneously old-ish for a top prospect (22 in August) and young for his skill set, which looks like it belongs to an NBA veteran," B/R's Zach Buckley wrote about the pick. "His film is almost mistake-free and showcases everything from multipositional defense and shot-making to on-time (and on-target) passes and sound instincts."

The 21-year-old forward did fill a roster need for the Kings. Jaden Ivey, who was taken at No. 5 by the Detroit Pistons, would have given them another surplus of guards that general manager Monte McNair tried to solve in February when he traded Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers.

De'Aaron Fox played great as the primary point guard in Sacramento after the trade. He averaged 28.9 points, 6.8 assists, 4.3 rebounds and made 38.0 percent of his three-point attempts in 16 games from Feb. 8-March 16 before his season ended because of a hand injury.

Early returns from Murray suggest he could be an excellent fit with the Kings' nucleus right away. The Iowa alum averaged 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and shot 50 percent from the field (40 percent from three) in four games during Las Vegas Summer League.

The Kings will need Murray to become a high-level player if they are going to end their playoff drought next season. They haven't had a winning record or made the postseason since the 2005-06 season.

Even though any injury to a rookie is cause for some concern, Murray's surgery being described as minor and the fact he's already able to shoot with his opposite hand is a good sign it won't be a lingering issue when the Kings report to camp in September.

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray was named MVP of the Las Vegas Summer League:

Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray has been named the Most Valuable Player of NBA 2K23 Summer League 2022.

Murray averaged 23.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from three-point range in four games in Las Vegas. pic.twitter.com/mTuBltv7Eo

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) July 18, 2022

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 draft ranked fourth among all players in the Las Vegas Summer League with his average of 23.3 points per game. He also led the California Summer League with 19.7 points per game in three appearances.

Murray helped the Kings finish with a 6-2 record across the two summer-league competitions.

ESPN's Kevin Pelton rated him as the top player through the three summer leagues:

Final leaders in my wins above replacement player (WARP) metric across all three of this year's summer leagues. pic.twitter.com/sKWNC9eQiI

— Kevin Pelton (@kpelton) July 18, 2022

There was seemingly a consensus heading into last month's draft that the class featured a clear top three of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jabari Smith before a drop-off. However, Murray showed over the past couple of weeks that he could be the best of the group.

"Oh, my God, that dude is good," Kings guard Davion Mitchell said of Murray, per Marc J. Spears of AndScape. "He's efficient. He plays the right way. He tries on defense. He just needs to talk a little bit more, but that will come along as he gets more comfortable with us."

The recent production continues an impressive ascent over the past year for the Iowa product.

Murray averaged just 7.2 points per game as a freshman in 2020-21, mostly coming off the bench for the Hawkeyes. He saw an increased role in 2021-22 and came through with 23.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game, shooting 39.8 percent from three-point range.

He is now the second straight Kings player to earn a Summer League MVP award, following Mitchell after the guard was named co-MVP in 2021 alongside Cameron Thomas.

Damian Lillard, John Wall and Lonzo Ball are among the other notable players who have won the Summer League MVP award in past seasons.