Sacramento

Kings

Undrafted out of Saint Mary’s in 2020, Ford has yet to establish himself as an NBA player. He’s been in training camps with the Clippers (2020 and 2021) and Kings (2022), only to be waived by both franchises. Sacramento’s depth at the point will make it very difficult for Ford to change that, but a good run in Las Vegas could be what gets him a look with another team. He played well on Friday, scoring an efficient 20 points while also chipping in with two steals.

After appearing in a total of 20 games during his first two NBA seasons, Queta is looking to improve his standing within the Kings rotation this summer. And nights like Friday can only help his cause, with the double-double against the Hawks being his second of the week (11 & 10 vs. the Warriors on Monday). The presence of Domantas Sabonis, Trey Lyles, and Alex Len makes it very difficult for Queta to achieve fantasy relevance, regardless of league size. That said, performing well in Las Vegas can only improve his standing in the eyes of league decision-makers, whether they’re with the Kings organization or not.

With the deal initially being reported on June 30, the only question left unanswered was what would the Pacers receive in return for Duarte. Now we have our answer, with Indiana receiving second-round picks in 2028 (via Dallas) and 2030. Indiana had a bit of a logjam on the wings, so it isn’t surprising that Duarte was moved. In Sacramento, he’ll look to carve out a role for himself with a bench unit that’s headlined by Malik Monk. That makes it difficult to rely on Duarte as a fantasy option, even in deeper leagues.

Two nights after he put up 29 points in a win over the Warriors, Murray was even better against the Heat. He shot better than 50% from the field, but the bigger takeaways may be the free throws and blocked shots. Murray attempted 15 free throws on the night, an eye-opening number for a player who attempted 81 in 80 games as a rookie. And Murray averaged 0.5 blocks per game last season, so for him to get four is a pretty big deal, despite the level of competition. Only so much can be taken from summer league performances, but the Kings’ second-year forward looks capable of being a top-100 player next season, at minimum. Following Wednesday’s game, Kings summer league coach Luke Loucks said that Murray will not play in Las Vegas.

While Queta didn’t get cheated in the fouls category, as he was whistled for seven, the positives outweighed the negatives. He recorded a double-double while also blocking three shots on the night, giving the Kings welcome rim protection. With Domantas Sabonis locked into the starting center role and Alex Len agreeing to a new deal, there won’t be many minutes available to Queta. That said, the exits of Richaun Holmes and Chimezie Metu give him a better chance of fighting his way into the back end of the rotation.

Having started 78 of the 80 regular season games he appeared in as a rookie, Murray is one of the most experienced second-year players playing this summer. Based on his performance Monday night, that game experience has served the 2022 lottery pick well. Murray wore a beaten path to the foul line, a welcome sight given his average of one free-throw attempt per game as a rookie. The presence of De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis does limit the number of opportunities Murray will have to operate as a playmaker, but he’s capable of getting his own off the dribble. That skill was on display Monday night, and it’s something he’ll likely be asked to do more of this summer.

The 34th overall pick in last month’s draft, Jones has been signed under the league’s new Second Round Pick Exception. The first two years of his deal will be guaranteed, a sign that the rookie out of Xavier will have a legitimate shot to earn rotation minutes next season. That said, he isn’t a player who fantasy managers should plan on selecting in most drafts.

Securing the long-term future of Sabonis, who was entering the final season of his current contract, was a priority for the Kings heading into free agency. They’ve accomplished that goal, with the All-NBA center due to receive $195 million in new money. The two sides have renegotiated Sabonis’ salary for the 2023-24 season, and the deal will include four more years beyond that. With De’Aaron Fox’s contract running through the 2026-27 season, Sacramento’s two cornerstones are secure from a financial standpoint. Sabonis finished last season as a top-25 player in 8- and 9-cat formats and fantasy managers should expect more of the same in 2023-24.

After appearing in 26 games off the Kings’ bench last season, Len has decided to remain with the team for another year. This signing ensures that Sacramento will have depth behind starter Domantas Sabonis, as Richaun Holmes was traded to Dallas on draft night and Chimezie Metu agreed to a deal with the Suns. Len won’t be a factor in fantasy basketball unless the Kings were to lose Sabonis to injury.

The EuroLeague MVP averaged 17.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 triples for Olympiacos last season. He’ll add length, athleticism and floor spacing for a Sacramento team that’s on the rise.