After a 16-year drought this season, the Sacramento Kings will be looking to go from good story to legitimate contenders in the Western Conference in 2023-24. Here are four Kings players whose stock is either up or down to enter an off-pivot season:
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Domantas Sabonis, C: Fresh from the 2022-23 season, Sabonis averaged 19.1 points, a career-best 7.3 assists, and a league-high 12.3 rebounds per game. While his production has declined in the postseason, Sacramento remains fully committed to their rookie big man.
“Dumas is a big part of what we’re doing and we’ll do everything we can to keep him here and build around him,” current CEO Monty McNair said during the team’s end-of-season press conference.
With Sabonis entering the final year of his deal, the Kings will likely offer him a contract extension worth $30 million per year. Odds are, the All-NBA Third Team selection will be looking to max out the contract. Either way, Sabonis will get paid.
Sasha Vyzenkov, F: Vezenkov is a wild pick here. The Kings exclusively acquired the rights to the NBA’s pitchers in 2022 when they traded the 49th overall pick to the Brooklyn Nets. Vezhenkov currently stars with Olympiacos Piraeus of the Greek A1 Basket League, and was named Euroleague MVP in 2022-23. In 38 games, he averaged 17.2 points and hit 38.5% of his three-point attempts.
Vyzenkov is still under contract with Olympiacos but has possession language in his deal. Mark Stein NBA insider It reported in May, citing a source, that a deal between Vesenkow and the Kings was “heading toward inevitability.”
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Harrison Barnes, F: At 31 years old, Barnes is still a serviceable veteran with a championship pedigree. However, his production and efficiency have been on the decline for the better part of two seasons now. In the first-round game series in Sacramento, Barnes shot only 24% from three-point range and posted a combined total of 29 minutes in Game 6 and Game 7.
The Kings better seek a promotion from Barnes this season, as they can count on him to play big minutes during the big games.
Barnes is eligible for an extension through June 30 and will still get a lot of interest from suitors if he hits the open market.
Richaun Holmes, PF/C: Similar to Barnes, price does not match use when it comes to Holmes. The 29-year-old mega-man earns $12 million a year for playing 8.3 minutes per game.
Holmes has approximately $25 million left in his deal over the next two years, including a player option in 2024-25. The Kings could benefit from some size behind Sabonis, but Holmes and his inability to stretch the floor isn’t the answer there. Finding a trade destination for Holmes would be an ideal salary cut scenario for McNair and the Kings in this offseason.