Sacramento has plenty of reasons to be watching this summer, and Emanuel Sharp is quickly becoming one of them.
The Kings took Sharp with the 45th pick, and through two Summer League games, he’s already showing the kind of edge that fits what Scott Perry and the front office are trying to build. Darius Acuff Jr., the seventh pick, brings the headline appeal. Sharp brings something else: nonstop effort, defensive bite and the sort of energy that can change the feel of a game even when the shot isn’t dropping.
Through two games, Sharp is averaging 15.5 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and a block. The scoring line is solid enough on its own, but the real story is how much he’s affecting the game without needing the ball to cooperate. His shooting numbers haven’t been pretty - 30.8% from the field and 28.6% from three - yet he’s made up for it by hounding opponents and making plays on the other end.
That balance was front and center when Sharp explained what he leans on as a player.
"I go into the game, and whatever the game plan the coach has, I just try to follow that to a T. And then just follow my own standards for what I have for myself, playing hard.
You can't control whether my shots are going in; some games it's going to be going in, some games it's not. But I can always control my defense, how hard I'm playing, my energy, my enthusiasm for my teammates, being a good teammate.
I just try to go out there and do those things, the things I can control."
He gave a similar answer when asked about his first two Summer League outings, pointing again to the parts of the game he can influence no matter what happens with his jumper.
"Good, I think, just keep making sure my energy has been high. I didn't shoot it that well, but I feel like how hard I play can cover up for some of my missed shots.
I get it back on defense, moving the ball to my teammates, rebounding. I've tried to make a more conscious effort to get on the board, cause coach would probably be mad at me if I didn't.
Just playing my game, playing hard, and having fun. At the end of the day, it's just basketball."
The Kings have also seen enough to like his willingness to keep firing from deep. Sharp has taken nine threes in the first game and 12 against the Warriors, which matters for a Sacramento team that finished last in the league in both three-point attempts and makes last season. That kind of volume, paired with his defensive activity, is exactly the sort of addition the Kings need as they keep reshaping their identity.
Sharp may not have the same star billing as Acuff, but he’s already making noise. He’s putting himself in position to become a quick favorite in Sacramento, and he’ll have another chance to show it when the Kings wrap up their California Classic slate against the Milwaukee Bucks.
In Other News...
Sabonis Trade Talk Just Got A Lot More Complicated For Kings
Domantas Sabonis has been in the middle of Sacramento trade chatter since the end of last season, but the Kings latest roster work has made that conversation a lot less straightforward. General manager Scott Perry has spent the summer reshaping the roster through the draft and free agency, and the result is a team that may no longer need to treat Sabonis as only a traditional starting center.
That shift matters because Sacramento is still trying to sort out its payroll and has been active in exploring moves involving other veterans. If the Kings can keep the books flexible and find the right balance around him, Sabonis could end up fitting in a different way than expected, which is why the question now is not just whether he can be moved, but whether the new version of the roster makes it smarter to keep him around for another season. [Read more 🡒]
DeMar DeRozans Kings Exit Suddenly Feels A Lot More Real
DeMar DeRozans time in Sacramento already had the feel of a short-term arrangement, and now the market around him is starting to look even more fluid. The veteran wing is a free agent, and NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that his next stop could be shaped by where LeBron James lands, with teams like the Warriors, Cavaliers and Heat among the clubs that could pivot to DeRozan if they miss on their bigger target.
For the Kings, the bigger picture is less about adding another name and more about how they manage the roster and the books from here. DeRozan is widely expected to end up on a veteran minimum deal elsewhere, which makes his exit feel less like a surprise than the next step in a summer that has steadily pointed him toward a new opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Fans May Not Like Where DeMar DeRozan Could Land Next
The Warriors have spent the early part of free agency chasing a dream scenario, with Stephen Curry reportedly meeting with LeBron James in June to discuss the possibility of bringing him to Golden State. For Sacramento, the more immediate part of the story is DeMar DeRozan, who was recently waived by the Kings and is now on the open market after another stop in a long and productive career.
If James winds up elsewhere, Golden State is expected to keep shopping in the veteran lane, and DeRozans name has surfaced as a possible fit. For a Kings team that just moved on from him, it is another reminder that his next landing spot could still matter in the Western Conference, especially if a contender decides his scoring and experience are worth the gamble. [Read more 🡒]