The Sacramento Kings have opened preseason with four straight losses, and while those results don’t count, they’ve still left plenty to sort through. The good news is that the preseason hasn’t been all bad news. Darius Acuff Jr. has already flashed real promise, but he’s not the only young name making a case.
Jonathan Mogbo has quietly become one of the most intriguing stories of the exhibition schedule. The 24-year-old forward, signed by Sacramento to a two-way deal after the Toronto Raptors let him go, has emerged as the Kings’ second-leading scorer and top rebounder through three preseason games.
Mogbo has averaged 13.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.7 steals while shooting 53.8% from the field. At 6'9" with a 7'2" wingspan, he’s been using that length and athleticism to make an impact on both ends, giving the coaching staff something to think about with every outing.
The production has been notable because Mogbo has outplayed other power forwards on the roster despite being on a two-way contract. That kind of performance can’t be ignored, especially for a player who already has some NBA experience from his rookie season with Toronto two years ago.
The Kings have had two-way players pop before, with Dylan Cardwell mentioned as the most recent example, and Mogbo is making the same kind of argument for himself now. If he keeps this up, the question becomes less about whether he belongs and more about when he gets rewarded.
After a preseason-high 15 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday, Mogbo put his approach plainly: "I just want to play hard out there," Mogbo said after a preseason-high 15 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday. "I feel like I want to be that impact guy that comes off the bench and gives the team a spark. So whatever I can do in that field, and I feel like it will translate to the rest of my game."
That kind of showing has put him in position to earn more trust from Doug Christie, particularly with the Kings dealing with some key injuries. It’s at least possible Mogbo works his way into the rotation as soon as opening night next week.
The bigger picture in Sacramento still has a lot of moving parts. The starting lineup appears easier to project now that Ben Simmons is expected to start, but the bench is where things remain unsettled. Mogbo has played himself into that conversation, and if this level of production holds, there’s a real path for him to carve out minutes this season.
On a two-way deal with no real risk attached, Mogbo has already looked like one of the better value pickups of the offseason. For the Kings, that’s the kind of depth discovery that can matter once the games actually start counting.
In Other News...
Ben Simmons Absence Vs Blazers Says A Lot About Kings Plan
Ben Simmons first taste of Kings basketball came after more than a year away from the NBA, and Sacramento wasted little time treating his preseason as a careful ramp-up rather than a sprint. After making his debut, Simmons sat out the next preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers, a move Doug Christie framed as part of a broader workload plan designed to keep him on track for opening night.
For a Kings team trying to blend a new piece into its rotation without asking too much too soon, the decision fits the moment. Simmons is reportedly healthy and in good condition, and the expectation is that he will be in the starting lineup when the regular season begins, but Sacramento appears determined to be intentional about every step between here and then. [Read more 🡒]
Kings May Be Seeing Nique Clifford Very Differently Than Fans Realize
Nique Cliffords rough night against the Portland Trail Blazers stood out on the box score, with the young Kings player going 0-for-11 from the field and finishing with only two points at the line. But the bigger takeaway may have been the role he was asked to fill, because Sacramento spent significant stretches using him at point guard, a spot that is not naturally his home on the floor.
For the Kings, that kind of usage hints at a broader evaluation going on behind the scenes. The coaching staff may not be viewing Clifford simply as a wing, but as someone who could offer value in more than one lane, including as a backup ballhandler. Even on a night when the shot never fell, the experiment itself may have been the point. [Read more 🡒]
Ben Simmons Just Made The Kings Gamble A Lot More Interesting
Ben Simmons said the Kings were the first team to come see him in person and evaluate where he stood physically, a detail that helps explain how Sacramento ended up landing him on a one-year deal. For a team looking to add size, playmaking and defensive versatility behind its rookie point guard, the fit is easy to understand, and the move carries the kind of low-risk upside front offices like to chase this time of year.
Simmons also made clear how much the chance means to him after missing last season because of injuries, saying he is excited to get back healthy. For Sacramento, the signing is less about a splash than about a roster bet: if Simmons is right physically, the Kings may have added a useful multipurpose piece, and if he is not, the cost stays contained. [Read more 🡒]