The Sacramento Kings are already managing some familiar preseason absences, and that has put a spotlight on how quickly they can get their core pieces on the floor.
After two games against the Los Angeles Lakers, Malik Monk, Ben Simmons and Keegan Murray still have not made their preseason debut. Monk was held out for rest, Simmons missed the game for a non-injury-related reason, and Murray was listed as inactive for an undisclosed reason.
That kind of caution is not unusual in October, especially with rotation players. Still, these games are built for exactly this stage of the process: getting legs under you, sharpening timing, and building the kind of chemistry that matters once the games count.
Sacramento still has three chances to get those players into action before the regular season begins, with games coming against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday, the Portland Trail Blazers next Tuesday and the San Antonio Spurs next Friday.
Simmons, in particular, stands out here. If the Kings want to see what he can bring, he needs every possible rep to show he is healthy and to support the idea that he is back to his Philadelphia 76ers form. His value comes from the things Sacramento can use right away: playmaking and defensive versatility.
The 6-foot-10 forward is back in the NBA after sitting out last season while he focused on recovery from the severe back injuries that followed him during his time with the Brooklyn Nets.
Sacramento’s approach may be cautious, but that also fits a recent pattern. Last season, top rotation players were often missing, and it became a common sight.
Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine and Murray appeared in just 81 games combined. Sabonis and LaVine both had season-ending surgeries in February, while Murray dealt with a torn UCL in his left thumb and lingering ankle issues.
For the Kings, the health of the top end of the roster is everything. If those players stay on the floor, it gives the team a better chance to win in a season shaped by the new lottery reform rules.
The preseason also matters for the players who are available. Sabonis, who was ruled out before Thursday’s game, showed how valuable those early reps can be with rookie Darius Acuff Jr.
The veteran’s screening helped Acuff create space, get to the mid-range, and rise into a pull-up jumper with room to work. That looked far easier than the offense Acuff found with younger teammates in the summer league.
Without Sabonis in the lineup on Thursday, Acuff had a harder time finding those same spots. He did not get going until late in the first half, when he knocked down a pair of threes.
So while there may be some temptation to shrug off Monk, Simmons and Murray sitting out the first two preseason games, that concern lands differently after an injury-riddled year. Sacramento can’t afford another season where health becomes the story.
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Kings Suddenly Have Two Roster Concerns Fans Can't Ignore
The preseason results have not gone Sacramentos way, and the latest loss came with a tougher subplot than the scoreboard. The Kings dropped their third straight exhibition game, even as Darius Acuff Jr. flashed with 25 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds, and Ben Simmons made his team debut with a modest but steady line. It was the kind of night that offered a little bit of optimism in spots, while also reminding the coaching staff that the roster is still sorting itself out.
The bigger concern came late, when Maxime Raynaud went down and had to be wheeled off the floor after exiting near the end of the second half. His injury adds another layer of uncertainty to a team that is already trying to figure out its best combinations, especially with De'Andre Hunter struggling again and leaving questions about where he fits. Sacramento gets another preseason look next against Portland, but right now the rotation picture feels more unsettled than encouraging. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Karaban Already Faces A Tough Kings Rotation Reality
With two roster spots still open, the Kings are already looking at a crowded forward mix, and Alex Karaban is feeling the squeeze before the season even starts. His preseason work has offered a glimpse of why Sacramento likes the fit, but his minutes have been limited and have shifted depending on who was available around him.
Karaban did flash enough in exhibition play to stand out against some of the veterans in the mix, which only adds to the intrigue as the Kings sort out their rotation. Even so, the regular season picture still points toward established options getting the early edge, leaving Karaban in the kind of wait-and-see spot that can define a young players first run with a team. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Frontcourt Suddenly Has A Maxime Raynaud Problem
A rough preseason night added another layer of concern for Sacramento when Maxime Raynaud went down against Golden State and had to be helped off after a right knee injury. The Kings are already in the part of camp where health matters as much as rhythm, and with two preseason games still on the schedule, every setback forces the staff to balance evaluation against caution.
Darius Acuff also exited limping, though his issue looked less severe in the moment, leaving Sacramento with more questions than answers in the frontcourt. The broader concern is less about one October game than what it can do to a team trying to sort roles, build continuity and get through the rest of the preseason without losing more bodies along the way. [Read more 🡒]