The Sacramento Kings head into their preseason finale tonight against the San Antonio Spurs with a clearer picture in some spots and a few lingering questions in others.
Sacramento listed three players as out for the 5:00 PM PST tip: Malik Monk, Dylan Cardwell and Maxime Raynaud. Raynaud and Cardwell are dealing with known injuries, while Monk remains sidelined as the regular season approaches.
Monk’s situation has drawn the most attention. He has reportedly been managing left ankle soreness, and James Ham, host of The Kings Beat and Locked On Kings podcasts, said Monk has been dealing with that issue through training camp and the preseason.
According to a league source, Malik Monk has been managing left ankle soreness during training camp and preseason. He’s working with the medical team to prepare for return to game action. His opening night availability will depend on how the ankle responds over the next few days.
That uncertainty has kept Monk out of the conversation on the floor for now, and it leaves Sacramento waiting to see when the fan favorite will make his season debut. He was in and out of the lineup last season, and early signs suggest that pattern could show up again.
Monk’s absence also adds another wrinkle to a preseason that has already included plenty of moving parts for Sacramento. He has been in trade rumors since Scott Perry took over as General Manager, and his status has remained one of the more closely watched topics around the team.
With Raynaud and Cardwell unavailable, Domantas Sabonis should have a chance to see more minutes. The former All-Star center has played just over 10 minutes this preseason, and in that stretch he looked strong alongside Darius Acuff Jr. Whether that pairing gets much more run tonight is something to watch.
Behind Sabonis, Precious Achiuwa and Jonathan Mogbo are expected to handle the backup center minutes. Both have stood out this preseason, and Mogbo in particular has already made a case for more attention while playing on a two-way contract.
Raise your hand if you realized Jonathan Mogbo is 2nd on the Kings in points per game this preseason.13 PTS, 8.3 REB, 2.7 AST, 2.7 STL, 56% FG%There’s been a lot of storylines for Sacramento this preseason, but Mogbo is quietly shining
There’s also a chance Sacramento experiments with Ben Simmons at center tonight, though lower minutes could limit how many combinations the Kings actually roll out.
The final preseason tune-up won’t answer every question, but it should give the Kings a better read on their rotation before the games start to count. Sacramento is still looking for its first preseason win, and tonight’s game against San Antonio offers one last look before opening night.
In Other News...
Mavericks Make Another Early Camp Cut As Roster Decisions Begin
Training camp roster math is starting to take shape around the league, and the Kings have quietly entered the mix by adding David Muoka on a training camp contract with Exhibit 10 language. Around the same time, the Spurs brought in Kendall Brown on a similar deal and the Pelicans re-signed Hunter Dickinson to a non-guaranteed camp contract, all part of the early churn that tends to define this part of the calendar.
The Mavericks have also begun making decisions of their own, requesting waivers on Jorge Diaz Graham shortly after his preseason appearance. For Sacramento, moves like Muokas are less about immediate headlines than about creating competition, filling out camp, and giving the front office another look before the roster picture starts to narrow in earnest. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Loss Still Gave Fans A Reason To Debate The Rotation
Sacramentos preseason has opened with a rough 0-4 mark, but the latest loss to the Portland Trail Blazers still offered a few reasons for Kings fans to lean forward instead of tune out. Precious Achiuwa and Jonathan Mogbo each turned in double-doubles, and the box score also had room for encouraging contributions from rookies Emanuel Sharp and Alex Karaban, the kind of mix that can make even a preseason setback feel like a useful snapshot of what the roster might become.
What makes the game worth revisiting is less the result than the way it sharpened the rotation conversation. Several Kings players were unavailable because of injury or other reasons, so the minutes were spread around and the team still showed real strength on the offensive glass. For a group trying to sort out roles in the preseason, those details can matter just as much as the final score, even if the record so far leaves plenty of room for concern. [Read more 🡒]
Former Kings Big Mans Brutal 2026 Just Got Even Worse
Drew Eubanks latest setback only deepens what has already been a miserable 2026. After the Sacramento Kings let him walk following the 2025-2026 season, he landed with the New York Knicks on a preseason deal, hoping to carve out another opportunity. Instead, the former Kings big man suffered a torn pectoral muscle before the season even began, a tough blow for a player trying to keep his place in the league.
The injury was serious enough that the Knicks waived him, and the road back is now a long one. There is no projected timeline for his return, and surgery plus rehab are expected to keep him out for the 2026-2027 season. For Sacramento, it serves as a reminder of how quickly a veteran big mans career can turn, especially when one injury can wipe away an entire year. [Read more 🡒]