The Sacramento Kings’ rough start just got a little rougher.
After opening 0-3, Sacramento learned that Keegan Murray will be re-evaluated in 10-14 days because of an ankle injury. At the same time, Maxime Raynaud is still working back from a knee issue and will be sidelined at least two more weeks, while Dylan Cardwell’s calf injury will keep him out at least another week.
The Murray news changes the picture the most. Raynaud’s timeline and Cardwell’s absence were expected, but losing Murray too is a serious hit for a team already trying to sort out its frontcourt. Last season, Murray’s growth was a major piece of Sacramento’s rebuild, and this stretch now delays any chance to see him with an extended run in a bigger role.
It also makes the Kings’ frontcourt reshuffle look even thinner. Ben Simmons is already out for the year, and now Murray joins him on the injury list as Sacramento tries to piece things together on the fly.
That puts even more pressure on De'Andre Hunter, who is now the clearest option to handle the “switchable wing” role. The problem is that Hunter hasn’t exactly started fast.
Through three games, he’s averaging 5.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting 37.5% from the field and 50% from three. The 3-point number looks fine, but the sample is tiny - just 4-of-8.
Precious Achiuwa should also see his workload grow, and he’s been one of the brighter spots early. The veteran forward has been solid from the jump, averaging 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 block while shooting 56.3% from the field. The wrinkle is that Achiuwa was already covering for the injured centers, Raynaud and Cardwell, as Domantas Sabonis’ backup big.
That opens the door for Jonathan Mogbo, the two-way player who logged 18:14 against the Memphis Grizzlies last night with Murray out for the first full game. He made the most of it, finishing with seven points, three rebounds, an assist, and a steal while going 3-for-4 from the field and hitting his only 3-point try.
Another name worth watching is Nique Clifford. He’s been pushed to the bench to start the season, which makes his spot a little surprising after he was a building block last year and had his team option picked up for next season. Clifford doesn’t have Murray’s size, but the injury opens a path for him to get back into the rotation.
Alex Karaban is in a similar spot, sitting on the outside looking in for now. He isn’t as agile or as strong a defender as Murray, but he does bring similar size and, at least in theory, some 3-point shooting. With Sacramento off to an 0-3 start and injuries piling up, it feels like only a matter of time before the Kings give him a look, possibly sooner rather than later.
In Other News...
Keegan Murray Is Caught In A Kings Problem That Keeps Growing
Keegan Murrays early-season fit has been complicated by more than just the usual opening-night rust. Between a preseason spent on limited minutes and the lingering effects of returning from injury, Murray has had to find his rhythm while the Kings keep adjusting the pieces around him. The result has been a start that has not looked as clean or settled as Sacramento would like from one of its key young forwards.
The bigger issue is the one the Kings seem to keep running into: a rotation that has not stayed still long enough for anyone to really settle into a role. Murrays spot has felt especially fluid amid those changes, and the uncertainty has shown up in his on-court consistency. For a team trying to build continuity, his situation has become another reminder that Sacramento still has some sorting out to do. [Read more 🡒]
Sabonis Is Doing Something Historic For The Kings Already
Domantas Sabonis has wasted no time putting his imprint on Sacramentos season, piling up rebounds at a pace the league has never seen in the post-merger era. Through the first three games, he has grabbed 52 boards to break Moses Malones old mark of 49, while also setting the tone as the Kings most important offensive connector. Even in an early stretch marked by losses, Sabonis has been doing the kind of work that keeps Sacramento organized and dangerous.
What makes the start even more notable is that the big mans production has not been limited to the glass. He is leading the league in rebounds per game and in assists for the Kings, and he has done it while showing improved shooting percentages from last season. For a team still looking to turn effort into results, Sabonis has already been everything the Kings could ask for, and maybe a little more. [Read more 🡒]
Zach LaVine Just Exposed An Early Kings Problem
After an 0-3 start, the early frustration around Sacramento has already gone beyond missed shots and defensive miscues. Zach LaVines comments pointed to a bigger issue inside the locker room: a team still trying to settle in, with the acclimation process not yet giving the Kings a clear sense of direction from the front office, the coaching staff or the veterans expected to steady things.
The larger concern is whether the pieces Sacramento has invested in are actually being used in a way that matches the plan. There has been a noticeable disconnect between draft capital and in-game decisions, including limited run for recent first-round picks, and LaVines point about veteran leadership only sharpened the conversation. In his view, teams need a voice and a structure to lean on, and right now the Kings are still searching for both. [Read more 🡒]