The Sacramento Kings may be deep into a season that’s tested their patience and resolve, but if there’s one thing keeping the long-term vision intact, it’s the youth movement that’s quietly gaining steam. And during a recent press conference, general manager Scott Perry made it clear: he’s watching closely-and he wants to see more from second-year guard Devin Carter.
Carter hasn’t had the easiest time cracking the rotation this season, largely due to a crowded backcourt. But with the Kings making some moves at the trade deadline-specifically dealing away Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder-the logjam at guard just got a little looser. That could open the door for Carter to finally get some meaningful minutes, and Perry didn’t shy away from acknowledging that opportunity.
“I want to see more of Devin,” Perry said, pointing directly to the 22-year-old as someone the organization still has interest in developing. That’s not nothing. In a season where wins have been hard to come by, the Kings are clearly shifting their focus toward evaluating what they’ve got in-house-and Carter’s name is still very much on the radar.
The timing couldn’t be better. Sacramento’s rookie class has been one of the few bright spots this year.
Maxime Raynaud stepped up in a big way when Domantas Sabonis missed two months, showing flashes of a reliable two-way big who can contribute now and grow into more. Nique Clifford is starting to find his lane as a scorer and playmaker, showing more confidence and aggression with each game.
And Dyland Cardwell? He’s already making a name for himself as one of the most impactful rookie defenders in the league.
But while that trio has found ways to shine, Carter has largely been stuck on the outside looking in. That’s not necessarily a reflection of his talent-it’s more about the numbers game.
The Kings had too many guards and not enough minutes to go around. Now, with some of that logjam cleared, Carter has a chance to get back in the mix.
It’s also worth noting that De’Andre Hunter, one of the Kings' new additions, is technically a forward/guard. But his arrival is more about defensive versatility than backcourt depth, so it doesn’t necessarily block Carter’s path. If anything, it underscores the need for Sacramento to figure out what they’ve got in their young guard.
Perry made a key point: it’s tough to make long-term decisions about players you haven’t seen enough of. Carter hasn’t had the court time to truly showcase his game, especially alongside other young pieces in Sacramento’s rebuild.
That could change in the coming weeks. Whether he ends up being a long-term fit or not, the Kings need to find out what kind of player they have in him-and the only way to do that is to let him play.
There’s no guarantee how this plays out. Maybe Carter earns a bigger role.
Maybe he becomes a trade chip. Maybe the team decides not to pick up his option.
But the important thing is that he’s still in the conversation. For a young player trying to carve out a role on a rebuilding team, that’s a start.
And in a season that’s been more about building for tomorrow than winning today, these are the kinds of developments that matter. The Kings are still figuring out who’s part of their future-and Devin Carter is about to get his shot to prove he belongs.