The Sacramento Kings have used their final two-way slot on Malik “Leaky” Black, locking in a wing at a time when their biggest need still sits at point guard.
Black’s signing completes the Kings’ three two-way deals, alongside standout power forward Jonathan Mogbo and shooting guard Adam Flagler. Sacramento had room after waiving two-way point guard Isaiah Stevens, and with Black in place, the team has now maxed out the number of two-way contracts it can carry.
From a pure fit standpoint, the move makes sense. The Kings have been looking for help on defense and from beyond the arc, and Black brings both.
He’s a versatile perimeter defender, and his three-point shooting has taken a big step forward. That combination makes him an easy fit in the organization’s pipeline.
He also earned the opportunity in preseason. Mogbo may have grabbed most of the attention, but Black showed enough to secure his spot. Sacramento clearly liked what it saw.
Still, the signing doesn’t change the biggest question hovering over the roster. The Kings remain thin at point guard.
Darius Acuff Jr. is in line to start, but he’s a rookie who still needs time to develop. The idea had been that Ben Simmons could help behind him, but that plan is now looking murkier. Simmons appears increasingly likely to start at power forward, which would leave him with less ability to support Acuff at the point.
That leaves the Kings leaning on Adam Flagler and Malik Monk, though both are primarily shooting guards. Because of that, Elfrid Payton becomes even more important as Sacramento’s final standard roster addition. He’s the experienced point guard on the board, and the front-runner for that last main roster spot, even if nothing has been finalized.
If the Kings choose someone else, they’ll be right back where they started months ago. Acuff has promise, but he’s still a rookie being asked to carry a heavy load, and Black’s addition doesn’t really solve that problem. For all the value he brings, the last real issue for Sacramento is still sitting in plain sight.
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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
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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 🡒]