The Sacramento Kings have a knack for turning two-way contracts into real NBA value, and that history is a big part of why Sean Pedulla’s signing stands out. Keon Ellis, Isaiah Crawford, Dylan Cardwell, and Neemias Queta all started on two-way deals in Sacramento before eventually landing standard NBA contracts. Now Pedulla gets the next shot.
The Kings made the move official after opening up a two-way spot, and it fills an obvious need. With Ben Simmons out for the year after suffering a torn Achilles tendon, Sacramento was left thin behind the point guard spot. Darius Acuff Jr. is already carrying a heavy load after game one, so adding another ballhandler was more necessity than luxury.
Pedulla brings a solid college résumé with him. He wrapped up his career at Ole Miss after three seasons at Virginia Tech, and as a senior he put up 15 points, 3.8 assists, nearly two steals per game, and hit 39% of his threes on more than six attempts a night.
The production didn’t stop there. Pedulla’s game translated well to the G League last season, where his craft helped him average more than 23 points per game and win G League Rookie of the Year. He’s a smaller guard, but he plays with edge and has the kind of offensive polish that can keep him on the floor.
Size is the one real question mark. Pedulla doesn’t have official combine measurements listed, but he measured 6’1.75” with shoes at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, which puts him around six feet barefoot. That makes him a tricky fit alongside Acuff Jr., though pairing him with a bigger guard like Nique Clifford would make more sense.
Sacramento also hasn’t been shy about using two-way players early. Jonathan Mogbo already logged eight minutes in game one while Doug Christie searched for answers against the L.A.
Clippers. Two-way players can be active for up to 50 regular season games, but the Kings have tended to use theirs often.
That reality matters here because Pedulla may be needed right away. Malik Monk is the only other realistic backup point guard option, and even that comes with some uncertainty.
Monk is on the trade block and was not in the best graces with the team after not being in shape for camp and frequently being out of the rotation last season. Sacramento could still keep him or add another guard to the full-time roster, but right now Pedulla is positioned for real minutes.
There’s also a case that he could eventually earn more than a two-way look. Pedulla’s offense is smart and efficient, but his defensive activity and rebounding may be what really sell the Kings on him. He posted a 3.3% steal percentage at Ole Miss, averaged 1.6 steals per game in the G League last season, and pulled down five rebounds per game despite being barely over 6 feet.
His G League numbers were strong as well. In 28 regular season games, Pedulla averaged 23.6 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 36.9% from three. That kind of rebounding from a guard usually says something about hustle and intensity.
Pedulla also just turned 24 earlier this month, making him younger than Nique Clifford and Dylan Cardwell. That gives Sacramento some runway to let him learn on the job if he gets a chance with the parent club. If things break the right way, it’s not hard to imagine him growing into a bench role in the mold of TJ McConnell.
The Kings have often used their two-way spots on older players who may not have much development left. Pedulla gives them a different kind of swing: a younger player with real skill who fits a need. That doesn’t guarantee big results, but it does make this signing worth watching.
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