The Sacramento Kings are heading into the season opener with a healthier look and a player who has already carved out a bigger role than anyone expected.
Precious Achiuwa, back after injury and back on a new two-year deal worth $11.2 million, said Wednesday night that the Kings need to make sure their top names find their rhythm early. That starts with Zach LaVine and extends to Darius Acuff Jr., the newest addition in the mix.
"We got to get Zach going early in the game. That’s number one priority," Achiuwa said. "We gotta get Darius going as well."
Sacramento’s struggles last season were tied in part to injuries to major pieces like Keegan Murray, Domantas Sabonis, and LaVine. Now, with that group back healthy and Acuff Jr. in the fold, the Kings expect a different kind of team this year.
Achiuwa is a big part of that equation. He joined Sacramento on a veteran minimum deal last season and turned it into a career year, averaging 10.1 points and 6.7 rebounds while giving Doug Christie a rugged, high-energy option off the bench.
For Achiuwa, the job description is simple.
"For me, I don’t really care offensively," Achiuwa added ahead of the season opener. "It’s just my job here is to make these guys better…"
That attitude has stood out inside the locker room, especially with Ben Simmons sidelined for the season after an Achilles injury. Achiuwa now figures to be one of the team’s key defenders and a steady presence on the back line of the frontcourt.
Christie pointed to Achiuwa’s coachability and team-first approach as major reasons for his rise.
"He's so coachable. He's a pleasure as a coach because he's listening," Christie said.
He wants to win, he's about the team, all the right things. He wants to win so he'll be upset but then he lets it go and the smile is back on his face."
Achiuwa has always made a living by doing the little things, but Sacramento’s injury issues last season pushed him into a more aggressive scoring role. He got rolling after the All-Star Break, lifted his production across the board, and closed April averaging more than 15 points per game for the second straight month.
That won’t be the assignment now. With Sabonis, LaVine, and Acuff Jr. available, Achiuwa can settle back into the supporting role that made him so valuable in the first place.
In Other News...
Kings Suddenly Have A Point Guard Chance They Cant Waste
Kevin Porter Jr. is suddenly in the middle of a front-office decision that could matter for Sacramentos backcourt. After being waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, he is expected to hit unrestricted free agency, and the Kings are among the teams reportedly interested as they look for help at point guard after injuries and roster moves have thinned that spot.
Sacramentos pitch is obvious: there should be minutes available, and a real pathway to carve out a role right away. Minnesota is also in the mix, though, which gives Porter a very different kind of choice, between a team trying to piece things together and one with a clearer path to contention. For the Kings, the question is whether they can make the most of a chance that may not stay open for long. [Read more 🡒]
Kings Lose A Planned Starter And Keegan Murray Felt It Immediately
The Kings plans for their new-look lineup took a major hit before the season even got moving, with Ben Simmons going down in practice and shutting the door on what had been a fresh start in Sacramento. Simmons was brought in with the expectation that he would be part of the starting group, and his absence changes the tone of the roster conversation immediately. For a team trying to build around its pieces early, losing a veteran piece before opening night is as harsh a setback as it gets.
Keegan Murray did not hide how much the injury landed with the group, pointing to both the severity of the setback and the difficult road Simmons has already traveled. The Kings now have to recalibrate without a player they had penciled into a prominent role, while Simmons faces the reality of missing two straight NBA seasons. For Sacramento, the challenge is not just replacing minutes, but absorbing the loss of a player whose presence was supposed to help stabilize the first unit from day one. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Guard Fans Know
Walter Clayton Jr. is suddenly back on the board after being waived by the Memphis Grizzlies ahead of the roster deadline, and the guard is already drawing attention from multiple NBA teams. Among the clubs monitoring him are the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings, two teams with very different paths but a shared interest in adding a young guard who could provide backcourt depth without much fuss.
Dallas may have the edge on paper because it has a two-way roster spot available and a pre-existing relationship with Clayton, which could make that an appealing landing spot if he clears waivers. Still, the next step may come down to something simpler than team fit alone: where he can actually get minutes, and how that lines up with the long-term direction he wants for his career. [Read more 🡒]