Sacramento’s preseason has offered a few bright spots, but Jerry Reynolds isn’t ready to read too much into any of it until the Kings get their key pieces on the floor together.
The Kings legend said the early stretch has made evaluation tricky because several prominent players still hadn’t appeared heading into Saturday’s matchup against Golden State. With only a short preseason to work with, Reynolds said Sacramento has to start narrowing down its group and figuring out who fits where.
“At some point, I think they’ve got to be out there together a little bit,” Reynolds said during an interview with Sactown Sports’ The Drive Guys. “The few games you do play, I think it becomes even more important to kind of thin the herd a little quicker.”
Even with that caution, Reynolds pointed to a couple of players who have already helped themselves. He singled out Precious Achiuwa and Daeqwon Plowden as the standouts who have made the most of their chances. In Reynolds’ view, Achiuwa has done enough to earn a rotation spot, while Plowden’s energy and shot-making have jumped out when he’s been on the floor.
But the biggest questions, Reynolds said, won’t get answered until Sacramento’s main group is finally together. That includes rookie Darius Acuff and how he meshes with veterans like Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray. The real issue, Reynolds said, is whether Acuff can thrive without being asked to do everything himself.
“I think they’re going to have to figure out some different ways to use him,” Reynolds said. “You really want him to be a big part of the offense, but not the offense.”
Reynolds warned that if Acuff is forced into too much one-on-one creation, defenders will have an easier time sitting on his dribble. His preference is for the Kings to keep the ball moving, find different ways to feature Acuff, and let his game come along naturally.
“He’s not going to get 30, not productively,” Reynolds said. “Let the guy develop at a normal rate, and gosh, I think he could be terrific.”
Saturday’s matchup with the Clippers could provide another hard test for that idea, Reynolds said, especially with defenders like Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. in the mix. He pointed to Sabonis and Murray as players who can help Acuff by giving him clean passing outlets and taking pressure off his ability to create off the bounce.
Reynolds also said De’Andre Hunter has been underwhelming so far. Sacramento brought him in with three-and-D expectations, but Reynolds said he hasn’t shown much on either side of that label during the preseason.
Among the younger names, Reynolds was impressed with Jonathan Mogbo’s effort and athleticism, though he cautioned that preseason minutes can be deceptive. He was a little more optimistic about Alex Karaban, saying the rookie could eventually carve out a role, even if it takes time.
For Reynolds, the early sample has been useful, but the fuller picture still waits on Sacramento’s regular rotation to get back together.
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For LaVine, the timing matters because his Kings run has not gone the way either side wanted, and every stretch from here carries extra weight for how the rest of his stint is remembered. Sacramento is looking for signs that he can still be part of something meaningful here, but the larger question hanging over the season is whether there is enough time left for him to change the story before the next chapter arrives. [Read more 🡒]
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Precious Achiuwa Is Giving The Kings A Tough Rotation Decision
Precious Achiuwa has quickly become one of the more useful pieces in Sacramentos early-season picture, the kind of frontcourt option coaches value because he can cover different spots and help on the defensive end. His preseason stretch gave the Kings a real look at what he can do when asked to shoulder more responsibility, and the early returns made it hard to ignore how well he fit when the roster was thin.
Now the challenge is figuring out where he lands once the lineup is healthier again. Achiuwa has done enough to stay in the conversation, and his ability to bounce between positions gives Sacramento more flexibility than it had before, but that versatility also complicates the rotation math. For a team trying to settle its bench group, he has made himself tough to take out of the picture. [Read more 🡒]