The Sacramento Kings still have three roster spots to sort out, but don’t expect the front office to rush into any announcements.
With two standard openings and one two-way slot left, Sacramento is in position to keep evaluating options rather than locking anything in right away. The team also doesn’t have much salary cap space to work with, which limits the kind of moves it can make. Two-way contracts don’t count against the cap, so that part of the puzzle is less restrictive financially, but the Kings still have to find the right players.
For a while, Russell Westbrook and a returning Victor Oladipo looked like the most obvious names tied to those openings. Then Westbrook changed the conversation by suddenly announcing his retirement yesterday, which shifted the picture for Sacramento and the rest of the league.
Right now, the Kings are waiting to see how the market settles. That’s where plenty of teams are at this stage, with most of the major free agency business already done and the remaining decisions coming down to the final roster moves.
Sacramento’s own financial limitations have made its options narrow from the start, even though the team has added a few pieces through the draft. Anything beyond that would likely require major trades.
For now, the most realistic targets for those remaining spots don’t appear to be priorities for other teams. Oladipo, in particular, has limited interest outside of Sacramento, which gives the Kings room to be patient and make sure they get their details right before they commit.
Still, there’s a limit to how long they can sit back. The Kings already missed out on Marquel Sutton after waiting too long, and he ended up signing with another team. If Sacramento has someone it wants now, it can’t afford to leave the door open and let another franchise step in.
In Other News...
Former Kings Could Solve Sacramentos Biggest Roster Problems
The Kings keep circling back to a familiar truth: some of the players they once let go could fit the roster better now than they did when they were wearing Sacramento uniforms the first time. Keon Ellis still stands out for his defense and energy, Buddy Hield remains the kind of shooting threat that changes spacing, and Harrison Barnes gave the franchise a dependable two-way presence during his run there. Add in the younger names like Devin Carter and Davion Mitchell, and the conversation quickly turns into a reminder of how many different roster paths this team has taken.
For Sacramento, the appeal is less about nostalgia than about solving problems that have lingered around the edges of the roster. The Kings have dealt with questions about development, fit, and which pieces were moved before they could fully show what they could become, which makes the idea of a reunion more than just a what-if exercise. Whether any of these former Kings ever come back is another matter, but the fact that the discussion even makes sense says plenty about where the roster stands now. [Read more 🡒]
Malik Monks Next Contract Could Shape The Kings Roster Plans
Malik Monk remains one of the more interesting pieces on Sacramentos roster puzzle, not just because of what he brings on the floor, but because of what his next contract decision could mean for the Kings bigger picture. After signing a four-year deal in 2024, Monk is now eligible for an extension, and that puts the team in a familiar position of weighing present production against long-term flexibility.
Sacramentos roster planning has already been shaped by a willingness to explore different paths with Monk, and the next move could factor into how the franchise approaches future deals elsewhere on the cap sheet. There is also the wider backdrop of potential NBA expansion, which can alter the way teams think about contract strategy and asset management, leaving the Kings with another layer to consider as they map out what comes next. [Read more 🡒]