Category: Sacramento Kings Blog

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Kings and GM Monte McNair agree to part ways

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team and General Manager Monte McNair are mutually parting ways.

“I want to sincerely thank Monte for his leadership and the invaluable contributions he made during his time in Sacramento,” said Sacramento Kings owner and chairman Vivek Ranadivé. “He helped build a strong foundation for continued success here, and we wish him and his family all the best in their future endeavors.”

McNair joined the Kings as general manager in September 2020, overseeing basketball operations. Prior to the Kings, McNair spent 13 years with the Houston Rockets.

Per the Sacramento Bee:

McNair issued a statement on social media thanking Ranadive, players, coaches, staffers and fans.

“Five years ago, I was given the opportunity of a lifetime,” McNair said. “I’ll always be grateful to Vivek and the entire Kings organization for taking a chance on me.

The Beam Team brought so much joy to so many. Thank you to the players, coaches, and staff who played such a vital role in creating those special moments and memories. To the Sacramento community—thank you for welcoming and embracing me and my family. We arrived as a family of four and leave as a family of six. As a California kid, this truly felt like a dream homecoming. To Kings fans—you’re simply the best. I’ll never forget the deafening roar before Game 1 or the countless other unforgettable moments we shared. There will be many more beams in the Kings’ future.”

Good news for Kings on Domantas Sabonis

Via the Sacramento Bee:

Kings center Domantas Sabonis could be back in the lineup much sooner than expected.

The Kings announced Sabonis was a full participant in Sunday’s practice after making significant progress in his recovery from a right ankle sprain.

Sabonis is listed as questionable for Monday’s game against the Boston Celtics at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Malik Monk (illness) and Devin Carter (illness) are also questionable

Kings upgrade Isaac Jones to a standard contract

The Sacramento Kings have converted Isaac Jones’ deal to a standard NBA contract.

A 6-9 forward, Jones has appeared in 31 games for Sacramento this season. Over 11 regular season games with the Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s G League affiliate, he averaged 20.9 points (55.5 FG%), 9.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Jones originally signed a two-way contract with Sacramento on July 3, 2024 after going undrafted in the 2024 NBA Draft out of Washington State.

Kings sign Terry Taylor to 10-day contract

The Sacramento Kings have signed Terry Taylor to a 10-day contract.

In three seasons, Taylor has averaged 4.8 points and 2.7 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game while shooting 58.1% from the field in 95 career games with the Indiana Pacers (2021-23) and Chicago Bulls (2022-24). In 28 appearances for the Stockton Kings this season, Taylor is averaging 17.6 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 34.3 minutes per game.

A native of Bowling Green, Ky., Taylor played four seasons at Austin Peay State University where he finished as the program’s all-time leader in points, scoring 2,507 career points.

Wizards trade Jonas Valanciunas to Kings

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has acquired Jonas Valančiūnas in a trade with the Washington Wizards for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 second-round pick.

During the 2024-25 season, Valančiūnas is averaging 11.5 points (54.7 FG%, 89.6 FT%), 8.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 20.1 minutes per game in 49 games (12 starts). He ranks 24th in rebounds per game, 19th in total rebounds (404) and in field goal percentage, tied for 16th in total offensive rebounds (120), 20th in total defensive rebounds (284) and seventh in free throw percentage this season.

In 13 seasons, Valančiūnas has posted career averages of 13.3 points (56.0 FG%, 79.3 FT%), 9.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 25.4 minutes per game in 905 career games (839 starts) with Toronto (2012-19), Memphis (2018-21), New Orleans (2021-24) and Washington (2024-25). Among active players, he ranks 13th in rebounds per game, ninth in total boards (8,500), sixth in total offensive rebounds (2,485) and 12th in total defensive rebounds (6,016) and in field goal percentage. Valančiūnas was selected to the All-Rookie Second Team for his performance during the 2012-13 season and has been a member of the men’s senior Lithuanian national team since 2011.

Three-team trade sends Zach LaVine to Kings, De’Aaron Fox to Spurs

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has acquired Zach LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round draft picks, (one protected and two unprotected) and three second-round round draft picks. As part of a three-team deal with San Antonio and Chicago, the Spurs received De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin from the Kings and Chicago acquired Kevin Huerter from Sacramento.

“De’Aaron has played a pivotal role with our franchise, and we are deeply grateful for everything he did to support the organization on and off the court,” said General Manager Monte McNair. “We appreciate Kevin’s many contributions to the team, especially as a key member of the 2023 playoff team. We also thank Jordan for his hard work and commitment during his time with the Kings.”

“As we look to the future, I am excited to welcome Zach to Sacramento. He is a gifted scorer, and his athleticism will make an impact on both ends of the floor. We also look forward to Sidy joining the Kings.”

A two-time All-Star (2020-21, 2021-22), LaVine is averaging 24.0 points (51.1 FG%, 44.6 3pt%, 63.7 TS%), 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 34.1 minutes per game over 42 games (42 starts) in his 11th season in the NBA. He is one of four players this season averaging 24.0 points or more while shooting 50.0% from the field and 40.0% from 3-point range with a true shooting percentage of 60.0% or higher. During the 2024-25 season, LaVine ranks fifth in 3-point shooting percentage and holds the highest field goal percentage from behind the arc among players with at least 100 3-pointers made this season. He is also 19th in points per game, 20th in total scoring (1,007), and tied for 11th in 3-point field goals made (136).

LaVine has posted career averages of 20.7 points (46.8 FG%, 38.7 3pt%, 83.1 FT%), 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 622 career games (533 starts) with Minnesota (2014-17) and Chicago (2017-25). During his eight seasons with Chicago, LaVine averaged 24.2 points (47.4 FG%, 39.0 3pt%, 83.4 FT%), 4.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in 416 career contests (413 starts), ranking third in Bulls franchise history in scoring average. Among the Bulls all-time leaders lists, he ranks sixth in points (10,056), first in 3-pointers made (1,130), 12th in assists (1,808), 15th in steals (388), and seventh in field goals made (3,545).

Fox, 6-3/190, has appeared and started in 45 games for the Kings this season, averaging 25.0 points, 6.1 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.47 steals in 37.0 minutes per game. The Houston native holds career averages of 21.5 points, 6.1 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.42 steals in 514 career games (500 starts) across eight seasons with the Kings. Fox enjoyed a breakout year in 2022-23, being named to the All-NBA Third Team, the NBA All-Star team and winning the NBA’s inaugural winner of the Clutch Player of the Year Award. In the same season, he led the Kings to their first playoff berth since 2006, averaging 27.4 points, 7.7 assists and 5.4 rebounds in seven postseason games.

Since being drafted fifth overall in 2017 out of the University of Kentucky, only five other players have had 10,000 points, 3,000 assists and 700 three-pointers: Luka Doncic, LeBron James, James Harden, Trae Young and Damian Lillard. Fox is also one of three players in the NBA to have posted 11,000 points, 3,000 assists and 700 steals since 2017, along with Nikola Jokic and Harden.

McLaughlin, 6-0/185, spent five seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2019-24 before joining the Kings in 2024 and has averaged 4.2 points, 2.9 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 14.5 minutes in 270 career games. Originally from Etiwanda, California, McLaughlin played four seasons at the University of Southern California.

Fox will wear No. 2 for the Spurs and McLaughlin will wear No. 11.

A 6-8 forward, Cissoko has made 29 career appearances with San Antonio since joining the NBA during the 2023-24 season.

Huerter holds career averages of 11.5 points (44.1 FG%, 37.5 3pt%, 76.2 FT%), 3.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 28.0 minutes per game in 456 career games (356 starts) with Atlanta (2018-23) and Sacramento (2023-25). He averaged 11.7 points (45.9 FG%, 36.9 3pt%), 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest in 182 games (149 starts) with Sacramento.

Kings fire head coach Mike Brown

Sacramento Kings General Manager Monte McNair announced that Mike Brown has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the team and Doug Christie has been named interim head coach.

“This was a difficult decision, and I want to thank Mike for his many contributions to the organization,” said Kings General Manager Monte McNair.

Doug Christie is in his third season as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings. Selected 17th overall in the 1992 NBA Draft by the Seattle Super Sonics, Christie played 15 seasons in the NBA, averaging 11.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game in 827 career games (708 starts) with seven teams. During his time with the Kings from 2000-2005, he helped the team reach the postseason in each of his five seasons. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2002-03 and All-Defensive Second Team in 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2003-04. Before joining the Kings as an assistant coach, Christie spent four seasons as the team’s full-time color analyst from 2017-21.

Brown was named head coach of the Kings in May 2022 after spending six seasons as assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors. During his time with the Kings, he coached the team to a 107-88 record.

Kings sign Jae Crowder

The Sacramento Kings yesterday signed forward Jae Crowder.

Crowder most recently appeared in 50 games (25 starts) with the Milwaukee Bucks during the 2023–24 season. Drafted 34th overall in the 2012 NBA Draft out of Marquette, the former Big East Player of the Year has appeared in 803 games (434 starts) with Dallas, Boston, Cleveland, Utah, Memphis, Miami, Phoenix, and Milwaukee.

In 12 seasons, Crowder holds career averages of 9.3 points on 41.9% shooting from the floor, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.6 assists. He has appeared in 115 playoff games (86 starts), two NBA Finals appearances (Miami, Phoenix), and has reached the postseason in 11 of his 12 seasons in the NBA. Crowder is one of 20 active players to have recorded at least 1,200 three-point field goals and 700 steals in the regular season for his career.

Kings injury update on Malik Monk, two others

Kings guard Devin Carter is progressing in his rehabilitation from successful left shoulder surgery on July 11. Carter recently completed his four-month follow-up appointment with Dr. Harlan Selesnick of Baptist Health Doctors Hospital and was cleared for unrestricted shooting. Additional medical updates will be provided in January.

Kings center Orlando Robinson continues to progress in his rehabilitation from a sprained left MCL that was sustained in practice on October 3. He has been cleared for contact and will be re-evaluated in the coming days.

Kings guard Malik Monk suffered a moderate right ankle sprain during the second quarter against the Phoenix Suns on November 10. X-ray imaging revealed no structural damage. Monk will be listed as out and will be re-evaluated in two weeks.