Sacramento Kings Blog – Page 2 – NBA Blog

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.

Kings waive Boogie Ellis, Skal Labissiere, Terry Taylor and Brodric Thomas

The Sacramento Kings yesterday waived Boogie Ellis, Skal Labissiere, Terry Taylor and Brodric Thomas.

In addition, the Kings have signed Antoine Davis, Drew Timme and Shareef O’Neal, who are all expected to join the Stockton Kings, the NBA G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings.

A member of Sacramento’s 2024 Summer League roster, Davis spent the 2023-24 season with the Rip City Remix. In 29 regular season games, he averaged 17.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 28.7 minutes per game for the Remix.

Timme, a 6-10 forward, played for the Wisconsin Herd during the 2023-24 season, averaging 9.7 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 21.8 minutes per game over 27 regular season contests. The Richardson, Texas, native is Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer with 2,307 and a three-time consensus All-American (2021-23).

O’Neal most recently played with the G League Ignite for the 2022-23 season, averaging 5.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game.

Kings trade Jalen McDaniels to Spurs, and sign Doug McDermott

The Sacramento Kings recently traded Jalen McDaniels, a 2031 second-round pick and cash considerations to the San Antonio Spurs.

In addition, the Kings have signed forward Doug McDermott.

A 10-year veteran, McDermott holds career averages of 8.9 points and 2.2 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game over 655 career games (94 starts) with Chicago, Oklahoma City Dallas, Indiana, and San Antonio. McDermott has shot 47.1% from the field and 41.0% from 3-point range over his 10 seasons in the NBA, including 940 3-pointers made. He is one of five active players shooting 40.0% or better from behind the arc with 900+ 3-point field goals made.

Kings sign Terry Taylor

The Sacramento Kings have signed forward Terry Taylor.

In three seasons, Taylor posted averages of 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).

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.

Kings sign Boogie Ellis

The Sacramento Kings recently signed guard Boogie Ellis.

Ellis appeared in five games for Sacramento at NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas, averaging 11.2 points on 51.3% shooting from the field, including 54.5% from 3-point range. He also added 1.2 steals and averaged 17.3 minutes per game for the Kings.

A native of San Diego, Calif., Ellis spent the last three seasons at the University of Southern California where he posted averages of 15.4 points (42.7 FG%, 39.5 3pt%), 3.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game in 95 career games. In his final season with the Trojans, Ellis averaged 16.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game, starting all 29 games, on his way to receiving All-Pac-12 Second Team honors.

Kings sign Devin Carter

The Sacramento Kings recently signed Devin Carter.

Carter (6-3, 193) spent two seasons at Providence (2022-24) after transferring from South Carolina following the 2021-22 season. A Miami, Fla. native, he averaged 19.7 points (47.3 FG%, 37.7 3pt%, 74.9 FT%), 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals in 35.3 minutes per game over 33 games (33 starts) during the 2023-24 season. Carter averaged 7.7 defensive rebounds per game, the seventh-highest mark in the nation, and scored in double figures in all 33 appearances. He led the Big East in scoring overall and in conference games (21.4 ppg) while also ranking third in the league in rebounding and fourth in steals and 3-pointers made per game.

Carter was named the 23-24 Big East Player of the Year by the conference’s coaches and earned All-Big East First Team honors. He was also an Associated Press All-American Honorable Mention and a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist.

Carter became the third lottery pick in Providence school history, joining Austin Croshere (1997) and Kris Dunn (2016).

Kings sign Isaiah Crawford and Isaac Jones to two-way contracts

The Sacramento Kings recently signed Isaiah Crawford and Isaac Jones to two-way contracts.

Crawford, a 6-6, 220-pound forward, averaged 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game during the 2023-24 season for Louisiana Tech. Originally from Fort Worth, Texas, Crawford became the 18th player in program history to reach 1,500 career points and ranked second in Conference USA (CUSA) field goal percentage (48.5%), while also shooting a team-best 41.4 percent from three-point range. Crawford was named CUSA Player of the Year and CUSA Defensive Player of the Year for the 23-24 season.

Jones, a 6-9, 242-pound forward, averaged 15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 blocks per game during the 2023-24 season for Washington State. Jones, a Spanaway, Washington native, earned All-Pac-12 Conference First Team honors and finished fourth in the Pac-12 Conference for total rebounds.