Category: Sacramento Kings Blog

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Kings convert Jordan Ford deal to a two-way contract

The Sacramento Kings have converted guard Jordan Ford’s deal to a two-way contract.

Last season, Ford averaged 14.7 points (50.1 FG%, 40.4 3pt%, 80.6 FT%), 2.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 32 games (all starts) for the Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s G League affiliate. A member of Sacramento’s 2023 Summer League roster, Ford posted averages of 16.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals in four games (all starts) for the Kings at the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas.

A graduate of Folsom High School, Ford played collegiately at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., where he finished with the second-most career points in program history (1,929).

Kings sign Jordan Ford, waive Nerlens Noel and Neemias Queta

The Sacramento Kings have signed guard Jordan Ford.

Also, Nerlens Noel and Neemias Queta have been waived.

Last season, Ford averaged 14.7 points (50.1 FG%, 40.4 3pt%, 80.6 FT%), 2.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game in 32 games (all starts) for the Stockton Kings, Sacramento’s G League affiliate. A member of Sacramento’s 2023 Summer League roster, Ford posted averages of 16.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.0 steals in four games (all starts) for the Kings at the NBA 2K24 Summer League in Las Vegas.

In his first two seasons with the Kings, Queta appeared in 20 games for Sacramento. He played in 43 regular season games during the 2022-23 season for the Stockton Kings, averaging 17.7 points (68.5 FG%), 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

Last season, Queta led the G League in field goal percentage and ranked fourth in blocks per game on his way to earning All-NBA G League and All-Defensive G League honors. He also finished as the runner up for the NBA G League Most Valuable Player award. Queta was originally selected by the Kings with the 39th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Utah State.

Noel holds career averages of 7.1 points (54.6 FG%), 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in 467 career games (223 starts).

The Kings roster now stands at 17 players.

Kings sign Nerlens Noel

The Sacramento Kings yesterday signed center Nerlens Noel.

A 10-year veteran, Noel has posted averages of 7.1 points (54.6 FG%), 6.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game in 467 career games (223 starts). Among active players, he ranks ninth in blocks per contest and has been in the Top 20 among annual blocks leaders four times, including most recently ranking third (2.2) during the 2020-21 season.

Originally selected with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Noel received All-Rookie First Team honors after averaging 9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.9 blocks per game in 75 games (71 starts) for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Sacramento Kings sign 2022-23 EuroLeague MVP Sasha Vezenkov

The Sacramento Kings on Tuesday, July 20 signed forward Sasha Vezenkov.

Vezenkov was named the 2022-23 EuroLeague MVP after he averaged 17.6 points (55.3 FG%, 38.3 3pt%, 84.0 FT%), 6.9 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game in 40 games (39 starts) for Olympiacos. He also received the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy and was selected to the All-EuroLeague First Team for a second consecutive season.

During the 2022-23 season, Vezenkov competed in the Greek Basket League for Olympiacos, posting averages of 16.7 points (58.0 FG%, 39.4 3pt%, 80.3 FT%), 5.7 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest. For his performance, Vezenkov was chosen as the league’s Most Valuable Player for the second season in a row and helped lead his team to win the Greek League Championship.

A native of Bulgaria, Vezenkov began his career in the Greek Basket League with Aris Basketball Club, spending four seasons with the team from 2011-15. He joined FC Barcelona for the next three years (2015-18) before joining Olympiacos prior to the 2018-19 season.

Vezenkov was originally selected with the 57th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets. Sacramento acquired his draft rights in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2022 NBA Draft.

Kings re-sign Trey Lyles

The Sacramento Kings on Friday, July 7 re-signed Trey Lyles.

Since joining the Kings in February 2022, Lyles, 27, has appeared in 98 games (20 starts) and averaged 8.3 points (46.8 FG%, 36.3 3PT%, 82.7 FT%), 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 18.3 minutes per game. During the 2022-23 season, Lyles recorded 562 total points, which were the second most points scored off the bench for the Kings.

Originally selected with the 12th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Kentucky, Lyles has appeared in 523 games (126 starts) in his career.

Pacers trade Chris Duarte to Kings

The Sacramento Kings yesterday acquired guard Chris Duarte in a trade with the Indiana Pacers for a 2028 second-round pick and a 2030 second-round pick.

During the 2022-23 season, Duarte averaged 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in 46 games (12 starts) for the Pacers. He was selected to participate in the 2022 NBA Rising Stars Challenge and went on to be named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team after posting averages of 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals per contest in 55 games (39 starts) in 2021-22.

Duarte appeared in 101 games (51 starts) for the Pacers, averaging 10.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He was selected 13th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Oregon after receiving Pac-12 Player of the Year honors for his performance during the 2020-21 season.

Kings trade Richaun Holmes and Olivier-Maxence Prosper to Mavericks

The Sacramento Kings have finalized a trade with the Dallas Mavericks. Sacramento sent center Richaun Holmes and the draft rights to the 24th selection of the 2023 NBA Draft, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, to Dallas in exchange for cash considerations.

“Richaun is a dynamic and skilled center who brings a unique blend of athleticism, energy and versatility to the court,” said Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison. “O-Max took on the most difficult defensive matchups every night at Marquette, and his energy and enthusiasm on the court will be felt right away for us.”

Holmes (6-10, 240) holds career averages of 8.9 points (.606 FG%, .747 FT%), 5.4 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 blocks and 19.8 minutes in 418 games (161 starts) with Philadelphia, Phoenix and Sacramento. He spent the past four seasons with the Kings and averaged 10.4 points (.644 FG%, .375 3FG%, .788 FT%), 6.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.1 blocks and 23.2 minutes in 192 games (137 starts).

The Lockport, Illinois, native was selected by Philadelphia with the 37th overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. As a senior at Bowling Green, he garnered First Team All-MAC and MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Holmes will wear No. 20 for the Mavericks.

Kings re-sign Keon Ellis to two-way contract

The Sacramento Kings yesterday re-signed Keon Ellis to a two-way contract.

Ellis appeared in 23 games (all starts) for the Stockton Kings, the G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings, averaging 16.8 points (51.7 FG%, 44.4 3PT%, 78.4 FT%), 5.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 30.4 minutes in his first season.

A former Alabama standout, Ellis appeared in 33 games (all starts), averaging 12.1 points (.439 FG%, .366 3pt%, .881 FT%), 6.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.9 steals and 30.9 minutes per game during his senior season (2021-22).

During the 2021-22 season, the 6-6, 175-pound guard earned All-SEC Defensive Team accolades, led the SEC and ranked 24th nationally in free throw percentage (.881), finished fifth in the SEC in steals (1.94), eighth in three-pointers made per game (2.03) and 14th in rebounds (6.1).

Kings sign rookie Colby Jones

The Sacramento Kings yesterday signed rookie guard Colby Jones.

Selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Jones spent three seasons at Xavier (2020-23) where he averaged 15.0 points (50.9 FG%, 37.8 3pt%, 65.3 FT%), 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 33.9 minutes per game in 36 games (all starts) during his junior season.

Jones, 21, earned All-Big East honors and was one of 10 finalists recognized for the Julius Erving Small Forward of the Year Award during the 2022-23 season. While competing at Xavier, he ranked amongst the Top 20 in the Big East in scoring (11th), rebounding (17th), assists (seventh), steals (15th) and field goal percentage (14th).

Kings sign Jalen Slawson to two-way contract

The Sacramento Kings yesterday signed Jalen Slawson to a two-way contract.

Slawson, the 54th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, averaged 15.6 points (55.5 FG%, 39.0 3pt%, 77.5 FT%), 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.5 steals and 30.7 minutes per game in 36 games (all starts) at Furman during the 2022-23 season. He led 13th-seeded Furman to a Southern Conference Championship and a 2023 NCAA Tournament win over the fourth-seeded Virginia Cavaliers.

A 6-7, 215-pound forward, Slawson earned SoCon Player of the Year, All-SoCon First Team and SoCon First Team All-Tournament honors during the 2022-23 season.