Category: Sacramento Kings Blog

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Spurs guard Lonnie Walker scoring big since All-Star break

Via the San Antonio Express-News:

Spurs guard Lonnie Walker has caught fire, just in time to perhaps get paid this summer.

The 23-year-old has averaged 18.8 points in 10 games since the All-Star break, putting together the most consistent stretch of his career with restricted free agency looming.

Even with his professional future at a crossroads, Walker has vowed not to think about anything beyond the 11 games remaining on the Spurs’ schedule after Friday.

“I am just worrying about the games, honestly,” Walker said. “I am not too worried about after the season, what am I going to do, what happens next.”

The Spurs are 27-43 this season, which is the 11th best record in the Western conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are Dejounte Murray at 20.9 ppg and Keldon Johnson at 16.4 ppg.

Kings forward/center Richaun Holmes out for remainder of 2021-22 NBA season

Sacramento Kings forward Richaun Holmes will miss the remainder of the 2021-22 NBA season for personal reasons, according to General Manager Monte McNair.

“Richaun is a core member of our team, who is very important to our success,” said McNair. “We fully support Rich and look forward to seeing him back on the court for the 2022-23 NBA season.”

“I would like to thank everyone for their support during these difficult times,” said Holmes. “I love this team, I love my teammates and I look forward to returning next year.”

In his third season with the Kings, Holmes has averaged 10.4 points (.660 FG%, .778 FT%), 7.0 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 23.9 minutes per game in 45 games (37 starts) during the 2021-22 campaign.

Kings center Domantas Sabonis suspended one game by NBA

Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis has been suspended one game without pay for aggressively confronting and making contact with a game official, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.

The incident began with Sabonis receiving a technical foul for an unsportsmanlike reaction to a called foul. Sabonis then reacted demonstratively again in the vicinity of the game official, and approached and bumped the official in a hostile manner, resulting in a second technical foul and an ejection.

The episode occurred with 4:35 remaining in the fourth quarter of Sacramento’s 131-115 loss to the New York Knicks on March 7 at Golden 1 Center.

Sabonis will serve his suspension tonight when the Kings play host to the Denver Nuggets.

Arco Arena in Sacramento will soon be demolished

Remember Arco Arena in Sacramento? Some super fun Kings basketball was played there. But that was the past. Soon, the building will cease to exist. Via the Sacramento Bee:

The Sacramento Kings announced Wednesday the team will soon begin to demolish its old home, Arco Arena, on the north side of Sacramento.

The team said Wednesday fans would be welcome at an event on Saturday, March 19, to say farewell to the arena. The event is free.

Four-team NBA trade sends Donte DiVincenzo to Kings, Marvin Bagley III to Pistons

The Sacramento Kings have acquired guard Donte DiVincenzo (DEE-vin-chen-zo) from the Milwaukee Bucks, forward Josh Jackson and forward Trey Lyles from the Detroit Pistons as part of a four-team trade that will send Marvin Bagley III to Detroit.

“We are pleased to bring Donte, Josh and Trey here to Sacramento,” said Kings General Manager Monte McNair. “Adding shooting, defense and versatility to our team are very valuable as we continue to build. We would also like to thank Marvin Bagley III and wish him all the best in the future.”

In his fourth season out of Villanova, DiVincenzo has accrued career averages of 8.8 points (.424 FG%, .343 3pt%, .745 FT%), 4.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 23.2 minutes per game in 176 games (90 starts) for the Milwaukee Bucks (2018-22) and was a member of the 2021 NBA Championship team.

A University of Kansas product, Jackson has averaged 11.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 23.6 minutes per game in 279 career games (92 starts) in five seasons with the Phoenix Suns (2017-19), Memphis Grizzlies (2019-20) and Detroit Pistons (2020-22).

During the 2021-22 season, Lyles is posting a career-high 10.4 points (.456 FG%, .784 FT%) to go along with 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 19.4 minutes per game in 51 games and three starts for Detroit. A six-year veteran out of Kentucky, Lyles has garnered a career average of 7.6 points (.438 FG%, .336 3pt%, .726 FT%), 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 425 games (106 starts) with four teams: Utah Jazz (2015-16), Denver Nuggets (2017-19), San Antonio Spurs (2019-21) and Detroit (2021-22).

In subsequent moves, the Kings have requested waivers on Jahmi’us Ramsey and Robert Woodard II.

Four-team NBA trade sends Serge Ibaka to Bucks

The LA Clippers have completed a four-team trade with the Detroit Pistons, Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings. As part of the deal, the Clippers acquired Rodney Hood and Semi Ojeleye from Milwaukee, as well as the draft rights to Vanja Marinkovic from Sacramento. Milwaukee received Serge Ibaka and cash considerations from the Clippers. The Kings received the draft rights to David Michineau from the Clippers.

Ibaka, 32, appeared in 35 games this season for the Clippers, averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds. The 6-foot-10 center has appeared in 884 games and owns career averages of 12.3 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 13 NBA seasons with the Clippers, Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder. Prior to the NBA, he played professionally in Spain for three seasons (2006-09).

“Serge is one of the best rim protectors of his era and we are grateful to have had him with us for the past two seasons,” said Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank. “We all saw the tremendous amount of work he put into his recovery from back surgery. He was determined to contribute this season, and he did, providing valuable shooting and defense.”

Hood, 29, appeared in 39 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 3.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 14.9 minutes. Originally selected with the 23rd overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft out of Duke University, Hood has appeared in 435 career games with the Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers, Raptors and Bucks, averaging 10.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists. The Meridian, Miss., native has also played in 44 postseason contests, averaging 7.9 points and 2.2 rebounds.

Ojeleye, 27, has played in 20 games for the Bucks this season, averaging 2.9 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.4 minutes. The Overland Park, Kans., native has appeared in 274 career games with the Boston Celtics and Bucks, averaging 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds. The 37th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, he was the AAC Player of the Year from Southern Methodist University in 2017.

On the new-look Sacramento Kings after Tyrese Haliburton trade

Here’s the Sacramento Bee on the new-look Kings, who recently made a controversial trade by sending talented youth away and getting experience in return:

With De’Aaron Fox working the perimeter and Domantas Sabonis manning the top of the key, setting screens at the 3-point line or making passes from the elbows, the Kings offense just seemed to make sense against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday.

The presence of Sabonis allowed Chimezie Metu to cut down the baseline and hammer home dunks fed by the new center’s creative passing. Sabonis’ floor vision, use of angles and positioning also led to 3-point shooters getting open looks.

It all led to a win, most importantly, with the Golden 1 Center crowd reaching a different level of intensity in the fourth quarter spurred by clutch shots, defensive stops and breakaway baskets. Wednesday’s victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 132-119, came in Sabonis’ Sacramento debut. It was a breath of fresh air, an oasis in a desert, hot chocolate on a cold day for a franchise that’s spent most of the season broiled in frustration.

One could even call it: fun.

Could the Kings become fun again? Say what you will about the decision to trade promising 21-year-old Tyrese Haliburton to get Sabonis from the Indiana Pacers. We’ve done that plenty. Sacramento’s new product on the court has the potential reach levels of fun that feel foreign to a team that’s missed the playoffs an NBA-high 15 consecutive seasons.

And the fun could come from a free-wheeling style that’s still in its infancy.

NBA trade sends Domantas Sabonis to Kings, Tyrese Haliburton to Pacers

The Sacramento Kings announced today that the team has acquired forward-center Domantas Sabonis, forward Justin Holiday, guard Jeremy Lamb and a 2023 second-round draft selection from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Tyrese Haliburton, Buddy Hield and Tristan Thompson.

“We are ecstatic to welcome Domantas, Justin and Jeremy to our Sacramento Kings family,” said Kings General Manager Monte McNair. “This was a unique opportunity to acquire a two-time All-Star and two veteran wings, all whom will help us, as we continue to build here in Sacramento. We would also like to thank Tyrese, Buddy and Tristan for their contributions to the Kings and wish them well moving forward.”

During the 2021-22 campaign, Sabonis is averaging 18.9 points (.580 FG%, .324 3pt%, .740 FT%), 12.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 34.7 minutes per game in 47 games (46 starts). A former 11th overall selection in the 2016 draft by the Orlando Magic, Sabonis currently ranks third in the NBA in double-doubles with 34 and sixth in triple-doubles with five, while ranking fourth in the Association in rebounds per game and fifth in field goal percentage.

The Gonzaga product has garnered career averages of 14.2 points (.533 FG%, .322 3pt%, .727 FT%), 9.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 28.3 minutes per game in 400 games (260 starts) with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2016-17) and Indiana Pacers (2017-22).

Holiday brings eight years of experience to Sacramento holding career averages of 8.7 points (.401 FG%, .366 3pt%, .821 FT%), 3.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 551 games (260 starts) with the Philadelphia 76ers (2012-13), Golden State Warriors (2014-15), Atlanta Hawks (2015-16), Chicago Bulls (2015-16, 2017-18), New York Knicks (2016-17), Memphis Grizzlies (2018-19) and Indiana (2019-22).

In his tenth season from Connecticut, Lamb has accrued career averages of 10.2 points (.440 FG%, .344 3pt%, .857 FT%), 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals and 20.8 minutes per game in 556 contests (136 starts) for three teams: Oklahoma City (2012-15), Charlotte (2015-19) and Indiana (2019-22).

Kings guard Terence Davis out with wrist injury

Sacramento Kings guard Terence Davis underwent an MRI in Atlanta this morning that confirmed a right wrist ECU tendon injury, which will require Davis to miss an indefinite period of time.

The injury was sustained at the 6:28 mark of the second quarter during Tuesday’s game at Boston.

Additionally, an X-ray conducted in Boston was negative for a right wrist fracture.

Davis also received five stitches to repair a laceration above his right eye.