fbpx
Mar. 29, 7:00 PM
DAL @ SAC
Mar. 31, 6:00 PM
UTH @ SAC
Apr. 02, 7:00 PM
LAC @ SAC
Apr. 04, 4:30 PM
SAC @ NYK
Apr. 05, 4:30 PM
SAC @ BOS
Apr. 07, 4:30 PM
SAC @ BKN
Apr. 09, 5:00 PM
SAC @ OKC
Apr. 11, 7:00 PM
NOH @ SAC
Apr. 12, 7:30 PM
PHO @ SAC
Apr. 14, 12:30 PM
POR @ SAC

30Q: Is Louis King ready to contribute in Sacramento?

The Kings need more depth at the wing spot, and Louis King looked great in Las Vegas Summer League - is he ready for meaningful NBA minutes?
By | 28 Comments | Sep 13, 2021

Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports

With training camp soon approaching and no blockbuster deal yet on the books, the Sacramento Kings roster is stuffed with guards and bigs -and, as seems to be the case every year, has a bit less depth when it comes to wings and forwards. While Harrison Barnes (as well as the dawn of the three guard De’Aaron Fox-Davion Mitchell-Tyrese Haliburton lineup) demands obvious minutes, the depth behind Barnes is less than ideal. Only 3 of the Kings 19 man training camp roster can answer yes to the question “can he play traditional small forward?” – Barnes, veteran Mo Harkless, and 21-year old Louis King.

The 6’8 King is back for a second season on a two-way contract with Sacramento, and is coming off a promising Summer League. After being mostly invisible in the California Classic, King had an strong run in Las Vegas, scoring 14.6 points a game and knocking down 45% of his three pointers. He showcased movement shots, shots off the bounce, and a few highlight transition dunks. He was also fast and aggressive on defense, finishing with a team high 3.2 steals (an impressive feat, considering he was playing on a team with Davion Mitchell). He had 24 points, 4 three pointers, and 5 steals in the Summer League title win, earning himself the Championship game MVP award.

We’ve seen this script before – an unheralded prospect comes to Sacramento and shows some early promise. It didn’t work out in recent years for Troy Williams, DaQuan Jeffries, or Justin James, who all failed to carve out meaningful roles. But in a league that demands versatile forward talent, smart teams should keep taking as many gambles as possible on upside wing players like Louis King. Sacramento could have a real, meaningful role for a shooter like King this season if he’s ready for it.

Patreon Membership
* indicates required


To prevent spam, our system flags comments that include too many hyperlinks. If you would like to share a comment with multiple links, make sure you email [email protected] for it to be approved.
Subscribe
Notify of
28 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
1951
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
September 13, 2021 9:02 am

1951

 September 13, 2021 8:29 am

My goal in life is to find someone who loves me as much as Kings fans love late first and second round picks!

Update: Add undrafted signings please!

1951
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
September 13, 2021 9:26 am
Reply to  Bryant

Thanks! It’s been a big morning for me. You, writing this for me and Frank Caliendo wishing me a happy Monday!

https://twitter.com/FrankCaliendo/status/1437445268018909190

Hamlet1989
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 14, 2021 7:49 am
Reply to  1951

If you can’t be with the one you love…

Klam
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 18
Nostradumbass 19
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 18
Nostradumbass 19
September 13, 2021 9:14 am

I mean, he is a King technically, so…………yes?
comment image

MaybeNextYear
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 9:44 am

Maybe not right away, but he’ll get a chance due to injuries (if Barnes or Harkless sit, he’s basically a necessity), then it’s up to him to make the most of it.

Last edited 2 years ago by MaybeNextYear
bearcatjack
September 13, 2021 9:52 am

Like before Walton and is tunnel vision did nothing to give Woodard a chance to succeed He played Harkless all the time. If he does this again with King then what’s the point.

TitleChaser
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 10:23 am

So I know he doesn’t seem particularly ready to get minutes, but shouldn’t we include Robert Woodard among those who could play traditional small forward?

rockbottom
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 3:07 pm
Reply to  TitleChaser

Woodard is not an NBA player ! Move on please as King might be !

AnybodyButBagley
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 6:48 pm
Reply to  TitleChaser

At one point do we expect the team to move on from fringe players instead of hang on to them?

RAP87
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 10:27 am

I think he is ready to contribute to the big club. As long as he sticks to his strengths (shoot open 3’s and defend at a high level), I believe he can give you a solid 10-15 mins per night especially with our lack of wings on the roster.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
September 13, 2021 12:12 pm

I guess we’ve reached that part of the summer where we are left to discuss the potential impact by a two-way player on a bad basketball team. I wish Monte would give us something else to discuss.

All kidding aside, I see him much in the Ramsey role. The only way he’s getting impactful minutes is if someone is injured or a major trade blows up the roster ahead of him. I expect he’ll spend the majority of his time in Stockton.

lutherRackley
September 13, 2021 2:55 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I guess we’ve reached that part of the summer where we are left to discuss the potential impact by a two-way player on a bad basketball team. 

You were kidding??? On the most clear eyed comment of the past three months?

aplumley
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 12:24 pm

Given the lack of wing depth, I’d like to see him compete for minutes with Harkless. King is three years removed from being a McDonald’s All American and has performed well when given the opportunity. His career has been adversely impacted by injuries. If there is a profile for a guy that could fly under the radar and then become a solid NBA contributor or better, it’s King. Good wing size, can shoot, is athletic, and as shown a willingness to defend. He performed well in the (very) limited opportunities he’s been given in Sacramento.
See how he does in training camp and then go from there, but there is certainly reason to believe in King, more so than many of the other 2nd rounders fans have fallen in love with (Skal, JJ, Kyle Guy, Woodard, Jefferies).

AnybodyButBagley
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 6:57 pm
Reply to  aplumley

Kyle Guy > Bagley

RikSmits
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
September 13, 2021 10:13 pm
Reply to  aplumley

How much is being a [fasfood chain] All American worth?

Serious question. I understand that bigger, athletic players look nice and shiny on the highschool level, but what percentage of these All Americans turn out to be good NBA players?

Kosta
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
September 13, 2021 12:48 pm

Rooting for him to make it, and if he does that’d be a cool jersey to get

Sacramento Kings on front

King on back

Kosta
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
September 13, 2021 12:49 pm

Long live the King!
comment image

Klam
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 18
Nostradumbass 19
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 18
Nostradumbass 19
September 13, 2021 12:53 pm
Reply to  Kosta

King Louie is ready to par-tay.
comment image

Sacto_J
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 1:25 pm

It may be sooner than later that Sacramento needs Louis King to contribute, considering Barnes is typically a 4 for the Kings and Harkless hasn’t eclipsed 80 games since 2013.
Fresh off that summer league MVP, if King emerged this year it would be nice validation of our scouting and player development folks…

WizsSox
Patreon Supporter
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 4:10 pm
Reply to  Sacto_J

Harkless hasn’t eclipsed 80 games since 2013.

That makes him Cal Ripken compared to Bagley…

AnybodyButBagley
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 7:00 pm
Reply to  Sacto_J

82 games in a season. I will take Harkless….

murraytant
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 1:41 pm

I doubt it. No franchise in the NBA believes he is a sure fire star-
it is possible for a wing to be a late bloomer but I can’t think of any examples now. Usually the bigs and PG’s come along slowly.
He does have some skill but seems pretty emotional and jagged. He gets too down when he misses and too up when he makes. Needs to act like he has been there before. and get some calmness.
He will play in Stockton for the most part and may get some injury minutes but I don’t expect much.

jwalker1395
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 1:50 pm

Not a lot to talk about! Appreciate the hard work anyway, Bryant! Bring on the Kangz!!!

Mike120
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 1:50 pm

I’d like to have him split time evenly with Mo as the back up to Barnes. Give them 20 games, then pick one to be the primary back up.

Last edited 2 years ago by Mike120
HongKongKingsFan
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 4:52 pm

YES !!!!!!!

Louis King is the second future star of this team..there is no way not to play him significant minutes.

AnybodyButBagley
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
September 13, 2021 6:51 pm

Time to flush all of the maybes out of the system. Bring in more maybes to find one definite.

Real NBA teams do this quickly. Get picked up by the Kangz and you are guaranteed a decade of pay bouncing around as a maybe.

Badge Legend

Patreon Supporter Patreon Supporter   Registered On Day 1 Registered On Day 1   Published Post Published Post  Published Post Nostradumbass
Comment Up Votes 200 Up Votes   Comment Up Votes 500 Up Votes    1,000 Up Votes    3,000+ Up Votes

Comments 50 Comments   Comments 100 Comments    250 Comments    500 Comments    1000+ Comments