The Sacramento Kings announced Thursday that they have exercised their 4th year option on Keegan Murray. This move is a formality and was always going to happen considering how well Keegan has played in his first two seasons. This move is a precursor to an extension next summer, which will probably be for the rookie max or damn close to it. Keegan’s fourth year option carries his current contract through 2025-26, with next year paying $11.1 million. If for some reason there isn’t an extension next summer, Keegan would be a restricted free agent following the 2025-26 season.
Despite shock and consternation from pundits when the Kings selected Keegan with the fourth pick in the 2022 Draft, Keegan has been a key contributor for the Kings and is a core member of Sacramento’s future.
Murray finished last season with averages of 15.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and became a lockdown defender capable of guarding stars at multiple positions.
(required)
He’s no Jaden Ivey, but we like him anyway
Money Bags.
Future MVP! (Most Vlade Player)
“Vlade, would you mind telling me who you took in the draft instead of Luka?”
“And you won’t be angry?”
“I will not…be…angry.”
This is the way.
The NBA rookies scale really is awesome. Kings have controlled contract on a steal of a deal. Keegan makes $8.8M this year and $11.1 next season. For reference, he’s currently slotted as the 181st highest paid player in between Buddy Hield and Zeke Nnaji. He’s making bench player money as a starter and 4th option on offense. IMO, teams need contracts like his and Keon’s to properly build a competitive roster make an impact in the new CBA.
That’s the job of the GM and the necessity of a salary cap and aprons.
The NFL’s hard cap is the most harsh whilst MLB’s lack of controls are why I don’t follow the professional version of America’s pastime as much as I did as a kid: (A league that has one team with a payroll of $63M (Your Oakland Sacramento Athletics) and your highest at $318M (New York Mets) with an average of $167M – just ain’t a League.
As of today- HoopHype.com has Detroit at $135M payroll on the low end, Phoenix at $232M on the high end, but we know that
Here are some other salary cap-related details for the 2024–25 season:
Tax Level: $170.814 million Minimum Team Salary: $126.529 million First Apron Level: $178.132 million Second Apron Level: $188.931 million Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level: $12.822 million Taxpayer Mid-Level: $5.168 million Mid-Level for a team with room under the Salary Cap: $7.983 millionNBA.com adds this:
NBA salary cap for 2024-25 season set at $140,588
The Second Apron Level is $188.931 million for the 2024-25 seasonMinnesota off loading KAT’s $220M contract to leesen the blow with $8.8M less in Randle and Donte with Randle an attractive trade target (player option RFA at $30M) makes a lot of sense. OKC, an even smaller market, is chock full of rookie contracts and draft capital to dangle as a cost lowering options for salary bloated teams.
The soup of roster salary, other team costs (coaches, front office), tickets, TV, playoffs, merchandise, and on and on.
That’s why sports franchises the world over are billionaire toys clubs.
So which of the non-core Kings ten will you see “making the team” and separately, significantly contributing to wins?
These 2 are signed (as you know)
Orlando Robinson(currently injured, btw)
Jalen McDaniels
These 8 are on minimum contracts (or will be)
Jones, Colby
Jones, Isaac
Jones, Mason
Isaiah Crawford
Boogie Ellis
Terry Taylor
Brodric Thomas
Skal Labissiere
This isn’t a “gotcha!” question, it’s early training camp still, just wondering. We’ll revisit this soon enough
I do like that Monte is looking at youth on minimum deals while possibly retaining their rights (see Keon) instead of relying on a cluster of vet minumum deals (sans Len). It appears to me to be the long term approach rather than loading up for a on off title run (see Denver with Westbrook).
As to who may be the next diamond in Monte’s undrafted mine pool, I have no clue. If I were to pick one that may stick around in a Keon type capacity, I’d lean towards Isaiah Crawford due to his outside shooing and 2 way potential, but that’s just a gut feeling. Time will tell.
Another way to look at this – and there are countless avenues available- is to note that the salary cap is $140.588M.
If we pull out the ol’ Bowmar calculator (that’s for us old guys. And yes, 5318008 upside does spell BOOBIES – I am social security in age, 3rd grade in humor)
Salary Cap:
$140,588/15 = $9.373M
$140,588/14 = $10.042M
Min Cap:
$126,529/15 = $8.435M
Tax Limit:
$170,388/15 = $11.388M
These are, of course, immense amounts of money, but mostly numbers on a screen to most of us- but there is little in the contract funds allocated between Minimum Cap, Salary Cap and Tax Limit Cap when looking at averages (mean).
Team’s Top 5 player salaries:
PHX has highest payroll:
Their top 5 = $184M
Golden State Top 5 = $116M
Lakers Top 5 = $141M
Clippers Top 5 = $125M
Sacramento Top 5 = $124M
(by my in the head arithmetic)
I left out highest team salaries because right now, non guaranteed are included.
It’s a challenge to pay high end established talent and field a team with the depth to back up that older established talent. Phoenix is top heavy: KD, Book and Beal are $150M.
That was the Clippers last season (Kawhi, Harden and the now Sixer, PG). Thunder are ridiculous at 26th in salary, Orlando at 27th is also impressive.
Monte and Wes have positioned Sac well, IMO. Worst value contract on the Kings, IMO, is Huerter at $17M (2 yrs remaining) as he is getting starter money. His first season in Sac he was considered well valued. So, we’ll see.
Another injury.
https://x.com/JandersonSacBee/status/1842674614285259071
Ok. Jesus, Allah, Buda, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva… are you guys collectively eliminating options on the kings so that the optimal 8 man rotation is no longer a coaches decision but an anointed prophecy?
Ellis planted into starting SG role, (due to injury)
Len planted into the backup Center position (due to injury).
Monk planted into all backup PG minutes (due to injury)
praise the gods.
My guess is he doesn’t make the final roster. He’s got a $500K guarantee, but if he can’t play for the first month, is he worth keeping rostered for the whole season at at $2M? 3rd string centers aren’t to hard to come by.
Badge Legend