Now that the California Classic has passed, the main event of the summer is here as all 30 NBA teams meet up in Las Vegas for the annual NBA Summer League Event. The Kings are bringing pretty much the same roster as they had for the Classic, but also bringing over second year big man Maxime Raynaud, who rejoins the team after spending the last week helping France in the World Cup qualifiers.
As Summer League has gotten bigger, the good news is that almost every single game is now televised. As a reminder, every team has four games scheduled before it moves into an elimination bracket, with all teams guaranteed to play at least a fifth game. The top four teams advanced to a single elimination bracket with the winners playing a sixth and final championship game. Here’s what the Kings current schedule looks like:
- Thursday, July 9th vs. LA Clippers at 8:00 PM Pacific (Broadcast on both ESPN and NBC Sports CA) – Should be a fun matchup to start it off as Darius Acuff will go up against #5 pick Keaton Wagler and the Clippers
- Sunday, July 12th vs. Washington Wizards at 5:00 PM Pacific (Broadcast on Prime and NBC Sports CA) – The Kings get a first look at #1 pick AJ Dybantsa.
- Tuesday, July 14th vs. Brooklyn Nets at 3:00 PM Pacific (Broadcast on Prime and NBC Sports CA) – A rematch against the Nets, this time hopefully with Mikel Brown Jr. playing.
- Wednesday, July 15th vs. Boston Celtics at 5:00 PM Pacific (Broadcast on ESPN2 and NBC Sports CA) – A look at the guy the Celtics wouldn’t include in the Giannis trade talks, second-year guard Hugo Gonzales
The consolation bracket games will take place from July 17th-19th, with the semifinals and championship game happening on July 18th and 19th. This will be our last look at live basketball for a few months so enjoy it while you can!
I didn’t see the last game, but looking for Acuff to be more efficient, to maintain his dribble against pressure, and to set guys up however much you can in the “weekend gym game” chaos that is summer league.
It would be nice to see Sharp be more efficient as well, but I don’t get overly enamored with second round picks in summer league,
I don’t care about his efficiency just yet, I want to see Acuff keep probing for what works and what doesn’t. I don’t care if he gets blocked 6 times in the game, as long as he’s trying something different or something he previously tried that didn’t work but with a variation or tweak on the next attempt.
Find out what works for you DA!
No offense Akis, but, who cares about a summer league ring? I want (in a perfect world) to see a competitive playoff caliber Kings team. God willing I’ll see another one before I pass.
When you’re a Kings fan, you know the reality of the situation, which is:
The Kings are only ever good when it doesn’t matter. And two primary situations where it doesn’t matter are:
The Kings excel here, and so posts like this are sort of half-mocking, and half realistic.
But both things show the state of this embarrassment of a franchise, and our absolute desperation as fans to have something, anything, to look forward to.
(Nobody cares about a summer league ring but it’s fun to pretend they’re important when your team is as shitty as it has been)
Someone fell into the Casm.
Rangz!
it’s the only Kangz ring I’ll ever see in my lifetime…bring on Summer Ring 2026!
No NBA team peaks faster than our Sacramento Kings!
Wieners chicken dinner
Quick corrections:
The game against Brooklyn is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14.
The game against Boston is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15.
Thank you, updated the post.
Kangz get the rangz! (only in Summer)
When Max joins the Summer League team, it would be nice to see him in a stretch 4/5 role to see what it looks like. Let him jack those 3s up.
For Nique, I want to see if he can carry more of an offensive role. Make teams cover him so that Acuff doesn’t get swarmed as often.
I want to see some Max & Cardwell lineups
Cardwell made a 7-foot jumper in the last summer game. I would like to see him play in all types of lineups by developing a 5-10 ft shot, somewhat like we see from Max. Nique hitting 35%+ from 3 this year and Karaban/Sharp becoming a 36%+ 3 pt shooter would really cool.
Off topic, but the Clips are now saying that they only make the Aspiration deal if the Raps take on the Aspiration liability. The NBA has now put that trade on hold.
But hey, tanking is fixed!
What a shitshow.
That report brought to you by Draftkings, the crown is yours.
I’m sure that Kalshi is taking prop bets on the outcome, but what could possibly be wrong with that?
The Kalshi ads during the world cup have been pissing me off so much. Everyone selling their soul.
The Ballmer is in their court now.
Seriously? Indeed. A shitshow.
Silver has been a terrible commish, but it doesn’t matter…the NBA and every major sports league will always gain in popularity as people need their bread and circus, and I’m one of them.
OT: For shits and giggles I’m still keeping tabs on the Hornets blogs as none of their big trades have yet gone through. There is quite a bit of discussion that they trades will generate $46M in available room for a possible contract absorbtion. Sabonis is the one that keeps being mentioned over there. FWIW, Sabonis makes just under $46M
From At The Hive within the last few hours:
Reply to
BUZZ HOG
3 hours ago
“We have the equivalent of 46 million”?
In space?
I didn’t think that was the situation.
0
Reply
Reply to
qcwahoo
3 hours ago
We have nothing yet because the trades aren’t final.
0
Reply
BUZZ HOG
Reply to
qcwahoo
1 hour ago
As an expansion of the Melo trade before it finalizes, yes, we can absorb 46 million into the trade. The TPE is calculated assuming the trade is finalized. It’s 41 million.
Today is only a deadline for GM’s looking to fit a player earning below 46 million into the trade. After today, Sabonis for example doesn’t fit the 41 million TPE, so any trade with the Kings will have to involve massive outgoing salary to the rebuild Kings.
But if our owners won’t pay for Sabonis’ full salary or a larger portion than what is allowed in matching, owners will direct Peterson to close the Melo trade and revisit spending on Sabonis in a smaller load of contract, at a future date.
FIFY!
This is the only time of the year that the team doesn’t look like they’re completely irrelevant!
At least no Kings made BR’s list of worst contracts. I’d say that’s a positive sign for a sad franchise like ours and considering Zach and Domas and their contracts are still under the obligation of the Kangz.
1) Joel Embiid (3 years, $187M)
2) Trae Young (4 years, $212M)
3) Paul George (2 years, $110M)
4) De’Aaron Fox (4 years, $221M)
5) Devon Booker (4 years, $250M)
6) Donovan Mitchell (5 years, $323M)
I was pretty shocked by the Mitchell extension. He is going to be thirty before the season starts, and the prospects of a 6-2 high usage guard aging well all the way thru his 35yo season seems slight.
Devin as well, and he is not even a good 3pt shooter, so the thought of him moving off ball as he gets older and still contributing at the same level is awfully slim.
Both candidates to be Jaylen Brown-ed in two/three years.
First half observations:
Emanuel Sharp is stud. Absolute DOG on defense, passable-to-good offense, strange-looking but mostly accurate shot, non-stop motor. He’s gonna be a fan favorite.
Acuff oozes potential. A lot of it is already being realized but he’s only going to get better.
Karaban sucks. Missed every shot including an open layup. Awful footwork, zero athleticism.
Clifford performance has been disappointing. He’s not really a factor in the game. Was hoping he’d have a strong showing in his second summer league.
Karaban has not practiced that much, but we reached for him and paid him more than his value. He is and was always a second rounder. The shot mechanics are a bit off and his confidence is not there. Not having athleticism is another reason why he was chosen too early and it’s not like he is 6’8-6’10 where he can compete with the bigs.
Karabust?
Reachaban?
Karabuns
Acuff’s court vision, BBIQ and scoring potential is nuts. I so want the regular season to begin so I can see him play for real.
E-Sharp looks like an NBA player. Karaban I will give some grace because of his injury.
Sharp creating that foul was savvy as fuck
And the Kings win…
Emanuel Sharp once again the best player on the floor.
Acuff really needs to work on his shooting, especially finishing. 19 points on 20 shots isn’t great. Impressive maturity in the past-game interview with ESPN, though, saying he needs to be more efficient.
…and-1 – Wagler had an awful game. He got SHARPENED!
Acuff is 19 and he is showing glimpses of brilliance. He’s going to get blocked at the basket a lot during his rookie season but he’s also going to grow and adapt and get better. I too loved his post-game comments.
He turned the ball over too much because he dribbled into traffic and tried to score a bit too often. He needs to take what the defense gives him and pass the ball around the parameter when an open shot is not available. Being a little bit more pass first will help the scoring efficiency.
Acuff > Wagler and it’s not close. Acuff has killer in his eyes. I see none of that in Wagler.
E# is a fucking beast. He’s built like a taller Marshawn Lynch. I love seeing hm in Michael “The Animal” Smith’s number. Made me smile.
I’m with BuffaloDiaspora above. I’m ready to see Acuff in the regular season right now. Honestly, the Kings should have seen enough at this point to know what they have. I don’t imagine they’re going to play him in many more Vegas games.
Yup, so far Acuff and Sharp look like legit NBA players. SSS and all, but they look ready. The two of the then, if projections hold true and continue to grow, look like quite a backcourt duo going forward.
I though the same– maybe a game with Karaban and Max to see how they fit together. Then, shut him down and let Sharp run the point for practice purposes. Stevens can backup and Flagler, based on size, lack of clear strengths, and age, should not play anymore. Sutton and the other Sharp should play more.
I said in several draft threads Wagler has no athleticism and doesn’t pop on film and is the least of the 4 guards mocked in our region. Anyone who was on him as a prospect…
I’m still high on him and am not about to write him off after one game. Same goes for Karaban. I mean, if we are to determine NBA futures in summer league, then Donte Greene should be in the hall of fame by now.
He looked absolutely overwhelmed by the moment.
I agree- I ranked Wagler as the least interesting of the 4 guards. I also had Brown and Flemings high on my list, but it now seems like Acuff could be the best scorer (not too far behind in passing) and Flemings could be the best facilitator and defender.
Already a big fan of Acuff. Love what I’ve seen so far, love the way he puts pressure on defenses, and I’m really encouraged by the way he’s spraying to open shooters on his drives. Very excited to watch him grow as a player.
He has great court vision – not necessarily rookie-level Tyrese, but really good. Also, while he seems to occasionally drift on defense mentally, he’s not the sieve that was described in pre-draft analyses.
Hey Perry, sign Sutton to an Exhibit 10 already. Don’t get him get away. Give him Flagler’s 2-way for all I care.
I’m guessing (what else is new?) that Acuff’s efficiency will go up exponentially once he is on the floor with the better players on the Kings roster. I am excited to see what kind of PnR game he can develop with Domas and/or Max, and if guys like LaVine / Keegan / Hunter / Monk can find their range at the arc and finish what he is dishing, he is going to have a helluva rookie season.
Sharp looks like a more floor savvy Keon, with bulk.
Karaban looked very rusty, and more cone than pillar. Minor concern at this point – while summer league is filled with “stars” that never pan out, it is rare that a player looks overmatched in summer league and then goes on to become a core rotation player, especially when they are are on the older side to begin with (Karaban turns 24 in November). I would have preferred Baba Miller, but IKN.
I would sure like to figure out a way to get Sutton rostered in some fashion.
Sharp was giving me some Cason Wallace vibes with he defense last night. What an incredible diamond if that’s the case.
Yes, on Sutton and yes to Baba Miller over Karaban.
If the Kings broadcast team wanted to put a mic on Acuff once a week like ESPN did last night, I wouldn’t complain. I appreciated the chance to see how he leads and communicates with the team. He speaks to his teammates with confidence and seemed to do a good job of correcting mistakes.
Hey, if the alternative is Mark and Kayte, I say mic the players up every night and let us just listen to them.
I liked the ‘no-commentator’ games we saw during covid, I could hear all the communication and sneaker squeeks
Sneaker Squeaks better than Mark Jones Speaks
Or do a broadcast like the Dodgers used to do where Vin Scully was both radio and TV. Let the G man get his run!
Mark and Kayte = Mute the game for me, or turn it really low.
This is more for me, I suppose but 1st Day VSL impressions, as I sit here in Vegas:
A.J. Dybantsa looked very good (better than Cooper Flagg last year, and both looked better than Wembanyama – so it’s just Summer League). D Peterson looked on par with what we are seeing with Acuff- not quite there in the one game, but it’s easy to see he will be something good (how good- no one knows).
Keaton Wagler looked deer in the headlights lost and passive. He will take the longest of this PG draft class to develop- he would have been a poor selection for the consistently impatient Kings. Kingston Flemings (Hawks) had a “not bad” showing. Yaxel was “mighty fine” – all around game was all there – he’ll play and fit right away for the Dubs: but he should as he’s going to be 24- these others are all 19 year olds.
Morez “Rez” Johnson, is a stud but he needs to learn to shoot, he hit a 3 but scored the rest inside – he looks like he’ll figure it out for Dusty May. Tarris Reed for the Spurs is a load- big, strong and will fit the front line with Wembanyama.
Emmanuel Sharp is the type of player – Marcus Smart/Dillon Brooks/Lou Dort/Cason Wallace/Alex Caruso (wow! 3 OKC player comps- what does that tell you) that Sacramento has not seen in ages. A shit stirring agitant that makes his presence felt on D. Love the guy. Makes me wonder if he is part of the reason Flemings defense numbers were so good as E# makes the whole backcourt D better.
Sutton is a keeper. Too many games now that he has shown up on both sides.
Karaban in his one game gives strong Justin Jackson vibes (Justin Jackson Jr.?)
but it’s one game and he was a late addition to a team that’s played their 4th game without him in the mix.
Cam Boozer v. Caleb Wilson today!
I think it’s more challenging for “glue guys” to fit in during summer league. Once he gets in a role with the main squad and has a defined role, I think he will be a solid bench player. 10-15 minutes of solid play, but nothing spectacular.
And that’s really what should be expected from a #29 pick.
Good insights. It’s just one game for Peterson, so I’m not reading too much into it. But 8 TO (vs 3 AST) and 9 PF is nuts. He looked excellent at moments, just less consistent than Acuff has so far. AJ looks like he’ll be a force.
Vegas Summer League is a coming out party. A debutante Ball.
Lots of pressure to be The Show. Darryn Peterson’s Mom/Dad/sisters there for The Debut.
He did good.
Badge Legend