A hallmark of good teams is maximizing every opportunity to identify and develop talent. The Kings haven’t had much luck in Monte McNair’s tenure with two-way players, second rounders, or undrafted free agents, but it only takes one or two hits to change that narrative. Long shots are, by definition, going to have a lower hit rate. Keon Ellis is a major success, emerging from being an undrafted free agent on a Two-Way contract to a key rotation piece and a starter to end last season. Can the Kings find another diamond in the rough? Let’s look at the candidates.
The Second Rounder
Colby Jones is the only second-rounder on the roster. He’s shown brief glimpses of his potential, but hasn’t put it all together to earn consistent playing time. Jones also has a positional logjam in front of him. We covered Jones in more depth here.
The Two-Ways
The Kings currently have all three of their Two-Way spots filled. Mason Jones, Isaac Jones, and Isaiah Crawford hold those spots at the moment, but the nature of a Two-Way contract provides very little job security. The Kings could waive any of these players at any time if they decide another prospect is more worthy.
Mason Jones played sparingly last season, but was a fun energy guy on the bench in the second half of last year. He had a strong Summer League as well. Mason Jones faces the same issue as Colby Jones in terms of positional logjam, and I won’t be surprised if Jones is primarily playing in Stockton.
Isaac Jones is a somewhat raw big man with a huge wingspan and decent touch around the basket. Isaiah Crawford is more of a wing but also has a huge wingspan, and had decent shooting numbers in college. If either player could develop into an NBA-level rotation player, it would be a big win for the Kings front office.
The Camp Invites
The Kings have recently signed Boogie Ellis, Terry Taylor, and Justin Powell to Exhibit 10 camp deals. These contracts allow players to come into training camp with a path to eventually land on the Stockton Kings roster. Of the three, I’d speculate that Boogie Ellis has the best shot to earn a bigger role, but I’d venture a guess that a Two-Way contract is the upside outcome for any of these players this season.
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While it’s hard to have high hopes or expectations for any of these end-of-roster players right now, Keon reminds us that there’s always that opportunity for the Kings to have found a special player who can make a real impact.
If there’s one good thing to come out of the fact that KH, McLaughlin, and Lyles all won’t play in training camp, it’s that all these guys are gonna get a good look. I’m excited about Mason Jones. I’m hopeful about Colby or Crawford to carve out a role for themselves. Boogie and Jones seem like longshots imo.
But it’s fun to talk about young prospects without desperately needing them to pan out – and that they’re being found in all manner of ways rather than solely being picked at the top of the draft. Player acquisition and development has been the thing about the McNair/Brown era that has been the biggest turnaround from the Kings teams of the past.
completely agree
I think they did in Isiah Crawford. Not only does he/did he fill the biggest need for this current big club roster but now with the injury to Lyles he has a clear path to carving out a spot in the rotation. Additionally he was already awarded a 2 way contract which is significant for an un drafted guy. Someone in the organization (likely multiple people) see something in this dude that we have not had a chance to witness yet. He’s also just really good at a lot of things while having the tools to be a good defender. Watch his highlight video, there is a WHOLE BUNCH to like there.
Side note, I heard somewhere (can’t remember where) that someone on the inside “an assistant coach I assume” was quoted saying something to the extent of “look out for Crawford. He’s been impressive. There’s a real possibility he could find himself in the rotation before the all star break.”
Maybe I was high on meth and imagined that? Maybe I had an opioid induced dream and dreamt it? Can’t say for sure but to my knowledge I have never done meth and don’t have access to opioids where I am if that means anything.
Mind altering chemicals is a worthy consideration- let’s just leave that, and other toxins off the menu for now, and even forego the high colonic and admit that you, like me, and our community here, are fanatics, and even more so, of the Sacramento Kings fans variety.
I too, recall the Isaiah Crawford whispers, which I believe were from the TKH podcast crew.
It’s fun to wonder. The hype helps- I’m liking the Boogie Ellis videos, but we’re getting Colby Jones, Mason Jones and pretty soon I’ll be Jones-ing for an Isaac one as well.
The coaching has their work cut out for them – there’s the core: ten strong by my count, (Fox, Ox, Deebo, Keegan, Keon, Monk- then the injured 3 – Huerter, Lyles, McLaughlin- with Len and further out as 11th, Devin Carter), that get first minutes.
Orlando Robinson, Jalen McDaniels are next before you get to these others.
21 on the training camp roster: Add Skal Labissiere, Terry Taylor, Brodric Thomas, to the others listed above.
Anyone of those not in the core 10 (11 with Devin Carter) making the team and getting significant playing time is a win.
We saw flashes with Kessler Edwards- but he’s been replaced. The other bench minutes of Davion and Sasha and Duarte likewise must now change.
You look at a team like Miami and San Antonio and Golden State where they make their unknowns known, and hope we see constructive, win producing/aiding minutes from those non-Core guys to be longer term contributors (the point of this article).
If we are putting bets down on the remaining 10:
McDaniels<Orlando<Boogie Ellis<=>Crawford<Jones (Mason<Isaac<Colby)<Skal<Taylor<Thomas
and, sigh, my editor must be drug addled, as all of the greater thans should be reversed as less thans.
Perhaps with a great deal more pressure, Coalby Jones can become that diamond in the rough!
James Ham mentioned it on his podcast a couple months ago. You are not imagining it.
I’m intrigued by Isiah Crawford. At the time, I didn’t think much of his signing. At your suggestion, I watched a couple of his highlight packages and read a few draft analyses. Seems like he has prototypical 3/D tools If his game can translate (always the rub right?).
The draft analyses I read all indicated that his skillset seemed worthy of a 2nd round pick, but it looks like the major concerns (injury history, age, non elite competition level in college) pushed him into undrafted status.
How did he look in summer league? I looked at his summer league stats, which didn’t jump off the page or anything, but I don’t recall how he looked when he played.
It’s a joy to root for Keon. Would love to have another unexpected guy to step up and to root for.
I gotta say, if Monte somehow finds another undrafted gem like Keon, that puts him into elite GM status. I can think of only about 10 undrafted and impactful players in the league so to get two on one team is special. It’s more than just having talent on the court, it also is cheap talent that helps round out a roster in this new apron era of the CBA.
I expect Orlando Robinson, as we are thin at the forward position, and he get size, and he will definitely get playing time…
Hope he pans out
OT: Dikembe Mutombo died.
RIP.
https://x.com/HilltopHoops_/status/1840769733974425903
Known as much for his deep booming voice and wide engaging smile as his wagging index finger.
My other memory is of his 1994 #8 Denver Nuggets series win over the then #1 seeded Seattle Supersonics, the first time a eighth seed won a series over a top seed. At the end of the game, Mutombo lying on the court his arms wrapped around the ball and joy on his face.
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