king herald logo

Independent Sacramento Kings Coverage. By Fans, For Fans. | Support Us On Patreon

Another Sacramento Kings Scandal, and the Latest Offseason News | The Kings Herald Show with Jerry Reynolds

The Sacramento Kings have (unfortunately) given us a few things to talk about this week.
By and | 40 Comments | Aug 26, 2026

Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr. greets fans after defeating Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 15, 2026. ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.

The Kings Herald Show returns with Jerry Reynolds, Will Griffith, and Tony Xypteras to break down the last two weeks of Sacramento Kings items: veteran point guards and another off-court scandal. Just another day in Kings basketball.

If you enjoy The Kings Herald Show, the easiest way to support us is to subscribe, rate, and review the show on your preferred podcast platform.

Apple.
Spotify.
Google.
Stitcher.

You can submit questions for Jerry on Patreon, or write your questions in the comments below this post! Or you can just yell questions to Tony or Will on Twitter.

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 editorial@kingsherald.com for it to be approved.

Subscribe
Notify of
40 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Kfan
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
August 26, 2026 3:32 pm

Great stuff! And I agree with Jerry, Rob’s season recaps are awesome!

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 26, 2026 4:49 pm

Kuminga signs for 2/$13 mil.
SP must be kicking himself that he couldn’t sign the player he’s coveted since taking over as GM – for what turned out to be peanuts – all because of the dumb contractual moves he’s made to this point.
Kangz gonna Kangz.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 26, 2026 4:55 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

IMO, bullet dodged. He’s the Cam Thomas of power forwards.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 26, 2026 4:58 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Also…

In order for the Timberwolves to give Jonathan Kuminga that contract, they'll have to be moving off some other salary first. That deal will come out of the Taxpayer MLE, but that triggers a second-apron hard cap and the Wolves don't have enough room under it right now.

KeithSmithNBA (@keithsmithnba.bsky.social) 2026-08-26T22:51:36.026Z

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 26, 2026 5:26 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I have no interest in Kuminga, but Sp and Vivek clearly did, so I know they’re frustrated by this contract.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 26, 2026 8:45 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

I feel it is a stretch to say they are frustrated by it. Any Kuminga scenario to the Kings last year also involved trading contracts like Monk, DDR, and/or Keegan. The Kings were never in a position to pay him in free agency like Minny is attempting to do.

A trade is very much different then a signing.

Hypothetically if the Kings did a sign and trade for Kuminga for Monk, then sure, I’m down with that gamble, but paying Kuminga any more than the bi-annual exception with a PO/UFA next summer….nope.

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 27, 2026 3:32 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Therin lies the point, a team that sucks, that has little long term talent, is somehow not in a position to take flyers on young players that still have some potential and at such a small number in terms of not only salary, but years.

Kuminga 2/$13
Mathurin 2/$16

Not to mention the lack of future draft capital. There’s really no avenue for the Kings to become relevant again until they clear out the books and create cap space. No draft picks are dropping from the sky as our players don’t have that kind of value.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 27, 2026 4:28 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

If I were to guess the front office is hoping or a resurgence year from all of LaVine, Sabonis, Monk, Hunter, and Keegan. We know those first three guys are available, I’d add Hunter to the list, and Keegan might even be too.

If LaVine can return to his 20+ PPG while shooting 40% from three, he’ll absolutely have suitors by the deadline. If Sabonis returns to All-NBA level of play, he will too. Someone will also come knocking around for Hunter. Contenders will overpay by the deadline.

From all that, there is really no point in adding long term money on anyone because the Kings are in no position to compete this season. They will be sellers by the deadline and rightfully so. I also think guys like Kuminga and Mathurin are flawed players. There is a reason they’ve been hanging around until the end of free agency and got peanuts. They are not guys you build around. They are guys you get on the cheap for scoring off the bench. They are like Monk, but are being paid the current market price.

Perry is hanging his future on his young guys: Acuff, Nique, Maxi, Cardewell, Sharp, and I assume Keegan (given his extension last October). Go check out the Kings website. It’s all about those guys. FWIW, Maxi is all over Kings social media. The writing is on the wall.

I still feel there is a possibility Sabonis is gone before camp.

Amonk81
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
August 27, 2026 10:50 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

Correction- can’t be relevant until they clean out Vivek and Co

Amonk81
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
August 27, 2026 10:49 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Never want Kuminga. Can’t shoot. Doesn’t defend well. Doesn’t play well with others.

all he has is athleticism. He’s not gonna blossom into anything more. Unless suddenly he learns how to shoot, which rarely ever happens.

much rather have monk or anybody who helps the team win

cloudyeyes
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 28, 2026 10:20 am
Reply to  Adamsite

Would have been interesting watching the trainwreck of who could hog the ball more between LaVine and Kuminga.

Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
August 26, 2026 5:33 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

That is cheap. I’m just happy the rumors can end for at least another year. Lol

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 26, 2026 7:42 pm

I believe Kum turned down $30 mill a year from the duds back in 2024 and now is at $6.5 mill a year…shades of Dennis Shroeder lmao.

Also further proof that the light year’s ahead duds are finished. Between this and the contract they gave Poole and this recent one for green, this is a finished franchise.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 26, 2026 8:55 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

He turned down a 5 year $150M rookie extension in 2024 in hopes of landing a rookie max deal after last season. Dubs played their cards right on making him earn it…which he didn’t. There is also the rumor that Kerr and management deliberately deflated his value by benching him. That’s why he hit RFA last summer and they were at an impasse for so long. The deal that was eventually settled upon was the TO for year two, which the Dubs rightfully flipped to ATL.

I think the reality is, he was never worth it. Definitely shades of Dennis in LA.

It doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to turn down a rookie extension. Never walk away from a sure thing like that because you think you deserve more. Red flags all around for Kuminga.

Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
August 27, 2026 10:50 am
Reply to  Adamsite

When keeping it real goes wrong.

Roaddog
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
August 27, 2026 9:43 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

how was offering him 5/150 playing their cards right?

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 28, 2026 8:35 am
Reply to  Roaddog

I should clarify, by letting him RFA and then making the second year of his new contract a TO.

Carl
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
August 27, 2026 11:44 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

Bonzi’d

Amonk81
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
August 27, 2026 10:47 pm
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

Good. Kuminga is-and always will be a semi useless bench scorer. Kerr was right. Never wanted him. Just like I never wanted Westbrook.

Thank god Perry’s/Kings own stupidity and Westbrook retiring prevented them from 2 stupid moves.

Hippity_Hop_Barbershop
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Patreon Supporter
August 26, 2026 5:32 pm

Lovely episode. I agree with the thoughts surrounding the lawsuit. Regardless of its merit all these recent issues taken together point to an obvious overarching cultural problem that the organization won’t shake off under current ownership.

rockbottom
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 27, 2026 4:21 pm

Seems a no win for the Kings . If she is proven correct Kings look totally disgusting and if she is proven wrong they still look incompetent for hiring her .

Amonk81
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
August 27, 2026 10:54 pm
Reply to  rockbottom

It’s a huge win if this somehow forces the V out of ownership

unfortunately, I don’t think it will. The only thing he can do to get booted would be to mess with the owner‘s money.

Last edited 18 days ago by Amonk81
Jack
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 28, 2026 9:30 am
Reply to  Amonk81

Question? How can the league”s know it all predict how any games the King’s are going to win this year with the so called starting five of Acuff who wasn’t even here and the rest including Sabonis, Lavine and Murray playing hardly at all and Hunter who diidn’t play at all. IMO they are just quessing.

Jack
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 28, 2026 10:28 am
Reply to  Jack

IMO Nique Clifford backed up by Emanuel Sharp should be playing the shooting guard spot most of the time. They are the future not Lavine and need to get the experience needed to move forward on the rebuild. I don’t care if Lavine is making all that money and next year not even on the team. IMO it makes sense to play those two over Lavine.

Murf
Comments
Comments
August 28, 2026 5:34 pm
Reply to  Jack

I’m not Lavine fan, thought it was stupid that they traded for him. Having said that I suspect he will play as there is no one on else on this team that has shown they they can get buckets consistently. Accuff maybe become a scorer but it will take time, Sabonis is more your put backs and dirty work scorer, Murray needs help

Amonk81
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
August 28, 2026 1:36 pm
Reply to  Jack

I’m not sure if you’re saying I’m the no at all or just the league in general?

Either way, they are obviously going with the odds. The kings have been shitty the last couple of years and what’s to make us think that Thayre gonna turn it around?

they might be middling and win more than 28 games, but the odds are slim that they’re gonna be any good

Amonk81
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
Original Member
Vote Up
Comments
August 28, 2026 1:38 pm
Reply to  Jack

and it’s kind of like asking why does everybody predict that the Cleveland Browns or the Raiders are going to be bad every year.?

Because those teams just like the kings, have a horrible, incompetent ownership, that filters down, losing an idiotic decisions

could they be better maybe? But I’ll believe it when I see it. Unfortunately the kings might never get good with that shit owner.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 28, 2026 1:51 pm
Reply to  Amonk81

Even when fully healthy, it doesn’t take a basketball genius to see this team will be horrible defensively. The only plus defender on the team, and it’s barely a plus, is Keegan. If he goes down, this team is giving up 130 damn near every night.

I’m also not one to second guess major betting organizations that spend millions on predictions markets, so if they say the Kings are going to bad as currently constructed, I’m gonna go with with it.

FWIW, Vegas has the Kings at 21 wins this upcoming season.

RobHessing
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Author
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Author
August 28, 2026 2:23 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I have regularly taken the over with this organization, and have regularly been wrong. I have them at 29-53 this year, so I am once again taking the over, by a significant amount. Look at me – I’m an optimist!

Kfan
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Comments
Vote Up
August 28, 2026 3:53 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

There was a time when I thought the talking heads just gave us no respect. That time has long past. This organization is a dumpster fire from top to bottom.

I went with 25 wins for no particular reason. I think we might finish last in the west. I don’t see us as clearly better than any western team.

Jack
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 28, 2026 7:01 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

These guys can play defense: Murray, Hunter, Clifford, Sharpe, Achuuwa, Raynaud.

rockbottom
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 29, 2026 6:59 am
Reply to  Jack

Raynaud is awful . Among the worst rated in the league . Rest OK .

Hobby916
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 29, 2026 2:06 am

Cam Whitmore was just waived. Kings should go sign him. But he is probably too young for them.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 29, 2026 8:12 am
Reply to  Hobby916

I think there is an NBA player in him, but I’d also assume he has better options elsewhere. If I were his agent, I’d advise him against signing with the Kings.

Hobby916
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 29, 2026 1:30 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

It’s the type of player the Kings should be taking chances on. Not these washed vets. But they never do this.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 29, 2026 3:59 pm
Reply to  Hobby916

Markelle Fultz, Terrance Davis, Kessler Edwards, Chris Duarte, KZ Okpala Jabari Parker, etc. There have been plenty of young guys the Kings have kicked the tires on.

Not disagreeing with you, but there is likely a reason Whitmore has been traded twice on his rookie scale deal and has now been released.

Hobby916
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 29, 2026 4:30 pm
Reply to  Adamsite

I guess I see Whitmore as having more potential than those guys, at the stage of the career.

Murf
Comments
Comments
August 31, 2026 9:13 am
Reply to  Hobby916

#truth

TheGrantNapear
Comments
Vote Up
Comments
Vote Up
August 29, 2026 10:22 am
Reply to  Hobby916

He probably has a better shot at mins with the Kings than most other teams that will show interest. I think he’s worth taking a flyer on.

Adamsite
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
Patreon Supporter
Comments
Vote Up
Original Member
Nostradumbass 14
August 29, 2026 11:13 am
Reply to  TheGrantNapear

Would he though? He’d likely be behind LaVine, Monk, Hunter, Nique, and possibly Karaban at the wing positions.

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