According to a report, the Sacramento Kings have extended a $1.9 million team option to Isaac Jones, which means he will return for the 2025-26 season. The move indicates trust in the 24-year-old forward who showed flashes of value last season.
While he only averaged 3.4 points (65% from the field) and 1.4 rebounds last season with the Kings, every time he entered the game Sacramento got an immediate energy boost in the form of physicality. In 12 games with the Stockton Kings last season, he averaged 21.1 points, 10 rebounds, 1.2 blocks on 57% from the field. The 6’9″ forward turns 25 next month and went undrafted out of Washington State.
I was generally impressed when Jones stepped on the floor for the Kings. While his inexperience showed, with the minimal playing time he did get (7.6 minutes per game in 40 games played), he was a breath of fresh air in terms of his intensity. He is worth keeping around and developing further.
In a separate move, the Kings have extended a two-way qualifying offer to forward Isaiah Crawford, which makes him a restricted free agent July 1. Sacramento would then have the ability to match any offer he receives. Crawford got very little playing time with the Kings last season, but the 23-year-old averaged 13.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals in 31 minutes per games with the Stockton Kings last season. He went 50% from the field and 44% from three.
NBA free agency begins Monday at 3 p.m.
Expected moves.
Now have to decide on Keon- Best option seems to be make him restricted. The risk is someone makes big offer (Nets) but the other option is to keep him for a year at 2.3 M and he then becomes unrestricted next summer. Far bigger risk
LaRavia- tricky- Best option- off highest salary permitted, short term and under the table offer to increase that after a year.
These are two dog guys, defensive minded. duds are trying to convert Kuminga into Herb Jones. NOP are so dumb that they will do that.
No-brainers.
So always a question-mark in Kangz land.
How does Crawford get RFA status? Is it 2-way RFA status? He wasn’t on the regular roster so I’m not exactly sure how that works. I really can’t imagine some team out there is going to offer him a regular rostered deal, but who knows.
Uhhhhh, ok.
https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3lsrethnnls2v
Changing the subject a little: Just saw a 3 way trade where Raptors get Monk and Carter and a first from the Kings. Jazz get DeRozan and the Kings get RJ Barrett and John Collins. What do you guys think?
Kings give up 3 players- two “starters” and a backup plus a FRP and get Barret and Collins. In most trades look at who is the best player and where does he go. Who is the best player here? I see arguments for Monk and for RJ.
I don’t like giving up the pick. Get a second round back and it is ok
No PG though. Signing Keon might put Shroeder out of the picture (but I don’t like him anyway)
I sure would want Quickley.
and Sexton is off the table.
I’m with you. I’d consider it if we didn’t have to include the frp.
I see no upside for the Jazz in this deal.
Im thinking that a W. Kessler trade might next for the Jazz. That’s the only way this makes sense.
Yeah absolutely absurd we weren’t in at that price
Someone explain what Charlotte is doing?..
Not sure, but they had a really good draft.
That’s debatable. I’m not sold on Kneuppel. Kalkbrenner will be hustle/energy but I don’t see a ton of upside. Traded away both C’s, and have about 25 SF’s on the roster.
Fucking Kangz.
https://bsky.app/profile/jameshamnba.bsky.social/post/3lsri5kmoss2z
What’s the thinking here? Is an extension in the works? What would’ve happened if they hadn’t picked up the option?
If they hadn’t picked up the option he would become a RFA.
Now if they don’t reach a deal he becomes a UFA.
Thanks Rik!
So they likely have a deal in place, or at least a framework.
Maybe the Kings are aware of a team that would make Keon an offer right now that the Kings would not be able to match, given the need to pick up a PG and to fill out the roster. By picking up his option, they get one more cheap year before losing him for nothing.
That could be, but then you still can match anything if you are willing to spend. At worst case scenario you attempt as S&T to get something in return.
Now, by having him on a very cheap $2.5M expiring deal, he really has no trade value.
They can extend him later, but I believe there is a cap on that. If he continues to improve, eventually starts, and/or has a positive impact, he can go anywhere next summer to whoever is willing to pay. When the CBA grants you RFA in a shallow free agency spending pool, of a valued asset, especially one that’s as cheap as Keon’s, you use it.
This also indicates to me that the Kings are keeping the full MLE powder dry below the tax for an overpay on someone like Schroder.
Brooklyn understands how to retain assets.
https://bsky.app/profile/mikeascotto.bsky.social/post/3lsrjkwsymk2o
Grizz know how to do it as well.
https://bsky.app/profile/mikeascotto.bsky.social/post/3lsrokej4hc2z
Was there any scenario where he wouldn’t have been an RFA?
This is that scenario. He’ll now be a UFA in 2026. Had they not picked up his TO, he would be an RFA tomorrow and the Kings control his future. Now…no so much.
I feel this indicates the Kings may value his short cheap contact and production for this upcoming season more than they do locking him long term on a market dictated deal.
Who knows, maybe they do have an extension in place, but I have my doubts.
I believe the max extension is 4 years for $85M. A deal should be able to be struck at or under that number fairly easily.
The thinking here is that Perry prioritizes height and length, maybe someone who could slot in as point-forward, like Ben Simmons. Perry’s preference for PG might be a distributor non-scoring type.
LOL. That was another no-brainer.
Instead of letting the market do its work, now they either let him walk for nothing or have to negotiate against themselves. So Kangz.
Why would they choose this path then? I’ll assume it isn’t incompetence (I know), so you think a wink wink deal is in place?
We’ve been asking this of the franchise for over two decades.
Pete D will have an answer.
Oops, I mean Vlade will have an answer.
Oops, I mean Dumars will have an answer.
Oops, I mean Monte will have an answer.
Oops, I mean Perry will have an answer.
I believe they have a “mandate” to get a PG this summer. The blinders are on to keep as much money free as possible in free agency for a middling PG. Unfortunately, that comes at Keon’s expense.
With less than $20M in space under the tax they can’t afford to use the full MLE ($14.1M), pay Keon fair market value (your milage may vary on that price), and fill out the remaining empty roster spots. Kings also still don’t have a playable big behind/next to Keegan. The roster is just in horrible shape.
IMO, the Kings really need to move DDR and Monk to fill the holes.
This actually makes me mad. They better have an agreement already set
What do you guys think of Anthony Black as our starting point guard this coming year?
Hoping they have an extension/long term deal in place to keep Keon. He fits everything the Kings have been saying about building this new identity.
What gives me pause is that last season, even under Doug, Keon got some weird minutes in games where he probably should have playeduch more.
Maybe Nique was the Keon replacement, with either Keon being in a potential trade, or just not wanting to spend the salary to keep him.
Guess we will have to wait amd see how this all plays out.
It has been strange that both MB and DC used Keon so sparingly. I keep thinking there must be something most of us are missing.
I heard Keon gambles a bit defensively, and that was the main reason MB didn’t play him as much. Something about not being disciplined enough in the defensive scheme (whatever that was supposed to be).
As for DC, I don’t know what the deal was. The roster had limited options after the Fox trade at SG/PG.
And last night, Schroeder was cryptic and said “…I want to stay in Detroit, but Detroit ain’t waiting for me…”
On another note, wasn’t Vivek also interested in Elfrid Peyton before? He just came an UFA. My gut is starting to churn once again and i dont think the PeptoBismol is helping.
This is not worth getting your guys all knotted up about.
This team isn’t going to be relevant the coming season or two anyway.
They will be relevant. Or they will really make me want to vent.
Been reading articles on next year’s draft. Apparently there’s 3 elite, potentially franchise level players in this draft. I really hope Perry is trying to convince Vivek to rebuild for a year with the aim of landing a top 3 pick in next year’s draft.
How exciting it would be if this time next year, we have a top 3 draftee to go a long with a bunch of young talent and Lavine, Sabonis and DDR are playing elsewhere.
I would herald that.
Y’all see Washington’s projected cap space next year? Wild, never seen anything like it lol
I said this before. This is the time to pick up Ben Simmons on the cheap and surround him with snipers. Trade Demar and Trey Lyles for a 4 that can shoot, ie, John Collins, Michael Porter Jr, Markennan…Simmons will run the offense and distribute the rock. We don’t need him to shoot 3’s. He also is defensive minded. Keep Monk as the 6th man or backup point. I like to see Devin Carter develop. Nique as backup 3, and Max Reynaud as the backup 4. JV backs up Sabonis. We’ll prolly lose Jake to free agency.
Starting Simmons PG
Levine. SG
Keegan SF
Collins PF
Sabonis C
Badge Legend