Like every year, we must always remember it is only Summer League. But what you want to see is the guys you expect to play well given where they were selected in the NBA Draft to play well, and so far we are getting that from this now 2-0 Sacramento Kings squad.
The Kings defeated the Chicago Bulls 109-92 Saturday to move to 2-0. The Kings are now one of five teams with a 2-0 record. Might I remind you that the Kings and the Portland Trail Blazers are the only two teams in Las Vegas Summer League history with two titles, so the Quest for 3 Rangz continues.
Let’s get into the standout performances.
Devin Carter
After a rough outing as the primary ball handler in the first game of the Summer League, Carter moved more into his natural scoring role and it paid off. He displayed great range and accuracy on his three-point shot. He drained catch-and-shoot threes and off the dribble, using impressive step backs to create space. He scored in transition and around the basket using patience and footwork.
He finished with an efficient 30 points (10-13 from the field and 5-7 from three), and it wasn’t just scoring, Carter also contributed 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and was a +14 overall. He had a few bad passes and had 4 turnovers, but the other areas of his game made up for it.
Nique Clifford
This kid has a bag. He scored off turnaround jumpers, catch-and-shoot threes, rebounds and fadeaways, with patience under the basket surrounded by three defenders, reverse hook shots, dribble pull-up threes – it is fun to watch the Big Purple Dawg. And what is even more exciting is it isn’t just scoring. He finished with a double double – 19 points and 12 rebounds, to go along with 5 assists.
He displayed a nifty behind-the-back pass, which didn’t convert was still impressive, but he did try to get a little too fancy with it at times and had 5 turnovers. He was a +8 on the game though and 8-13 from the field, including 3-4 from three.
Maxime Raynaud
Mad Max was impressive again, showing us his own bag. He scored off alley-oops, put-backs, pick-and-rolls and turn-around hook shots, and had a few dimes that were very impressive. His vision for cutters while out beyond the three-point line is going to be fun to watch over his career.
Raynaud’s willingness to hunt for screens and pick and rolls is very welcome. I have noticed the spacing on his rolls have been a little funky but that is probably more related to the point guard play of this team than Raynaud’s abilities.
He finished with 17 points (8-15 from the field), 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. He was a +9 overall. At 7’1” you would like to see better rebounding numbers (6 in his first game and 5 in his second), but I am sure the weight room and Domantas Sabonis’ mentoring can help him with that.
The Kings take on the Phoenix Suns Monday at 7 p.m.
All hail Devin Carter. Long live Carter.
The Kings should be good, since they’re running out almost a quarter of their roster in summer league. I suppose we should just take what we can get and at least a couple of the guys probably won’t be in the rotation, but still.
From Kurt Helin:
Shout out to Sugar Ray for shouting out
Love it!
Happy to see Carter have a good bounce back game. Hoping to see that consistency through the rest of SL.
2-0….SL Championship, here we come!!!!
SL Superteam…
It’s almost like the Kings are really good a building minor league rosters, but are shit at the NBA level. Maybe Vivek is secretly hoping for relegation?
It’s kind of ridiculous how the Kings have had decent Summer League performances over the years with almost nothing to show for it. The lack of focus on developing young players is baffling.
I like these guys but I don’t currently see how any of them gets any significant playing time (baring injuries). It’s too bad because all three show promise. Add in Keegan and Keon and this team could have some hope for a future…..
These past 2 Summer League games are definitive proof Scott needs to blow it up. I don’t care what the returns are. Trade Sabonis and TD for 2026 1st, Kuminga, Hield, and Moody. That will solidify a tank as an undersized unit and you can waive Hield after the season, trade Moody for 2nds and assess Kuminga.
Then you can buy out DeRozan and maybe LaVine if the team is miserable enough. After all that, you can give Keon Ellis and Murray a reasonable extension if they have made more improvements while also playing Clifford, Reynaud, and shoot even Carter on top of superior draft position for 2026 with the Warriors being extra.
This team, I have to support a blow up and tanking as long as it is not to the extent of player development. I want an ethical tanking. That is all.
You just gave the Warriors another championship. Can you imagine Sabonis in the Warrior system with his passing ability and understanding of game with Curry, Draymond, and Butler. Sabonis to me would be perfect in their system, I do however appreciate your broader point and agree with it. I’d rather win 20 games with a young developmental team than win 40 with what we have now. As I’ve said many times, if I was the GM I would do exactly what you just suggested. The specific deals would be different but the strategy similar.
I’d start the season off with Carter, Ellis, Nique, Murray, and Raynaud. I’m hoping we are in the lottery the next two years and hopefully get the superstar to build around in one of those drafts.
Right now, just hope the Kings don’t give up anymore draft capital and don’t overpay for Ellis, Kuminga or even Murray. Once you do that you’re screwed. So far the moves they made in this offseason don’t inhibit a rebuild.
LOL at thinking Warriors can stop Thunder, Nuggets or even Clippers. Sabonis increases their chances but they are not winning the championship.
I do agree with being smart on extensions. Many times the Kings overpay.
Nique looks like the real deal. It looks like his game will translate to the NBA very well. Like his vision and decision making and is competent in all aspects of the game.
As for Carter, yes he had a nice game and looked more motivated than previously. He needs to improve his handles and is totally right hand dominant. I don’t think at this point he has the skill set yet to make a NBA impact. Good to see him have that game however. When someone says, summer league doesn’t matter, my answer is everything matters. We’ve seen a players stock go significantly up or down just after a NBA combine.
Raynaud. I saw him play at Stanford a lot and are surprised he dropped as far as he did in the draft. Unlike Carter, he seems to have a complete skill set that just has to mature. Really good feel for the game, high basketball IQ, and good decision maker. Not yet ready to make a big impact but just needs to mature, get stronger, and adjust to the speed and power of the NBA game. I am concerned that his feet are a little slow and that shows when he comes to the perimeter to defend.
We shall see but I think we have two good ones and one unknown. This is why the Kings should be accumulating all the draft capital they can because you never know where the next great player will come from. The Joker came out of the second round, SGA , Halliburton, Williams and others slipped a bit and Dort was undrafted. Losing the pick we gave up for Huerter was an unfortunate move that bothered me when it happened.
I know there is still 2 more games but fron what we saw l;ast night do you think the trade for Kuminga might work. Carter sure did his part.
Kings offered Carter, Saric + 2 second rounders. duds declined and countered with Keon and Keegan for Kuminga. It appears that both teams are far apart in assessments.
I don’t like Kuminga at all- he is indeed athletic but has way too high of a view of himself and does not play D.
The current rumor is the Dubs will keep him with a promise to trade him before the deadline.
Summer League wins are nice and all,but if it doesn’t translate into an improved regular season record they don’t mean shit. As for the prospect of Kuminga, that makes me want to barf.
me too
So all of you don’t like Kuminga. For that. Give me some ideas on who we might get to fill that power forward spot. Talk is cheap but I need to see some kind of light at the end of the tunnel. Not just darkness. We can all sit here but at least give some ideas. Nobody here likes Kuzma so forget that. Can’t trade for Collins so who is next?
Just learned that Herb Jones is gone. Another one down the drain.
Whoa whoa whoa, I meant to say Kuzma, NOT Kuminga. It’s been hectic today, we’re taking care of the grandchild. Hard no on Kuzma! As for Kuminga, at 6’7” he’s kinda small for the 4, but what do I know.
‘Quest for 3 Rangz’ lol!
Badge Legend