Moments after the 2024 NBA Draft ended, the Sacramento Kings have reportedly signed wing Isaiah Crawford and forward Isaac Jones to two-way contracts, according to Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski.
Louisiana Tech's Isaiah Crawford has agreed to a two-way NBA deal with the Kings, sources said.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 27, 2024
Washington State's Isaac Jones has agreed on a two-way deal with the Sacramento Kings, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 27, 2024
Crawford is a 6’6 senior wing with a reported 7’1 wingspan, and played five seasons with the Louisiana State Bulldogs. In his final year, he averaged 16.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks in nearly 33 minutes per game, while shooting 48.5% from the field and 41.4% from three. He shot over 41% from deep in each of his final two seasons. Clearly, Crawford’s defensive numbers and deep shot success are impressive. The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie had Crawford ranked 56th on his Big Board, and praised Crawford’s defensive ability in his 2024 draft guide, but says he has concerns about the speed of Crawford’s shot release at the next level.
Jones, a 6’8 forward with a reported 7’3 wingspan, played three years at a junior college before spending one year at Idaho and his final year at Washington State. In his senior season with the Cougars, he averaged 15.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 57.5% from the field. Vecenie had him ranked 69th on his big board, and highlights his strengths as his motor and finishing ability, but has concerns about how he’ll create offense at the next level.
We’ll see how Jones and Crawford handle their first taste of NBA basketball at the California Classic.
Now this is the Monte I like. Find us another Ellis Monte!
We need more average inexperienced players to carry us into the playoffs.
Serious question, do you want the Kings to just not sign 2-way players since the odds are they may never be NBA level players?
I’m interested in what they do now they have the full MLE. They could still use a J Smith type IMO. Or use it for a trade exception, new rule!
Is McDaniels our J Smith type? Will they just not mention the MLE again and act like they’re fine with the roster, as is? That would be underwhelming but we knew re-signing Monk could be their biggest offseason transaction. That sounds a bit pathetic at this stage, but had they not reached a deal with him, no other signing they were gonna make, was gonna make up for the loss. Does that mean offseason expectations are already mostly met? Is Monte satisfied?
nope. just shedding salary.
McDaniels will have no role. He’ll basically get the garbage minutes Kessler Edwards got last season. I expect nothing from him.
If McDaniels gets meaningful minutes, we’re in trouble.
I understand there is a real purpose to signing two way players. They bring a potential future. It is basically a long term try out. That is the purpose and I support that purpose.
You never know what you might find?
What I don’t want the Kings to do is use the two way players as roster players. That is not the purpose of two way players.
Build a roster that is solid. Let the two way players earn their way on to that roster. Do not use the two way players as part of the roster.
Isn’t that what they have done? Ellis started as an undrafted 2-way player and “earned it.” So far I’d argue Monte has used the 2-way deals better than most. He’s has a potential starter via that path. How many other teams can say that?
Ellis is a positive result. He is one of probably one hundred. Most teams don’t need to count on that happening.
I ask this…how many playoff teams focus on two way players…or need a two way player to play an actual role on the team?
I’m not sure any team “focuses’ on two-way players or need them to play an actual role, it’s just a tool to foster and grow probable talent. Maybe you feel the Kings “focus” on their two way deals because it’s in our face with local media and there are articles here on a Kings centric forum.
I will admit, I find it interesting that the Kings 2-way deals are announced right after the draft wraps up, when there are other more pressing needs to be filled. I’m just hoping the front office is good at multi-tasking.
FWIW, The Celtics had Queta on a 2-way deal before signing him to a regular season deal…and they won a championship. Every team does it.
I’m so happy Neemy has a ring. Always liked that dude.
What did Queta do for them?
Was he the focus of the organization?
Kings had no second round pick. They were on the phone at about pick #50, waiting for Brawny to get picked and then after #60, just pounced. Get there first is the game.
Immediate post draft 2 way guys can be valuable.
Hopefully someday we’ll sign a two way player like Naz Reid!
Lets sacrifice any real chance of winning so we can find the one in one billion.
Signing a two way player eliminates any “real chance of winning”?
When all we do is sign two way deals and ignore the reality of what this team needs…yes.
Jose Alvarado/Austin Reaves/Lu Dort were needed to make playoffs.
Naz Reid was needed to make Conference finals,
Duncan Robinson was needed to make NBA finals.
Alex Caruso/ Fred VanVleet were needed for championships,
I get the point of a two way player.
What do the Kings need now?
Do we wait six years?
I would posit that Ellis was one of the better values-to-contract on the roster last year. Those guys are crucial when you are building a roster – you need some low-cost value to offset the big contracts.
We certainly need more talent at the top of the roster, but finding pearls like Ellis is an important piece of the puzzle.
Yup, and one cool little wrinkle to the two-way is you can have them there for up to 2 years…then sign them to an Ellis type deal, which amounts to basically a late first round rookie deal. That’s 5 years of a low cost asset with Full Bird Rights!!
Hell, that’s almost criminal GM’ing with today’s NBA salaries.
It’s so under the radar that sometimes we forget to give credit where credit is due. Had Ellis been a 2nd round pick, it would be seen as a savvy selection, a great use of assets, and a very positive checkmark for Monte’s draft scorecard. These little mining excursions are even better, in my eyes. The player is signing willfully (instead of being ordered to report via draft), and there is no asset expense, just the small investment of a camp invite contract or a two-way. Virtually no downside to this.
Ellis is the ultimate goal now.
Is Ellis the peak of this organization?
I am not interested in that.
Welcome to
SacramentoStockton!At least it isn’t “Welcome to Basketball Hell” anymore.
Stockton might be literal hell, but that’s a different conversation.
Given the option many would choose to play in Stockton over the prime KaNgz.
We’re gonna be in hell next week with that massive heatwave coming to California. Even out here in the South Bay Area it’s gonna be hot. I’m just glad I finally invested in a portable AC last year…I wouldn’t survive next week without it.
We had a heat wave here in Middle Tennessee. A bit more humidity, but hot is hot no matter where you live.
Sacramento summers growing up were no joke.
Stockton stays a bit warmer than Sac in winter, but it’s a little cooler in the summer. DELTA BREEZE!!!!!
At least on has PF written next to his name.
Too bad they just now discovered that abbreviation.
Are we trying to build a championship contender or rebuild the Stockton roster?
G League Championships are still championships. Probably will try for the first three time champions of the Vegas Summer League too.
Bronny signed with the Lakers. I bet Lebron plays in the summer league.
Going to make the Kings earn it this year.
This guy is an NBA PF…should they get him?
They did and look what happened.
Fare thee well, Jordan & Mason.
Hopefully Slawson too.
Give me 6 power forwards and one undersized guard for a change.
Slawson puts the POWER in PF!
Except that Slawson is the definition of defensive potential (he can’t do much else). He would be of the same mold of the two new guys and you may need to give 2 years (2 way contract) to all 3 players.
You got it. I really hoped the French guy dropped to us but he went #6 to Charlotte: Tidjane Saluan. But he didn’t. It has become glaringly evident that Barnes and Murray are nice SF, but we need a powerful, rebounding, shot blocking big guy who can shoot the ball too. Please.
It will give Sabonis some freedom.
Signing 2 way players right after the draft is over is becoming a Monte signature move!
That, plus his propensity to trade away his second-round picks, makes me think it’s some kind of Monte-Moneyball equation. Are 2nd-round contracts that bad?
Can probably get the same level player undrafted as in the mid-late 2nd, so use the 2nd rounders for other purposes?
In some ways that’s very true, but they still have their value. Draft and stash is still a thing as well as the new 2nd round exception rule.
No they are not. 2nd round deals are not guaranteed and can also be two-way deals.
Fun fact, the Kings used the first ever 2nd round exception to sign Colby Jones last year to a 4 year deal. Kings get a 4th year TO. If Jones even cracks the rotation in the next 3 years, it’s a massive win…and they get his Full Bird Rights.
There’s no such thing as a ‘2nd round contract’
They are the same as undrafted players, except the team holds their exclusive rights.
Crawford looked like a fringe first rounder on paper. He checks all the boxes on length defense, and shooting. Why wasn’t he drafted? Two ACL injuries on the same knee while playing college ball.
He’s worth a pennies on the dollar gamble of a two-way. If he can remain healthy and perform like he did in college, he’ll be an absolute steal…in a Keon Ellis kind of way.
Time will tell.
Looked like a first rounder on paper….except for the bold print describing to ACL surgeries.
It’s more he’ll be an absolute steal… in a Harry Giles kind of way.
Wingspan=cowbell
So at least we know they still interested in long, athletic forwards, even if they have been to cheap to break off for one.
.
nice gets. watching Isaac Jones’ 5th year highlights right now.
For all the people who wanted us to sign Boogie.
https://www.si.com/nba/kings/sacramento-kings-news/kings-sign-undrafted-usc-star-boogie-ellis
Monte to staff: find me all possible undrafted FA’s named Ellis, stat! We’ll prove lightning DOES strike twice!
Ellis Fitzgerald?
I was thinking Stevie (I can only assume her middle name is Ellis) Nicks but I guess her lyric is “lightning strikes, maybe once, maybe twice”. Monte’s going to prove it!
I was thinking Don Ellis.
Frankie Ferrari 2.0 baby!
This team has zero power forwards, let alone a star PF who rebounds and defends. No contending until it happens.
Length. Gotta start somewhere. Hopefully one does well like Keon has.
I’m convinced that Vivek is opposed to paying the luxury tax in all but specific situations. Last off season they extended Sabonis with cap space instead of going aggressively after free agents. They could have went over the cap to resign him this year using his full bird rights. Of course that would put them in the tax though. As far as owners go Vivek is on the lower end of net worth. You got to be willing the pay to play.
Awesome screen name. I vividly remember the rattle Seattle playoffs and the SacBee poster inserts. Hard to believe that was three decades ago.
I still have that full page insert from the Bee.
not wanting to pay luxury tax is normal. plus they were looking ahead to this summer where they have money to resign Monk. plus, Adamsite has explained that not being in the luxury tax bracket also allows them to use their MLE in free agency.
To be fait, with the new apron rules, it really handicaps you if you are over the tax come end of the season. I imagine we are going to see more and more teams flirt with the tax aprons without going over them, unless they are legit championship contenders.
The second apron is really crippling, especially for a team like the Suns who have painted them selves into a corner with 3 massive contracts and draft assets. From this, I have a feeling 2nd round picks are going to become more and more valuable to tax teams as they are cheap controlled asset and a way to fill out a roster, especially if two-ways go back to just two per team or ever just go away.
5/175 for Quickley, wtf?
Monk must be wondering what did I do
Hopefully he is vacationing somewhere without internet for the next few days.
Badge Legend