The Sacramento Kings are signing Keon Ellis to a three-year contract, according to reports. The deal elevates Ellis from his Two-Way contract, which would have only allowed Ellis to suit up for 50 games this season. Ellis was approaching that limit, but has played well enough that it makes sense for the Kings to ensure they can continue to play him as needed.
The Sacramento Kings are signing guard Keon Ellis on a new three-year contract, Corey Marcum of @ezsportsgroup tells ESPN. Ellis had been on a two-way deal and now gets a standard NBA deal after rising from an undrafted player out of Alabama. pic.twitter.com/Q3Vvw6oHPV
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 9, 2024
League source confirms that the Sacramento Kings are signing Keon Ellis to the regular roster, elevating him from his current two-way deal. He is taking the 15th roster spot opened up after the team waived Robin Lopez yesterday. @wojespn first.
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) February 9, 2024
Ellis joined the Kings as an undrafted free agent, and has really proven himself worthy of this spot. Ellis is currently averaging 3.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.4 blocks in 11.9 minutes per game. It’s been a bit strange that Ellis hasn’t seen much playing time in the last few weeks, after an extended run where he looked really good with the bench unit. It’s possible the Kings were showcasing Davion Mitchell before the trade deadline, or perhaps Ellis was just a victim of Mike Brown’s tinkering a la Alex Len. We’ll have to see if Ellis becomes a more regular part of the rotation down the stretch.
This move fills the Kings open roster spot, eliminating them from pursuing player on the buyout market unless Sacramento waives someone else. The Kings now have one open two-way contract, and could use it to elevate someone from the Stockton Kings. There are a few veterans in Stockton who could potentially be useful in a pinch, such as Stanley Johnson or Jeremy Lamb.
I like it.
Now play him over Davion.
Yeah, it’s baffling that he doesn’t get those minutes. Outside of the assist game & FT% (where neither really even get to the line at all), he beats Davion in pretty much every other statistical measurement.
They had to hold him out because he was getting close to the 50 game limit so:
a) They could showcase Davion for trade?
b) They could keep that last roster spot open for a deadline cash grab?
c) All of the above
No sense in holding him out if he was already listed on the active report, though. Play or no play, if you’re on the active report it counts.
Well, the Kings have played exactly 50 games, so maybe he was active for all of them?
According to BBall Ref, it says he was inactive for 3 back early in the season. So yeah, he was definitely up against the limit.
That’s where the showcasing comes in. 🙂
Not banner worthy?
I’m not angry.
Just mad.
And ya’ll didn’t think Monte would do anything at the trade deadline!
Monte:
I have liked Ellis ever since I saw him play in summer league. I also liked Queta and wish we had him in Stockton but he is doing well in Beantown. A dilemma I have is — who should be the big man back-up — Len or McGee. They both have played quite well when given the chance. Len has not played much for about three weeks now, yet, whenever he is in there, he does a good job. McGee fouls too much but is great on the boards and actually confronts opponents driving to the rim (which Sabonis does not do much).
I’m fine just switching back and forth. Len and McGee are basically interchangeable.
Committing to a below average prospect for three years after doing nothing to improve with a trade.
Do mediocre stuff and get mediocre stuff in return.
It’s probably a super cheap deal with TOs and/or unguaranteed money apart of it. If Keon can supplant Davion as the backup to Fox, the deal could be a steal this time next year. I see no issue. It’s a low risk/high reward deal.
Also, he need to be on a regular deal if he were to play in the playoffs. Two-way contracts don’t get to play.
It was like 3yr/$5.4M with that third year being a TO.
$5.2M too much.
You are correct and I agree. The issue I see is relying on Ellis to help get this team to the playoffs.
This team and it’s fans has an amazing loyalty to mediocrity while ignoring reality.
King Keon gettin paid.
Can vets like Stanley Johnson or Lamb be signed to two-way deals? For some reason I thought there was a year of service maximum that kept vets from signing those?
Just found it. NBA players in their 4th year or less are eligible to for two-way deals. That means Johnson and Lamb cannot sign a two-way contract.
Congrats Keon! Well deserved and I hope you get your mins back now that the deadline has passed.
I mean it’s something, I guess. If if it gets him more playing time over Davion, then good.
Watched Monte’s presser at noon. His explanation lined up with my opinion on why no moves were made. We simply didn’t have much to offer for a player who would significantly move the needle in improving the team. And we’re flexible for anything that makes sense down the road. Is essence as the team stands, he said the defense has improved some but at the expense of offense
Keon Ellis is an NBA player.
Well, he definitely is now.
I like Keon as a spot backup for 10 minutes a game and price is OK . Hope he can make the bench better as.not likely to hurt it .
Yay for stability!
I don’t understand it. Hasn’t been playing. So why?
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