The Sacramento Kings announced Friday via Twitter that they have signed Matthew Dellavedova. Delly will serve as third-string point guard behind De’Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell.
Welcome to Sactown, @matthewdelly! ???? pic.twitter.com/JnZ6g4Z0Dl
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) July 29, 2022
We wrote earlier this week about the possibility of the Kings signing Delly, so this move isn’t a surprise. As I wrote earlier in the week, Delly makes sense as a backup point guard who provide a solid locker room presence.
Delly would provide a veteran point guard for the Kings. He’d be coming in as much for his locker room presence as his on-court play at this stage of his career. Delly hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2020-21 season, when averaged 2.8 points and 4.5 assists in a little over 17 minutes per game for the Cavaliers. He appeared in just 13 games, and shot abysmally even by his standards (Delly was never known as an elite shooter), connecting on 16% of his threes and 25% of his shots overall. Delly is a steady hand, can distribute the ball, and would be a veteran voice of support. But he would certainly be a break-glass-only-in-case-of-emergency type of depth player.
If your third-string point guard makes or breaks your season, something else has already gone terribly wrong, so this isn’t necessarily a high impact signing overall, but Mike Brown has another veteran leader who is familiar with what the new Kings coach expects.
Welcome to Sacramento, Delly!
Solid signing
Ready for some Gael force wins.
Jumping into the defender and kicking your leg out at the same time? That’s a foul that’s getting called every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
The one on the right deliberate gets under the feet of the opposition .. 2 shots?
“solid signing” is certainly the best way to describe this signing. Nothing much else to say.
It will be interesting to see the terms of his deal. According to wiki, he had signed a 3 year deal in Australia last year, so was there a buyout or something?
Roster now stands at 15. No empty spots available.
PG: Fox, Mitchell, Delly
SG: Huerter, Monk, TD
SF: Barnes, Okpala, Moneke
PF: Murray, Lyles, Metu
C: Sabonis, Holmes, Len
If Okpala can be the defensive presence he’s been advertised as, and good enough on offense to stay on the floor, he could unexpectedly be a guy that really glues this roster together.
Can he play SF?
SF:
One thing I have to say, Okpala and Moneke were brought on specifically because of Coach Brown. I don’t think those guys are in Sac if they hadn’t played for Brown on the Nigerian national team.
3 players on the Kings from that 2021 Nigerian team coached by Brown is no coincidence.
Certainly not a coincidence. Brown probably likes Metu, and that likely played a big part in guaranteeing his contract. Obviously, Brown had a role in the signings of Okpala and Moneke.
But what you said cuts both ways. Coach Brown likes the two new guys. Okay good. But “I don’t think those guys are in Sac if …” is hopefully not also “I don’t think those guys are in the NBA if …”.
Hopefully they’re pretty good and solid backups at the 3. Hopefully, as usual with Sac, I’m wrong.
That could very well be. I think KZ would be in the NBA, but I’m not sure about Moneke. The guy has never played professionally in the US, not even in the G-League. He’s the most surprising signing by far.
Moneke said he had offers from two others teams and chose the Kings. Kings might have given more money or more of a guarantee, hard to say, but it seems like there was NBA interest beyond just Sacramento.
Or his Olympics team coach is here, along with a key cog / friend from said team…
I saw an interview with him and he said something to the extent that jordi and Mike Brown being here assured him that this was the right team for him.
implying there were other offers.
It is my opinion that any guy who is the MVP of any European professional basketball league is worthy of a roster spot.
the fact that the sacramento kings coaching staff who has a ton of NBA experience is familiar with him only solidifies his position on the team. The coaching staff wants to win. Period. They’re not bringing random guys on as a favor because they are buddies. Mike Brown and Jordi think Moneke can help their team win. That’s all I need to know.
This.
This not a GM Divac and Duje Dukan deal. Vivek is so Bush League – here’s hoping beyond reasonable hope that this time is different.
The 2022 MVP from the champions league definitely has a place in the NBA as a role player. Who’s to say if he can become more. Time will tell. The point is, the guy belongs in the league. Not sure there should be any doubt about that. There no way to prove it but in my opinion he’s without question better than the 15th guy on every single nba roster. Thus… he belongs.
Really? The only other players to win the Champion’s League MVPs (its only been around for 6 years) are:
Bonzie Colson
Keith Langford
Tyrese Rice
Manny Harris
Jordon Theodore
Do those guys have a place in the NBA as role players? Isn’t the Champions League also like the 3rd tier tournament in Europe? it’s not like he is the best player on Real Madrid or Olympiacos
Hard to say with the first first 4 on your list. But…. I’d argue that Jordan Theadore would be a better 3rd string PG and 15th man on the Kings roster over delavadova.
Not sure if this has been said elsewhere, but I have been assuming it is also because those guys know his systems.
Yeah, that’s been my assumption as well. Fewer guys to teach the system to as well as guys who can help teach the system during practice scrimmages.
Not sure either Mark, but I think that’s an excellent point as well.
Doubt it’s a coincidence. But, Brown also has to coach these guys. And coaching end of the bench guys can be difficult if they won’t accept their role. So I think Brown’s familiarity plays a big part because all of these guys will likely be at the end of the bench playing spot minutes.
If nothing else, it tells me that McNair and Brown are on the same page atm.
This is very important and something I really like.
End of bench guy that was not playing in the NBA last year. The NBA paycheck and lifestyle will eliminate the vast majority of any of those “coaching issues”.
He probably also may have taken this position at this time in his career because he wants to get into coaching and accepting a role like this will help. Why the Kings signed him, I have no idea. I’d rather see some young raw athletic guy that has a chance to develop in the position. Either way it won’t make a difference this year.
All true. A great way to end a basketball career is sitting deep on the bench while making connection and enjoying the lifestyle.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Moneke is better then Trey Lyles and I like Trey lyles. I’m looking forward to finding out.
Deepest roster since we last made the playoffs and I’m not certain it’s close. I think are done unless Monte decides to overpay for OG Anunoby via Barnes, Holmes an unprotected future first and pick swaps. KD is holding any remaining action, but the fact that Monte has secured a 25 man roster, it most likely indicates we running it as is. They’ll have to come together fast to be competitive in the West but the talent is there to make some noise, let’s get training camp started!! I wonder if Monte is gonna sign a few more on training camp deals or just leave it as is since we have 17 signed including the 2 way deals.
I think we should do the Anunoby trade. I think we should also trade Davis, Metu and Len for Murphy III and Jaxson Hayes. Money works.
Eliminate the starters and you have about the same talent as the Kings ran most nights from 2008-2014 (sans Boogie and KMart)
I don’t think it’s brought up much. The 3 is going to be a real weak spot on this team. Barnes is on the decline. Outside of his very fast start last year. Barnes was a ghost many times last year on both sides of the ball. I predict his decline will continue this year. Brown can talk up Okpala all he wants. If that’s your second option at the 3, you’re in trouble. I live in Miami. I have seen many Heat games. This kid rarely got in the game. His defense is ok. Certainly, not Heat standards. His offense is atrocious. Spoles would put him in for a couple minutes here and there. Have to pull him. He stunk up the place. If you can’t make it on a Heat roster. It’s very likely you’re not very good. The Heat never let prime talent just walk.
The best hope is Fox comes out with a vengeance from Day 1 and plays to his potential. The West will not be forgiving this year. With about a dozen Stars and Key players returning. Those missing all of last season or big chunks of it. A slow start will end the season for this team very quickly.
Fox has all kinds of potential. It will be interesting to see if he actually goes all in or shuts it down again.
Can’t wait to meat Delly –
“He got served at the Delly.”
“A hippity hop to the Delly.”
“Delladova? GAME OVA!”
The NBA tried to quit Delly cold turkey.
Delly’s really just undercover sliced roast beef? Wonder how he feels about French Dip sammich’s……
If it’s a one-year. minimum deal, this is fine. He can always consult the old coach if he needs a refresher on towel-waving.
And if they need to release him to make a move in a trade adding another guy then no big deal. It’s a good signing. No real commitment but adds some emergency depth at an important position.
I mean, OK. Not a needle mover on even the most sensitive gauge.
Solid signing
Third-string point guards aren’t really meant to move the needle, since they generally move it the wrong way.
I’m not sure that 3rd string point guard and needle mover go together in the same sentence unless you’re playing Madlibs.
Locker room presence? Check!
Veteran leadership? Check!
Championship pedigree? Triple check!
Midnight Oil on max volume!!!
Aus holes.
Are these the holes down under?
He’s vegi-Mighty!
Now, tie me kangaroo down, sport!
Beds are Burning
Narrator:
It was later revealed that the Kings only brought in Delladova for his healthy wrist, which was soon amputated and used to replace Keegan Murray’s.
Loose bodies, indeed!
That’s one way to tighten your handle!
Giggity. Let’s all trip the life fantastique!
LeBron’s former coach
Lebron’s former PG
Lebron’s former SG
MM and Vivek are positioning themselves for a major move.
Drafting LeBrons son and signing 39 year old LeBron to put us thru the top? I like where your headed, that’s why we collected 2 2nd round picks so we can throw away one on his son who is expected to to undrafted if he wasn’t LeBrons son. 2024 Champs baby!
The only thing Bron needs is a W to be in the Family with his old coach!
Bronny?
Welcome to Basketball Helly!
Just curious, but are you getting any kind of consulting fees, Greg, and if so how does that affect your ability to write objectively, if at all?
#enquiringmindswannaknow
Well we have a Curry-stopper for when we make the 8th seed 😉
I like this signing. Solid.
Can’t shoot, can’t play? Come to Sacramento and be a leader.
It wouldn’t be a Kings offseason without signing at least one cast-off veteran.
Thanks for the laugh! How many games is Philly winning this year? What do you hear about Harden’s conditioning? He’s looked out of shape lately to me.
Lately = 3 years ????
At least they don’t expect him to be a starter/major role player in the likes of ZBo, Ariza, or Vince Carter. I’d expect Delly to be about the 13-14th man in the rotation. Excluding any injures to Fox or Mitchell, I’d be shocked if he average more than 5MPG in about 25 games played this year.
Sounds about right since he clearly can not play at an NBA level . Actually, Huerter is a much better point than Delly , so no worries .
Right? If he gets 500 minutes this year it is because of injuries. Exactly the role a veteran mentor and someone who will extol the virtues of the coach and his system should get.
The problem in the past is the players brought in to be a veteran mentor were also expected to be central cogs if not the 2nd or 3rd best player on the team.
I do like how Mike Brown seems to have a lot of coaches and players who will follow him. I think that says something about him personally. He is probably the best coach the Kings have had since Adelman, though they should have let Malone mature into what he is now.
I like the guy because of his Gael connection and that he drove the duds nuts for a bit. Lil stephanie is scared of him
oh, yes I hope he gets zero minutes except in games where Kings are up by 50.
Culture additive.
Maybe the most Team like team Sacramento has had since Adelman left. Can you name a player who obviously doesn’t want to be on the Kings?
Can you name someone who claims that it’s “my team”?
Coach Brown stressed culture in his presser. There is no reason, despite our Kangz muddled mindset to doubt this man of 20+ yrs of NBA coaching and leadership experience.
Me likey.
Does anybody know if this is a guaranteed contract? If it is guaranteed its a silly mistake as he has nothing left and didn’t two years ago…keep the roster slot open for a decent player that gets dropped from training camp or convert a two way and add another two way….if its not guaranteed not terrible but eats up cash…TD would be a very useful backup point and has lots of skills and upside (example last season 35 point outburst) so I hope his locker room presence adds a bunch…just my thoughts…
“partially guaranteed”
https://twitter.com/MikeAScotto/status/1553093197462749186?cxt=HHwWhIC-nZqC2Y0rAAAA
I agree. At this point in MD’s career, 3rd string PG can just as well be handled by Monk, Huerter, … perhaps even TD, or Ellis
Meh!
RIP Bill Russell. 🙁
https://twitter.com/RealBillRussell/status/1553790050839588865?t=NL3xK5GNRR8V_YaazOTsAQ&s=19
RIP
My dad took me to see Bill Russel play in college when I was 7 years old. USF played St. Mary’s in Moraga. The Gaels had a pretty good team but USF went on to win 2 NCAA championships in 1955 and 56. When the Dons came out for warmups I was awestruck. Russell and teammates dominated.
Russell would be able to still play in today’s NBA- different role and position but he could play.
I still vividly remember that game
Badge Legend