According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, the Sacramento Kings have signed free agent KZ Okpala to a two-year contract:
Free agent forward KZ Okpala has reached an agreement on a two-year deal with the Sacramento Kings, his agent Aaron Mintz of CAA tells @YahooSports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 15, 2022
Okpala is a 23-year old forward who was selected with the 32nd overall pick in the 2019 draft, but he has struggled to crack Erik Spoelstra’s rotation in his three years in Miami, averaging 3.7 points and 2 rebounds in 11.6 minutes per game last year. The newest member of the Kings is also highly familiar with Head Coach Mike Brown, as he recently played for Team Nigeria alongside Chimezie Metu in international games, with Okpala garnering some extremely high praise from Brown:
“KZ is a remarkable talent. He can be a defensive player of the year candidate…”
Thus far this summer, Monte McNair has done an impressive job of acquiring shooters to surround De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, but the defensive end of the floor hasn’t necessarily been as prioritized, which makes the Okpala signing all the more sensible, especially considering his previous relationship with Mike Brown. Okpala has played most of his career minutes as a power forward, with only occasional glimpses as a pure wing, but if the Kings are solely focused on KZ’s defensive contributions, he may be able to flex between both forward positions, as well as a small-ball center at times. The details of his contract are unknown at this point, but the likelihood is that Okpala signed for the veteran minimum, around $2 million per season, which is a perfectly fine investment in a young prospect who could develop into a rotational player. With this latest acquisition, the Kings now stand at 13 filled roster spots, meaning they’ll need to sign at least one additional player prior to the start of the 2022 campaign.
Welcome to Sacramento, KZ!
Sweet! Add some D to the B!
Doubt Sasha is happening now.
Lol. Are we still doing “phrasing”?
*whispers Danger Zone*
Don’t know him, really. Defensive upside sounds great. i hope he has the lateral quickness and size to stay with SF’s.
Because we still lack a true SF.
So how many roster spots are occupied now?
Why do the Kings need a ‘real’ SF in an era of positionless basketball?
13 roster spots are now occupied.
Positionless basketball is a nice catch-phrase and idea, but has it’s limitations.
It’s a game of hunting advantageous match-ups. I am somewhat worried that We have no players that have the size, girth and the lateral quickness to try and hang with the LBJ’s and PG13’s of the league.
I mean, we do now.
It’s ok, we have Whitesi…oh, nevermind.
I don’t think this team will morph into a championship contender overnight so I do not share this concern about matching up with the Lebron James’ and Paul George’s of the world.
Yes, it ’tis. But it’s also true that teams will have to stop the Kings on the other end as well. The Kings could easily be a top 7 team in ORtg this season.
The Kings could easily be anything. Even a boat!
I’ll take the mystery box
How dare you make a Monty Python joke Dutchman?!?!?!?
We are going to surprise some people. You included.
That’s what she said. But seriously, can we crawl before we walk
You mean the old guys who have to miss half the season due to some fake injury just in case they make it to the playoffs ?
Sounds like a younger Moe Harkless.
Does not hurt but it does jam up the PF slot quite a bit-unless he can guard SF’s.
I think third PG is next on list and Sasha stays (pouts) in Greece. Does Okpala’s contract still leave the BAE and the remnants of the mid level exception or did this come out of one of those? I had hoped for Yuta Watanabe, a defender as well.
Olympiacos fans rejoice:
It’ll be good to have a guy that size to throw at threes and fours when we need it. Miami certainly will teach you how to defend, and it sounds like he’s got the natural tools to ruin someone’s day.
We’ll start him small, and only ask him to ruin eighty-two.
On February 9, 2022, Miami traded Okpala to OKC for draft considerations. He was waived two days later.
OKC so loaded with talent they had no place for him? Still it sounds like a good signing for the Kings who need wing defenders.
That was a trade done for financial reasons and a 1st round pick that OKC got. Okpala might get another shot after Sac, he might not. But guys like him sometimes take a few stops before things click. Sometimes it’s just the right situation.
Maybe they were worried he’d add too many wins? 🙂
Meh… still want a legit 3rd ball handler behind Fox and Mitchell.
The Kings have time. Figuring out a 3rd PG is a relatively simple solution compared to some of the other tasks that McNair has faced this offseason.
Any legit NBA player on this team is a good thing. They are making some improvements. Please keep the trend going……..
The missing link … I’m going to the ring shop and getting sized for the ship ring!
Welcome, K(ang)Z!
Quinn Cook signing next?
Kings also signed Chima Moneke. Not sure if it’s nothing more than a training camp invite or a roster spot. That would be 14 players if it’s the latter. Last 2 signings by Mcnair are both defensive forwards
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