There were times last season when it felt like the Sacramento Kings simply weren’t big enough. Richaun Holmes is a smaller center, and Damian Jones lacked the bulk to handle some of the league’s bigger centers. Through that lens, it made complete sense when the Kings signed Alex Len to a two-year $7.6 million contract last summer. It was just everything else the Kings did that muddled the evaluation of that decision.
The Kings entered the year with one logjam (Holmes, Jones, Len, and Tristan Thompson) and finished the season with a different one (Domantas Sabonis, Holmes, Jones and Len). Even in situations where it seemed like the Kings needed Len’s size, he’d often go long stretches without any significant playing time. Len ended up appearing in just 39 games, averaging less than 16 minutes per game.
It hard to argue that Len’s production warranted a bigger role. Whether poor play resulted in inconsistent minutes or inconsistent minutes resulted in poor play, Len’s season was a letdown. Even adjusted to a per-36 basis, Len put up some of the worst production of his career, and the eye test was as ugly as the raw numbers.
Len is on the Kings books as a $3.6 million expiring contract next season. I’d guess the Kings will try to trade him the summer, but it seems unlikely that there will be much of a market for him unless he’s included in a trade just for salary matching purposes.
But if Len stays, it’s fine. He seems to be well-liked in the locker room, he doesn’t complain about his role, and he can comfortably give you spot minutes behind Sabonis as needed. He wouldn’t be my first pick to be Sabonis’ primary backup next year, but the Kings could certainly do worse, especially if he can regain some of his past productivity.
Wait, Alex Len was on the roster?
I prefer Sabonis, Jones, and Queta. Metu in an emergency.
May be the best Ukrainian player in the NBA.
It’d be great if he could be moved to someplace where he might have a bigger role. I don’t have any insight as to why Len was not terribly effective at times, but we’ve seen him contribute on both ends, so hopefully next season, he can be a difference -maker when he’s on the floor.
Good point, too, about him being a team guy. He seems to be a helpful presence for the other players.
Some rumors circulating around Randle, Fox, Hayward. What would you think if the Kings get Hayward for Fox in a three-way trade? And then, assuming the Kings pick at 7/8, and Keegan Murray is off the board, what do you think of drafting Dyson Daniels?
I’m gonna put this question on the more recent thread.
That is garbage trade IMO. Fox is the only one of the 3 to earn his salary. Randle had a horrible year and Hayward was only slightly better than JR when he was actually healthy enough to play.
CHA and NYK are trying to find teams where they can dump these two so that they can get out from the salaries.
Dump-a thon. OKC would take it on.
I like your enthusiasm but NO.
Hayward is old, hurt and expensive. Even if Hornets gave up two #1s—NO.
Fox is good, Hayward is old.
D. Daniels- interesting. And listed as a PG ! how many in a row would that be?
He is a Giddey type but better defender. Good player but not the guy or the type the Kings need. Kings need a PF but good ones off board at 7/8 and then they need a shooter- and DD is not a shooter. Good player but shooting is a weakness.
I would go the obvious + Davis, Sharpe, Mathurin above him. Griffin ?? not sure.
You really shouldn’t have to give up an asset to get Hayward on his current contract.
Len might play a role– against huge centers. However, is it worth it?
I look at a recent trend- J. Hayes in NOP, Claxton at Nets etc.- tall, athletic centers. D. Jones fits that. ( But URFA)
Maybe Q can develop into that role- Kings only need that once every 2 weeks for a few minutes actually.
Holmes just fell off the table- from a guy who was wanted to a guy who was missing.
Can he be a Naz Reed of Minnesota and a back up to a starter?
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