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Sacramento Kings sign Keon Ellis to Two-Way Contract

Ellis is a 3-and-D player who went undrafted.
By | 32 Comments | Jun 23, 2022

Jan 22, 2022; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide guard Keon Ellis (14) shoots against Missouri Tigers guard Jarron Coleman (5) during the second half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

The Sacramento Kings have signed Keon Ellis to a Two-Way Contract, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.

Our resident draft expert Bryant West has the breakdown on Ellis:

Ellis is an strong perimeter defender who was named to the SEC All Defensive team this season. In addition to his always-burning defensive motor, Keon has the size, length (a 6’9 wingspan) and quickness to handle a range of opponents, and snagged 1.9 steals per game last season at Alabama. Over his two years at Alabama, Ellis shot 45.8% from the field, 37% from deep, 83% from the line, and 60.8% at the rim in the halfcourt. If his shot translates, he has promise as a off-ball 3-and-D player, although he’ll need to improve his handling and passing instincts to earn big minutes. He’s also exceptionally skinny for his size, weighing in at just 167 lbs despite his 6’6 size and extra length. All in all, he was a favorite 2nd round target by many on Kings Twitter and Draft Twitter, and snagging a wing with Ellis’ perimeter defensive upside and motor seems a smart gamble for the Kings.

Two-Way contracts allow the Kings to utilize Ellis with the main Kings squad as well as the Stockton Kings. Although the Kings traded away the 37th pick, they still utilized their Two-Way contract to bring in a college player who can hopefully become a consistent bench contributor.

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MidtownMike
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June 24, 2022 12:24 am

You can see the monte archetype easily now that his 3rd draft is done. Seems like Mike Brown fits the Monte mold as well.

I smell an identity developing and I like it!

1951
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June 24, 2022 11:39 am
Reply to  MidtownMike

Yeah, this dude looks promising.

richie88
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June 24, 2022 1:30 am

While it seems like he has to get stronger, I have to wonder how Ellis went undrafted. This seems like a nice deal for the Kings.

SPTSJUNKIE
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June 24, 2022 8:48 am
Reply to  richie88

Fully agree. The 167 pounds at 22.5 is a bit concerning, he may need to guard PGs and SGs and won’t be much help around the hoop. But his shooting, defense, and athleticism are all strong. I’m pretty surprised someone didn’t grab him in at least the 50s. You never know with 2nd round fliers, but really feels like Ellis can be better than a number of players who were drafted in the late 2nd.

Probably one of the UDFA signings I have been more excited about in recent years.

ZenBaller
June 24, 2022 5:03 am

In other news, the Olympiacos reporter here in Greece, said a few hours ago:

At the moment, Vezenkov’s mind isn’t 100% on the NBA. He believes he has things to improve. He doesn’t want to go to the NBA for the sake of going. He wants to have an important role. However, this could change if the Kings talk with him, but it doesn’t look easy. There is a buyout which is slightly above one million and the Kings would have to pay it. It looks more likely that it’s going to happen next year.

outrider
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June 24, 2022 12:45 pm
Reply to  ZenBaller

So we can pay his buyout and still have some change left over, compliments of the Cavs.

Bring him over!

Adamsite
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Nostradumbass 14
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June 24, 2022 12:51 pm
Reply to  outrider

I wonder if he can come over for a camp invite before officially being bought out of his deal in Greece. Is there some rule against that?

Last edited 1 year ago by Adamsite
BrazilianRare
June 24, 2022 6:15 am

Now can people stop crying about the traded 2 round pick?
Kings had two second round picks…They got Ellis and Sasha.
Will people keep bashing McNair for ANY reason?

bjax1
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June 24, 2022 7:08 am
Reply to  BrazilianRare

Why just give those picks up though (0k, trade them for 2 more down the road). The normal answer would be – our roster is set, let’s defer. That’s not the Kings. The probable answer is they’re cheap and trying to save some $. I bet Keon Ellis comes much cheaper than the 37. Trouble is Keon Ellis is not as good as you can get at 37. It’s like a trade for Cash Considerations, just in a different way. On the plus side, I like the Murray pick.

RobHessing
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June 24, 2022 8:38 am
Reply to  bjax1

I believe that the roster is at 15 players if you count DDV, Queta and Sasha (and not including Ellis).

This may be nothing more than the Kings simply not needing the body and determining that two 2nd rounders later is better than an extra, non-contributing body now.

I get the angst based on past history, but this seems to be much ado about nothing. I’ll add that if these moves are helping to pay Luke Walton’s severance, fine. I would have chipped in to get him out of here.

SPTSJUNKIE
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June 24, 2022 8:53 am
Reply to  RobHessing

I think you are right. I personally have 0 angst about trading the 49th pick. At 49 you are lucky if the player you draft ever plays a minute in the NBA, so getting an European star is as good of a gamble as any.

This does remind me a bit of 2018 in that the draft got a bit flat around the late first and I do think there were some nice gambles at 37. Would have been nice to take a flier on a player like Hardy, Brown, Liddell, Chandler, Roddy, etc.

But we arguably grew our future asset base, which could come in handy in a trade. So really, will be on Monte to execute and use those assets appropriately. We could have some angst if say Chandler becomes a rotation player, but if those two picks are moved to a team like the Hawks in a Collins trade, then it’s great planning by the front office.

murraytant
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June 24, 2022 9:57 am
Reply to  SPTSJUNKIE

agree- there were plausible options
and BTW Roddy was gone to Memphis I believe

SPTSJUNKIE
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June 24, 2022 10:03 am
Reply to  murraytant

You are right. No idea what I thought I was typing there.

Kingsguru21
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June 24, 2022 10:02 am
Reply to  SPTSJUNKIE

Roddy went to Memphis at the 23rd overall pick Junkie. But the other 4 you mention were certainly available. My guess is they weren’t in love with any of them.

SPTSJUNKIE
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June 24, 2022 10:08 am
Reply to  Kingsguru21

Agreed

Kingsguru21
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June 24, 2022 10:14 am
Reply to  SPTSJUNKIE

And then there’s the signing them to a contract part. I don’t think they wanted to sign any of these guys to part of the Mid Level to get them on a 3 or 4 year deal A) and B) I don’t think they were in love with anyone in the 2nd round anyway.

The first part is probably more important than the 2nd. There are salary limitations with 2nd round/undrafted players that come into play that are not a factor with 1st round picks who operate under a set scale. Sometimes that’s not entirely understood, or even understood at all.

NorCalKingsFan
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June 24, 2022 6:35 pm
Reply to  Kingsguru21

Apparently, according to James Ham on D-Lo & KC today, the Kings had a trade in place to move back into the late first round to get Malaki Branham, but he went to the Spurs at 20 so the trade fell apart.

Kingsguru21
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June 26, 2022 8:08 am
Reply to  NorCalKingsFan

Those things happen.

murraytant
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June 24, 2022 9:54 am
Reply to  RobHessing

Teams usually want second rounders to agree to a 2 way deal. Some agents very reluctant. The roster is full except for the 2 way option. but that includes a place for the Euro.
Two Mavs second rounders are not worth much. The bird in the hand at 37 might have been better.
The duds who are about a trillion dollars over the cap found enough loose change to buy a 44 pick and he will probably not get forced into a 2 way.

Kingsguru21
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June 24, 2022 9:59 am
Reply to  RobHessing

I believe that the roster is at 15 players if you count DDV, Queta and Sasha (and not including Ellis).

I had a longer response to you in the McNair thread, but Queta and Ellis do not count against the roster requirements as TWC players. Additionally, during the off-season, the roster can have up to 20 players before you get to training camp.

I’ll say it a couple more times, probably, but I think the Kings didn’t have the money ability (more than the 2 year minimum) to offer a 3 or 4 year deal to that 37th pick A) and B) there was going to be no minutes for a development project.

With somebody like Sasha Vezenkov, it wouldn’t surprise me if all they offer him is the Bi Annual exception because they plan on using the Mid Level on an existing NBA player. Whether that gets Vezenkov over from Olympiacos, who knows?

I think the Ellis TWC is interesting, but I think all TWC are interesting so I wouldn’t necessarily take much stock in that.

Henry
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June 24, 2022 9:13 am
Reply to  bjax1

Probably a simple case of Dallas really wanting Hardy and calling up the Kings to make them an offer to get him. On the other hand, the Kings were targeting Ellis and took the chance (perhaps they caught wind) that he would go underafted. Both teams got the player they targeted, Kings came away with future assets.

As the draft shakes out it starts to become apparent/leak who teams are targetting with their slots, so all the manuvering ensues. As other have pointed out, the current roster count factors in. Nothing out of the ordinary here.

murraytant
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June 24, 2022 9:57 am
Reply to  Henry

Hardy is a huge risk

UpgradedToQuestionable
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June 24, 2022 8:43 pm
Reply to  murraytant

Laurel agrees.

murraytant
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June 24, 2022 9:50 am
Reply to  BrazilianRare

Mavs second round picks might not be that good- not at the level of 37 for example and Mavs have only a limited number available. I think, for example, that the 2023 second round pick is already gone.
There were a couple of serviceable players available at 37
Sasha has second thought about coming to the NBA- he had better hurry since he is 26 already.
Ellis is fine.

UpgradedToQuestionable
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June 24, 2022 8:27 am

I’ve seen comps that describe Keon Ellis as James Ennis and Will Barton type of a player.

Given his defensive prowess and shooting ability (it’s actually 88% FT, not 83%) he is the Chet Holmgren of wings. As there is already Davion Mitchell labelled as “Off Night”, let’s give Keon Ellis the moniker “Wing Stop”. Maybe he can get an endorsement out of it.

Welcome to Basketball Hell, Keon Ellis!

(this is the now established greeting for all who don the Kings purple)

Last edited 1 year ago by UpgradedToQuestionable
OG_Aggie
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June 24, 2022 8:41 am

We’re the same height and he weighs about as much as one of my thighs.

murraytant
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June 24, 2022 9:58 am
Reply to  OG_Aggie

a wing?

OG_Aggie
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June 24, 2022 8:39 am

I was surprised to see him go undrafted compared to some guys who were, even in the 30’s. Solid pickup.

02kingsfan
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June 24, 2022 10:41 am

Find it funny that this kid is literally a foot taller than me but somehow weights the same as me

MidtownMike
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June 24, 2022 2:19 pm

With char reportedly not wanting to match a bridges max offer, would we want to get involved and would they get a better offer than say Barnes (solid player for this year plus expiring), Holmes (Fantastic fit with them at a area of need on solid contract) and ’23 unprotected 1st?

Fox, Davion
Donte, TD
Bridges, ?(mle)
Murray, Trey Lyles
Sabonis, Jones/Len

ArcoThunder
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June 26, 2022 4:27 am
Reply to  MidtownMike

This would be amazing

jay14bay
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June 27, 2022 4:12 pm
Reply to  MidtownMike

Unprotected 1st? GULP
There is no chance we are not in the lottery again next year

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