The Sacramento Kings are waiving Jaylen Nowell, according to a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The move creates an open roster spot for the Kings.
The Sacramento Kings are waiving guard Jaylen Nowell, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 20, 2023
I thought there was a chance the Kings would keep Nowell in the final roster spot, but he primarily plays shooting guard where Sacramento has a depth of talent and options.
The Kings could choose to leave the roster spot open to allow for additional trade flexibility this year, or they could use the opening to grab another player who gets waived as teams finalize their rosters. The Brooklyn Nets waived Darius Bazley yesterday, for example. Bazley is just 23 years old, has good size, and shot 37.7% from 3 last season. The Timberwolves also just waived Matt Ryan, a 6’7″ small forward who shot 38.8% from deep last season. These are the type of end-of-the-bench fliers that the Kings could take with hopes of finding a gem.
As the roster currently stands, the Kings have 14 players on regular contracts, and 3 players on Two-Way contracts, with one open roster spot. The Kings also signed Dane Goodwin and Jake Stephens to training camp deals yesterday, but they will likely be waived soon to clear their path to join the Stockton Kings.
He will be missed.
May (or may not) be related to the emergence of Colby Jones.
Rather than focusing on the potential of a player made available – what do you all think would be a “need” for the Kings?
If I had to pick
– would it be a small forward to guard the bigger 3s (Lebron, KD on the star side, Kuminga, Trey Murphy III or so on the regular roster side) – or is that Harrison Barnes, Keegan Murray – or Kessler Edwards territory?
A back up point guard? Davion defends like nobody’s business, and his 7 dimes last night were nice, but Malik (never Chip, ever) Monk seems the most capable, though he tends to play the SG spot. Jordan Ford is a nice story but I don’t see defense as his calling card, which makes the okay-ness of the rest of his game harder to give him playing time.
A rebounder? that’s a lost art, but who in The Association fits that bill?
I could definitely get behind the Kings signing Darius Bazley. He’s a lengthy combo forward who has shown some good defensive ability. He’s like a longer Kessler Edwards.
Bazley is an interesting option as the last man. He seems to have potential to be a floor-spreader, but if all he does is frustrate opposing wings and get rebounds, that’s plenty, given the offensive weapons available.
Personally, I think they’re keeping the slot open for James Harden, which Philly takes for a 2054 first-rounder just to be out from under it.
Harden seems like he’d be a downgrade over just keeping the spot empty.
Harden would be a nice addition. Then option him to Stockton.
At this point, asking for a specific role might be asking too much- like rim protector or 3/D guy.
Look for a gem. Bazley? But he was cut- the other option is to move up a team’s 15,14, 13 chain- trade something for a lower rung guy rather than one with obvious flaws (hence the drop at #16.)
That’s where Edwards came from.
The other option is room to take on more than what goes out in a trade. Like a trade of Huerter for Anthony Edwards + McDaniel’s.
I am full of sarcasm today.
https://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yqgk58b5
(I don’t know if this will show up (Hello Boomer!) on this post, but I ran it, and wouldn’t you know – it works!
Get Monte on the phone!
What’s interesting about the Bazley situation is that he was cut in favor of Harry Giles and Trandon Watford. All three signed identical non-guaranteed deals this summer with the Nets. From what I have gathered, the Nets preferred the size of Giles and Watford over Bazley given their lack of depth at the 5. Plus, they are deep on the Nets with combo forwards.
That sounds right, I don’t think Bazely played himself out of a job, as such.
Kick the tires on everything, that’s what I say.
Meanwhile, Queta (https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/neemias-queta-makes-case-for-playing-time-with-impressive-showing-vs-hornets/ar-AA1iz55Y) and Metu (https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/chimezie-metu-s-preseason-arrow-is-pointing-up-and-he-might-mean-more-to-the-suns-than-expected/ar-AA1idq7D) are moving up the charts in Boston and Phoenix respectively.
I trust MM drafting good players, but his FA signings leave a lot to be desired IMO. McGee is an upgrade over Lin, but so was Queta. Metu was a decent part of our offense last year (for at least 2/3 of the season) as he was a real threat vertically and hanging out in the dunker’s spots.
I believe not retaining Metu and Queta was a bit of a mistake and that we’ll miss their athleticism.
what would it have taken to keep Metu?
Q was easy- just sign the low salary deal.
Metu’s deal with Phoenix is 1 year @ about $2.5M.
To keep Metu it would have taken giving him 20+ minutes a night. While I think he’ll be a positive for the Suns I’d be surprised if his 44% shooting from deep this preseason transferred to three regular season.
McGee is not an upgrade over Lin. I thought McGee looked mostly terrible out there during preseason.
oops ?
I’m pretty sure the Nets signed Bazely in July thinking they would be able to trade O’Neal or one of their many other quality forwards for draft assets. Now there are no mins avail for DB since they didn’t really move anyone (they were only able to trade Joe Harris to Detroit).
Harry Giles! welcome back to the nba!
Would you give up Ellis and the 2054 second round pick for Harden?
only if there was aa third team to take on James immediately. and get prime assets in return
Harden is malignant.
If they do fill that last spot, I’d like to see it be with a defensive wing, or a rim protector. Two things they’re still missing.
Could there be a trade in the works? Possibly for OG Anunoby.
Checked the needs for the Raptors. The need help at the point guard and scoring from either a shooting guard or wing. Just a thought.
Trader Jack !!
Kings should have kept Queta. I expect he will be the next Hassan Whiteside.
He’s just not nearly the athlete that Whiteside was. Queta is skilled, and I think he’ll make a career out of it, but it’s hard to imagine him ever averaging ten boards per game, even as a starter. He’s not a quick-twitch guy, unfortunately, and that will prevent him from being that guy.
All the best to him, he’s still family.
The infatuation with players that are not NBA players is proof that the organization was great at marketing while also being the worst team ever.
I am hopeful this stigma will erode in time.
Queta? Metu? sorry, I just don’t see it as a discussion. Vezenkov, McGee – In, Metu- out (Holmes out). Queta – never in. He might make minutes in BeanTown – just like Wenyen Gabriel had some glory w/Lebron and the Lakers. He was off loaded today, unfortunately for him.
I am still in awe of Wemby’s 1st Q at Chase Center last night.
Hasn’t even played an official game, 19 years old – and WOW!
Stay healthy young fella!
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