The Sacramento Kings have run off Sasha Vezenkov after just one season.
Following his forgettable rookie campaign, the 2023 EuroLeague MVP “has informed the team about his intention to leave,” per EuroHoops’ Mihalis Stefanou. “It is yet to be decided if he will seek another opportunity somewhere else in the NBA or if he will return to Europe.”
Kings, Mike Brown Run Off Sasha Vezenkov
In 42 games with the Kings, Vezenkov averaged 5.4 points and 2.3 assists in 12.2 minutes per game.
Extrapolating those numbers to a larger sample size, he averaged 21.4 points, 9.1 assists, and 1.9 steals per 100 possessions. That said, if he hadn’t shot 44.0 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from 3 his limited playing time would’ve made sense. Yet, not only was he efficient, the player in front of him was not. Hitting the well-known sophomore wall, Kings forward Keegan Murray made just 35.8 percent of his 3s but averaged 33.6 minutes per game.
To that point, one of Brown’s biggest issues in 2023-24 was knowing when to —or perhaps just being willing to —reel his players in rather than let them shoot the team out of games.
Nonetheless, it must be mentioned that Vezenkov chose to leave Europe to pursue his NBA dream. He’s already achieved success overseas with the EuroLeague, Greek League, and Liga ACB. All that is to say, he didn’t come to the U.S. to quit after one season. In fact, he signed a three-year, $20 million contract with Sacramento last July. So, while Vezenkov may not want to return to the Kings, he probably would like another opportunity to shine in the NBA.
Where Could Sasha Vezenkov Go?
Fortunately for Vezenkov, there are several teams with the cap space necessary to absorb his salary.
The Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Orlando Magic are solid on-court fits. Teams with trade exceptions, like the Toronto Raptors and Miami Heat, are potential suitors as well. Culturally, he may feel most at home with the Raptors or Spurs, who have cultivated an international identity. If he’s looking to win games, the Sixers, Thunder, Heat, and Magic are solidified as playoff or championship contenders.
Ultimately, there will be options for Vezenkov. Frankly, he may not get a say in where he’s traded. Though it would be a nice gesture, the Kings aren’t obligated to appease Vezenkov’s wishes. First and foremost, the front office’s focus is the franchise. To that point, they could just take the best deal possible for him, washing their hands of the 28-year-old.
