The Sacramento Kings haven’t had the opportunity to test out their preferred rotation this preseason, as several players are out.
Malik Monk, one of the league’s better sixth men, has been dealing with personal matters. Devin Carter, a popular prospect ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft, has been injured since Sacramento drafted him. Kevin Huerter, one of the King’s archers, has been sidelined by an injury as well.
Kings Update Archer Kevin Huerter’s Injury Status Midway Through Preseason
At least one of the Kings’ soldiers will be back sooner rather than later, as the team has announced Huerter has been cleared for full contact (h/t Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee).
Sacramento Kings guard Kevin Huerter has been cleared for full-contact activity. pic.twitter.com/JP0MCJ66ay
— Jason Anderson (@JandersonSacBee) October 12, 2024
Huerter has been out since tearing his shoulder in March.
Will He Start This Season?
This preseason, the Kings have been testing out 3-and-D wing Keon Ellis in the starting unit, hoping that his low usage rate helps him click with their Big 3 of De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, and DeMar DeRozan.
Nonetheless, Ellis isn’t guaranteed to man the first unit, with Huerter his direct competition. Acquired by the Kings in the 2022 offseason, Huerter has started in 141 of the 146 games he’s played for Sacramento, playoffs included. His familiarity with the team’s top players and Kings head coach Mike Brown’s system is significant. So too is Huerter’s skillset, particularly his ability to dial it up from downtown.
In the two seasons he’s played with the Kings, he’s averaged 12.9 points per game on 38.5 percent shooting from three in the regular season.
However, he averaged just 9.1 points per game on 20.5 percent shooting in the 2023 NBA Playoffs. He then shot a career-low 36.1 percent from three-point range in 2023-24, making just 32.1 percent of his long-range attempts after the All-Star Break. His struggles coincided with Sacramento’s, as he made 39.0 percent of his threes in the team’s wins but 31.9 percent of those attempts in their losses.
To make matters worse, his season ended prematurely due to his shoulder injury.
All of this culminated in the Kings reportedly making him (and Harrison Barnes) available in trade talks this offseason. Whether the target was Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma, or Chicago Bulls wing Zach LaVine, Huerter was mentioned as a being part of the potential trade package.
You’re Saying There’s A Chance?
To be frank, a front office’s vision doesn’t necessarily have a bearing on the head coach’s. Even if Huerter’s expendable, Brown could value what he brings to the table more than the alternative. That’s why, although Ellis is getting the first shot to prove himself, it doesn’t mean Huerter doesn’t have one.
With that being said, Ellis’s fit —on film or on paper —can’t be denied. He hasn’t built up a large enough body of work to have a relatively unshakeable confidence in his performance. Nonetheless, he looks the part and if it’s not broke, there’s nothing to fix.
Huerter could start, bringing his shooting, playmaking, length, and confidence to the first unit. He could also add firepower to the bench, giving the Kings an elite bench unit. That’s more of a luxury than necessity for contending teams. However, with Sacramento’s bench getting outscored by 4.1 points per game last season, it’s an area that they can improve.
