Even before they decided to trade Jalen McDaniels to the San Antonio Spurs and open up a roster spot, the Sacramento Kings needed to shore up their forward depth.
Sasha Vezenkov, who left the EuroLeague to chase his NBA dream, is now back in Europe. Harrison Barnes, who started all 406 games he played Sacramento (playoffs included), is now in Texas. The team added DeMar DeRozan this offseason, who can play either wing or forward spot. Yet, the trade-off has diminished the Kings’ potency from the perimeter.
DeRozan may be a six-time All-Star. He may have averaged 23.5 points per game over the past 11 seasons. However, he isn’t a reliable three-point threat.
Meanwhile, for all the criticisms that could be levied against Vezenkov, he made 37.5 percent of his threes last season. Barnes was often maligned for not being more aggressive but he was precise beyond the arc, shooting 38.7 percent from deep while with the Kings.
Kings Sign Sharpshooter Doug McDermott After Minor Trade
On Wednesday, the Kings and free agent Doug McDermott have agreed to a one-year contract, per ESPN insider Shams Charania.
Free agent F Doug McDermott has agreed to a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings, sources told ESPN. McDermott is a career 41 percent 3-point shooter and joins the Western Conference playoff contender for his 11th NBA season. pic.twitter.com/qw9kCfBGvS
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 16, 2024
This is a deal could pay dividends for both parties down the line.
Why A Win-Win?
McDermott, the 11th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, is a career 41.0 percent three-point shooter. Among active players, his career three-point percentage ranks ninth in the league. That being said, he can make teams pay for overplaying DeRozan, Domantas Sabonis, or De’Aaron Fox. When Keegan Murray needs a breather, Kings head coach Mike Brown can put McDermott on the court without compromising shooting or spacing.
Frankly, Sacramento doesn’t have any bench players quite like that.
For McDermott, this is a chance to re-establish his value. The 32-year-old isn’t a reliable defender by any means. Players don’t fear him attacking off the dribble, on post-ups, or even as a playmaker. However, an elite outside shooter like McDermott can take a title-hopeful over the top.
If McDermott has enough of those big moments (or big games), it’ll ramp up the interest in him. That may not lead to a long-term or lucrative contract, especially at his age. It would allow him to extend his career though, and possibly with a championship-contender.
