‘I love it here’: Kings sign veteran spark plug Corey Brewer for rest of the season
Veteran forward Corey Brewer proved he could provide a spark for the Kings over the past three weeks. Now, he’ll have an opportunity to do it for the rest of the season.
The Kings announced Thursday that they had signed Brewer to help the team make a playoff push over the final five weeks of the regular season. Brewer told The Bee on Wednesday he hoped to stay with the team after his 10-day contract expired.
“This is option No. 1 right now,” he said. “I like it here. I love it here. I’m having a great time.”
A team cannot sign a player to more than two 10-day contracts in a season. Once the second 10-day contract expires, the team can only retain rights to the player by signing him for the rest of the season.
Brewer, 32, joined the team on the first of two 10-day contracts on Feb. 8. He has appeared in three games for the Kings, averaging 8.3 points on 44.4-percent shooting from the field and 36.3 percent shooting from 3-point range.
Brewer had 11 points in 13 minutes against the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 21 and 12 points in 16 minutes against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. The 12-year NBA veteran is considered a high-energy player who gives the Kings depth on the wing and a solid perimeter defender.
Kings coach Dave Joerger said Brewer is a good fit for the team’s up-tempo style of play.
“He’s always been a guy who’s able to get out on the break and make an open shot, make 3s and space the floor,” Joerger said. “He gives us some length defensively and ... certainly his experience is positive for us.”
Brewer brings considerable playoff experience to a young Kings team. He has appeared in 47 playoff games with the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
“(In the) Minnesota game, he comes out, dives on the floor. That’s a veteran guy showing us what it’s like trying to make the playoffs,” Kings point guard De’Aaron Fox said. “He’s been in spots like this before. He’s definitely mentoring us and going out and leading by example with his energy.”
This story was originally published February 28, 2019 at 12:29 PM.
