Source: Kings signing G League player from summer championship squad to 10-day contract
The Kings signed their first replacement player Tuesday under new roster rules implemented to help teams manage the NBA’s current COVID-19 outbreak.
Sources told The Sacramento Bee the Kings were signing Ade Murkey to a 10-day contract after the league granted them a hardship exemption. Murkey, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound guard/forward, is part of the Kings’ G League team in Stockton and was a member of Sacramento’s Las Vegas Summer League championship squad.
Murkey, 23, is averaging 11.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals in 27.0 minutes per game for Stockton. He is shooting 47.5% from 3-point range on 5.1 attempts per game. Murkey averaged 8.0 points for Sacramento’s summer league team.
The Kings need reinforcements as they continue to manage their first major COVID-19 outbreak. De’Aaron Fox, Davion Mitchell, Terence Davis, Louis King, Marvin Bagley III and Alex Len missed their third game due to NBA health and safety protocols when they Kings played the Golden State Warriors on Monday. Rookie center Neemias Queta entered the league’s protocol system Tuesday.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association reached an agreement Sunday to help teams manage the league’s current COVID-19 outbreak. There were 71 players in NBA health and safety protocols as of Sunday, including the Atlanta Hawks’ Trae Young; Brooklyn Nets’ Kevin Durant and James Harden; Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine; Cleveland Cavaliers’ Evan Mobley; Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokoumpo; Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards; and Toronto Raptors’ Pascal Siakam.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported teams will be permitted to sign one replacement player for reach roster player who tests positive, adding that hardship signings will not impact the team’s salary cap or luxury tax figures.
The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported teams will be required to sign one replacement player if they have two positive tests, two replacement players if they have three positive tests and three replacement players if they have four or more positive tests. Each team must have a minimum of 13 available players. Additional signings are possible for the Kings before they play the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday at Golden 1 Center.
Charania added that two-way players, who were previously limited to a total of 50 NBA games, now have no limit on the number of games they can appear in.
The new roster rules went into effect Sunday night and will remain in place until Jan. 19, at which point the NBA will provide further guidance.
This story was originally published December 21, 2021 at 9:55 AM.
