Sacramento Kings exercise contract option on Davion Mitchell. What does his future hold?
General manager Monte McNair announced Wednesday the Kings have exercised their third-year team option on guard Davion Mitchell for the 2023-24 season.
The move was just a formality for Mitchell, who came out of Baylor as the No. 9 pick in the 2021 NBA draft and quickly proved to be one of the most menacing on-ball defenders in the league.
Mitchell appeared in 75 games as a rookie last season, averaging 11.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 0.7 steals in 27.7 minutes per contest. He shot 41.8% from the field and 31.6% from 3-point range, numbers he hopes to improve upon this season.
Mitchell ranked fifth among rookies in assists and 10th in scoring and minutes. He was selected for the NBA Rising Stars Challenge, although he did not participate due to a hand injury.
Mitchell is entering the second year of his four-year, $21 million rookie contract. Rookie deals include third- and fourth-year team options. Mitchell will earn $4.8 million this season, $5.1 million next season and $6.5 million in 2024-25, assuming the Kings pick up the fourth-year option.
The Kings are counting on Mitchell to provide scoring, playmaking and his trademark tenaciousness on defense as the primary backup to point guard De’Aaron Fox. Mitchell could become a lethal weapon if his shooting improves like it did at Baylor, where he made 44.7% from 3-point range in 2020-21 after hitting 32.4% the previous season.
The Kings are hoping to end an NBA-record 16-year playoff drought. Mitchell had seven points, three assists and three steals to help Sacramento open preseason play with a 125-95 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday. The Kings will play host to the Portland Trail Blazers in their preseason home opener Sunday at Golden 1 Center.
This story was originally published October 6, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
