Sacramento Kings finalize NBA draft day trade; exercise team option on Kessler Edwards
The Kings on Wednesday finalized one of their draft day trades and exercised a team option to retain a player who helped them reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
A league source told The Sacramento Bee the Kings have picked up the $1.9 million team option on Kessler Edwards’ contract for the 2023-24 season. The Kings also announced they have completed a trade to acquire the rights to Colby Jones, the 34th overall pick in last week’s NBA draft.
The Kings in February acquired Edwards and cash considerations from the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for the draft rights to David Michineau. Edwards, 22, appeared in 22 games for Sacramento, averaging 3.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 13.9 minutes per contest.
Edwards is a 6-foot-7, 203-pound forward with length, athleticism and upside as a 3-and-D wing who can guard multiple positions. He shot 35.3% from 3-point range as a rookie in Brooklyn and 34.9% last season in Sacramento.
Jones, 21, is another 3-and-D wing prospect who will compete for a role in the rotation next season. The Charlotte Hornets drafted him, but his rights were subsequently traded to the Boston Celtics and then to Sacramento.
Jones is a 6-6, 203-pound guard/forward from Xavier, where he averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.3 steals as a junior last season. He shot 50.9% from the field and 37.8% from 3-point range, up from 29.2% as a sophomore.
