Kings bringing these free agent forwards to Sacramento for workouts as training camp nears
The Kings are leaving no stone unturned in their search for wing depth as they prepare for the 2024-25 NBA season.
Over the summer, they explored trade talks involving the likes of Lauri Markkanen, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith. Now, with one roster spot remaining and training camp set to begin Oct. 1, the Kings appear to be pivoting to the free agent market with some unsigned veterans still available.
A league source told The Sacramento Bee free agent forwards Jae Crowder, Nassir Little and T.J. Warren will participate in workouts this week in Sacramento. The workouts are being described as informal visits to provide quality pick-up game competition for members of the current roster, but Crowder, Little and Warren will have an opportunity to impress general manager Monte McNair and Sacramento’s coaching staff.
If healthy and in good form, all three could potentially help the Kings get back to the playoffs after losing in the play-in tournament last season.
Based on the current construction of the roster, the Kings will likely start newly acquired six-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan at small forward with Keegan Murray at power forward. The only other true forwards on the roster are Trey Lyles and Jalen McDaniels.
Coach Mike Brown could run three-guard lineups with Kevin Huerter or Keon Ellis at the small forward spot, but the Kings have an obvious need for more size, length and depth on the wing. Crowder, Little and Warren are intriguing possibilities with their own strengths and weaknesses.
Crowder, 34, can play both forward positions at 6-foot-6 with a 6-9 wingspan. He is a 12-year veteran who has appeared in 115 career playoff games, including two trips to the NBA Finals with the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns.
Crowder averaged 10.1 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 38.9% from 3-point range for the Suns in 2020-21. He averaged 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game for the Milwaukee Bucks last season.
Little, 24, is a 6-5 combo forward with an impressive 7-2 wingspan. He has logged 60% of his minutes at small forward and 33.1% at power forward over five NBA seasons, according to Basketball Reference.
Little averaged career highs of 9.8 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2021-22. He shot a career-high 36.7% from 3-point range for the Blazers in 2022-23 before dipping to 30% for the Suns last season.
Little has never appeared in more than 54 games in a season. He suffered a torn labrum in January 2022. He had abdominal surgery on his left side in May 2022 and his right side in April 2023.
Warren, 31, is a 6-8 combo forward with a 6-9 ½ wingspan. The nine-year veteran has career averages of 14.3 points and 3.9 rebounds. He scored a career-high 19.8 points while shooting 40.3% from 3-point range for the Indiana Pacers in 2019-20, but he hasn’t been the same undergoing surgery on his left foot in January 2021.
Warren played only four games in 2020-21 and missed the entire 2021-22 season. He appeared in a total of 53 games over the past two seasons with the Suns and Minnesota Timberwolves.
This story was originally published September 18, 2024 at 12:22 PM.
