Sacramento Kings will be missing key players due to injuries when training camp begins
Two more key players will be out due to injuries when the Kings open training camp Tuesday at their Golden 1 Center practice facility in Sacramento.
The Kings previously announced that veteran guard Kevin Huerter and rookie guard Devin Carter will miss the start of training camp due to shoulder injuries. On Friday the team announced guard Jordan McLaughlin and forward Trey Lyles are recovering from injuries sustained during offseason workouts.
McLaughlin has a grade 2 right ankle sprain. He will be reevaluated in about two weeks. Lyles has a left groin strain and will be reevaluated in about three weeks.
Lyles, 28, is a nine-year NBA veteran who is going into his fourth season with the Kings. He has been one of the team’s top reserves over the past three seasons.
Lyles averaged 7.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 58 games last season. He shot 44.5% from the field and 38.4% from 3-point range while splitting time between the power forward and center positions.
McLaughlin, 28, is a five-year NBA veteran who signed a free-agent deal with Sacramento in July. McLaughlin, who could serve as a primary backup to point guard De’Aaron Fox, averaged 4.4 points, 3.1 assists and 0.9 steals over four seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Huerter, 26, has been cleared for on-court workouts, shooting drills and strength training after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left labrum. He could be cleared for full-contact activity in the next week or so.
Huerter started 139 games at shooting guard for the Kings over the past two seasons. He averaged a career-high 15.2 points while shooting a career-best 40.2% from 3-point range in 2022-23 to help Sacramento end a 16-year playoff drought.
Huerter missed the last 15 games of the 2023-24 regular season and two play-in games after suffering a dislocated left shoulder and torn labrum in a March 18 game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He sustained the injury when he was fouled by Desmond Bane while going up for a layup attempt.
Carter, 22, is also recovering from a torn left labrum. He is expected to be reevaluated in January.
The Kings selected Carter with the 13th overall pick in June’s NBA draft. He was named Big East Conference Player of the Year last season after averaging 19.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals for Providence.
