Sacramento Kings training camp roster, projected starting lineup and best position battles
Monday was full of fun and games as the Kings assembled for their annual media day festivities, photo opportunities and interviews.
The real work begins Tuesday when they open training camp at their Golden 1 Center practice facility in Sacramento with their sights firmly set on a return to the playoffs in the NBA’s Western Conference playoffs.
Kings coach Mike Brown will have at least one big position battle to evaluate before setting his starting lineup for the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 24. De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray and Domantas Sabonis are surefire starters with Fox at point guard, DeRozan at small forward, Murray at power forward and Sabonis at center, but Brown has options at the other guard spot.
Defensive dynamo Keon Ellis goes into camp with the inside track at shooting guard given the absence of Kevin Huerter, but Huerter is expected to be cleared for full contact in the coming days after recovering from shoulder surgery. Malik Monk, the runner-up for the Sixth Man of the Year award last season, has expressed his desire to start after re-signing over the summer, but Brown has always valued the firepower Monk provides off the bench.
Huerter could re-emerge as the starter at shooting guard after starting 139 games over the past two seasons, but he also has the size and length to play small forward. The Kings will likely need that from him given the logjam in the backcourt and their lack of depth on the wing.
The Kings released their training camp roster on Saturday. They are carrying the maximum of 21 players going into training camp with eight guards, two guard/forwards, seven forwards and four centers.
Teams can carry up to 21 players during training camp, but when the regular season begins they can have no more than 15 players on standard NBA contracts and three two-way players.
The Kings will pare down their roster over the next three weeks. They will play the first of five preseason games when they face the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 9 at Golden 1 Center.
The Kings are dealing with a number of injuries that will impact the preseason rotation. Guard Jordan McLaughlin (grade 2 right ankle sprain), forward Trey Lyles (left groin strain) and rookie guard Devin Carter (torn left labrum) are out in addition to Huerter.
On Friday the Kings said McLaughlin will be reevaluated in about two weeks. Lyles will be reevaluated in about three weeks. Carter is expected to be reevaluated in mid-January after undergoing surgery over the summer.
Here’s what Sacramento’s depth chart might look like when Huerter, Lyles and McLaughlin are healthy.
PG: De’Aaron Fox, Jordan McLaughlin, Boogie Ellis
SG: Keon Ellis, Malik Monk, Colby Jones, Mason Jones, Brodric Thomas, Devin Carter
SF: DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Huerter, Isaiah Crawford, Terry Taylor
PF: Keegan Murray, Trey Lyles, Jalen McDaniels, Isaac Jones
C: Domantas Sabonis, Alex Len, Skal Labissiere, Orlando Robinson
This story was originally published September 30, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
