Sacramento Kings make big roster addition for NBA Summer League in Las Vegas
The Sacramento Kings have made a big addition to their roster as they head to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League.
Maxime Raynaud, a 7-foot-1 center who was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection last season, has been added to the summer league roster after missing the California Classic due to his obligations with the French national team.
Raynaud outperformed his draft position more than any other player in last year’s rookie class after being selected in the second round with the 42nd overall pick. With Domantas Sabonis missing most of the season due to injuries, Raynaud appeared in 74 games with 56 starts, averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 57.1% from the field.
Kings general manager Scott Perry is looking forward to seeing what Raynaud can do in his second season.
“You can tell he’s gaining some confidence,” Perry said. “He will tell you even more than I that coming into Year 2, his goal is to be better. Last year was last year. He had an excellent rookie year, but that’s gone by. Now, he’s got to get better and be better this next year, so that’s his challenge and I think he’s really working hard at it.”
Raynaud joins a summer league squad that went 3-0 in the California Classic with wins over the Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors Blue and Milwaukee Bucks. He adds to the talent on an already formidable team that features Darius Acuff Jr., Dylan Cardwell, Nique Clifford, Alex Karaban, Jonathan Mogbo, Emanuel Sharp, Isaiah Stevens and Marquel Sutton.
The Kings will play at least five games in Las Vegas. All four of Sacramento’s preliminary games will be played at Thomas & Mack Center, the larger of the two venues on the UNLV campus. The Kings will open against the Los Angeles Clippers at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Perry explained what he wants to see from his team in Las Vegas.
“Just continue to play hard, compete and play a tough, physical brand of basketball,” Perry said. “... I thought we saw some good stretches during the California Classic, and I just want to keep seeing that cohesiveness come together. What we’re trying to establish here is that connectivity and that togetherness at both ends of the floor.”
The Kings have won two NBA Summer League championships. They defeated the Houston Rockets to win the title in 2014 and beat the Boston Celtics in the championship game in 2021.
Acuff, a rookie point guard who was selected out of Arkansas with the No. 7 pick in June’s NBA draft, appeared in two games at the California Classic, averaging 23.5 points per game during the California Classic. He led the team in scoring despite shooting just 33.3% from the field and 27.8% from 3-point range.
Sharp, a second-round pick from Houston, averaged 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals. Undrafted rookie Marquel Sutton averaged 14.0 points and 6.3 rebounds.
Karaban, a first-round pick who was acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers, did not play in the California Classic due to an ankle injury. He could be ready to make his summer league debut in Las Vegas.
In addition to Raynaud, the Kings are looking forward to having Clifford and Cardwell in Las Vegas, although it’s unclear how many games they will play. Clifford, a second-year guard, averaged 12.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the California Classic. Cardwell, a second-year center, averaged 10.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 3.0 blocks.
“They’re going to play some,” Perry said. “I don’t think they’ll play al the games, but when you’re starting to build chemistry, it’s important to have guys around and get to know one another.”
