It takes more than a core 10 to win at the NBA level and the Kings had plenty of part-time contributors throughout the season. Iman Shumpert played a big role early, Ben McLemore filled in on occasion and Justin Jackson played over 20 minutes a game through the first 52 contests of the season.
Shumpert, McLemore, and Jackson didn’t finish the year on the Kings roster, but Corey Brewer, Yogi Ferrell, Frank Mason, and Kosta Koufos did. This group didn’t play enough minutes to warrant a full breakdown, but here is a quick look at the rest of the 2018-19 Sacramento Kings’ squad.
Corey Brewer
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Stats: 4.1 points, 1.2 assists, 2.5 rebounds, .8 steals, 44.6% FG, 33.3% 3pt, 14.7 min
Brewer joined the Kings on a 10-day contract after a flurry of moves at the deadline. The forward instantly found a home in the Kings’ locker room as a high-energy veteran who played the game the right way.
On the defensive end, Brewer caused chaos. He overplayed the passing lanes, ran impromptu double-teams and generally wreaked havoc. On the offensive end, he was a streaky shooter and crash test dummy on the break.
Brewer was clear at the end of the season that he wouldn’t mind another tour of duty in Sacramento. He’s an unrestricted free agent and likely won’t find a home until the end of the free agency window. If Sacramento has a roster spot available, Vlade Divac could do a lot worse than a player like Brewer.
NBA
Yogi Ferrell
Stats: 5.9 points, 1.9 assists, 1.5 rebounds, .5 steals, 43.5% FG, 36.2% 3pt, 15.0 min
Ferrell joined the Kings late in the free agency period after things fell through in Dallas. He had plenty of moments as a spark plug off the bench but struggled with consistency on both ends of the floor, which had him in and out of the rotation.
Known for his speed and quickness, Ferrell should have been a good fit behind De’Aaron Fox at the point guard spot. Coach Dave Joerger asked repeatedly for a more conventional lead guard off the bench, but the role was never filled.
Divac has a decision to make on Ferrell. The Kings have a $3.2 million team option for the 26-year-old point guard between now and July 4. They have the first few days of free agency to see if they can find an upgrade. If not, Ferrell is affordable and already knows the roster well.
Frank Mason
Stats: 5.1 points, 2.2 assists, 1.1 rebounds, .4 steals, 42.0% FG, 21.9% 3pt, 11.4 min
Mason came out of training camp as the backup point guard, but that didn’t last long. He and Ferrell bounced back and forth between the rotation and the bench until Ferrell won the job outright.
After shooting 36 percent from 3-point range as a rookie, Mason couldn’t buy a perimeter shot in year two. A lot of it had to do with not playing enough to find a rhythm, but by the end of the season, he was a 12th or 13th man on the bench and out of the rotation.
The numbers weren’t good for the former college player of the year. Sacramento has a team option for $1.6 million, but it doesn’t become guaranteed until Oct. 15. By that time, Divac will have a very good idea about what his roster looks like and whether there is a place on the squad for a player like Mason.
Kosta Koufos
Stats: 3.7 points, .9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, .4 steals, 47.7% FG, 12.0 min
The consummate professional, Koufos took a back seat to the young bigs this season in Sacramento. He kept himself in great shape and was always ready to contribute when called upon.
Known for his post defense and rebounding ability, Koufos was a stabilizing force when he saw time on the court. His offensive timing was off for much of the season due to the inconsistent playing time, but he never complained about his role as the team shifted to players like Harry Giles and Marvin Bagley.
Koufos also worked with the young bigs and was a solid locker room contributor. The 7-footer enters the summer as an unrestricted free agent and neither side has ruled out a reunion. At 30-years-old, Koufos keeps himself in incredible shape and would love to play another 4-5 years in the league.
The Rest of the Roster
Alec Burks joined the team at the deadline in a swap for Shumpert. Joerger used him alongside Bogdan Bogdanovic in the backcourt off the bench, but the veteran struggled without the ball in his hands. Burks posted just 1.7 points in 13 games with Sacramento and is an unrestricted free agent come July 1.
Divac made another small move at the deadline, acquiring second-year big man Caleb Swanigan in exchange for Skal Labissiere. Without a G League affiliate in Portland, Swanigan struggled to stay in shape with the Blazers, but he’s under contract for next season with the Kings and will have a summer to prep for training camp. He’s a big body with soft hands and a very good understanding of the game. He may play a lot in Stockton as the Kings continue their evaluation process.
Troy Williams and Wenyen Gabriel were Sacramento’s two-way players this season. Williams played 21 games with the parent club and had some nice moments. Inconsistency and out of control play had Joerger and his staff looking for another option.
[RELATED: Giles became Kings contributor after slow rookie start]
Gabriel signed a two-year, two-way deal last summer with the Kings and is under contract for next season again. He failed to make an appearance in Sacramento and finished the season on the injured list with a bad foot.
Most of the Kings’ core is locked in for the foreseeable future, but changes to his secondary group are likely on the horizon.