Kings training camp primer: Battle to watch, player on the rise

Share

The Kings open training camp Tuesday at their practice facility in the heart of Downtown Sacramento. It’s a new season, with plenty of changes and even more young players. 

Coach Dave Joerger and his staff are back for a third season in Sacramento. Former King, Bobby Jackson, has joined the group as a player development coach as the team continues to nurture their young roster. 

The plan is to push the tempo and produce a more exciting brand of basketball this season. That will be a central theme throughout camp as the training wheels come off and the youth of the team is asked to produce. 

Additions

Marvin Bagley III, Yogi Ferrell, Nemanja Bjelica, Ben McLemore, Wenyen Gabriel

Bagley is the key addition this offseason, joining the team with the second overall selection in the 2018 NBA Draft. He’s a long and athletic big that is expected to play right away. Ferrell was brought in to compete for minutes with Frank Mason at the backup point guard position. After spurning the 76ers, Bjelica singed a 3-year deal with the Kings and should play plenty of minutes at both the small forward and stretch four position. McLemore is on his second tour of duty with the Kings and Gabriel signed a two-way contract with Sacramento after playing well in summer league action.

Departures

Garrett Temple, Vince Carter, Bruno Caboclo, Nigel Hayes, Jack Cooley, JaKarr Sampson

Temple was sent to the Grizzlies for McLemore over the summer and his veteran presence will be missed in Sacramento. Carter made a tremendous impact on the young Kings in his lone season with the club last year and he’s hoping to do the same with the Atlanta Hawks this season at age 41. Coboclo joined the Houston Rockets and will compete for a roster spot during camp. Hayes is playing in Turkey after finishing last season with the Kings. Cooley signed a deal to play in Italy and Sampson is hoping to land a roster spot with the Chicago Bulls. 

Battle to Watch

Yogi Ferrell vs. Frank Mason

Ferrell has an extra year of NBA experience and performed well last season with the Dallas Mavericks. Mason struggled with heel injuries last season, but he’s played well for Team USA this summer and brings a tough guy mentality that the team needs. The winner of the battle will backup De’Aaron Fox.

Player on the Rise

The team has been raving about De’Aaron Fox behind the scenes. Taken with the 5th overall selection in the 2017 NBA Draft, Fox had an up and down rookie season. Sacramento is turning up the pace, which plays to the strength of their starting point guard. The Kings are hoping he can take a big leap in his sophomore campaign and become one of the franchise’s cornerstones.

Player on the Mend

Bogdan Bogdanovic will sit out camp while recovering from a procedure on his left knee. The second-year wing is expected to play a major role with the team this season, but he’s out an estimated 4-6 weeks.

Which Way to the Gym?

All of the players came back from the summer break in great shape, but Buddy Hield and Skal Labissiere both stacked on the muscle in the off-season. Hield showed major signs of improvement last season and looks like he’s ready to carry more of the scoring load. Labissiere is coming off a disappointing second year in the league, but he’s clearly made improvements to his body that might help him stay healthy throughout the season. 

Hungry for a Chance

Bagley isn’t the only rookie hoping to make an impact this season. Harry Giles III spent a red-shirt season with the Kings last year as the team worked to stabilize his knees after a series of surgeries as a prep athlete. Giles has no restrictions and is ready to prove that he is still an elite prospect.

Contact Us