Nine guards Kings should target when NBA free agency begins
James Ham examines nine guards that the Kings could potentially chase, be it through retaining their own free agent, using their limited cap space.
Monte McNair took the Kings general manager job knowing that there were plenty of challenges ahead. He has a solid nucleus of players, but he needs more talent if he hopes for his team to compete in a loaded Western Conference.
One of his first acts as GM will be to make a selection with the No. 12 overall pick in the upcoming draft, but that’s if he doesn’t move up or down the draft board in the coming days.
The NBA’s free agency period is now slated to begin Nov. 20, just two days after the draft and McNair has some huge decisions to make.
Will he retain restricted free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic or unrestricted veteran Kent Bazemore? Will he clear cap space by trading away Buddy Hield or Cory Joseph? Can he find diamonds in the rough through the shortened free agency period, as his group did in Houston over the last decade-plus?
It’s going to be a wild few weeks in the NBA as the league pushes for a Dec. 22 start date. The Kings need to hit the ground running if they have any hopes of snapping their 14-year playoff drought.
Here are nine guards that the Kings could potentially chase, be it through retaining their own free agent, using their limited cap space, the $3.6 million bi-annual exception, or the full $9.3 million non-taxpayer mid-level exemption.
2019-20 Stats: 15.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 44.0% FG, 37.2% 3-pt
Age: 28
Contract Status: Restricted Free Agent
Bogdanovic is one of the better free agents in this year’s class and the Kings have the right to match any offer, as long as they extend his $10.7 million qualifying offer. Retaining Bogdanovic shouldn’t be a difficult decision for the Kings, but with new management in place and the uncertainty regarding what Bogi might earn as a RFA, this is a huge unknown. Teams are interested and the Kings might even get a few offers for sign-and-trades. Bogdanovic is likely in line for a new four-year deal worth between $14-16 million per season.
2019-20 Stats: 10.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, .7 steals, 43.6% FG, 36.8% 3-pt
Age: 32
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
Teague is no longer an All-Star level player and he certainly won’t come anywhere near the $19 million per year he made on his last contract. He can still run a team, push the tempo and his from the outside.
If the Kings lose a player like Bogdanovic in free agency or decide to move players like Buddy Hield or Cory Joseph via trade, Teague would make a lot of sense as a reserve with potential to run the show if De’Aaron Fox misses time. Teague is predicted to make around $6-8 million a year and would probably want something around the range of two-years, $15-18 million to play in Sacramento.
2019-20 Stats: 15.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, .6 steals, 45.4% FG, 36.8% 3-pt
Age: 28
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
Clarkson can score in bunches. He’s more of a combo guard than a point, but If the Kings move on from either Bogdanovic or Hield, they’ll need someone to bring the heat off the bench. Clarkson is young enough to land a solid 2-3 years deal and he might cost close to the entire MLE. Is he worth a two-year, $20 million or three-year, $27 million contract? In the right situation, he might be for a team like the Kings.
2019-20 Stats: 10.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 41.8% FG, 38.4% 3-pt
Age: 31
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent, Larry Bird Rights
Bazemore joined the Kings at the deadline and made an immediate impact. He played more small forward than shooting guard in his time in Sacramento, but he fit in perfectly with the squad and instantly took on a leadership role. Like Teague, Baze is coming off a massive contract that paid him more than $19 million last season. He’s projected to be in the $4-6 million range this time around and the Kings own his Bird Rights. Should the Kings offer a three-year, $18-21 million contract and bring back a solid veteran?
Or should they fill the hole with a younger player? Regardless of whether Bogdanovic and/or Hield come back, Bazemore brings something different to the table and a return would likely be welcomed by coach Luke Walton.
2019-20 Stats: 8.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, .7 steals, 42.1% FG, 35.6% 3-pt
Age: 27
Contract Status: Player Option ($2.4 million), Unrestricted Free Agent
There was a time when Rivers looked like a solid starter in the league. He’s still only 27-years-old and he can shoot, score in bunches (which the Kings were reminded of in the bubble) and handle the ball. Rivers is projected to make above slightly above the league minimum. He has ties to McNair from their time together with the Rockets, which is why we’re adding him to the list. Would he consider a two-year, $10 million contract in Sacramento? That seems like a pretty good bargain for his skill level, but does he fit the culture the Kings are trying to build?
2019-20 Stats: 10.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, .8 steals, 37.8% FG, 32.9% 3-pt
Age: 34
Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
Who says you can’t go home? Temple spent two seasons with the Kings from 20016-18. He’s getting long in the tooth, but his influence on a team goes well beyond the court.
One of the best leaders and teammates in the league, Temple would make sense as a deep reserve with an eye on a future coaching or broadcasting spot. He also averaged a career-high 10.3 points per game last season and can still fill in for spot duty. Temple could chase a ring, but at this point, he’s probably looking at a one or two year deal for slightly above the league minimum.
2019-20 Stats: 11.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, .5 steals, 41.7% FG, 38.8% 3-pt
Age: 27
Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent
Forbes has started 143 games over the last two seasons for the Spurs and he’s done plenty of damage from the perimeter. He’s projected to make $4-6 million per year, but would probably need a little more than that to leave the comforts of San Antonio.
Would the Kings be willing to throw a three-year, $21-24 million deal for a knockdown shooter? That might be an option if they move on from Hield or Bogdanovic. If not, it’s a lot to spend on a player that will fight for rotational time and is limited to just playing shooting guard.
2019-20 Stats: 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists, .6 steals, 42.6% FG, 37.7% 3-pt
Age: 31
Contract Status: Unrestricted free agent
Moore just finished a four-year, $34 million contract with the Pelicans, where he strung together the best years of his career. His 3-point numbers dipped slightly this season, but he’s a 39 percent shooter from long range for his career and he has a few years left in the tank. Projections have Moore making in the neighborhood of $4-6 million per season and it will likely take something like a two-year, $10 million deal to land him. He’s a solid 1-2 combo that could help space the floor in the up tempo style the Kings hope to play.
