When the Sacramento Kings brought 19 players into training camp, they too brought in the understanding that at least four of those players would be cut before the season began. According to The Hoops Market, point guard Donald Sloan and swingman J.R. Giddens were the first to go.
Among point guards, Sloan is survived by Tyreke Evans, Beno Udrih, Luther Head, and Pooh Jeter. It’s unlikely that both Head and Jeter would make the final roster even without Sloan in the mix, so this initial cut is merely thinning the ranks a bit.
Giddens was the first cut from the even more crowded wing crop, and considering Sacramento’s depth at both shooting guard and small forward, Giddens was a long-shot at best to even be a late cut. Giddens is athletic with NBA skills (rebounding, mid-range shooting), but there are too many wings on the Kings’ roster with guaranteed contracts and more interesting prospects among the camp tryouts, to boot.