The Sacramento Kings have had an up-and-down start to the season. It has been a mixed bag of results as the team sits at 8-10 and 12th in the Western Conference. De’Aaron Fox has had some stellar outings, and DeMar DeRozan has been a welcome addition to this team. They still struggle on defense at times, as has been the case for the past few seasons. However, they could be getting some help from a 13-year veteran. Reports indicate the team is close to signing free agent Jae Crowder to a deal.
Sacramento Kings Looking To Add Jae Crowder
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday evening that the Sacramento Kings are close to a deal for Jae Crowder. He worked out for the Kings in the offseason but ultimately did not sign with them. Sacramento is dealing with injuries and a slow start. Trey Lyles is dealing with a calf strain, and DeRozan also has some nagging injuries. Crowder played 50 games for the Milwaukee Bucks last year and averaged 6.2 points and 3.2 rebounds. His impact goes beyond the box office, as his defense and playoff experience don’t always show up in the numbers.
Crowder appeared in the NBA Finals in 2020 for the Miami Heat and in 2021 for the Phoenix Suns. If he does sign with the Sacramento Kings, it would be his ninth NBA team, having previously played for Dallas, Boston, Cleveland, Utah, Memphis, Miami, Phoenix, and Milwaukee. For a team that does not have a lot of playoff experience, this would be a welcome addition. It would also help build some depth for the long season ahead.
What’s Behind The Early Season Struggles?
The Sacramento Kings have not been bad by any means this season. They also haven’t been good. It’s always tough to be in the middle. Offensively, they are averaging 114.1 points per game which is only good for 13th in the league. It has been their three-point percentage that has been the issue. The Kings are shooting an abysmal 32.8% from three-point range, which is fifth worst in the league. The individual three-point percentages are hard to look at. Here are some notable names and their percentages.
- Malik Monk: 28.0
- Kevin Huerter: 28.4
- DeMar DeRozan: 29.4
- Keegan Murray: 29.5
- Trey Lyles: 33.3
Having three players in the rotation who are shooting below 30% from three is not ideal. In a few games, the Sacramento Kings have gotten blown out because they simply cannot hit a shot. Against the Los Angeles Clippers last Friday night, the Kings couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn, scoring only 88 points in a loss. The good news for the team is there is a positive spin on this.
Reason For Optimism
All of the players listed above are better than their shooting percentages. Murray is a career 37.6% shooter from three. Huerter has a similar career percentage 37.8%. Both players have proven they can shoot the ball at an elite level. There is some positive regression that should happen.
While the 8-10 start is not ideal, they are only 5.5 games back from the top seed in the conference. There is plenty of time for the Sacramento Kings to get hot and climb the standings. Jae Crowder would be a huge boost for the team, even if it is just in the interim. Teams should watch out for the Kings. If they get their shooting touch back, they can hang with anyone in the West.
