The Kings’ option offense opens up more camp opportunities originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SACRAMENTO – It’s a foregone conclusion that the bulk of the Kings’ offense will likely run through De’Aaron Fox, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis.
While it will be a pick-and-roll type of scenarios that opponents will face when playing Sacramento in terms of deciding which member of the trio will try to shut down, the extra defensive attention teams pay to the three should, in theory, open things up for the rest of the team.
Keon Ellis is expected to be one of the players to benefit the most from it all and likes what he’s seen so far through the first two days of training camp.
“I know for sure that when those guys have the ball, the shots are going to come because [opponents] has to help,” Ellis said after practice Wednesday. “You’re not going to play those guys 1-on-1 a lot, so I know I’m going to get my shots. It’s really just a matter of being ready to knock it down.”
It’s the domino effect when a team has multiple scoring options.
Fox and Sabonis were already the focus of the offense of the Kings, and the addition of DeRozan should make them even more explosive.
Part of the plan early in training camp is to get those other players to be more aggressive when given the opportunity. Specifically, the push is for Keegan Murray to keep his foot on the pedal when he gets into a rhythm.
“Everybody’s touching the ball, everybody’s getting their looks, everybody’s hitting open shots,” Murray said. “It’s just smooth.”
Kings coach Mike Brown, however, says it’s important for Fox and Co. feed whoever has the hot hand, be it starter or bench player.
“Those guys they have to — not just with Keegan — they have to understand who’s hot,” Brown said. “If somebody’s hot, the way we play, he should be able to without anybody making a play call, find the hot play within the framework of our offense.”
Here are some other prescriptions from Wednesday’s practice:
Let’s Get Physical, Physical
The last season, Brown challenged his players play more physically in defense. The result: a defense that finished with a 114.4 rating, 14th best in the NBA.
That theme carried over into training camp this year, but with a twist — be physical, but not too physical.
“We have to take that physicality and try to step it up a notch without fouling,” Brown said. “One of the things we did [last season] was sending guys to the free throw line and we lost a lot of close games because of it.”
The Kings had NBA officials at their practice on Tuesday so players can get used to what they can and can’t get away with.
That helped, but without referees on Wednesday, the physicality led to some confrontations between Kings players.
“We’re trying to push the kids to be physical here, not only to help us defensively but obviously to help us offensively and play through some things,” Brown said. “It got a little choppy today.”
Huerter Concerned To Plie down
Kevin Huerter is one of the few Kings players unable to attend camp. Huerter remains recovering from his season-ending shoulder surgery in April and has not been cleared for contact.
“He obviously bites the bullet,” Brown said. “It’s hard because he can’t do anything live. He’s wearing a red jersey like he’s Brock Purdy, even if right now he’s making more money than Brock Purdy, but next year he won’t. He wants to be here as much as possible.”
Carter Learning While Rehabbing
Devin Carter is another Kings player on the mend and unable to practice after having shoulder surgery. Sacramento’s first-round pick from the 2024 NBA Draft isn’t expected to play until January, but he’s staying busy at training camp trying to soak in as much as possible.
“Sometimes we’ll have a coach walk with him,” Brown said. “He doesn’t do anything on the floor. I don’t think he’s even allowed to shoot. Sometimes we’ll put him together with the team and just have him follow the team from drill to drill to drill so he can get a taste of everything.”
Carter remains in practice until contact drills begin. When that time comes around, he leaves to continue his rehab.
Speak Up Malik
Like almost every Kings player, sixth man extraordinaire Malik Monk is encouraged to be more vocal on the court.
Entering his eighth NBA season and now the owner of a four-year, $78 million contract, Monk says it’s only natural for him to talk more.
“Especially since I came back, got a little more money,” Monk said. “I think I have to express my opinion now.”
