What a Kings starting lineup, rotation could look like this season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
For the first time in a long time, a big-name NBA superstar willingly joined the Kings this offseason.
DeMar DeRozan will join De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis in Sacramento as the young and hungry Kings look for a playoff return after a frustrating end to the 2023-24 NBA season.
The Kings too edited by Devin Carterre-signed Sacramento’s beloved sixth man Malik Monk and 7-foot center Alex Len, and, perhaps most importantly, agreed to a three-year contract extension with coach Mike Brown.
With the notable additions and moves came a handful of goodbyes, including parting ways with veteran leader Harrison Barnes, young guard Davion Mitchell, Euroleague phenom Sasha Vezenkov and others.
Kings general manager Monte McNair and Co. have been busy this summer, but is it enough to survive against the best in the West? Here’s how Sacramento’s roster shapes up for 2024-25:
Point guards
De’Aaron Fox
Colby Jones
Jordan McLaughlin
Boogie Ellis
Devin Carter
Shooting guards
Kevin Huerter
Malik Monk
Keon Ellis
Brodric Thomas
Small forwards
DeMar DeRozan
Jalen McDaniels
power forward
Keegan Murray
Trey Lyles
Terry Taylor
Centers
Domantas Sabonis
Alex Len
Orlando Robinson
Is it Labissiere?
Two-way contracts
Mason Jones
Isaac Jones
Isaiah Crawford
NBA teams can carry up to 21 players during the offseason before they have to cut things down to 18 for the regular season (15 standard roster sports and three two-way contracts).
The big question looming over Mike Brown and the Kings’ staff is who will win the starting two-guard spot along with Fox.
Two seasons ago, after becoming Sacramento’s new coach, Brown was put in a similar difficult position. At the time, it was Huerter and Monk — both new Kings guards — competing for the starting spot.
Ultimately, Huerter had the edge over Monk, who continued to thrive in his role off the bench as the sixth man over the past two seasons.
Entering the 2024-25 season, Monk is once again competing for the starting job — but likely against a new guard. Keon Ellis took the NBA world by storm last season, but his rise is more than a feel-good story. Ellis, who had a two-way contract just a few months ago after going undrafted in 2022, has a real chance to become an NBA starter with the Kings.
Huerter had the worst statistical season of his career last season, and a shoulder injury cut his season short. The shooter just was cleared for on-court workouts and will be re-evaluated in mid-October before being released for full contact court action.
While it would make more sense for Monk or Ellis to take over the top shooting guard role, Brown was adamant about his belief in Huerter — despite the guard’s struggles, and opportunities only arose for Ellis after Huerter’s season-ending surgery.
It will take some time for Huerter to grow and become fully fit anyway, but we wouldn’t count on Huerter being a potential starting option again once he’s fully healthy.
The rest of the starting lineup seems clear. Along with the guards should be DeRozan, Murray and Sabonis.
Of course, the first player to come off the bench varies on a game-to-game basis, but typically, it should be either Monk or Ellis (whoever isn’t starting).
After that, Huerter, Lyles and Len should provide some backup depth.
Both Colby Jones and Mason Jones could be sleeper impact players at times as well, along with Carter, who will be out with a shoulder injury until at least mid-January.
The rest is up in the air, but that’s what training camp is for. Players will aim to prove they deserve a roster spot for the regular season and, even more, a chance to show they can make an impact in Sacramento.
It all starts on Tuesday. Buckle up, Kings fans.
