Kings Rumors: De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Harrison Barnes, More
In this week’s episode of The Fast Break Podcast, Fastbreak on FanNation NBA insider and reporter Brett Siegel is joined by Matt George from the Locked on Kings podcast to discuss all things relating to the Sacramento Kings, who are about to snap their 16-season playoff drought in the Western Conference.
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Mike Brown’s Impact & Presumable Coach of the Year Honors [11:55]
Since being hired by the Sacramento Kings this past offseason following a championship run with the Golden State Warriors, Mike Brown has made a tremendous impact. Not only is his energy contagious, but Brown has found ways to get the most out of his players on this Kings’ roster, which is one of the reasons why they have one of the best records in the NBA.
Going from living at the bottom of the Western Conference to now contending for the 2-seed ahead of the playoffs, the Kings have improved drastically, which is why many believe that Mike Brown will be the 2022-23 NBA Coach of the Year.
Brett and Matt discussed Brown’s impact in Sacramento and how he has completely reinvented this franchise. [12:19]
Siegel: I really think that as good of a coach as Mike Brown was before being with the Warriors, he needed to be a part of Golden State’s family and learn how to build the culture they had on his own because that is exactly what he has done with the Kings. From his first day in Sacramento, you could feel the energy he brought and he’s really gotten the most out of his players. Some of these guys did not care one bit last year, but with Brown, that has completely changed and it has paid off big time. Mike Brown is the NBA’s coach of the year hands down in my mind.
George: It is a foregone conclusion that he’s the Coach of the Year. There are two awards that should be absolute locks: Mike Brown for Coach of the Year and De’Aaron Fox for Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year. Mike Brown came into Sacramento and you’re 100 percent right about needing the help in Golden State, he’ll even admit that. He’s turned into such a well-rounded, extremely well-respected coach who has his locker room completely behind him to where he can publicly or privately call guys out and they will respond for him and not take it personally. Mike Brown is doing what 11 other coaches since Rick Adelman could not do in Sacramento in terms of getting them to a winning record and a top-seed in the conference. Everyone on the team signed a contract that Mike Brown drew up, saying that you are going to give 100 percent to what we are doing. You may not be happy with your role, but you’re going to give 100 percent every day. All the players signed this contract and there are two copies of it, one in the practice facility and one in the locker room. They’ve all stayed true to this commitment and Mike has stayed true to his end of the bargain.
De’Aaron Fox All-NBA Resume [19:24]
With the Kings struggling through the years, De’Aaron Fox has been an afterthought in many people’s minds even though he has always been an extraordinary talent at the point guard position. Continuing to grow as a young guard in this league and finally having the leadership he has needed with Mike Brown on the sideline, Fox has helped take this team to new heights, resulting in him being named an All-Star for the first time in his career.
Playing alongside Domantas Sabonis has also opened up this new path for De’Aaron Fox in the league and now, with the Kings owning one of the best records in the Western Conference and Fox being amongst the best in the league in scoring, he could make a very compelling case for himself to be named to one of the three All-NBA teams at the conclusion of the year.
George [20:09]: “I think he has a very good shot at making All-NBA. There are a lot of great guards in the NBA and Fox’s numbers are not as good as someone like Damian Lillard’s, but Fox is the leader on a really good team and his clutch scoring numbers are the best in the league. He’s certainly in the conversation, he deserves to be there, and Fox is beginning to put everyone on notice, as the league should be afraid. What I mean by that is De’Aaron has this cool confidence he’s never had before not only in the sense that he can get anywhere he wants offensively, but he also has a confidence in his teammates around him for the first time ever… Once De’Aaron Fox gets on that postseason stage, he will become a household name and be talked about the same way people talk about Ja Morant. De’Aaron Fox is just as good, if not better than Ja Morant is. Just wait, as soon as we get that national audience paying attention to De’Aaron Fox, they are going to realize how good he is and realize that he’s been this good for quite some time.”
Harrison Barnes Pending Free Agency [24:29]
Traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Sacramento Kings during the 2018-19 season, Harrison Barnes has been a part of many struggling Kings teams through the years. However, one thing that has always remained a constant is his production, his reliability and his leadership in the locker room.
There were times that it seemed like Barnes could be on the move from Sacramento, but the team has kept him around amidst plenty of trade rumors and now, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason.
Brett and Matt talked about how Harrison Barnes has played a big part in changing the culture within the Kings organization and what a new contract in Sacramento could look like for the veteran forward. [24:35]
Siegel: I know there was the framework for a potential deal in the offseason involving Harrison Barnes and Hawks’ John Collins and Phoenix had been a team to show interest in the veteran forward as well through the months leading up to the trade deadline. However, the Kings wanted to hold onto Barnes and they made no deals involving him, which has paid off because Harrison Barnes has been an invaluable member of the Sacramento Kings. He may not be the best defender nor the best offensive talent in the league, but he plays his role to perfection and we saw that early on in his career when he won a championship in Golden State. The Kings know what they have with Harrison Barnes, which is why he is so valuable. I am not sure if that $18M price tag he has this year is what any team will be willing to offer him anymore, but I do think something in the ballpark of a three to four year deal worth around $40-50M would be fair, maybe even a little more to reward him to sticking with the franchise.
George: Monte McNair definitely made the right decision by taking the gamble of losing Barnes for nothing this upcoming offseason and not trading him. I know for a fact that Harrison has been frustrated with the way things have gone in Sacramento through the years, but this year has obviously been different. Some thought that the team should’ve moved Barnes to get something for him, but the reality of this situation is that replacing Harrison Barnes is extremely difficult for this organization to do. The Kings have always had a hard time filling that wing position and free agency has never been a friend of the Kings in regards to luring players to Sacramento. I really don’t know if there will be a replacement out there for Barnes this offseason, which is why keeping him around makes sense. If Harrison wants to leave, that would be his decision to make in free agency, but the money is here for him if he wants it. It could be a deal similar to what you suggested or it could be a little increase with what we like to call “The Sacramento Tax” as incentive for keeping players around. I would have no problem with the organization giving him a reasonable, long-term deal to stay.
Keegan Murray’s Value In Rookie Season [28:16]
Drafted fourth overall by the Sacramento Kings, Keegan Murray has been everything the Kings have needed and wanted at either forward position. He’s been a great secondary rebounder for them, a great secondary scoring option and Murray is on the verge of breaking the rookie three-pointers made record.
At just 22-years-old, the rookie forward has cemented his spot in the Kings’ core and the franchise will look to build around him for years to come, much like they are doing with De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
As far as end of season awards go, Keegan Murray may not win the Rookie of the Year award, but he will be on the All-Rookie team and his value to this organization is as high as any other player.
George [29:10]: “A lot of people thought the Kings were going to take Jaden Ivey with their draft pick, but Keegan Murray’s ceiling is incredible and he’s showing that right now. He’s a perfect fit in Sacramento and I know a lot of people don’t like the mindset of drafting for fit compared to best overall talent, but the Kings got both here. Keegan Murray is a better talent than Jaden Ivey and Keegan Murray is going to have a better career than him too. Murray is in a spot to thrive and he is on a team that makes sense for him. With Fox and Sabonis drawing so much attention, Murray has really turned into a key three-point weapon for this group that can also score on his own with the ball in his hands. This is a match made in heaven, a picture-perfect fit and going forward, Keegan Murray is only going to get better. The Kings have their ‘Big 3’ and it is De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis and Keegan Murray.”
