Kings’ Labissiere Move Leads to Questions Around Jordan Ford’s Future

On Monday, it was announced that the Sacramento Kings were signing former draft pick PF/C Skal Labissière to a partially guaranteed one-year deal.

On top of that, the Skal move is reportedly a move to sign him to an Exhibit 10 contract, per James Ham.

According to a league source, the Skal Labissiere move is for the Stockton Kings. Details still being worked out, but there is hope he is joining the team on an Exhibit 10 after a trade with Mexico City (G League) is finalized. @ShamsCharania first with the news.
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) August 22, 2023

The Kings now have 16 players signed to official contracts and two players to two-way contracts. The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) allows teams to have 21 players for training camp, but official roster spots are capped at 15 in-season and three two-ways.

While it is good to see what Skal can do in a low-risk move from Sacramento, it means that G Jordan Ford might be more limited in his opportunity to compete for a roster spot - especially if Skal is converted to a two-way after training camp.

Ford was a nice piece for the Kings at the 2023 NBA Summer League, averaging 14.2 points, 5 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1 steal per game on 50% FG/34.6% 3P. Ford, 25, went undrafted in 2020 and played three seasons in the G League for the Ontario Clippers and Stockton Kings.

Kings fans were under the impression that Ford would be signed to fill the third-string point guard spot on the Kings' final roster. As nice as it is to see a Skal return, you have to wonder why Ford was not signed. The Kings now have five centers competing between Sabonis, Len, Noel, Queta, and Labissière, and only two point guards in De'Aaron Fox and Davion Mitchell.

My take: the Skal Labissière signing is honestly very odd tbh. The Sacramento Kings should use that roster spot to give Jordan Ford a contract. The Kings need a 3rd string PG, not another center.
— Cameron Salerno (@cameronsalerno1) August 21, 2023

As much as this move may not initially make sense, Kings GM Monte McNair has had a hot streak recently and made some well-calculated deals. Kings fans will have to put faith in Monte as Sacramento prepares for another electric season at Golden 1 Center.

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