The Sacramento Kings will be in the market for a point guard when NBA free agency begins at 6 p.m. ET on Monday.
The Kings had internal discussions about trading for the likes of Jrue Holiday and Trae Young, but they have reportedly shifted their focus to free agents such as Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, Malcolm Brogdon and Tyus Jones. NBA insider Marc Stein reported Sunday the Kings are ”widely expected” to sign Schroder and might try to Westbrook or Brogdon as well.
Sacramento once had a full stable of point guards with De’Aaron Fox, Tyrese Haliburton and Davion Mitchell, but they traded all three over a span of two years without bringing in a replacement. The point guard position is now viewed as new general manager Scott Perry’s top priority, but Perry might have to settle for a stopgap solution until he can find a long-term answer.
Schroder, Westbrook, Brogdon and Jones are all unrestricted free agents. Stein has strongly linked the Kings to Schroder, recently reporting that numerous teams believe Sacramento has the best chance to sign Schroder if he doesn’t reach an agreement to stay with the Detroit Pistons. Stein added fuel to the fire Sunday, reporting that the Pistons are focused on signing Caris LeVert and the Kings are expected to sign Schroder.
Schroder, 31, is a 12-year NBA veteran who has played for nine teams. He was traded twice last season, going from the Brooklyn Nets to the Golden State Warriors before finishing the season with Detroit.
Schroder earned $13 million last season. Stein reports that Schroder could command about $14 million in free agency. The Kings could offer him that much using the non-taxpayer midlevel exception.
Schroder averaged 13.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 0.9 steals last season. He shot 40.6% from the field and 34.2% from 3-point range.
Westbrook, 36, is entering his 18th NBA season. He has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Washington Wizards, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets.
Westbrook appeared in 75 games with 36 starts for the Nuggets last season. He averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from 3-point range.
Brogdon, 32, is a nine-year veteran who has played for the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Boston Celtics, Portland Trail Blazers and Wizards. He was limited to a total of 63 games over the past two seasons while dealing with back, ankle, elbow, leg and thumb injuries.
Brogdon averaged 12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 0.5 steals in 24 games for the Wizards last season. He shot 43.3% from the field and 28.6% from long distance.
Jones, 29, is a 10-year NBA veteran who has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies, Wizards and Phoenix Suns. He played 81 games for Phoenix last season, averaging 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 0.9 steals. He shot 44.8% from the field and 41.4 from 3-point range on 5.0 attempts per game.