There are a number of storylines to follow when the Sacramento Kings play their Las Vegas Summer League opener against the Orlando Magic at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion.
Second-year guard Devin Carter will make his summer league debut after being sidelined by shoulder surgery a year ago. Fans will be eager to get their first look at rookies Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud two weeks after they were selected in the NBA draft.
The roster will also feature Isaac Jones, who played 40 games for the Kings last season, and Mason Jones, who appeared in 10 games for Sacramento. Fans will also be eager to see
two-way players Dylan Cardwell and Isaiah Stevens. Jon Elmore, a 29-year-old guard, is going to summer league for the first time since going undrafted out of Marshall in 2019.
Kings summer league coach Dipesh Mistry wants to establish a defensive identity with guards picking up opposing ballhandlers for 94 feet. Sacramento could be formidable with Carter leading a team that includes four players who helped the Stockton Kings win the G League championship last season.
Schedule
The Kings will play four games over the first seven days of their stay in Las Vegas. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals July 19 with the winners meeting in the championship game July 20. The other 26 teams will play a consolation game July 18 or 19.
Here are Sacramento’s first four games with dates, times and TV listings.
July 10 vs. Orlando Magic, 4:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion (NBA TV)
July 12 vs. Chicago Bulls, 5 p.m., Cox Pavilion (NBA TV)
July 14 vs. Phoenix Suns, 7 p.m., Cox Pavilion (ESPN U/NBC Sports California)
July 16 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 12:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center (ESPN 2/NBC Sports California)
Storylines
▪ Carter has been the subject of trade talks involving Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, but he could establish a role with the Kings if he stays in Sacramento.
Carter, who came out of Providence with the 13th pick in the 2024 NBA draft, will serve as the team’s primary point guard. He has an opportunity to showcase his game after shoulder surgery forced him to miss summer league, training camp and the first 38 games of the 2024-25 season.
Carter appeared in only 36 games with limited playing time last season. His per-36-minute averages – 12.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.9 steals – point to his ability to rebound and defend at a high level as a 6-foot-2 guard with a 6-8 ¾ wingspan.
▪ The Kings have high hopes for Clifford and Raynaud as older rookies who might be able to contribute early in their NBA careers.
Clifford, a 6-foot-6 ½ guard who came out of Colorado State as the No. 24 pick in the draft, averaged 18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.2 steals as a senior at Colorado State. Raynaud, a 7-1 ½ center who was selected out of Stanford with the 42nd pick, averaged 20.2 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 0.9 steals as a senior at Stanford.
▪ Elmore has played in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Turkey and the G League over the past six year after going undrafted out of Marshall. He has averaged 9.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.4 steals while shooting 36% from 3-point range in 81 G League games over the past three seasons.
▪ Mason Jones, Isaac Jones, Isaiah Crawford and Elmore were all part of the G League championship team in Stockton last season.
Isaac Jones came off the bench to post 21 points and 13 rebounds against the Osceola Magic in the final game of the G League finals. Mason Jones had 13 points and 13 rebounds. Elmore scored 11 points.