The Sacramento Kings look destined to make the NBA Play-In Tournament and will likely have to win two games in order to advance to the NBA playoffs, but the often-forgotten franchise has been streaky all season, and despite the odds being stacked against them, can't be totally counted out.
In an effort to bolster their depth and get their roster up to 14 players before a playoff push, the Kings announced a recent roster addition: signing two-way player Isaac Jones to a two-year standard contract.
In 31 games with the Kings, the backup center has averaged 3.7 points and 1.5 rebounds, although his playing time has been very limited. In the G League, he has played a lot better against worse competition.
In college, Jones was one of the better centers in the country, averaging 15.3 points and 7.6 assists for the Washington State Cougars. However, he went undrafted in 2024 before signing with the Kings on a two-way deal.
The Sacramento Kings are converting two-way center Isaac Jones on a standard, two-year NBA contract, sources tell ESPN. Jones has appeared in 31 games for the Kings while averaging 20.9 points and 10 rebounds for the franchise's Stockton G League team. pic.twitter.com/9nzWSk5ToK
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 22, 2025
As the Kings push towards the playoffs, they have a well-established frontcourt. Domantas Sabonis is expected to be back and healthy for the postseason, and Jonas Valančiūnas is one of the more reliable backups, regardless of position, in the entire league.
Behind them is Trey Lyles, who is more of a forward than a center but can play spot minutes in a small-ball lineup. Jones will certainly be an end-of-bench presence, but in the event that anyone ahead of him goes down, he could see the court.
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For his size, Jones is a solid rebounder and defender who doesn't mind being physical, and he could hold his own against some of the better centers in the NBA, but he will not be a long-term solution to any of the Kings' shortcomings.
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This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 12:22 PM.