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Sacramento Kings
Aug 20, 2025 1:52 PM EDT
Many expected the Sacramento Kings to begin a rebuild after trading De’Aaron Fox last season but they instead elected to keep their core together and chase a playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference next season.
The Kings did make some notable additions to their roster this offseason with the biggest being signing Dennis Schroder in free agency to become their new starting point guard.
Detroit Pistons newly acquired guard, Dennis Schroder (17) dribbles the ball up the court in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. — Source: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
They also traded Jonas Valanciunas to the Denver Nuggets for Dario Saric in a move they had to make to pay Schroder.
Kings’ moves predicted to be among worst of NBA offseason
While the Kings may view these moves as ones necessary to compete for a playoff spot next season, Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale recently predicted that they will be among the worst of the NBA offseason.
Dennis Schroder puts up the ball after a Pistons win.
Source: © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
“The contract looks like an overpay at first glance. It still might be. Schröder is 31, and so much of his effectiveness is predicated on quickness. He will not retain his value as well as others over time. Still, only the first two years of his agreement are fully guaranteed. Schröder is not an intuitive fit on a roster still teeming with a bunch of other guards and on-ball creators,” Favale wrote. “More than that, fitting his deal into the Kings’ payroll structure required trading Jonas Valanciunas, one of the best backup centers in the league, for Dario Šarić, who’s years removed from being an every-night rotation player.”
Favale makes a great point about how Schroder’s contract looks like an overpay due to him being mainly known as a backup point guard instead of a starter.
Despite this, he does only have two years on his contract that are fully guaranteed, which gives the Kings options in the future if he does not live up to their standards.
On the other side, swapping Valanciunas for Saric does not look like a smart move from Sacramento and Favale later wrote that he believes that this move was the worst of the two.
jonas valanciunas
Sacramento Kings center Jonas Valanciunas (17) looks to move the ball past Dallas Mavericks forward Kai Jones (23) — Source: © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Of course, Valanciunas is one of the best backup big men in the NBA and there were also reports that he was open to forgoing his NBA contract to sign in Greece, which may have been the better option for the Kings instead of adding Saric.
Either way, the Kings are hoping that both moves can allow them to compete for a playoff spot next season but with the West being loaded, it may be another disappointing season in Sacramento.
About the Author
Nathaniel Holloway