Kings 2023 Nba Free Agency Grades for Every Signing

Even though it has been a busy time for several NBA franchises, some of the biggest highlights of the first few weeks of the NBA's free agency period came from younger players re-signing with their respective franchises.

The Atlanta Hawks re-signed guard Dejounte Murray to a four-year contract. Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton each signed five-year extensions. The Charlotte Hornets locked down guard LaMelo Ball on a five-year deal of his own, keeping the one-time All-Star on the squad for the foreseeable future.

The Kings were relatively quiet during last year's free agency period. They agreed to a two-year contract with guard Malik Monk, who averaged 13.5 points and 3.9 assists per game last season. They added forward KZ Okpala on a two-year contract. Forward Kent Bazemore and guard Matthew Dellavedova signed one-year contracts. Sacramento earned a record of 48-34 and their first trip to the NBA Playoffs since the 2005-06 season, pushing the Golden State Warriors to seven games in the first round before eventually falling in a 120-100 loss at the Golden 1 Center.

What grades should the moves made by the Sacramento Kings during the first few weeks of the NBA's Free Agency period receive?

Domantas Sabonis re-signs: A

Forward Domantas Sabonis re-signed on a five-year, $217 million contract extension earlier this month.

Sabonis, a former first-round pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, averaged 19.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in 79 games played during last year's regular season. He remained a key piece on the Kings' roster during the team's seven-game series against the Warriors, posting averages of 16.4 points and 11 rebounds as he played in all seven matchups.

The three-time All-Star has been an important part of the Kings' rotation since he first came to Sacramento in a six-player deal in 2022. Having Sabonis locked down for the next five years can go a long way in ensuring the Kings can continue to light the beam with a playoff-caliber core.

Kings trade for Chris Duarte: B+

The Kings traded for Indiana Pacers guard Chris Duarte in exchange for two second-round selections.

Duarte was taken with the 13th pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He has averaged 10.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game during his two-year NBA career in Indiana. The 6-foot-6 guard will have a cap hit of about $4.12 million during the 2023-24 season, according to salaries and contracts website Spotrac.

Duarte can be a solid option for Sacramento at the two or the three if he can become more efficient from the field than last year. He can be a fantastic player alongside Monk, guards Kevin Huerter and Colby Jones if the Kings can figure out how to fit him into their rotation immediately.