Top 10 Free Agent Signings in Sacramento Kings History

Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Like I’ve written before, this has been an offseason of great change for the Sacramento Kings. Sacramento has never been a desirable locations to free agents but I believe a couple of the signings from this offseason have the potential to eventually be considered some of the greatest signings in Sacramento Kings history. That led me to consider who are the top ten free agent signings in Sacramento Kings history.

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I wanted to find the top 10 players who had the greatest impact on the Sacramento Kings franchise. To be eligible for this list, I had 3 rules. I only considered players who were acquired as a free agent. Players like Chris Webber or Rudy Gay that were acquired via trade and later signed a contract to remain on the Kings were not eligible.

For players that have been on the Kings multiple times such as Corliss Williamson and now Quincy Acy, I did not count their all-time contribution to the team, only those contributions made during the span on the team following their signing. Lastly, if a player signed as a free agent and then re-signed later on without ever leaving the team, I counted their contribution to the team over that entire span.

Without further ado…

Next: Honorable Mention

Honorable Mention

Michael “Yogi” Stewart

Michael Stewart went undrafted out of UC Berkeley in 1997 and was signed by the Kings as an undrafted rookie free agent to a 1-year contract for about $200k. Yogi ended up starting 37 of the 81 games he played in that season.

His biggest impact was as a rim protector where he averaged 2.4 blocks in just 21.7 minutes a game for that 27-win team. Although he was successful in his stint with the Kings, he likely would not have found many minutes had he been on the Rick Adelman led team the following season.

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Keon Clark

Keon Clark was signed as a free agent in 2002 after playing 1 1/2 seasons in Toronto. He added the defensive toughness the Kings were looking for when they signed him to a 1-year contract for $4.6 million. The Kings won 59 games that season with Clark as a significant role player contributing 22.3 minutes per game.

At the time, I thought it was odd that Keon was not brought back the following season but later learned of his struggles with substance abuse and the law. Even though he later claimed he “never played a game sober”, his per 36 numbers were solid.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Next: #10

#10

Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Omri Casspi

After being drafted by the Kings in 2009 and being traded after two seasons, the book was not closed on Omri Casspi. Casspi signed as a free agent prior to the 2014-15 season to a one-year, minimum salary deal.

I was a fan of the signing at the time because Omri had played much better defense with the Houston Rockets the previous season than he had in the past and I already new he was solid as a reserve on the other side of the ball.

My defensive outlook was wrong. Of any player seeing significant playing time next season, Casspi will likely be the worst defensive player on the Kings. Casspi did, however, show me more on the offensive side of the ball than I knew he was capable of.

He was fantastic moving to the basket, using an array of unorthodox shots to score close to the basket. Casspi also led the team in three-point shooting at just over 40%. He had career highs in field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw percentage, and assists. Casspi’s per 36 numbers were solid as you can see:

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Casspi stepped up his play once George Karl was brought on after the All-Star break. Playing extended minutes for Karl in April, in 34 minutes per game Omri averaged 19.9 points per game.

Considering that Casspi has only played for 1 season as a free agent on a mediocre Kings team, I could not rank him higher than on the list.

Next: #9

#9

Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Jackson

Jim Jackson was 32 and winding down an impressive NBA career when he found himself without a team to start the 2002 season. In an effort to bolster their bench, the Kings signed Jim in December of the 2002-03 season to a minimum deal.

Jackson played great off the bench for that 59-win team as part of Rick Adelman’s regular rotation, leading the team in three-point shooting. His per 36 stats were strong:

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Jackson rebuilt his NBA stock and left the Kings following the 2002-03 season after receiving a two-year contract with the Houston Rockets.

Next: #8

#8

Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Darren Collison

The signing of Darren Collison came to a surprise to many Kings fans who envisioned the Kings resigning Isaiah Thomas as the starting point guard for the 2014-15 season.

The Kings, however, parted ways with Isaiah and signed Darren to a three-year contract worth roughly $3 million. Darren clicked immediately with franchise cornerstones DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay and led one of the most productive starting 5’s in the NBA last season.

Darren had his most productive season in the NBA, putting up a career-high 16.1 points per game.  His per 36 numbers aren’t flashy but he provided the Kings with a lead guard who wasn’t overmatched on defense night-in and night-out and who was less of a black hole on offense as the aforementioned Thomas.

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Unfortunately, coaching turmoil and an injury to Darren ruined what could have been a good season for the Kings. Due to the addition of Rajon Rondo, Darren is likely to play more of a combo guard role in coming season but look for him to continue his solid play.

Next: #7

#7

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Les

Jim Les, now the head coach for UC Davis men’s basketball team, bounced around in the NBA and after his rookie season, unable to get much playing time. In December of 1990, the Kings signed Les to a pair of 10-day contracts and then signed him for the remainder of the season. Les ran with the opportunity and had, what turned out to be the most productive season of his NBA career.

If there was one thing that Les could do, it was shoot the rock. In his first season with the Kings, Les connected on over 46 percent of his 3-point attempts. In all, Les appeared in 208 games for the Kings from 1990 to 1994. Over that time, Les proved to be a reliable back-up point guard. Here is a look at his per 36 numbers while with the Kings:

I know what some of you are thinking, Jim Les played for some terrible Kings teams. Yes, I am absolutely aware of that (and so did some of these other guys). However, he did put his stamp on four seasons with the Kings and all those previously mentioned have only played one season for the Kings. In the future others may rank higher, but for now Les comes in at #7.

Next: #6

#6

Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

John Salmons

John Salmons signed with the Kings as a free agent in 2006 to a five-year, $25.5 million contract after showing signs of promise backing up Allen Iverson in Philadelphia. He was brought in to be the Swiss Army knife off the bench as he could play the 1, 2, and 3. He was also a very good defender, which was sorely needed on the Kings at that time.

Salmons filled in admirably for an injured (pre-Metta World Peace) Ron Artest on a six game span averaging 18.2 points, 4.6 assists, 6.2 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and 56 percent from deep.

All in all, Salmons played 213 games during this stretch with the Kings (not including his later, less productive, time on the Kings). His per 36 stats for his three seasons on the Kings don’t jump off the page, but they were solid:

Salmons was eventually traded to the Bulls in a terrible deal made by Geoff Petrie that sent Salmons and Brad Miller to the Bulls for Andres Nocioni, Drew Gooden, Michael Ruffin, and Cedric Simmons.

Next: #5

#5

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Beno Udrih

Beno Udrih was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the 2007-08 season who, in turn, waived the guard. The Kings swooped in and signed Beno to a one-year minimum salary deal to fill in for an injured Mike Bibby. Beno was an immediate success and was a solid contributor while Bibby was on the shelf.

The following season, he re-signed at five-years, $32 million. While that may have been a little much to pay Beno, he was projected as the new starting point guard as soon as they could offload Bibby and his contract.

Offensively, Beno was a shoot-first point guard with a consistent jump shot. Defensively, Beno was a turnstile waiting to be penetrated. However, considering he was replacing Mike Bibby, he wasn’t much of a drop-off. Beno had a knack for hitting big shots and was great at hitting mid-range jumpers. He also knew when to pass the ball and wasn’t as big of a black hole as many shoot-first point guards can be. His per 36 stats while on the Kings were solid:

The Kings traded Beno in a 3-team draft-day trade that sent him and the rights to newly drafted Bismack Biyombo out for John Salmons and the rights to Jimmer Fredette. Yeah…not the best trade, but they’ve done worse.

Next: #4

#4

Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Barry

Jon Barry was signed prior to the 1998-99 Sacramento Kings renaissance season for the league minimum. JB was an above average shooter, passer, and defender and carved out a role as part of the “Bench Mob” immediately.

Offensively, JB’s game was multi-faceted. He was a deadly shooter with his feet set. For those who coach youth basketball, he was the model for the jump stop. Barry was a fiery player.

The image of JB jumping up on the broadcasters table and pumping his fist after hitting a big shot during a game is burned into my memory. His per 36 stats look modest but he was a big part of the best bench in the NBA:

Unfortunately, the Kings traded Jon Barry prior to the 2001-02 season in another poor decision that sent him along with a 1st round pick to the Detroit Pistons for Mateen Cleaves.

Next: #3

#3

Scot Pollard

Another player signed prior to the 1998-99 Sacramento Kings renaissance season, Scot Pollard played in Detroit his rookie year and was then traded to the Hawks before being waived prior to the 1998-99 season.

The Kings signed him for the league minimum but Scot was only able to play 16 games of the strike-shortened season. The following year Scot carved out a role as a tough defensive-minded center.

When I think of Scot Pollard, I immediately think of how tough he was able to Karl Malone. Karl was virtually unstoppable for most of his career but Pollard did as well as anyone in slowing the Mailman down. The other think I think of were his antics and ever-evolving hair styles. Always the joker, he was easily the most entertaining player on that Kings squad.

Like the other entries on this list so far, Scot’s per 36 stats will not blow your socks off. Of course, Scott contributed in many ways that do not appear on the stat sheet but this will give you an idea of the player that Bill Walton once dubbed “the best backup center in the NBA”:

Prior to the 2003/04 season, Scot was traded as part of a 3-team deal that also sent out Hedo Turkoglu for Brad Miller.

Next: #2

#2

Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Bobby Jackson

Bobby Jackson was signed as a free agent prior to the 2000-01 season to an incredible value five-year deal worth $13.5 million.

I’ll be honest. B-Jax is one of my top-3 favorite Kings of all-time. I’ve liked him since he put up a triple-double against the Kings, the year before we signed him.

He was listed as 6’1″ but I’ve met him on several occasions and would argue he is closer to 5’11”. That did not stop him from challenging Shaq at the rim or even for a rebound.

Bobby’s motor never quit and he was a great player on both sides of the ball. His ability to score likely kept him out of the starting lineup on those great Kings teams led by Jason Williams as he was the offensive punch the team needed off the bench.

However, when the clock was running down in the 4th quarter, you could bet he would be on the court. Here are his per 36 stats from his first stint with the Kings:

Prior to the 2005-06 season, Bobby was traded along with Greg Ostertag to the Utah Jazz for Bonzi Wells.

Next: #1

#1

Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Vlade Divac

Let’s face it, Vlade Divac was to those great Kings teams what the Frank Sinatra was to the Rat Pack. Maybe Chris Webber was Dean Martin, but I’ll save that for another list.

Vlade was signed prior to the 1998-99 season to a six-year deal worth $60 million along with Pollard and Barry and became the vocal leader for the greatest teams in Sacramento Kings history.

Vlade was an amazing passing center, a crafty scorer, and…well…a floppe. But we loved him for it. Vlade was not going to get you 20 points a night or a ton of blocks but he was the glue that brought that team together. Here are his per 36 stats with the Kings:

Of all the players that made this list, Vlade is only 1 of 2 that were initially brought in to be a starter. After Vlade’s contract ended following the 2003-04 season, he signed a one-year deal with the Lakers to finish his career.

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