Opinion: What To Expect From Malachi Richardson This Season?
By Rafe Wong
The Sacramento Kings on draft night traded two-guard Marco Belinelli and in return received another two-guard in Malachi Richardson.
Richardson, at the age of 20, has the ability to become a two-way player for the Kings. When I say “two-way” I mean that he is a player that can contribute on both ends of the court.
More from Kings News
- 3 Ways Chris Duarte improves the Kings chances in 2023-24
- Bleacher Report crazily lists Kings’ All-Star as “most overrated NBA player”
- Kings and Heat fans clash on Twitter to debate All-Star players
- Sacramento Kings’ Chris Duarte playing in 2023 FIBA World Cup
- 3 Young players the Kings must develop, 2 to give up on
On offense, Richardson is a scorer that can score in a variety of ways. He is capable of making jump shots at an efficient rate but also can slash to the basket to get his points.
On the defensive end, Richardson isn’t the most athletic player, but he has a lengthy physique which can help him create havoc when guarding opponents.
Based on potential, Richardson brings a lot to the table for the Kings, but how much can we expect to see from the former Syracuse star in his rookie year?
Rafe’s Thoughts
If you ask me, I think Richardson plays a minor role for the Kings this season. The 6’6” guard is still a very raw player that needs to flourish his skills more in order to be an asset for his team.
More from A Royal Pain
- 3 Ways Chris Duarte improves the Kings chances in 2023-24
- 5 Players the Sacramento Kings never should have signed
- Bleacher Report crazily lists Kings’ All-Star as “most overrated NBA player”
- Kings and Heat fans clash on Twitter to debate All-Star players
- Sacramento Kings’ Chris Duarte playing in 2023 FIBA World Cup
Richardson’s readiness for the NBA isn’t the only reason why I think he will be seeing little playing time this season, but also because of the personnel that the Kings currently have on their roster.
Arron Afflalo, Garrett Temple, Ben McLemore, and Lamar Patterson are all on the Kings roster as of now, and all of them primarily play the shooting guard position like Richardson.
Rumors are out that McLemore is on the trading block, but if the roster remains the same, Richardson is likely to be the man to take a back seat to the rest of his counterparts.
Bottom line, the Kings will handle Richardson this season by letting him be more of an observer than a player. He will be able to learn from the veterans at his position and have time to polish his skills more before he plays a bigger role with his new team.