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Free Agent Cop or Drop?: Arron Afflalo

By Rafe Wong

Jan 4, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Arron Afflalo (40) during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat at Golden 1 Center. The Heat defeated the Kings 107-102. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Arron Afflalo (40) during the fourth quarter against the Miami Heat at Golden 1 Center. The Heat defeated the Kings 107-102. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Should the Sacramento Kings keep Arron Afflalo around for the 2017-2018 NBA season or let him walk?

Wait, He’s A Free Agent?

Technically, Arron Afflalo isn’t a free agent. He is due to be paid $12.5 million next season but the Kings could terminate his contract by paying him just the $1.5 million guaranteed left on his deal (per Spotrac). If the Kings decide to take this route, Afflalo could be testing the free agent market.

Season Performance

When evaluating Afflalo’s season, he did a great job as an offensive two-guard. He only averaged 8.4 points per game, but he was an efficient scorer as he shot 44% from the floor, 41.1% from the three-point line, and 89.2% from the free-throw line.

Overall, Afflalo was a great offensive asset for the Kings this season. He was reliable in making his shots, moved well without the ball, and created fluidity in the team’s ball movement. With that being said, however, should the Kings keep the nine-year veteran around for another season?

Cop or Drop?

Oct 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Arron Afflalo (40) handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Kings defeated the Suns 113-94. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Sacramento Kings guard Arron Afflalo (40) handles the ball against the Phoenix Suns during the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Kings defeated the Suns 113-94. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

With Buddy Hield, Garrett Temple, Malachi Richardson, and possibly Bogdan Bogdanovic all set to be on the roster for next season, there will be a logjam at the shooting guard position for Sacramento.

This decision is tough because although it might be logical to let Afflalo go, there is a benefit to keeping him around.

Afflalo is a guy that has proven, especially this season, that he can be efficient when called upon any time. Someone the Kings could use if their young talent struggles at times next season.

There also is the situation with the salary cap. Although $12.5 million is a lot of money, Afflalo would only earn that salary for one more season. So with the current position in the Kings rebuilding, it wouldn’t be a big blow at all if the Kings were to pay Afflalo fully for one more year.

Final Thoughts

If I had to choose whether to keep Afflalo or not in Sacramento, I would let him go in order to save cap space and to keep a spot open on the depth chart. But if the Kings do decide to keep Afflalo for next season, it wouldn’t be a bad decision at all. Afflalo was a guy that the Kings can rely on as a scorer as he was both solid in creating his own shot or being a stand-still shooter.

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