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Sacramento Kings: Happy Birthday Garrett Temple

By Tyler Watts

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 1: Garrett Temple #17 of the Sacramento Kings speaks with media after defeating the Brooklyn Nets on March 1, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 1: Garrett Temple #17 of the Sacramento Kings speaks with media after defeating the Brooklyn Nets on March 1, 2018 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Sacramento Kings guard Garrett Temple celebrates birthday number 32 on May 8.  This article wishes him well and delves briefly into his offseason decision.

Sacramento Kings wing/combo guard Garrett Temple is celebrating on May 8.  Happy Birthday goes out to him.  He turns 32 today.

Temple is a valuable player for the Kings.  He is a team leader and a mentor to the young talent.  Temple is also a staple in the community.  His work both on and off the court earned him a prestigious Kings award.  For the second consecutive year, Temple won the Oscar Robertson Triple-Double award.

Hopefully, it is a special day for Temple and a fantastic year both on and off the court.

Upcoming player option

His birthday brings along another opportunity to discuss his free agency decision.  Garrett Temple has an eight million dollar player option for next season.  The under-discussed angle of that option may be Temple’s expectation of playing time next season.  Let us take a look at each of three positions Temple plays to see where he could fit in.

Related Story: An in-depth look into Temple's upcoming player option

Point guard

The Kings figure to have De’Aaron Fox and Frank Mason locked in at the one.  The team may decide to add a third-string depth point guard this offseason.  Early indications have Fox playing 32 minutes a night and Mason cleaning up the remaining 16.

Wing

Shooting guard and small forward often get blurred in the NBA.  Sacramento has Bogdan Bogdanovic and Buddy Hield both ready and expecting 30 minutes per game.  Let us assume they both play exactly 30 minutes a night.  Justin Jackson and two players who both have player options in Iman Shumpert and Temple have only 36 minutes to split between them.

Chance of swaying decision

If Temple returns, he knows playing time will follow.  He played 24.8 minutes a game this season and over 24 each of the last three seasons.  My guess is the depth in the backcourt forces Sacramento to play Fox, Bogdanovic, and Hield each fewer minutes which is a mistake in the larger picture.  Expect Garrett Temple to return to the Kings and assume a 20-25 minute per night role.

Final thoughts

Happy Birthday, Garrett Temple.  The Sacramento Kings leader turns 32 on May 8.  We at A Royal Pain wish him well.

Stay tuned for Temple’s decision on his player option and all the free agency content surrounding the Sacramento Kings.  Our team will be covering it all in-depth this offseason.

Next: A look at 7 upcoming free agency decisions for the Kings

A Royal Pain provides an outlet for Sacramento Kings content that fans crave all year long.  The offseason may be upon us, but be sure to check back with us often because our team will provide plenty of opinions and analysis on the Kings.  Thank you for reading.

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