Harry Giles vs. Richaun Holmes
There are very few position battles on the Sacramento Kings roster. The starting five is all but set, and the second unit has a few locks as well. But one battle for minutes that should bring intrigue is the one between Harry Giles and newly signed Richaun Holmes.
On paper, Giles seems to have the upper hand. His game is more versatile than Holmes’, and his ceiling is far higher. He has already been on the Kings roster for two years, so the organization should be more familiar with his play than that of Holmes.
Holmes signed a two-year contract with the Kings over the summer, creating a packed house at the power forward and center positions. But the Kings know that Holmes can provide the effort and energy that the frontcourt lacked last season. One of his redeeming qualities is his relentless hustle, making him a solid addition coming off the bench.
It is odd to refer to any 25 year old as “seasoned”, but Holmes is indeed when compared to Giles. Holmes has played nearly 4,000 minutes in his four years in the NBA, while Giles has played just one season and 820 total minutes. This gives Holmes the edge when it comes to experience, which could become a handy attribute if the Kings ever need to count on him in certain situations.
One thing that both players need to work on, and the thing that could ultimately decide who gets more playing time, is personal fouls. Last season, Holmes and Giles averaged 2.8 and 2.6 fouls per game. This is not an absurd amount until you consider that both platers averaged less than 17 minutes per game. Converting those numbers in to per-36 numbers gives Holmes 5.9 fouls per game, while Giles has a whopping 6.6. Yikes.