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Kings: Could Kyle Guy Replace Yogi Ferrel As Backup PG?

By Anthony Cardenas

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Kyle Guy #7 of the Sacramento Kings in action against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2019 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 08, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 08: Kyle Guy #7 of the Sacramento Kings in action against the Dallas Mavericks during the 2019 Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 08, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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While the starting point guard spot for the Sacramento Kings is solidified, the backup rotation needs attention. Could Kyle Guy be an answer?

The Sacramento Kings have a few questions to answer this coming off season, and one of them pertains to the back end of their point guard rotation.

For the last two years, the Kings have employed the services of Yogi Ferrell to perform backup point guard duties. During his first season with Sacramento in 2018-’19, he was the primary backup to De’Aaron Fox, sharing some of his minutes with Frank Mason.

Mason left for Milwaukee, but the Kings brought another point guard in to the rotation when they signed Cory Joseph during the 2019 free agency period. Unfortunately for Ferrell, Joseph took most of the backup minutes, leaving him to grab just 11 minutes per game in 44 appearances.

Joseph is still under contract for next season, but Ferrell will likely enter free agency. The Kings will need to shore up their third-string point guard position, and they could be looking to promote from  within.

One of the Kings’ two second round draft picks last year was Kyle Guy, and he made a name for himself with the team’s G-League affiliate.

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In 37 appearances for the Stockton Kings last season, Guy averaged 21.5 points and 4.8 assists on just under 40 percent shooting from three-point range. He was a scoring machine both in the G-League and in his collegiate years, and has the ability to catch fire and have monster games.

While he did average one steal per game, he is not exactly known for his defensive prowess. Unless Guy vastly improves on that end of the floor, he is unlikely to become the primary backup to Fox any time soon. Fox himself is an above average defender, and any team that hopes to compete in the Western Conference needs a defensive-minded point guard to compete with some of the game’s best. This is why Cory Joseph, despite his high price tag, is so important for Sacramento’s potential success.

Could the Kings go out and sign a cheap free agent point guard and keep Guy developing in the G-League? Possibly. They might even retain Ferrell depending on the relationship and financial situation.

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But the team should absolutely keep an open mind and open spot when they head in to training camp before next season. Guy might be a diamond in the rough for them. While he may never be a player that gets huge minutes or is a part of the regular rotation, he could be a special weapon of sorts off of the bench for Luke Walton and the Kings this season.

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