It’s the most wonderful time of the year, as the NBA offseason ramps up to full speed and teams look to spend big money to build contenders and make blockbuster trades to gain leverage in either a race to a championship or the top of the draft lottery. Hopefully, if we’re lucky, the Sacramento Kings have had enough of the latter and desire more of the former.
The road to becoming a playoff team — and eventually a championship contender — won’t be easy though. The decisions made in the summer of 2021 could ultimately impact the trajectory of the young core as De’Aaron Fox’s extension kicks in this upcoming season.
General manager and president of basketball operations Monte McNair looks poised to make the most of his second offseason at the helm as he shapes this promising team in his vision. Meanwhile, many questions still surround what Sacramento can do to build a real team around Fox while the fate of important pieces such as Buddy Hield and Richaun Holmes still hangs in the balance.
Let’s take a look at how much cap space the Sacramento Kings will have to spend in 2021 NBA free agency, and what they could spend it on.
Here’s the breakdown of the financial situation facing the team as they head into free agency.
Sacramento Kings 2021-22 Payroll
Guaranteed Contracts
- De’Aaron Fox – $28,103,500
- Buddy Hield – $23,085,960
- ($22,477,272 base salary + $608,688 in incentives)
- Harrison Barnes – $20,284,091
- Marvin Bagley – $11,312,114
- Tristan Thompson – $9,720,900
- Davion Mitchell – $4,603,320
- Tyrese Haliburton – 4,023,600
- Robert Woodard – $1,517,981
- Jahm’ius Ramsey – $1,517,981
- Neemias Queta ~ $1,250,000
- (approximation, current deal not yet finalized)
- Damian Jones – $1,977,011
- Justin James – $1,782,621
- Chimezie Metu – $1,762,796
- Richaun Holmes – $6,506,955
- Maurice Harkless – $4,347,600
- Terrence Davis – $1,889,178
- Corey Brewer – $1,669,178
- Hassan Whiteside – $1,669,178
- Kyle Guy – $1,489,065
- Louis King – $1,489,065
Unguaranteed Contracts
Cap Holds
Now, let’s take a look at which of these contracts above are likely to be moved or waived if the Sacramento Kings intend to create enough cap space to be major players in free agency.