3. SG Kevin Huerter
The jury was still out on Kevin Huerter when he was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Sacramento Kings for Justin Holiday, Moe Harkless, and a future first last summer. As one of the better perimeter shooters in the league, the Kings were looking to pair him Huerter up with De’Aaron Fox to help lessen the load in the backcourt.
Well, it seems to have panned out beautifully.
Huerter has had a career year for the Sacramento Kings. Not only is he averaging a career-high 15.4 points per game, but he’s also shooting a near 41 percent from three-point range. He appeared in the Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend as well. He’s been a perfect addition to a backcourt that already features the most clutch player in the NBA this season.
"They root for us day in and day out, every single season. So we appreciate you guys. We still have a lot more to go, but this should be the new standard for us moving forward." -Kevin Huerter on the fans (via the telecast)
— James Ham (@James_HamNBA) March 30, 2023
Prior to being traded to Sacramento, Huerter signed a huge 4-year, 65-million-dollar extension with Atlanta in 2021. That was a lot of money for a guy who was barely averaging double digits. But now he’s become a fan favorite and may be around for the duration of the deal.
After seeing how good and valuable he was this season, the contract seems much more reasonable now. There was an argument he could get re-traded again this off-season if Huerter didn’t mesh well with the roster and plan Mike Brown had in place.
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Now, after the Kings just recently clinched a playoff spot, it’s probably safe to say Kevin Huerter will be a part of the squad by next season. He’s been a vital part of the success so far, and will have to remain consistent if the Sacramento Kings want to go far in the playoffs.