Kings: 4 Potential free agent targets with ties to Mike Brown
By Logan Struck
Sacramento Kings Head Coach Mike Brown finished his first season in Sacramento by ending a 16-year-long playoff drought, finishing with a 48-34 record, and winning NBA Coach of the Year. He was taken down in the playoffs by his former team, the Golden State Warriors, where he used to be an Assistant Coach. Brown has spent time with seven teams, starting as an Assistant Coach for the Washington Wizards in 1997.
Mike Brown’s long NBA journey has allowed him to make many connections and become a respected coach around the league. Can he use these connections to bring in players he has relationships with? Let’s rank these four free agents that Mike Brown has ties with.
An honorable mention is Kyrie Irving, as Mike Brown coached him in Cleveland, but Irving signing with Sacramento is unrealistic.
4. Josh Okogie
Josh Okogie, a current member of the Phoenix Suns, played for the Nigerian National Team while Mike Brown coached them in the 2020 Olympics. Since Brown was Okogie’s coach for a short time, it puts him lower on this list. But they built a relationship in Tokyo, resulting in Brown targeting Okogie now that he is entering free agency.
The 24-year-old forward is a rotational player who values his defense. Okogie averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.8 steals per game this season. While his offense is not a big part of his game, he is not a liability. He had five outbursts of games scoring over 20 points, proving his jump shot is not as bad as the stats show.
If Josh Okogie can get his three-pointer more consistent, he would be a fantastic piece on this Kings team. His defense can be valuable to any team, especially on this Kings team that could use some defensive wing depth for cheap.