3 Young players the Kings must develop, 2 to give up on
By Logan Struck
Don’t Develop: Kessler Edwards
Kessler Edwards is an interesting player for the Sacramento Kings, as they acquired him via trade from the Brooklyn Nets in February of 2023. Even though the Kings went out of their way to get Edwards to Sacramento, he has struggled to find his role there.
After playing 22 games and starting in three of them, the Kings picked up Edward’s team option rather than letting him walk. When Sacramento did this, we assumed they envisioned him having a more consistent role on the team next season, but it looks like he will be pushed to the bottom of the bench.
The 22-year-old forward started six 2023 NBA Summer League games for the Kings but struggled to find consistency. With an impressive outing in his final appearance, Edwards had 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, but this was by far his best performance.
Edwards has struggled to develop in his first two NBA seasons while taking a step back following a solid rookie year. He would be better off on a team where he could get consistent playing time, but that team is not the Sacramento Kings. With a loaded wing rotation heading into next season, Edwards finds himself at the bottom of the depth chart.