It's two games into the regular season for the Sacramento Kings, and Devin Carter didn't touch the court until the third game. Trade rumors have been swirling around him for a while. If Carter is lucky, a trade will come soon because the Kings have definitely lost interest in the second-year player.
The Kings selected Carter 13th overall in the first round of the 2024 Draft. He would go on to spend much of his first season with the Stockton Kings, Sacramento's G League affiliate. Carter then made his NBA debut in January 2025 against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Honestly, Carter was a promising rookie, but the Kings didn't focus on his development. He got caught up in the insanity of last season with big changes to the coaching, the front office, and the team. The Kings don't seem anxious to make up for that this season.
Devin Carter's second year is quiet
During the preseason, Carter was getting an average of 15.3 minutes per game across all four matchups. That number changed dramatically in the first two games of the regular season, with that average dropping to zero. He didn't see the court until late in the third quarter of their third game.
It's not like his preseason performance was something to write home about, as the kids say. He shot 37.8% from the field overall and had an average of 8.3% from three. In four games, he collected 20 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, four steals, and zero blocks.
Carter is a guard on a team overloaded with guards, all fighting for minutes on the same court. He didn't really put up a performance in the preseason that made a case for him getting any of those minutes. Given the new class of rookies on the roster, that's a problem.
The Kings' rookie class is incredible
During the 2025 draft, the Kings picked up Maxime Raynaud and Nique Clifford, as well as signing the undrafted Dylan Cardwell. All three rookies had impactful preseasons that made serious statements, particularly Clifford who played so well he started in the season opener.
The problem for Carter is that these rookies looked way better in their 2025 preseason appearances than he did. As such, the coaches are far more likely to play them in the regular season than they are Carter. And the little time he got in the regular season so far didn't amount to much.
There have been rumors about the Kings trading Carter all summer. It's the best thing that could happen to his career. If the Kings aren't interested in working with him anymore, he deserves the chance to be on a team that will. Plus, the Kings might be able to get a defensively-minded forward.