If the Sacramento Kings are looking for a young defender with potential to grow, it's hard to beat Alex Sarr. The 20-year-old French player has already proven himself to be an elite defensive player, and that's only after one rookie season in the NBA.
Sarr was drafted second overall in 2024 by the Washington Wizards, another team in the midst of a desperately needed rebuild. They've managed to create a relatively well-balanced team of young guns with a few clutch veterans to add some experience into the mix.
As such, convincing the Wizards to let Sarr go would be a tall order but a worthwhile effort for the Kings. With their renewed defensive focus under Doug Christie, the Kings will need more players with a skillset and mindset to match. Sarr would be an excellent fit.
Alex Sarr on the court
Born in Bordeaux, France, Sarr was raised in a basketball family. He would move to the United States in 2021 to spend two seasons with Overtime Elite. From there, he declared for the 2024 NBA Draft and was picked up by the Wizards.
The defining part of Sarr's game is his incredible defensive acumen and versatility. He can protect from the perimeter and defend the rim. On top of that, he's a great shot-blocker and rebounder, averaging 6.5 and 1.5 per game, respectively. The best part is he picks up few fouls doing it.
Alex is quite a bit weaker on offense, though. His three-point shooting is inconsistent on a good day. Sarr also has trouble finishing at the rim. Building his strength will help his post game incredibly, as well as make him a better offensive rebounder.
The Kings should make a move
The Wizards are unlikely to let Sarr walk without a fight. He is already a top-notch defender with tons of room to grow on the offensive end of the court. But his current contract does have two team options coming up, potentially opening a window for a move.
Bringing Sarr in would certainly raise the Kings' defensive profile dramatically. Having a stronger defensive ethos on the team is great, but Sacramento still needs players who can execute that vision. The team slacks players with a defensive focus.
If the Kings want to make a move for Sarr, trading the likes of Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan might get the job done. The team already has a large number of shoot-first players, so they definitely have scorers to spare. Bringing Sarr in could be a big deal for Sacramento.