Being a shoot-first guard on the Sacramento Kings comes with very little job security. That's because they have way too many guards and way too many shoot-first players in general. And for someone like Devin Carter, that means the fight for minutes is all too real, thanks to new team additions.
The Kings selected Carter in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft in the 13th spot. It wasn't a surprise to see him picked that high, given how well his college career went. It was a bit more surprising that the Kings drafted yet another guard.
Carter is now going into his second season in the NBA with the Kings. He spent quite a bit of 2024-2025 with the Stockton Kings in the G League before playing his first game in Sacramento on January 3, 2025. If he wants to keep his spot, he's going to need to develop fast.
The Kings' crowded roster
Over the summer, the Kings made a few roster updates. That includes drafting rookie guard Nique Clifford, signing second-year guard Isaiah Stevens, and trading for veteran point guard Dennis Schroder. That's after trading for All-Star guard Zach LaVine halfway through last season.
All of that doesn't even take into account Malik Monk, as well as other guards on the roster brought in for training camp and the preseason. The reality is there is no shortage of young and experienced talent at both the shooting guard and point guard positions in Sacramento.
For someone like Devin Carter, who is in his second season with the Kings franchise, he needs to make a statement right now in the preseason. Every minute on the floor is a chance for him to prove he belongs, but the same is true for all the other young talent.
Devin Carter is in a precarious position
Carter's first preseason outing was the Kings' loss to the short-handed Raptors. Through 16 minutes, he finished with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and one steal. It was a solid performance that was on par with other rookies and second-year players.
Preseason game number two didn't go as well for him. In nearly 15 minutes, Carter had six points, two rebounds, and one steal. It was a much less productive game for him, despite having a comparable amount of time on the court.
Considering how competitive the Kings are at the two and the four, every minute of every game matters. The coaches are going to have to make decisions on who stays, who needs time in the G League, and who isn't a fit anymore. Carter is going to need to keep his game on point to survive.