If the Sacramento Kings have done one thing right in the past 12 months, it would be how they handled the 2025 NBA Draft. That includes picking up the undrafted Dylan Cardwell. There's another undrafted G Leaguer with a big upside named Mitchell Mascari, whom the Kings also need to watch.
As a general rule, the Kings aren't great at anything basketball-related, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. That was the case in the 2025 Draft when Sacramento used their first-round pick to select Nique Clifford and made a prescient choice in the second round with Maxime Raynaud.
Even after the draft was over, the Kings were still making smart moves. That included signing undrafted center Dylan Cardwell to a two-way contract. The expectation was that he'd play for the Stockton Kings in the G League and pick up a few games in the show along the way.
That was until an endless barrage of injuries opened the door for Cardwell, and he walked through. He impressed the Kings so much that they got him signed to a proper NBA contract just after the trade deadline. Now, Mitchell Mascari might be the next G Leaguer to make the leap to the main roster.
Mascari has bench rotation written all over him
Like Cardwell, Mascari went undrafted in 2025. Instead of getting a two-way contract, he was straight-up signed to Stockton and has been playing there all season. In 33 games, he's averaging 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 0.9 assists in 19.9 minutes per game. There's more to those numbers.
Sure, 8.2 points per game doesn't seem like a lot, but he's shooting 42.1% from the field and 40.9% from the three-point arc. Those are the kind of numbers a team like the Kings is looking for from a rotational bench shooter. Sacramento might not need more guards, but Mascari has something.
This is a bench wing who spaces the floor well, is consistent inside the defensive scheme, and has the potential to be a dangerous perimeter shooter. Mascari isn't going to attack the rim or create a lot of shot opportunities for other players, but he is going to hit those clutch threes when needed.
If nothing else, Mascari deserves a chance to prove himself. It would be worth the Kings' time putting him on a two-way contract next season and getting him on the court with the Beam Boys. There just might be a synchronicity there that could be further explored.