Kings inching closer to making unforgivable Keon Ellis mistake

For as active as the Sacramento Kings have been, it seems as though the front office hasn't yet prioritized an extension for Keon Ellis. In a span of 15 months, the Kings have acquired the likes of DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Dennis Schröder, thus revealing a desire for change.

Unfortunately, the Kings appear to be headed toward the type of change they can't afford by failing to sign Ellis to a long-term deal before he enters free agency.

Ellis, 25, is preparing for the final season on the three-year, $5,105,710 contract he signed after going undrafted in 2022. Once his current deal expires, he'll enter unrestricted free agency, thus permitting him to sign with the team of his choice—Sacramento or otherwise.

Unfortunately, the Kings are treating Ellis as though he's a restricted free agent for whom they'll be able to match offer sheets—so much so that they've yet to formally discuss an extension.

In the process, Sacramento has set a course for the most disastrous of developments in 2026. They've added a growing number of productive veterans, but are dangerously close to losing their best perimeter defender for no return whatsoever.

Much could change between now and the 2026 period of free agency, but the Kings are creating unnecessary problems by refusing to extend Ellis.

Keon Ellis hasn't "heard too much of anything" about contract extension

Ellis has fought tooth and nail for the opportunities he's received, going from an undrafted free agent to a G League standout to a high-level 3-and-D wing in the NBA. In 2024-25, he appeared in 80 games, starting 28, and cemented his status as a force on the rise.

Ellis averaged 8.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.8 blocks, and 1.7 three-point field goals made in 24.4 minutes per game, shooting at a clip of .489/.433/.849.

Those numbers may not jump off the page at first glance, but his elite efficiency was compounded by tremendous work on defense. That's reflected when translating his numbers to 12.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.2 blocks, and 2.6 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes.

For perspective: Ellis was the only player in the NBA to average at least 2.0 steals, 1.0 block, and 2.0 three-point field goals made per 36 minutes in 2024-25.

Furthermore, Ellis shot 43.3 percent on catch-and-shoot threes in 2024-25—a clear indication of the type of value he can provide alongside ball-dominant scorers and playmakers. For a Kings team planning to play through a surplus of players cut from that very cloth, Ellis could prove invaluable.

For a team that's built around players who have long been heralded for their offense but not necessarily known for their defense, Ellis is even more essential to team success.

In 2024-25, Ellis routinely embraced the challenge of defending opposing teams' best perimeter scorer. That much is proven statistically by the fact that the eight players he spent the most possessions defending were James Harden, Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anfernee Simons, CJ McCollum, and Tyler Herro.

A willing and able defender who has shot at an elite level in on and off-ball situations, Ellis is an invaluable member of the Kings—and yet, he's on the fast track to unerstricted free agency.