The Sacramento Kings have built a roster that many around the NBA fear lacks the complementary skill sets to become a cohesive unit. A cast of ball-dominant veterans who can put up points in a hurry have provided reasons for optimism, but there's a growing sense of uncertainty in regard to how they might jell.
Thankfully, the Kings have a reason for optimism—it just doesn't have anything to do with the veterans they've acquired.
Sacramento has gotten off to a 2-0 start at the 2025 Las Vegas Summer League. That in no way guarantees future success, but the nature of the Kings' early victories has provided the front office with every reason to be intrigued.
It's not just that Sacramento is winning Summer League games, but that some of their most important young players are taking center stage in the process.
A trio of recent draft picks are leading the charge for Sacramento: Devin Carter, Nique Clifford, and Maxime Raynaud. All three have the potential to crack the rotation sooner than later, with untapped potential that could make them crucial contributors to the Kings' long-term vision.
Thankfully, while many lament the questionable fit of the veterans in place, the up-and-comers are proving to have tremendous chemistry.
Kings' young players are showing out at Summer League
Sacramento kicked the Las Vegas Summer League off with an 84-81 win over the Orlando Magic. Clifford tied for the team lead with 17 points, as well as four rebounds, three assists, two steals, and a block, while Raynaud tallied 16 points and six boards.
The next time out, the Kings picked up a 109-92 win over the Chicago Bulls—and Carter reminded the masses of why he was a lottery pick.
Carter went off to the tune of 30 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. He utilized his length and explosive athleticims to torment opposing defenders, attacking off the bounce and even knocking down five of his seven three-point field goal attempts.
Not to be overshadowed, Clifford added 19 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and a steal, and Raynaud tallied 17 points and five boards.
It was a refreshing reminder of how promising the Kings' assortment of young players is. Factoring in 3-and-D specialist Keon Ellis, who's still just 25 years of age, Sacramento has a collection of pieces who could factor into a postseason-caliber rotation.
The question, of course, is how head coach Doug Christie will strike a balance between those up-and-comers and the bigger names he needs to find significant minutes for.
Perhaps in-season trades will create clarity in terms of who truly fits in Christie's rotation. That would certainly open the door for the younger players to step in and create a more balanced lineup that can actually pick up the slack where others may struggle instead of relying too heavily on winning a shootout.
Regardless of what Christie's rotation looks like, Summer League is offering a welcome reminder of how encouraging the youth movement in Sacramento truly is.