After putting on a superb performance as part of the Sacramento Kings' Summer League squad, Marquel Sutton has signed a new NBA contract. Unfortunately, it was with the Chicago Bulls. This feels like a huge missed opportunity for the Kings, as Sutton had huge developmental potential.
As it stands right now, the Kings roster technically has three spots left. Two of them are main roster berths, while the third is a two-way contract. Once the Kings officially stretch DeMar DeRozan's remaining contract over the next couple of years, they'll have the room to fill two of those spots.
Specifically, the front office should have just enough salary cap to sign both Russell Westbrook and Victor Oladipo to veteran minimum contracts. They could be key to the development of rookie point guard Darius Acuff Jr. This veteran duo will be both mentors and backup point guards off the bench.
That leaves the two-way contract, and there are numerous options to put that to good use. There were more than a few players who did well for the Kings during the Summer League, particularly Sutton. His play was exceptional, and he could have done great work for Sacramento.
The Kings may have dropped the ball on Sutton
Instead of taking that two-way spot, Sutton has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Bulls. That is a non-guaranteed minimum-level deal that lasts for a year. He could be a huge get for Chicago's developmental pipeline as they build towards their next evolution. Or they could cut him.
For the Kings, this is likely to be viewed as a major misstep for the team. Many saw Sutton as an obvious addition to the roster, someone who could be built up to play a solid role in the rebuild. Instead, he's headed for Chi-town and could be a long-term difference-maker for them.
Keeping all of that in mind, there's always the possibility that Sacramento also offered him a contract of some kind and Sutton instead chose the Bulls. There's no evidence to support that theory, but it also wouldn't be shocking. The Bulls aren't in a great place, but they're better off than the Kings.
Whatever happened behind the scenes, the result is still that Sutton is headed to Chicago instead of Sacramento. There are still plenty of developmental options out there, but this situation is giving off a real 'missed opportunity' vibe. If the Bulls don't keep Sutton, the Kings should scoop him up.
Add us as a preferred source on Google