In a season that was filled with disappointment, Keon Ellis was one of the lone bright spots for the Sacramento Kings. He proved that his breakout 2023-24 campaign was no fluke, solidifying himself as one of the best three-and-D guards in the association.
But now, the team has an impending issue with Ellis looming, and if they want to keep him long-term, the Kings will need to diligently study what the Indiana Pacers did with Andrew Nembhard.
The Kings need to sign Keon Ellis to a similar deal that the Pacers signed Andrew Nembhard to
As of right now, as it pertains to Ellis' employment status, the Kings have a team option for the 2025-26 season. This means it is up to them whether or not they want to pick up that last year of his contract. Given that he was one of the best contracts in the league this year (and the team's most valuable contract), the Kings would love to keep him at his current low rate (2.3 million in 2025-26, per Spotrac).
The Kings should avoid this temptation, though. Yes, it will allow them to get another team-friendly season of Ellis. However, that will also lead to Ellis entering the open market in the 2026 offseason, and he may not be super eager to re-sign with the team that was underpaying him based on his overall on-court production. So, the Kings could end up losing him for nothing.
What the Kings need to do is replicate what the Pacers did last offseason with Nembhard. If you are wondering what we are talking about (you probably are if you clicked on this post), last year, the Pacers declined the team option on Nembhard's rookie contract and signed him to a three-year extension. Now, Nembhard is killing it in the postseason, and the Pacers don't have to worry about losing him for nothing in free agency (at least not until 2028).
If Ellis is open to it, the Kings should do the same thing. They should decline his team option with the stipulation that Ellis will sign a long-term extension. It will cost them more money next season, but it could save them money in the future if Ellis continues to break out the way he has. Plus, it gives them the security of having him under contract for a few extra years.