3 Potential free agent Sacramento Kings targets with ties to Mike Brown
By Mat Issa
Gary Payton II
After finishing 25th in defensive rating in 2022-23, the Kings improved to 14th this past season. That is a massive improvement, but still a notch below where you want to be if you plan on being a serious playoff team (the kind of team that can win a playoff series).
With Kessler Edwards set to become a restricted free agent, the Kings may decide that they want to replace their meh perimeter defender (32nd percentile Defensive Estimated Plus-Minus, per Dunks & Threes) with an elite one.
Enter Gary Payton II, who finished this last regular in the 94th percentile in DEF EPM. Payton gives you strong defensive playmaking (94th percentile steal rate), which fits right into the Kings' turnover-hunting identity (10th in opponent turnover percentage).
Plus, despite his diminutive stature (relative to NBA standards), Payton knows how to play big for his size (6'3), posting a block rate that landed in the 73rd percentile leaguewide (among all positions). So, you don't need to worry too much about the size you are losing if you let Edwards walk.
Even with his injury history, Payton can be counted on to give you elite perimeter defense for 12 to 17 minutes a night. And since he does have the injury risk, Payton can be had at an affordable rate.
This is where Brown comes in. Brown and Payton worked together during the Golden State Warriors title run in 2021-22 (when Brown was an assistant under Head Coach Steve Kerr). Brown was very well-liked by his players during his time with Golden State.
Hopefully, one of those players who really enjoyed him was Payton. And hopefully, Brown can parlay their repertoire into a decision for Payton to join the kings.