This undrafted two-way rookie could be the answer to all the Kings' problems

The Sacramento Kings got better this offseason. That is no doubt. However, there are still some glaring issues on their roster.

Specifically, there are two main problems. First, between De'Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, DeMar DeRozan, Malik Monk, and Kevin Huerter, the team has an abundance of offense-first players. Obviously, offense is important. But you also need defense to balance your roster.

And second, the team is lacking in size. Outside of Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, and Trey Lyles, no one in the Kings' top 8 (which is basically your playoff rotation) is over 6'7. That is not a good ratio to have in today's giant ball era.

Hidden in plane sight

To address these weaknesses, we've spent the entire offseason prescribing trades for guys like Cameron Johnson and Kyle Kuzma. But what if the answer is already in our organization?

Technically speaking, the only rookie we grabbed in the 2024 NBA Draft was Devin Carter (with the 13th overall pick). Since it looks like Carter will miss a good chunk of the season, many people likely feel like we don't have any rookies to look forward to.

Those folks are forgetting that we signed three undrafted rookies to two-way contracts/camp deals. There's Isaac Jones (two-way contract) and Boogie Ellies (camp deal). But the one we are concerned with here is Isaiah Crawford (two-way).

In theory, Crawford offers exactly what the Kings need. In his final season at Louisiana Tech, Crawford averaged 2.1 steals per game and 1.7 blocks per game. And while he's only 6'6, Crawford plays much bigger than that – thanks to his 7'1 wingspan.

Crawford doesn't just give you defense and size. He also, at the very least, is capable of maintaining his team's floor spacing. Last year, he shot 41.4% on his 3.1 3-point attempts per game.

Not all undrafted end up being productive NBA players. In fact, most of them fizzle out rather quickly. But Crawford isn't your typical undrafted rookie. The main reason Crawford fell in the draft is because he struggled to stay healthy early on in his collegiate career. But he has already vanquished those demons, appearing in 64 of Louisiana Tech's 65 games over the last two years.

The odds of Crawford becoming a legitimate piece for the Kings are slim. But if it works out, he is the exact type of role player the doctor ordered for this team.