Kings vindicated for dumping former lottery pick this offseason

The Sacramento Kings made the bold move of acquiring DeMar DeRozan this offseason to give them a Big 3. It meant shuffling their roster and creating space for the elite scorer. Fans were quick to question the addition, but Sacramento needed an upgrade after missing the playoffs in 2024.

The Western Conference is loaded with talent and making the postseason won’t be easy. The Kings had to be bold. Head coach Mike Brown is still figuring out his rotations, but things are a bit easier this season after moving on from Davion Mitchell.

Sacramento selected him ninth overall in 2021 and thought he could blossom into the perfect backcourt partner for De’Aaron Fox. Mitchell is known as a stout defender, but the duo never fit. The Kings sent him to Toronto this offseason and the receipts of the deal are strong in Sacramento’s favor.

Kings proved right in dumping Davion Mitchell after audition with the Raptors

Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, and R.J. Barrett have all missed time early this season, which has left the door wide open for Mitchell in Toronto. He came off the bench on opening night but Quickly played just 14 minutes before he was injured. Mitchell has started every game since, but his production has left fans wanting more.

The 26-year-old averaged 10.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in 29.7 minutes per game over his first nine contests. Those numbers are strong, but he is shooting just 29.7 percent from 3-point range and has produced a negative value over replacement player (VORP). Mitchell rates well below average by win shares per 48 minutes and is proving to be a subpar option in an extended role.

Mitchell was stuck behind De’Aaron Fox in Sacramento, so the Kings were wise to move on. They gave up three second-round picks to dump Mitchell, Sasha Vezenkov, and Jalen McDaniels before this season started. The cleared cap space helped bring DeRozan to Sacramento and improved the Kings' odds of contending.

The trade was a wise move, but the franchise still regrets drafting Mitchell over Trey Murphy III, Alperen Sengun, and Jalen Johnson. Those three players received hefty contract extensions this offseason and are key pieces of their organizations moving forward. The Kings had their chance but instead missed on Davion Mitchell.

Credit to them for moving on quickly. Some teams struggle to cut bait on a top-ten draft choice even when things are not working. The Sacramento Kings made a wise move and have a superior roster. Hopefully, this is a lesson they remember for future scenarios.