After losing Marquel Sutton to the Chicago Bulls, the Sacramento Kings need to get to work on filling that last two-way contract. That's where Elias Ralph comes in. The Kings have been watching him for some time. He would make a solid addition to their developmental pipeline if they don't miss out.
The NBA Summer League serves several purposes. A major one is giving teams a chance to assess young players they are considering as additions. The other side of that equation is that it provides an opportunity for undrafted talent to impress NBA franchises. It's a key part of the system.
It's important to keep in mind that all teams are watching each other's Summer League rosters for players. The Bulls were definitely keeping an eye on the Kings' squad as they snapped up Sutton. He did great work for Sacramento, but it was Chicago that signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract.
The Sutton situation definitely feels like a missed opportunity for the Kings. If the front office has designs on anyone else from their Summer League team to fill that final two-way spot, it's time to get the job done. That means signing Ralph instead of waiting until another team does it first.
Ralph is could dive right into the developmental pool
Prior to the 2026 NBA Draft, Ralph was one of the players the Kings brought down to Sacramento for workout sessions. They then signed him to play for their Summer League squad in both the California Classic and the Las Vegas games. There's definitely interest there on the part of the Kings.
Keeping that in mind, he didn't get as many minutes as some expected, often ending up as a healthy scratch. This was a little surprising when you consider that the Kings put some real effort into assessing him before the Summer League started. That doesn't mean he's not in the mix.
The young Canadian started off playing hockey, then switched to basketball when he was a bit older. Ralph is an elite three-level scorer who is especially dangerous from the three-point line. A 6'7" forward, he has the size and athleticism to guard every position. Plus, he's a solid shot blocker.
Ralph has some serious development to do before he's NBA-ready, though the potential is there. He would fit that last two-way contract spot nicely. If the Kings are serious about working Ralph into their system, there's no time like the present to make it official. They don't want another Sutton situation.
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