While there isn't a lot to be happy about during the Sacramento Kings' current nine-game slide, there have been a few positives. A big one in last night's loss to the Wizards was bench players like Drew Eubanks and two-way players like Daeqwon Plowden getting minutes, which is interesting.
The Kings' roster is in a state of flux at the moment. Three starters are currently out due to injury or injury management. Another three are gone due to the recent trade that will bring De'Andre Hunter to the team. And Hunter hasn't started yet, meaning the roster is essentially down seven players.
That means there are spaces to fill. Well, kind of. Sacramento has several bench players and two-way players who rarely get minutes on the main roster. While the trades get sorted out, there are guys to fill in the gaps, which fans saw from the Kings last night.
Sacramento calls the reserves in
Second-year player Devin Carter frequently struggles to get on the court. But last night, he got out there for almost 16 minutes, collecting four points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. It was actually a solid game for him, which was good to see.
Both Drew Eubanks and Doug McDermott got off the bench and picked up a few minutes each. It wasn't much time, though it was still good to see them play. There's a good chance they will be part of future trades. If they don't, the Kings might not just renew their contracts this offseason.
As for two-way players, Dylan Cardwell was in business as usual, but it wasn't just him. Daeqwon Plowden played 24+ minutes, picking up four rebounds and one block. Isaiah Stevens played slightly under 19 minutes and finished with two points, two rebounds, five assists, and two steals.
The Kings might be reviewing what they've got
Considering the number of changes Sacramento is working on, they might be using this period as an opportunity to take a good look at who is on the roster. This is especially important for the two-way G League players, considering how well things have worked out with Dylan Cardwell.
The front office and coaching staff might be looking at Plowden and Stevens for the main roster. Both players delivered solid defensive performances, which is important to the Kings' rebuild. If they start getting more minutes on the court, the Kings could jump-start their development.
At the same time, it could all also help the Kings when it comes to trade conversations. Showing off a player's skills on the court is the best way to get other teams interested. Regardless of why it's happening, it's still good to see underused members of the roster get a chance to play.