The Sacramento Kings will apparently be in a rebuilding mode for many years to come. Last season they finished at the bottom of the Western Conference with a 32-50 record, and midway through the season, they lost their best player - DeMarcus Cousins. The Kings didn't get much in return in the DeMarcus Cousins trade, as they received Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway and the 2017 first-round pick. With the fifth pick in this year's draft, the Kings selected De'Aaron Fox from Kentucky, and as the 34th pick, they selected Frank Mason III.
Hill and Randolph teaming up in Sacramento
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported on Tuesday that the Sacramento Kings and George Hill have agreed to a three-year deal. The contract is worth around $57 million and the news was first reported by The Vertical. Hill was a free-agent this summer, and last season he played for the Utah Jazz. Hill helped the Jazz end their four-year playoff drought as they made it to the Western Conference Semifinals last season. Despite playing just 49 games last season due to various injuries, the Jazz showed interest in giving him a contract extension before he decided to opt out and test free agency. Hill averaged a career-high 16.9 points per game during the 2016/2017 season with the Jazz, and also added 3.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.
Before agreeing to join the Kings, Hill was reportedly in serious talks with the Los Angeles Lakers as they were looking for a veteran point-guard also.
ESPN also reports that Zach Randolph and the Kings have agreed to a two-year $24 million deal. Randolph was also a free-agent this summer after spending the previous eight seasons of his career with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Zach Randolph has agreed to a two-year, $24M deal with the Kings, per @wojespn. pic.twitter.com/jQ3U91FHEO
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) 4. srpnja 2017.
Randolph will turn 36 next week, but he is still considered as one of the better rebounders and low-post scorers in the league. He has had much success over the past few years with the Memphis Grizzlies, but apparently, he decided it's time to move on.
He will bring a veteran presence and playoff experience to the Sacramento Kings team. Last season with the Grizzlies, Randolph averaged 14.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as he mostly came off the bench.
Porter not an option anymore for the Kings
Earlier this week it was reported that the Kings were ready to offer max-contract to Otto Porter Jr who is a restricted free-agent this summer. Porter averaged a career-high 13.4 points last season with the Washington Wizards and improved his three-point shooting. Last season he shot 43% from behind the arc and he made it clear that he will be looking for a max-contract this summer. After the Kings announced that they will sign Randolph and Hill, it became clear that Otto Porter is no longer in the conversation for them.
Porter is reportedly looking for a four-year $105 million deal, and the Kings are no longer in the position to offer him that.
Sacramento agreeing to deals with George Hill and Zach Randolph eliminates its pursuit of Otto Porter.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) 4. srpnja 2017.