Sylven Landesberg, Ryan Thompson Added to Kings' Summer League Team

As reported by the Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones and others, the Kings added three undrafted rookies to the Vegas Summer League team: Virginia guard Sylven Landesberg, Rider guard Ryan Thompson and Tennessee forward Wayne Chism. Thompson, of course, is Kings forward Jason Thompson's little brother.

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UPDATE: Jones tweets that former Temple guard Dionte Christmas, who went undrafted in 2009 but played in the VSL for the Clippers and spent training camp with the Sixers, should be on the Kings' VSL team. Christmas averaged almost 20 points a game for the Israeli league's Hapoel Afula squad, and figures to compete with Landesberg for the hearts and minds of the front office.

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Counting Sacramento's two draft picks, DeMarcus Cousins and Hassan Whiteside, the Kings have 10 players under contract for 2010-11. The team has presented a qualifying offer to forward Jon Brockman; if Brockman signs the QO on July 1, he will be under contract as well. Otherwise, Brockman can arrange a contract with the Kings for one or more seasons, or sign an offer sheet from another team. In that case, the team would be able to match the contract. As it seems likely the Kings will keep Brockman one way or the other, that brings the roster to 11 players.

One would assume the Kings will keep at most two, but more likely only one Summer League player for the final roster. The Kings like to carry 14 players, and you expect that although the team won't be chasing top-flight free agents, Sacramento will pick up one or two backcourt roleplayers in free agency or trades, including potentially Ime Udoka. I would guess one Summer League will earn a contract and make the team.

Landesberg was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2008-09 and made second team All ACC last year. He was a McDonald's All American as a senior. ESPN's John Hollinger rated him as the 11th best player in the draft based on his college work. He's a scoring guard primarily, though he can make plays for others a bit.

Of the three undrafted rookies named to the Kings' VSL team, Landesberg has the best shot of making the team, where'd he be expected to back up Tyreke Evans and Francisco Garcia. But he must impress in Vegas; there is no shortage of able and cheap backcourt players with more experience available. The only reason you keep a Landesberg over someone like Mustafa Shakur or Salim Stoudamire is because you believe in Landesberg's potential (as was the case initially with Ronnie Price and Bobby Brown).

Thompson is less likely to get a roster spot, unless he outplays Landesberg or the team trades a veteran with a guaranteed contract. Chism will be in Vegas to wow other GMs, because there's no chance the Kings add another big man unless they trade Carl Landry or flip Samuel Dalembert, both unlikely.

Here's the tenative VSL depth chart:

[No point guards]
Sylven Landesberg / Ryan Thompson
Donté Greene / Omri Casspi
Jason Thompson / Jon Brockman / Wayne Chism
DeMarcus Cousins / Hassan Whiteside

Expect another eight players of shaky quality, including at least two point guards. Ziller favorite Mikhail Torrance is weighing 5-6 offers (some of which may include guaranteed '10-11 salary). He's basically the only could-have-been-drafted point guard unclaimed at this point.